Morning Filter: Parties gear up for online campaigns

1. Complete lockdown in Tamil Nadu on January 9 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced a complete lockdown on January 9. During the total lockdown, Milk and newspaper supplies, hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies, ambulance services, banking services, freight vehicles and those carrying petrol, diesel and LPG will be permitted. But public transport and Metro Rail services will not operate. The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said people will be permitted to travel during the complete lockdown on Sunday to attend family functions including weddings by producing invitations. The Government has also permitted restaurants, hotels and tiffin centres to deliver food to their customers through their own network and also through e-orders. 2. Assembly polls 2022 | New challenges for political parties as campaigns to shift online As elections for five Assemblies start off with a ban on physical campaigning till January 15 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Election Commission officials said on Saturday the rules regarding the conduct and expenditure of conventional campaigns would be applicable to virtual campaign events. The revised guidelines for elections released by the EC put a complete ban on nukkad (street corner) sabhas or meetings on public roads, roundabouts, public streets and corners. 3. Assembly polls 2022 | 50,000 CAPF personnel mobilised in initial phase; major chunk to be sent to UP About 50,000 CAPF troops are being mobilised for providing security during the forthcoming assembly polls in five states, with the major chunk of them being sent to Uttar Pradesh that has the highest number of 403 seats and the longest polling period with seven phases, official sources said. The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced the poll schedule for elections to the assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. While Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 10, Punjab (117 seats), Uttarakhand (70 seats) and Goa (40 seats) will have single-day voting on February 14, while the 60 seat Manipur electorate will vote in two phases. The counting of votes for all the states will take place on March 10. 4. DDMA allows visitors at Delhi gurdwaras on Sunday for Guru Govind Singh birth anniversary The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Saturday allowed devotees to visit gurdwaras in the city on the occasion of Prakash Purab of Guru Govind Singh on January 9. Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the city, the authorities had allowed religious places to remain open in Delhi but visitors are not permitted. The DDMA, however, granted special permission for the occasion of Sikh guru Govind Singh's birth anniversary, subject to adherence with Covid norms. 5. Bharti to skip option on AGR interest dues Telecom operator Bharti Airtel will not avail the option of conversion of the interest on the deferred spectrum and AGR dues to equity, under the reforms package, according to a regulatory filing by the company on Friday. 6. Nagaland imposes stricter measures to check coronavirus Nagaland government on Saturday re-imposed night curfew, restricted mass gatherings and directed schools not to hold classes up to class eight till January 31 to check the spread of coronavirus. Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam has ordered night curfews from 9 pm to 5 am from Sunday and restriction on mass gatherings to 50% of the capacity of the venue or up to a maximum of 200 people, whichever is lower, subject to all those taking part are fully vaccinated. 7. Cong all set for 'walk for water' march in Karnataka ignoring prohibitory orders to contain COVID Sticking to its stand despite surging COVID-19 cases, the Congress in Karnataka on Saturday decided to go ahead with its 'walk for water' march from Mekedatu in Ramanagara district from Sunday demanding construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river for drinking water needs of Bengaluru and neighbouring districts. Notwithstanding the notice served by the Ramanagara district administration asking Congress state president D K Shivakumar not to violate the weekend curfew to contain COVID-19 and allow a congregation of people, he said he will go ahead with the party's programme. 8. PKL | Bengal Warriors take on Puneri Paltan, Bengaluru Bulls face UP Yoddha Defending champions Bengal Warriors would expect a better show from their players when they take on a struggling Puneri Paltan in their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match on Sunday. The holders have had a stuttering start to their title defence with only captain Maninder Singh and all-rounder Mohammad Nabibakhsh producing noteworthy performances. 9. Fourth Ashes Test | Day 5 | Khawaja twin centuries lifts Australia to a big lead Usman Khawaja's stunning return to test cricket continued Saturday with a blistering century in Australia's second innings on day four which led the hosts to 265-6 declared and set England an unlikely 388 runs to win the fourth Ashes test. Openers Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed then survived a nervous 11 overs in fading light to get England safely to stumps at 29 without loss. Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day’s biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. [logo] The Morning Filter 09 JANUARY 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Morning Filter newsletter, your guide from The Hindu on the major news stories and events to follow today. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Here are the latest updates and the big news stories to follow today 1. Complete lockdown in Tamil Nadu on January 9 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced a complete lockdown on January 9. During the total lockdown, Milk and newspaper supplies, hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies, ambulance services, banking services, freight vehicles and those carrying petrol, diesel and LPG will be permitted. But public transport and Metro Rail services will not operate. The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said [people will be permitted to travel during the complete lockdown on Sunday to attend family functions]( including weddings by producing invitations. The Government has also permitted restaurants, hotels and tiffin centres to deliver food to their customers through their own network and also through e-orders. 