DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:38:33 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/politics/issue-will-be-sorted-says-cm-shivakumar-on-ramalinga-reddys-resignation-676400.html Bengaluru June 5 Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday responded to Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddys resignation announcement saying the issue would be resolved through discussion and that there was ânothing to worryâ It can be noted that Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet alleging that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone back on his promise regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban portfolioThe development is perceived as a setback for Chief Minister Shivakumar who has just assumed the role The development also comes a day after the allocation of portfoliosSpeaking in Bengaluru Shivakumar described Reddy as a close friend and senior colleague and said he would personally speak to him to resolve the matterâRamalinga Reddy is my colleague he is a senior leader and a close friend He has said that he is unable to work while travelling to rural areas under the Water Resources Ministry and has requested another portfolio I will discuss with him and sort out the issue There is nothing to worryâ Shivakumar saidHe further added that Reddy is among his closest cabinet colleagues and reiterated that the matter would be resolved amicablyState Congress President BK Hariprasad also reacted to the development stating that Reddy was unhappy and that discussions would be held to address his concernsâRamalinga Reddy is sad He is a senior leader of the party I will speak to him and we will sort it out There is no problemâ Hariprasad saidResponding to questions about internal dissent emerging soon after the cabinet formation Hariprasad said such situations sometimes occur in politics and should not be seen as a major issueHe also dismissed concerns that the controversy coming ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhiâs visit to Bengaluru would impact the party saying the matter would be handled internally and that Reddy would not insist on the resignation being acceptedMeanwhile AICC Secretary Abhishek Dutt met Ramalinga Reddy at his residence and attempted to pacify himTension was also reported outside Reddyâs residence in Koramangala where a large number of supporters gathered and raised slogans alleging injustice to their leader urging the party high command to intervene and resolve the issue IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/issue-will-be-sorted-says-cm-shivakumar-on-ramalinga-reddys-resignation-676400.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/woman-among-three-killed-in-armed-attack-on-manipur-village-houses-set-ablaze-676428.html Imphal June 5 At least three people including a woman were killed after unidentified armed assailants attacked a tribalinhabited village in Manipurâs Kangpokpi district on Friday officials said A police official said that armed cadres belonging to an unidentified group launched an attack on Loibol Khullen village The assault was met with retaliation by another armed group triggering a fierce exchange of fire between the rival factions that lasted for nearly half an hourThree villagers including a woman were killed during the crossfire The deceased have been identified as Letkhongam Haokip his wife Tinmary Haokip and Jangminlal HaokipFollowing the incident panicstricken residents fled their homes and took shelter in nearby forested areas to escape the violence the official saidAt least seven houses were reduced to ashes in the attack while substantial damage was also inflicted on civilian properties in the villageAdditional security forces led by senior officials have rushed to the area and launched a combing operation to nab the perpetratorsThe Kuki Inpi Manipur KIM the apex body of the Kuki tribal community in the state strongly condemned the attack and demanded an immediate investigation to identify and apprehend those responsibleIn a statement KIM Secretary Information and Publicity Janghaolun Haokip said that the deliberate killing of innocent people and the destruction of homes and livelihoods constituted a grave violation of human dignity and fundamental human rightsâThe deliberate targeting of civilians and the destruction of homes can never be justified under any circumstances KIM extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and expresses its unwavering solidarity with the affected residents of Loibol Khullen villageâ the statement saidThe KIM urged the government of India and the security agencies concerned to immediately launch a thorough investigation into the incident apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that justice is delivered without delayThe tribal body also called upon the authorities to take urgent measures to safeguard vulnerable villages and prevent further attacks on innocent civilians IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/woman-among-three-killed-in-armed-attack-on-manipur-village-houses-set-ablaze-676428.