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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Malaysia may add a casino to Forest City, a mega-development that has turned into a ghost town.</li><li>The casino, which would be the second in the country, could rejuvenate the struggling property.</li></ul>Malaysia's Forest City mega-development started with big ambitions and big money.Announced in 2006, the luxury housing project in the south — easily accessible from Singapore — would house 700,000 people and feature a waterpark and hotels. The whole project cost its developers $100 billion.But, eight years after construction began, only a few thousand people live there. The project has turned into a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/forest-city-ghost-town-malaysia-hotel-golf-beach-tourist-singapore-2024-3">ghost town</a> — and a major liability for its developer, which is facing sizable financial issues elsewhere.Now, Malaysia is in talks with several high-profile investors to add a casino to Forest City, people familiar with the matter told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-24/malaysia-weighs-opening-casino-in-forest-city-in-potential-boon-for-king-ibrahim?srnd=homepage-asia">Bloomberg on Wednesday.</a>The southeast nation's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with the heads of a Malaysian property development firm and a resort company at Forest City last week. A representative of Malyasia's billionaire king, Ibrahim Iskandar, also attended, the people told Bloomberg.King Ibrahim owns more than 20% of Forest City as part of a joint venture with Chinese real estate developer Country Garden, Bloomberg reported. The king took the throne in January for his five-year term and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-19/malaysia-s-king-vows-real-way-of-ruling-after-honeymoon-period">said last month</a> he is ready to "begin my real way of ruling." The other partner, <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/bonds/china-economy-country-garden-defaults-property-real-estate-bonds-dollar-2023-10">Country Garden,</a> is facing significant financial issues from China's floundering property market and had nearly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/country-garden-how-bad-are-its-debt-problems-2024-02-28/">$200 billion in liabilities</a> at the end of last June.The two tycoons who met with the prime minister last week own some of Malaysia's most prominent businesses. One of the companies is Genting Group, a resort and theme park operator that owns Malaysia's only casino, located in a central Malaysian hill town. Genting operates other casinos in Singapore, the US, and the UK. The other, Berjaya Corp., runs hotels and develops properties, among other businesses.The casino talks are in early stages and it is unclear if Prime Minister Anwar will allow such a business. Malaysia has a Muslim-majority population and those following Islam are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/gambling-prohibited-in-islam-office-of-the-mufti">prohibited</a> from gambling.Forest City did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.<h2>Expensive, empty apartments</h2>A casino — which would only be the second in Malaysia — could help struggling Forest City.While advertised as a "popular short-haul tourist destination," the complex, which includes apartments, hotels, a waterpark, and a mall, only sees a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/forest-city-ghost-town-malaysia-hotel-golf-beach-tourist-singapore-2024-3">few dozen visitors</a> each day, Business Insider reported in April. Those who do come are typically on a budget and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/forest-city-ghost-town-malaysia-hotel-golf-beach-tourist-singapore-2024-3">don't spend </a>much.As of last year, only about 15% of the planned property had been completed,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/johor-country-garden-forest-city-property-crisis-debt-china-3715791"> local media reported.</a><div type="image" title="a corridor in the apartment complex" height="1536" width="2048" msid="109591797" hostid="261" sizebytes="191428"></div>Most apartments look like they've never been lived in, a BI reporter who visited earlier this year observed. They're almost twice the price of other apartments in the city, and wealthy people prefer to buy single-family homes, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/forest-city-apartment-property-price-ghost-town-malaysia-photos-china-2024-4">BI reported in April</a>.A new casino could attract tourists from Singapore. Singapore's government disincentivizes gambling by taxing residents <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mha.gov.sg/docs/default-source/media-room-doc/annex-a---media-factsheet.pdf?sfvrsn=e6b19ea_0#:~:text=It%20underscores%20the%20message%20that,%243%2C000%20for%20the%20annual%20levy.">150 Singapore dollars</a>, or $110, to enter local casinos. Singapore is connected by a one-kilometer bridge to the state of Johor, where Forest City is.Cities around the world are similarly looking to add casinos to boost tourism.The United Arab Emirates, another majority-Muslim country, is betting big on gambling. Earlier this year, it launched a federal-level gaming authority, and plans are in place to create an "<a target="_blank" href="https://skift.com/2023/09/12/middle-east-gaming-authority-paves-way-for-arabian-strip-gambling-zone/">Arabian Strip</a>," an Emirati version of the Las Vegas Strip of hotels and casinos on the island of Al Marjan.New York City is also looking to cash in. In April last year, the state government authorized <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/nyc-casino-tracker.html">up to three casino</a> licenses for downstate New York, which includes the city and surrounding counties.