2. Assembly polls 2022 | New challenges for political parties as campaigns to shift online [Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra announces the schedule for General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, at a press conference at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi on Jan.uary 8, 2022.] As elections for five Assemblies start off with a [ban on physical campaigning till January 15]( in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Election Commission officials said on Saturday the rules regarding the conduct and expenditure of conventional campaigns would be applicable to virtual campaign events. The revised guidelines for elections released by the EC put a complete ban on nukkad (street corner) sabhas or meetings on public roads, roundabouts, public streets and corners. 3. Assembly polls 2022 | 50,000 CAPF personnel mobilised in initial phase; major chunk to be sent to UP About 50,000 CAPF troops are being mobilised for providing security during the forthcoming assembly polls in five states, with the major chunk of them being sent to Uttar Pradesh that has the highest number of 403 seats and the longest polling period with seven phases, official sources said. The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced the poll schedule for elections to the assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. While Uttar Pradesh will vote in seven phases beginning February 10, Punjab (117 seats), Uttarakhand (70 seats) and Goa (40 seats) will have single-day voting on February 14, while the 60 seat Manipur electorate will vote in two phases. The counting of votes for all the states will take place on March 10. 4. DDMA allows visitors at Delhi gurdwaras on Sunday for Guru Govind Singh birth anniversary  The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Saturday allowed devotees to visit gurdwaras in the city on the occasion of Prakash Purab of Guru Govind Singh on January 9. Amid rising COVID-19 cases in the city, the authorities had allowed religious places to remain open in Delhi but visitors are not permitted. The DDMA, however, granted special permission for the occasion of Sikh guru Govind Singh's birth anniversary, subject to adherence with Covid norms. 5. Bharti to skip option on AGR interest dues [Sunil Mittal-run Bharati Airtel faces a liability of about 42,000 crore] Telecom operator [Bharti Airtel will not avail the option of conversion]( of the interest on the deferred spectrum and AGR dues to equity, under the reforms package, according to a regulatory filing by the company on Friday. 6. Nagaland imposes stricter measures to check coronavirus Nagaland government on Saturday re-imposed night curfew, restricted mass gatherings and directed schools not to hold classes up to class eight till January 31 to check the spread of coronavirus. Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam has ordered night curfews from 9 pm to 5 am from Sunday and restriction on mass gatherings to 50% of the capacity of the venue or up to a maximum of 200 people, whichever is lower, subject to all those taking part are fully vaccinated. 7. Cong all set for 'walk for water' march in Karnataka ignoring prohibitory orders to contain COVID Sticking to its stand despite surging COVID-19 cases, the Congress in Karnataka on Saturday decided to go ahead with its 'walk for water' march from Mekedatu in Ramanagara district from Sunday demanding construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river for drinking water needs of Bengaluru and neighbouring districts. Notwithstanding the notice served by the Ramanagara district administration asking Congress state president D K Shivakumar not to violate the weekend curfew to contain COVID-19 and allow a congregation of people, he said he will go ahead with the party's programme. 8. PKL | Bengal Warriors take on Puneri Paltan, Bengaluru Bulls face UP Yoddha [Puneri Paltan beat defending champions Bengaluru Bulls 42-38 in the final match of the Pune leg of Pro Kabaddi League. | File] Defending champions Bengal Warriors would expect a better show from their players when they take on a struggling Puneri Paltan in their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match on Sunday. The holders have had a stuttering start to their title defence with only captain Maninder Singh and all-rounder Mohammad Nabibakhsh producing noteworthy performances. 9. Fourth Ashes Test | Day 5 | Khawaja twin centuries lifts Australia to a big lead Usman Khawaja's stunning return to test cricket continued Saturday with a blistering century in Australia's second innings on day four which led the hosts to 265-6 declared and set England an unlikely 388 runs to win the fourth Ashes test. Openers Zak Crawley and Haseeb Hameed then survived a nervous 11 overs in fading light to get England safely to stumps at 29 without loss. [underlineimg] Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day’s biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. Today's Top Picks [[New portraits of British royal Kate released for her 40th birthday] New portraits of British royal Kate released for her 40th birthday]( [[NCBS: Zebrafish study reveals how the brain makes its connections] NCBS: Zebrafish study reveals how the brain makes its connections]( [[Assembly polls 2022 | New challenges for political parties, officials as campaign shifts online] Assembly polls 2022 | New challenges for political parties, officials as campaign shifts online]( [[India tops Sri Lanka’s tourism charts 2021] India tops Sri Lanka’s tourism charts 2021]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](