This Week in Explainers: A week after results, why Maharashtra doesn't have a CM yet?

It’s been another extremely interesting week in India.

The fallout of the US presidential election continues with Donald Trump announcing additional tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada – thus worrying some in India.

The suspense over who will be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra continues. This, after the Mahayuti, which roared back into power last week, has still not announced its chief ministerial face.

Violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal with protesters and police clashing after a court-ordered survey of a mosque. Already, the political blame game has begun with the opposition accusing the BJP of playing the ‘politics of hatred.’

The story of an Air India pilot who committed suicide has gripped the nation. Srishti Tuli, 25, was found dead in her Mumbai apartment. The development has shone the spotlight on her boyfriend Aditya Pandit who has now come under the scanner of the authorities.

More from Explainers

How ChatGPT is becoming everyone’s BFF and why that’s dangerous This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

This week also witnessed the 16th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. We take a look back at the horrific attacks in which 175 were killed and over 300 injured as well as how Ratan Tata, an Indian icon and the then chairman of the Tata Group, displayed incredible grit and courage outside the Taj Hotel.

All this and much more in our roundup of the week’s top stories:

1. Who will be Maharashtra chief minister?  That’s what political observers in Maharashtra are asking themselves.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Were bodyguards involved in Charlie Kirk’s shooting? The many conspiracies surrounding the killing

The results may have been out for days, but the game of chairs is on. While the BJP cadre is backing Devendra Fadnavis to take the top job, the Shinde Sena seems insistent that their man return as chief minister.

And then there’s Ajit Pawar – fresh off his victory in a head-to-head against his uncle Sharad Pawar – with his faction of the NCP. Ajit is reportedly backing Fadnavis over Shine for the post. But why is this? This piece examines the fractious history between the two men.

2. Donald Trump is set to return as US president in January. But the US President-elect is wasting no time. Trump, who will be the 47th president of the United States, has already announced additional tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico.

This has led to many worrying that India – which Trump has called ‘tariff king’ and a very ‘big abuser’ of tariffs – could be next on his hitlist.  But what has Trump promised exactly? And will he target India next? This article gives you the low-down.

3. Four people in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal are dead in a flare-up of violence. Police had clashed with protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.

Twenty-one people, including two women, have been detained and a probe has been launched. But how did the violence break out? How did the chaos unfold? And what’s the situation now? This article takes you into the heart of the matter.

4. How and why did Srishti Tuli die?  Tuli, an Air India pilot, was founded dead at her apartment in Mumbai’s Andheri.

Though the authorities termed it suicide, no note was found. Then, Tuli’s family in Gorakphur accused her boyfriend Ankit Pandit of murder. Pandit, 27, has been arrested for abetment of suicide after a complaint from her family.

But what are the allegations against Pandit? What has Tuli’s family alleged? This piece examines the case in detail.

5. Sixteen years ago, a number of locations in Mumbai came under attack from terrorists.

Members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) invaded the iconic Taj Hotel in Mumbai and began indiscriminately slaughtering anyone within sight. The city witnessed among its darkest days with parts of the hotel going up in flame and smoke wafting from its dome.

In the end, 33 patrons and staff were killed. However, there were also stories of heroism as the staff helped many of the guests escape – even at the cost of their own lives.

This piece takes a look at the three terrible days at the Taj Hotel as well as the resilience displayed by Ratan Tata – then the chairman of the Tata Group – during the rescue operations.

6.  For years, allegations were cast about Sonia Gandhi about being an ‘outsider.’ Now, it seems another Gandhi is the target of such allegations.  A petition in the Allahabad High Court is alleging that Rahul is a citizen of the UK.

Now, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has ordered the Centre to provide details about any actions taken over the complaint.  This, even as the Delhi High Court hears a separate case over Rahul’s alleged UK citizenship by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

But who is the petitioner? What do we know about dual citizenship? And does India allow it? Let’s take a closer look.

7. The Centre this week said that it will be introducing Pan 2.0.  The development comes after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the green light for the project.

The project will make the permanent account number a “common business identifier” for all government agencies’ digital systems. But what do we know about the project? How will it benefit taxpayers? And what do you need to do?

8. We’re all slaves to one-time pins (OTPs).

From banking to home deliveries to ordering food online, nothing happens without permission from the almighty OTP.

But now there are reports that OTPs may be delayed come 1 December. This, as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) traceability guidelines come into force.

But is this really the case? What changes has TRAI made? What has the body said? And do you need to be worried? Click here to know all.

This is all we have for you this week. If you like the way we explain things, you can  bookmark this page .