Malaysia might add a casino to boost troubled $100 billion mega-development Forest City

As many as 85 tigers, including 32 cubs, have died in the past four years due to various reasons in <keyword id="4679793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wildlife-habitats" source="Orion">wildlife habitats</keyword> of <keyword id="6355554" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="madhya-pradesh" source="Orion">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, the government has informed the state Assembly. <keyword id="202599" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-forest-minister" source="Orion">State forest minister</keyword> <keyword id="1137352" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kunwar-vijay-shah" source="Orion">Kunwar Vijay Shah</keyword> gave this information in a written reply to a question by Congress legislator from Jabalpur (East) Lakhan Ghanghoriya. The Congress MLA had sought to know how many tigers died in the state in four years from 2018-19 to 2021-22. The MLA had also sought information about how many big cats had escaped from various reserves, to which Shah said that the movement of the tigers through various forest corridors is a natural process in search for food, partners, better habitat and new territory. "State government spent ₹28,306.70 lakh on the conservation, security and monitoring of the big cats during 2018-19, while this amount was ₹22,049.98 lakh in 2019-20. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, ₹26,427.86 lakh and ₹12,882.82 lakh have been spent on this work respectively," Minister told the house. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reports suggested that a total 202 tigers were reported to have died between 2012 and 2020 in Madhya Pradesh. The data available on the NTCA website said that 38 tigers died in the state between January and December this year so far. Madhya Pradesh had regained the tag of tiger state in the 2018 census for being home to 526 big cats, two more than Karnataka. Earlier, the MP had lost this tag to Karnataka in the all-India tiger estimation exercise for 2010, primarily due to alleged poaching in the Panna Tiger Reserve. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/paytm-mall-loses-its-unicorn-status/articleshow/88446807.cms">Paytm Mall loses its unicorn status</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/here-are-the-best-camera-phones-under-20000-in-india/slidelist/88447488.cms">Best camera phones under ₹20,000 in India</a>

