The Biggest Stories of January 19, 2017

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today that he cannot use an ordinance or executive order to remove a ban on bull-taming festival Jallikattu, the AIADMK government is said to be considering bringing an ordinance under a state law to circumvent the ban; The protests, completely peaceful so far, are set to escalate in the morning, with film stars, transporters, traders and lawyers joining in. Businesses, cinemas and schools will be closed on Friday and public transport will be off the roads; As the head of the Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD, Ajit Singh has been assessed as a key component of an anti- BJP Grand Alliance, prototype Bihar, in the coming Uttar Pradesh election. But despite weeks of negotiations, the RLD, which is strong among the Jat community, especially in Western Uttar Pradesh, remains unhitched; Nearly 300 NRIs from USA, Canada and UK arrived at Delhi airport today to campaign for AAP in Punjab, where assembly elections will be held next month; all this and more in our news wrap of the day.