ACROSS
8 Rats! Rejected hero (4) STAR <=
9 Time-keeper's rouser consumes last meal (5) CLOCK {C{
10 Former President discharges queen's servant (4) PEON PE
11 Bad actor's tool? (6) HAMMER [DD]
12 Student and peer produce letter (8) LANDLORD {L}{AND}{LORD}
13 The Spanish redrafted notice for poll (8) ELECTION {EL}{NOTICE*}
15 After morning's circular letter European graduate synthesises single celled creature (6) AMOEBA {AM}{O}{E}{BA}
17 Cons boss — that is, superior — in the beginning (7) STUDIES {STUD}{IE}{S
19 Once again film others wandering around commencement of opera (7) RESHOOT {RESH{O
22 Wildly pursues, without right, and consumes (4,2) USES UP PU
24 Revolutionary Maoism captivates girl and Yankee resulting in aversion to marriage (8) MISOGAMY {MISO{G}AM*}{Y}
26 Animal destroys the panel (8) ELEPHANT*
28 First PM's dance (3-3) CHA-CHA {CHACHA}
30 Company sailors' food (4) CORN {CO}{RN}
31 Perfect scheme by student (5) IDEAL {IDEA}{L}
32 Relative taunts endlessly (4) AUNT tAUNTs
DOWN
1 It may erupt when stake is reversed (4) ETNA <=
2 Stern expert and daughter gave a scowl (8) GRIMACED {GRIM}{ACE}{D}
3 Puerto Rico, not Peru, revised tax (6) OCTROI {
4 Then oil spoilt emergency contact (7) HOTLINE*
5 Purpose of cosmetics? Frighten relatives in residence (8) SKINCARE {S{KIN}CARE}
6 God! A referendum before beginning of October? (6) APOLLO {A}{POLL}{O
7 Perform. Else, this is the way to go (4) DOOR {DO}{OR}
14 Flower? Plenty with Uncle Sam (5) LOTUS {LOT}{US}
16 Book space that is cleaner (5) BROOM {B}{ROOM}
18 Stress English redcap has leaders of Islamic State (8) EMPHASIS {E}{MP}{HAS}{I
20 Eat greedily many a preparation on December 31st (8) HOGMANAY {HOG}{MANY+A}*
21 Time Dot may be left out (7) OMITTED*
23 Drink in base, lying down (6) SUPINE {SUP}{IN}{E}
25 Nickels may be recast, in absence of Nitrogen, to produce cutting tool (6) SICKLE
27 Steal gents' model (4) LOOT {LOO}{T}
29 What you extend when you say "Have a nice day", for starters (4) HAND Acrostic Semi&lit
Reference List
Queen = R, Student = L, The Spanish = EL, Right = R, Girl = G, Yankee = Y, Sailors = RN, Daughter = D, Book = B, Redcap = MP, Base = E, Gents = LOO, Model =T
GRID
Chacha Nehru
ReplyDeleteI am off to the US on Monday early morning. Bhavan will be standing in for me on Monday and Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteAfter I get to the US my posts may become erratic and may not appear at 8:30 depending on my plans in the US. Please bear with me. If for any reason on some days, if I cannot blog, I will post the clues without solutions and commenters can submit three answers each with annotations like we do for Sunday specials.
Have a great time, Deepak and Gita!
DeleteBon voyage Sir!
DeleteHappy holidays Col
DeleteThank you Kishore, MB and Ajeesh
DeleteEnjoy yourself. How long in the US?
DeleteHappy Holidays! Have a nice journey Sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ram
DeleteHappy Holidays Colonel. Is today’s grid themed on the Indian elections? I spotted Election, Lotus, Elephant, Broom, Sickle, Hand, Loot(?) and Apollo (poll inside)
ReplyDeleteHammer and Chacha too?
DeleteBingo! Loot wasn't intended to be part of the theme .... Star was ....
DeleteWelcome to the U.S. Col. Will try to keep in touch.
DeleteThank you for the 'Elective' pleasure Kishore!
Thank you Sowmya. Today's post was in a hurry as Ramesh forgot, didn't realise there was a theme
DeleteEnjoy your trip to the US, Col. Knowing your predilections & punctuality, we. Are hopeful of having the blog going in its regularity. Your fellow- administrators are equally dedicated and are sure to keep the blog afloat and buoyant. Take care & God bless.
ReplyDeleteThanks Raju. Special tomorrow is yours
DeleteThanks for featuring my crossie in Sunday special.Hope all will enjoy.
DeleteEnjoy your trip Mr and Mrs. Deepak!
ReplyDeleteThanks KKR
DeleteChacha - to chaiwala modi who made the grandchild do cha cha cha , for a change that has become the chai pe charcha !
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable and elegantly clued grid! Perform. Else this is the way was for me the best of the lot. Also enjoyed the bad actor's tool and the book place which is xleaner in particular.
ReplyDelete@Col Happy holidays & safe journey !
ReplyDeleteThanks LV
DeleteLike Incognito's clues always. Today's fare enjoyable!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteHAMMER: The hammer which fell on Nesamani's head?
ReplyDeleteYes sir, you've hit it on the head! Though the Nesamani gag had not gone viral when I set this puzzle
DeleteBon Voyage, Col. Have a great time in the US.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vasant
DeleteAt a farm house in Pune. Away from crosswords till Monday. Lot of catching up to do.
ReplyDelete