New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 9.40 PM NATION DEL209 LDALL ELECTIONS BJP retains Gujarat for a seventh straight term, sets new records, Bhupendra Patel to remain CM; Congress wrests Himachal from BJP Ahmedabad/Shimla: Riding high on the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP on Thursday retained power in Gujarat for a record seventh straight term pulverising the opposition to secure the biggest majority ever in the state. DEL207 ELECTIONS-BJP-LD-MODI Poll results show all sections supporting BJP; rivals exploiting social faultlines for political gains: PM Modi New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday the results of two state assembly elections and several bypolls highlight people"s support to the BJP"s vision and commitment to development rising above social "faultlines", which he said were "being exploited" by rival parties for political gains. DEL211 ELECTIONS-LDALL HIMACHAL Cong wrests Himachal from BJP, wins 40 of 68 seats, BJP gets 25 Shimla: The Congress on Thursday wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP winning 40 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985. DEL202 ELECTIONS-LD AAP-REAX AAP breached BJP"s fortress in Gujarat, will win next time: Arvind Kejriwal New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday thanked the people for helping the AAP "breach the BJP"s fortress" in Gujarat and asserted that the party would win the state the next time. DEL191 UP-BYPOLL-RESULT-LD RAMPUR Azam Khan"s bastion crumbles as BJP wins Rampur Sadar assembly seat for first time Rampur (UP): The BJP on Thursday won the Rampur Sadar assembly seat for the first time as its candidate Akash Saxena defeated his nearest Samajwadi Party rival Asim Raja by a margin of 33,702 votes in a bypoll. PAR24 RS-DHANKHAR-G20 Dhankhar seeks inputs from Rajya Sabha MPs on showcasing India"s cultural power at G-20 New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday sought suggestions from members of the House on showcasing India"s cultural power and wealth to the G-20 nations in an authentic fashion. DEL178 RSQ-NJAC No proposal at present to reintroduce NJAC: Govt in RS New Delhi: There is no proposal at present to reintroduce a bill on National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. DEL199 RSQ-JUDICIARY-VACANCIES One proposal to appoint SC judge, 8 for HC pending with govt New Delhi: One proposal of the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment of an apex court judge and eight for appointing high court judges are pending with the government, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. CAL27 BH-BYPOLL-2ND LD RESULT BJP wrests Kurhani from "Mahagathbandhan"; JD(U) blames local factors for its defeat Muzaffarpur/Patna: The ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar received a setback on Thursday when it lost the Kurhani assembly seat to the BJP, a party Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke up with barely four months ago. DEL200 UP-SP-LD PSPL Akhilesh presents SP flag to PSPL head Shivpal Yadav, indicating merger of parties Lucknow/Etawah: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday presented his party"s flag to his uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) founder Shivpal Singh Yadav in Saifai, indicating a merger of the two parties. DEL203 NIA-RAIDS-PFI PFI conspiracy case: NIA raids 3 locations in Kerala, Karnataka New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted searches at three locations in Kerala and Karnataka in connection with a criminal conspiracy by the PFI to carry out terror activities in the country, an official said. CAL26 AS-HIMANTA-LD MUSLIM MARRIAGE BJP against Muslim men having multiple wives: Himanta Morigaon (Assam): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said his party was against men from the Muslim community having multiple wives. LEGAL LGD23 SC-LD JALLIKATTU Jallikattu cannot be termed blood sport, says SC, reserves verdict on pleas against bull-taming game New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Thursday notwithstanding the cruelty involved in "Jallikattu" it cannot be termed a blood sport as nobody is using any weapon and the blood may only be an incidental thing.   LGD21 SC-COLLEGIUM-HEARING Collegium system: Troubled that govt keeps names pending for long, our job is to enforce law, says SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Thursday its job is to enforce the law as it exists and it was "troubled" with the fact that many names recommended by the collegium for appointment as judges in the higher judiciary were kept pending by the Centre for long. LGD18 SC-CHHAWLA-REVIEW-DELHI Chhawla gang-rape-murder: Delhi govt moves SC seeking review of verdict acquitting 3 convicts New Delhi: The Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its November 7 verdict acquitting three death row convicts of gang-rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl in Delhi"s Chhawla area in 2012, saying the offence was “diabolic in nature exhibiting grave depravity and bestiality” and fell under the “rarest of rare” category. FOREIGN FES53 LANKA-BUDGET Sri Lanka 2023 budget gains final parliamentary nod Colombo: Sri Lanka"s Parliament on Thursday approved the 2023 budget, with 123 lawmakers voting for and 80 opposing it in the 225-member House. FGN27 LANKA-INDIA-ECONOMY Will continue to be "steadfast friend" of Sri Lanka: India Colombo: India on Thursday said it will continue to be a "steadfast friend" of Sri Lanka and is committed to strengthening the bilateral economic partnership for mutual benefit, as it thanked President Ranil Wickremesinghe for holding "successful" talks on debt restructuring. PTI SZM