Madhya Pradesh lost 85 tigers in the past four years

Gandhinagar, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the <keyword id="25455" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance">Finance</keyword> portfolio, on Wednesday presented the state's annual budget for the financial year 2021-22 running to ₹2,27,029 crore with an overall surplus of ₹588 crore. Patel presented the budget for the ninth time as the Finance Minister, on the <keyword id="15891" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Second-day">second day</keyword> of the Assembly session. The budget has estimated revenue receipts of ₹1,67,969 crore, with a revenue expenditure of ₹1,66,760 crore for the year 2021-22. The finance minister estimated capital receipts at ₹50,751 crore and capital expenditure including loans and advances at ₹56,571 crore. Under the budget provisions, the finance minister allocated Rs 7,232 crore for the Agriculture and farmers welfare <keyword id="6360339" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="department">department</keyword>, ₹5,494 crore for Water Resources, ₹32,719 crore for the <keyword id="63592" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Education-department">Education department</keyword> and ₹11,323 crore for the health department. The <keyword id="51011" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-government">state government</keyword> will be introducing a new scheme to provide pre-primary education under the New Education Policy 2020. Also, ₹3,974 crore has been allocated for Water Supply and ₹4,353 crore to the Social Justice and Empowerment department, where the government has raised the subsidy given under the 'kunvarbai mameru scheme' from ₹10,000 to ₹12,000. The state government has allocated ₹13,493 crore, the maximum allocation, to the <keyword id="170906" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-development-department">Urban Development Department</keyword>, ₹13,034 crore to the Energy and Petrochemical department, ₹11,185 crore has been allocated to the Roads and Buildings department, ₹6,599 crore to the Industries and Mining department, ₹2,656 crores for the Tribal development department, ₹8,796 crore for the Panchayats and Rural Development Department, ₹1,502 crore to the Labour and Employment department. The Finance Minister informed that ₹7,960 crores was allocated for the law and order situation maintained by the Home department, ₹1,814 crore for the <keyword id="6356408" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="forest-department">Forest department</keyword>, ₹1,224 crore for the Food and Civil supplies department, ₹1,478 crore to the Ports and Transportation department, ₹9,102 crore to the <keyword id="6361617" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change">Climate Change</keyword> department. Later in the day, the state government will move three bills in the assembly, including the Gujarat Fiscal Responsibility (amendment) bill, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (amendment) bill and Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures (amendment) bill. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/nokia-power-earbuds-lite-review-missed-opportunity/articleshow/81304603.cms">Nokia Power Earbuds Lite review – missed opportunity</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms">Former Blackstone exec’s firm MTAR Tech’s ₹600 crore IPO⁠ — what works for it and what doesn't</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-companies-stand-to-lose-7-14-lakh-crore-to-climate-change-but-they-could-end-up-making-2-9-lakh-crore-too/articleshow/81306789.cms">Indian companies stand to lose ₹7.14 lakh crore to climate change — but they could end up making ₹2.9 lakh crore too</a>

Gujarat's annual budget for the next financial year has a surplus of ₹588 crore

<keyword id="2540" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="President">President</keyword> Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignations of 12 Union <keyword id="6364618" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministers">ministers</keyword>, including <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword>, Prakash Javadekar and Harsh Vardhan, with immediate effect, according to an official statement on Wednesday. These resignations came ahead of a major expansion and <keyword id="44078" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="reshuffle">reshuffle</keyword> of the <keyword id="11590054" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-council-of-ministers-later-in">Union Council of Ministers later in</keyword> the day. In all, <keyword id="11590055" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="six-cabinet-ministers">six Cabinet Ministers</keyword>, one Minister of <keyword id="6355728" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="state">State</keyword> (Independent Charge) and five Ministers of State have resigned. Those resigned include Cabinet Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda (Chemical and Fertilizers), Ravi Shankar Prasad (Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics &amp; Information Technology), <keyword id="2839463" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thaawarchand-Gehlot">Thaawarchand Gehlot</keyword> (<keyword id="112438" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-justice">Social Justice</keyword> and Empowerment), Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' (Education), Harsh Vardhan (Health and Family Welfare) and Prakash Javadekar (Environment, Forest and Climate Change). The resignation of Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employment, has also been accepted by the president. Five Ministers of State -- Babul Supriyo (Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao (Education), Rattan Lal Kataria (Jal Shakti), Pratap Chandra Sarangi (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and Debasree Chaudhuri (Women and Child Development) -- have also resigned. The President, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignations of these ministers from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, the statement said. SEE ALSO - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/gr-infraprojects-ipo-good-ipo-bet-for-long-term-as-per-analysts/articleshow/84193656.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">GR Infraprojects IPO is for long term investors, say analysts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/clean-science-and-technology-ipo-maximum-broking-house-recommending-this-ipo/articleshow/84193873.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Clean Science and Technology, an Indian supplier to Bayer, has opened its IPO ⁠— and ‘subscribe’ is the unanimous call from analysts</a>

President Ram Nath Kovind accepts resignations of 12 union ministers, including Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prakash Javadekar and Harsh Vardhan