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/world-environment-day-andhra-cm-rides-bicycle-urges-people-to-plant-more-trees-676430.html Visakhapatnam June 5 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu rode a bicycle here on Friday on the occasion of World Environment Day The Chief Minister enthusiastically participated in the bicycle ride along with several other participants from the Andhra University AU campus to Novotel Hotel covering a distance of 55 kmThe 76yearold led the bicycle rally aimed at creating awareness about greenery and pollution controlThe Chief Minister who rode a bicycle for about 22 minutes made an appeal to everyone to use bicycles to reduce carbon emissions and at least plant one sapling to protect natureStating that cycling should become a way of life the Chief Minister said a dedicated cycling track is being laid in Visakhapatnam He said the government is taking measures to increase greenery in Visakhapatnam by 50 per cent âWe will implement measures across all sectors starting from the port to reduce pollution in Visakhapatnamâ he saidHe earlier planted a sapling at Andhra University Engineering College grounds The officials briefed him on the plantationEmphasising the need to protect the environment the Chief Minister stated that green coverage in Tirumala has reached almost 90 per cent He noted that green coverage at Andhra University stands at only 25 per centHe asked the ViceChancellor to take measures to increase greenery The Chief Minister said the AU campus should become a model for greenery and environmental sustainabilityHe directed that AU be transformed into a Net Zero campusThe CM voiced concern over the increasing temperature and the ecological balance getting disrupted âWe are facing extremes either intense heat or cyclonesâ he saidStating that the AU campus has 450 acres of land he called for generating solar energy to meet all its energy needsHe said trees should be planted in open spaces and solar panels installed on buildingsThe Chief Minister said that the AU campus should be transformed into a biodiversity park âSolid waste management measures must be implemented Arrangements should be made to produce biogas from waste Waste should be sent for recycling under the Swachh Patham initiative Wastewater management systems must be implemented Wastetoenergy plants should be utilisedâ he said adding PNG and electric stoves should be used for cookingThe Chief Minister suggested a team of professors should be constituted to implement the Net Zero policy He said AU should be developed to guide other educational institutions in implementing the Net Zero policy âWe are preparing a blueprint for the universitys development Students should be active partners in the universitys developmentâ he saidLegislative Assembly Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu district public representatives and officials participated in the programme IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/world-environment-day-andhra-cm-rides-bicycle-urges-people-to-plant-more-trees-676430.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharda-devis-rs-nomination-reflects-bjps-commitment-to-womens-empowerment-manipur-cm-676451.html Imphal June 5 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that the nomination of state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the June 18 election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state reflects the partyâs commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governance The Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Thursday approved the candidature of Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi for the Rajya Sabha election from Manipur as part of the biennial elections to the Upper House of ParliamentThe Rajya Sabha election has been necessitated as the term of the sitting member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba of the BJP is set to end on June 21Expressing his gratitude to the BJP central leadership for nominating Sharda Devi as the partyâs candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections the Chief Minister in a Facebook post said âMy heartfelt congratulations to Smt Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi ji on this significant responsibility Her nomination reflects the partyâs commitment to empowering women and ensuring greater participation of women in public life and governanceââI am confident that she will effectively represent the aspirations of the people of Manipur and contribute towards the vision of a Viksit Manipur and Viksit Bharatâ Singh saidReacting to her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat Sharda Devi said that if elected to the Upper House of Parliament her foremost priorities would be the restoration of lasting peace in Manipur and the rehabilitation and resettlement of people displaced by the ethnic violence that has affected the stateâI am deeply humbled and grateful to the BJP leadership especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Nitin Nabin for reposing their faith in me and giving me the opportunity to contest the Rajya Sabha elections from Manipurâ she told the media on FridaySenior BJP leader and the stateâs Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh also congratulated Sharda Devi on being chosen by the party high command as the BJP candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from ManipurIn a Facebook post Govindas Singh said âThis nomination is a testament to your dedicated leadership tireless hard work and unwavering commitment to the progress of our state We are confident that you will be a strong and effective voice for the people of Manipur in the Upper House Wishing you grand success in this new responsibilityâElections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across the country including four from the Northeastern region will be held on June 18The polls are scheduled for seats from Manipur Meghalaya Arunachal Pradesh Mizoram Karnataka four seats Andhra Pradesh four seats Gujarat four seats Madhya Pradesh three seats Rajasthan three seats and Jharkhand two seats IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharda-devis-rs-nomination-reflects-bjps-commitment-to-womens-empowerment-manipur-cm-676451.