THC-crossword thread-6; 4 ans PP till 4 pm IST

[CLUELESS]

Across
8 Conceited one breaking vehicle (4) VAIN
9 Miner to search for gold (10) PROSPECTOR
10 Stop the unending battle with a bit of tact (6) THWART
11 Survey on the way out used to call an election (4,4) EXIT POLL
12 Connected flier with journalist outside meet (8) ADJOINED
14 Directions to ratify standard (6)
16 Illogical to cut short a perennial plant (4)
17 Confine daughter in a type of community that is protected (5)GATED
18 Trump, in trouble, boots out the Parisian (4)
19 Lightning’s past field of work? (6)
21 F1 driver initially circumspect about overwhelming defeat (8) MASSACRE
23 End dance game (8) FOOTBALL
26 Cushion stomach muscles with a spherical object (6) ABSORB
27 Advocate reshaped consul role (10) COUNSELLOR
28 Democrat to partly censure nobleman (4)DUKE
Down
1 Technology used in TV where each dot is shaped by a beam of light (7,3) CATHODE RAY
2 US state, well known for having a bad reputation (8) INFAMOUS
3 First time, dividing two grams of heroin, yielding precisely what is required (4,2) SPOT ON
4 Father of English leader (4)POPE
5 23 player’s snap complete (5,3)SPLIT END
6 Investigates complaint where pawn supplants King of Sweden (6)
7 23 player’s target score (4)GOAL
13 Piece of information provided by lawyer initially taken with hesitation (5) DATUM
15 Forgo? Take a chance (2,3,5) GO FOR BROKE
17 Sort of agree to embrace Satyajit’s counter to an unclear topic (4,4) GREY AREA
18 Without a bit of delay, composed shoddy rap music piece (8) RHAPSODY
20 Plan home shelter (6) INTENT
22 Are celebrities on air on such a night? (6) STARRY
24 Old bandsman, at first, with ordinary electronic instrument (4) OBOE
25 Rookie’s struggle, initially lacking rhythm (4) LULL