The <keyword id="41646" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana">Haryana</keyword> government on Sunday announced extending the coronavirus-induced <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword> in the state by a week till May 17. Making the announcement on Twitter, Home and Health Minister Anil Vij said, "Mahamari Alert/ Surkshit Haryana announced from 10 May to 17 May. Stringent measures will be taken to contain the spread of Corona in Haryana." Vij later told that the restrictions, which are currently in force, will continue till May 17. Last week, the Haryana government had imposed a lockdown in the state from May 3 to May 10 (5 am). According to an official order issued late Sunday night detailing the fresh guidelines of the extended lockdown, no gathering of more than 11 persons will be allowed, including in weddings, cremation and funerals. Marriages will be allowed only at home and in courts with a maximum limit of 11 persons. No movement of 'barat' procession is allowed, the order said. Earlier, in case of funerals, congregation of more than 20 people was not permitted, and marriage functions were subject to permission from district magistrates or officers authorised by them. The maximum ceiling at marriage functions was 30 persons in indoor spaces and of 50 in open spaces, as per earlier orders. To contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state, Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan, in exercise of powers under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, extended the restrictions imposed through earlier (lockdown) orders issued on May 2, for another one week. This extension is from May 10 (5 am onwards) to May 17 (5 am) in Haryana and it is to be observed as "Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana", Vardhan said while issuing the fresh restrictions on Sunday. The Haryana government has termed the lockdown as "Mahamari Alert/Surkshit Haryana". "Tree felling operations of the forest department and the <keyword id="479891" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana-Forest-Development-Corporation">Haryana Forest Development Corporation</keyword> shall remain operational subject to the condition that they will be allowed only to the extent required for meeting the fuel wood requirements of <keyword id="6414396" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="municipal-corporations">Municipal Corporations</keyword> and district administrations," the order stated. In the past few weeks, Haryana has registered a surge in COVID-19 infections as well as fatalities. The surge has seen increased pressure on hospitals with demand for medical oxygen also increasing manifold. The government has maintained that it is doing its best to tackle the present <keyword id="8764262" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid">COVID</keyword> situation. "To contain the spread of Corona in Haryana and to ensure the safety of its citizens, the <keyword id="640924" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government-of-Haryana">Government of Haryana</keyword> has decided to extend the lockdown restrictions for another week (10th May to 17th May), to be observed as "Mahamari Alert - Surakshit Haryana"," the Haryana Chief Minister's Office also informed through a tweet. In a tweet, Chief Minister <keyword id="2458540" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manohar-Lal-Khattar">Manohar Lal Khattar</keyword> said, "Given the severity of the 2nd wave, I appeal to everyone to cooperate with the government so that we can succeed in breaking the chain and emerge victorious." Haryana on Sunday reported 151 COVID-19-related deaths taking the cumulative toll to 5,605 and another big surge of 13,548 infections pushed the total case count to 6,15,897. During the earlier lockdown period, the government had urged residents to stay indoors. Several categories of people, including those tasked with law and order, emergencies and municipal service duties and government machinery engaged in COVID-19-related duties, will be exempted from the lockdown. To curb the virus' spread, the state government had recently put several other restrictions in place including imposition of prohibitory orders under <keyword id="6382007" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Section-144">Section 144</keyword> of the CrPC and daily night curfew. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/article/if-you-are-feeling-anxious-and-overwhelmed-by-the-pandemic-and-the-news-around-it-here-are-a-few-ways-to-calm-yourself-down/articleshow/82494658.cms">If you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the pandemic and the news around it, here are a few ways to calm yourself down</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-is-now-automatically-turning-on-two-factor-authentication-for-some-accounts/articleshow/82452629.cms">Google is now automatically turning on two-factor authentication for some accounts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/good-news-for-tata-steel-jsw-steel-sail-hindalco-and-other-indian-steel-companies/articleshow/82451127.cms">China has broken another emissions record ⁠— and it is good news for some Indian companies</a>

Haryana government announced 'Surkshit Haryana' extension of lockdown in the state from May 10 to May 17

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Local authorities call for more support on the US-Canada border, according to a new report by NBC News.</li><li>There has been a spike in illegal border crossing from Canada into the northeastern US in recent months.</li></ul>Local authorities on the northern US border are calling for more support after an influx of migrant crossings from Canada into remote parts of upstate New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Earlier this month, federal border officials added 25 patrol agents to the snowy border region to "help to deter and disrupt human smuggling activities in the sector," a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said in a statement, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-canada-us-illegal-crossings-immigration-migration-546582b9857a9294b95ae94ed7976c30" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the Associated Press. In order to surpass the busy and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-undocumented-immigrants-travel-to-us-2017-12">dangerous journey north from the Mexican border</a>, Mexican officials said migrants and asylum-seekers would fly to Mexico to Canada and head south, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/13/us/roxham-canada-border-migrant-increase/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to CNN. While migrants risk their lives in the parched, arid region of the Mexico-US border, the journey south from Quebec to the northeastern US is similarly dangerous, however, as people are in danger of freezing to death in the bitter climate. A sheriff in Clinton County, New York, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/border-crossings-canada-new-york-vermont-nh-up-tenfold-rcna75087">told NBC News</a> that his team assisted Border Patrol in rescuing 39 migrants last week, some of whose clothes had frozen to their bodies. "We are seeing more and more people, and it can be a deadly terrain if you're not familiar with it," Sheriff David Favro said in an exclusive report published by NBC News on Friday. Favro said the 25 federal agents added to the area, known as the Swanton Sector, is not sufficient — given the icy, wild conditions and the amount of ground that has to be covered. <div type="image" title="Feb. 10, 2020 photo shows the headquarters of the U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton Sector in Swanton, Vt." height="1631" width="2175" msid="98775914" hostid="261" sizebytes="286854"></div>Other local officials told the news outlet they recently helped rescue a Mexican woman who was later treated for frostbite and hypothermia. Last month, in the depths of winter, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/quebec-city-canada-vermont-f60239890c07974f9a59f54c0a462f6b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a man from Mexico died</a> after making the freezing journey from Quebec to Vermont. Agents have apprehended more people crossing into the US from Canada in the last five months than the last three fiscal years combined, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=515542590732522&amp;set=pcb.515543074065807&amp;locale=sq_AL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to a </a>statement by US Border Patrol Swanton Sector. The total number of people apprehended along the entire northern border this fiscal year is 2,227 — a small fraction of those apprehended along the US-Mexico border — 762,383 people — during that same period, per the Associated Press. The increase in unlawful border crossings between Quebec and parts of New England has <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/politics/us-canada-immigration-border/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prompted calls</a> for talks between President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make changes to immigration policy.In recent years, migrants and asylum seekers have also tried to make the opposite journey. Thousands have tried to leave the United States for Canada in the same rural region, particularly under the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, <a href="https://www.insider.com/asylum-seekers-fleeing-us-for-canada-champlain-ny-2019-1">Insider previously reported</a>. The Safe Third Country Agreement is a legal pact between the US and Canada, where those seeking refugee status must apply for it in the first country they arrive in. Trudeau recently <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-biden-safe-third-country-agreement-1.6758130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called for a renegotiation</a> of the agreement as the number of migrants at the US-Canada border increases.

Mexican migrants swap the deserts of the southern border for the snowy forests of upstate New York and Vermont to enter US via perilous backdoor

<ul><li>The man who compared GST to a newly-wed daughter in law is a junior minister in Modi government's second term.</li><li>65-year old Meghwal started out as a bureaucrat in Indian Administrative Service.</li><li>He has won the Bikaner constituency for the BJP three times in a row.</li></ul> "We bring daughter-in law so that family grows and grows in right direction. Similarly, GST (goods and services tax) is a new bride for the country. We have brought this law so that country grow in a right direction," Meghwal said addressing a realty conference in August 2017. Today, he has been appointed as the minister for Parliamentary Affairs as well as Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises. In the Narendra Modi government's first term, <keyword id="6721" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="babul-Supriyo">Babul Supriyo</keyword>, the member of Parliament from West Bengal, was in charge of Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises. Babul Supriyo has now been given the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Meghwal was BJP’s candidate for Bikaner, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/lok-sabha-election-2019-second-phase-political-strategy-for-reserved-seats/articleshow/68925204.cms">reserved constituency</a>, for three elections in a row and he won each time. In 2019, Arjun Meghwal has secured nearly 60% of the votes, handily beating his Congress rival Madan Gopal Meghwal, his cousin, who got 36% of the votes. He the Minister of State (MoS) (junior minister) for water resources and the former MoS for Finance in the Narendra Modi government's first term from 2014 to 2019. In his role as MoS of Finance, Meghwal was tasked with <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/government-keeping-an-eye-on-gst-implementation-regularly-arjun-ram-meghwal/articleshow/60337154.cms">spearheading the rollout</a> of the Modi administration’s Goods and Services Tax in mid-2017 and helping resolve its various implementation problems. Meghwal started out as a bureaucrat in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and entered politics in 2009. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/policy/hardeep-singh-puri-new-minister-for-trade-civil-aviation-and-housing-in-modi-cabinet/articleshow/69586149.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">India's former representative to UN is the country's new minister for trade, civil aviation and two of Modi's pet projects</a>

Arjun Ram Meghwal is India's new minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Heavy Industries, and Public Sector Companies

<ul><li> After the dramatic Maharashtra election, focus will shift towards Jharkhand.</li><li>The eastern state famous for its mines, huge tribal population rich in culture but mired in poverty will go to polls starting November 30.</li><li>The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will face a tough challenge as early opinion poll suggests that the tally of opposition parties may beat the incumbent.</li></ul>After the dramatic Maharashtra election — where it took over a month for the anti-BJP coalition led by Uddhav Thackeray to form the government — the focus will shift towards Jharkhand. The eastern state famous for its mines and a huge tribal population, which is rich in culture but mired in poverty, will go to polls soon. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will face a tough challenge as early opinion poll suggests that the tally of opposition parties may beat the incumbent. Here's a list a basic questions on the Jharkhand assembly polls to know answers to, before you can make sense of the upcoming news cycle. 1. What are the dates for Jharkhand assembly election.? <table style="width: 444pt;"> </colgroup></colgroup> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3" class="xl68" style="border-right:1.0pt solid black; height:12.75pt;width:444pt">Jharkhand assembly election dates</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl71" style="height: 12.75pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Phase</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Polling date</td> <td class="xl72" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Constituencies</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 27.75pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">One</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Nov 30, Saturday</td> <td class="xl74" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 266pt;">Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwal, Bhawanathpur</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 51pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Two</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Dec 7, Saturday</td> <td class="xl74" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 266pt;">Baharagora, Ghatsila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Seraikella, Kharsawan, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jaganathpur, Manoharpur, Chakradharpur, Tamar, Mandar, Torpa, Khunti, Sisai, Simdega, Kolebira</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 38.25pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Three</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Dec 12, Thursday</td> <td class="xl74" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 266pt;">Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Mandu, Hazaribagh, Simaria, Barkagaon, Ramgarh, Dhanwar, Gomia, Bermo, Ichagarh, Silli, Khijri, Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl73" style="height: 38.25pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Four</td> <td class="xl67" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Dec 16, Monday</td> <td class="xl75" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 266pt;">Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi, Baghmara, Bokaro, Chandankiyari, Madhupur, Deoghar, Bagodar, Jamua, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="xl76" style="height: 39pt; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none;">Five</td> <td class="xl77" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none;">Dec 20, Friday</td> <td class="xl78" style="border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; width: 266pt;">Rajmahal, Boiro, Barhait, Litipara, Pakur, Maheshpur, Sikaripara, Dumka, Jama, Jarmundi, Nala, Jamtara, Sarath, Poreyahat, Godda, Mahagama</td> </tr></tbody></table> 2. Who is likely to win the election? The total number of seats in Jharkhand assembly is 81 and therefore the winning coalition needs at least 41 seats to be undisputed in government formation. As seen in the Maharashtra election, the BJP, which is in power in Jharkhand since 2014, is likely to be the single-largest party with maximum seats in the state assembly, according to a C-Voter survey put out by IANS. However, it may not have the majority and so, it will need allies. BJP and its declared allies are likely to bag 33 seats (taking the midpoint of the projection), and its rivals including the Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) may bag around thirty seats. It'll be another neck-and-neck fight! 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Jharkhand election: C-voter survey" msid="72270364" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It seems like a neck-and-neck fight in the Jharkhand assembly election. BJP and its declared allies may get about 33 seats while the rival Congress-JMM-RJD alliance may get about 30 seats, according to a C-Voter survey ahead of the first phase of polling on November 30.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>

























 3. What are the key issues for the voters in the Jharkhand state election? Jharkhand has what is called the 'resource curse' globally. Across the world from Africa to Pakistan to Papua New Guinea, places that are rich in minerals and other natural resources have most of its people suffering from back-breaking poverty. Jharkhand has been no different for many decades until recently. Between 2005-06 and 2015-16, the state lifted millions of people from poverty — the multidimensional poverty reduced to 46.5% from 74.9%, according to a United Nations Report this year — but it still remains one of India's poorest states on many counts. Therefore, "Around 25% eligible voters said employment and matters related to doing business were the most important for them in this election," the C-Voter survey that spoke to nearly 9,000 voters said. The slow implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which promised to recognise the land rights of forest dwellers, has <a href="https://www.indiaspend.com/in-jharkhand-forest-rights-could-decide-votes-in-77-assembly-seats/" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">reportedly</a> led to dissatisfaction in 62 of the 81 assembly constituencies. That's 77% of the constituencies where voters are angry with the current government, an <a href="https://www.indiaspend.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Revised-AC-State-Brief-of-Jharkhand-converted.pdf">analysis</a> by an independent research group has concluded. 4. Are people happy with the current government in Jharkhand? A broad answer will be 'No', if the C-Voter survey is to be believed. As many as 60% of the 9,000 respondents said they wanted a new Chief Minister immediately. Just as many people were unhappy with their local legislator too. However, most people still believe BJP is the best equipped to solve their problems. The number of people who believe in BJP can solve their 'issue' is as high as 45%, and that is miles ahead of any other party who have scored in single digits. 
	
	
	
 
 
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 So, while the Chief Minister (CM), Raghubar Das, is losing ground, his party, the BJP, is not. But the BJP has continued to back him as the CM for this election. 5. Who are the Chief Minister candidates in Jharkhand? Though the BJP seems to fall short of bagging a majority in the Jharkhand assembly, the sitting Chief Minister Raghubar Das is still the most popular among all Chief Minister candidates, closely followed by rival Hemant Soren from the JMM. Surprisingly for the BJP, one of its other key legislators, Arjun Munda, is gaining popularity as a possible Chief Minister though the party has not portrayed him as a candidate for the top job in the state. Munda 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 51-year old Munda lost his last state election in Jharkhand in 2014 but he has the trust of the central leadership. He is currently the Minister for Tribal Affairs in the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has been a popular mass leader in Jharkhand for a long time especially among the tribal people of the region. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/the-main-parties-in-the-jharkhand-assembly-elections-2019/articleshow/72089401.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">The Main Parties In The Jharkhand Election Scene – 2019 Assembly Elections</a>

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