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cabinet-expansion-12-mlas-sworn-in-as-ministers-676462.html Guwahati June 5 IANS Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Friday administered the oath of office and secrecy to 12 ministers in the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma completing the formation of the new state government following the NDAs emphatic victory in the recently concluded Assembly electionsnbspnbspThe swearingin ceremony was held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati in the presence of Chief Minister Sarma senior BJP leaders legislators and government officialsThe 12 legislators who took oath as Cabinet Ministers were Ashwini Ray Sarkar Ashok Singhal Bimal Borah Biswajit Daimary Jayanta Malla Baruah Kaushik Rai Keshab Mahanta Krishnendu Paul Nilima Devi Pijush Hazarika Ranoj Pegu and Susanta BorgohainnbspWith the latest induction the strength of the Council of Ministers has risen to 17 including Chief Minister Sarma and the four ministers who had already been sworn in earlier Ajanta Neog Rameswar Teli Atul Bora and Charan BoroThe composition of the new cabinet reflects a blend of continuity and change with the BJP leadership retaining several experienced ministers from the previous government while inducting fresh facesnbspSenior leaders such as Ashok Singhal Pijush Hazarika Jayanta Malla Baruah Ranoj Pegu Bimal Borah and AGP leader Keshab Mahanta have retained their Cabinet berths signalling the partys confidence in their administrative experienceAt the same time Ashwini Ray Sarkar Biswajit Daimary Nilima Devi and Susanta Borgohain have entered the Council of Ministers for the first time Daimary had served as Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly in the previous termnbspThe new ministry also marks the exit of some ministers from the previous government including Chandra Mohan Patowary Jogen Mohan and Urkhao Gwra BrahmaFormer Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass has been appointed Speaker of the AssemblynbspPolitical observers view the cabinet formation as an effort to maintain administrative continuity while expanding regional and social representation within the government The ministry was constituted weeks after Sarma assumed office for a second consecutive term as Chief Minister following the NDAs decisive victory in the 2026 Assam Assembly electionsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cabinet-expansion-12-mlas-sworn-in-as-ministers-676462.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/arbitrariness-of-private-schools-should-be-halted-kejriwal-on-punjabs-move-to-cap-fee-hike-676468.html New Delhi June 5 IANS Two days after the Punjab government unveiled a proposed regulatory framework to cap annual fee increases of private schools at five per cent Aam Aadmi Party AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the arbitrariness of private schools should now come to a haltnbspnbspThe proposed legislation in Punjab will mandate refunds of excess fees collected from parents wherever schools breached the annual limit in the past three years and prescribe stringent penalties that can ultimately lead to cancellation of a schools recognitionIn a video posted on X Kejriwal said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently announced that a law will soon be implemented in Punjab under which no private school will be able to increase fees to more than five per cent in a year which includes all kinds of fees like library development etcnbspThe most important thing is all those schools which have increased more than 15 per cent of their fees in the last three years will have to refund the excess amount he addedGiving an example Kejriwal said If any school has increased 50 per cent fees in the last three years it has to refund 35 per centnbspHe claimed that such a law is being implemented for the first time in the history of Indias education systemnbspHave you ever heard a private school refunding your fees back to your bank account he askednbspEarlier when we AAP had the government in Delhi we had refunded the fees of students The same thing is now taking place in Punjab he mentioned while emphasising that every parent dreams of providing quality education to their kidsHighlighting that the quality of education is improving in Punjabs government schools he cited that the state has topped the NITI Aayogs School Education Quality Report 2026 Punjab surpassed even Kerala he remarkednbspMaintaining that all private schools are not bad Kejriwal said Certain private schools charge arbitrary fees regarding various aspects of the schools which become a burden on parents This is a big step which will come as a relief for both parents and studentsI think the arbitrariness of private schools across the country should now come to a halt he assertednbspFurther the AAP chief urged for the implementation of a similar law across the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/arbitrariness-of-private-schools-should-be-halted-kejriwal-on-punjabs-move-to-cap-fee-hike-676468.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cong-crisis-unhappy-minister-muniyappa-refuses-to-take-charge-of-food-ministry-676472.html Bengaluru June 5 IANS In another setback to the newly formed Karnataka government under DK Shivakumar veteran Congress leader and Minister KH Muniyappa has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the allocation of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced that he will not assume charge of the ministrynbspThe senior minister has also urged the partys high command to step in to rectify the wrong done to himnbspThe move follows a similar development in which senior Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced his resignation citing displeasure over portfolio allocationSources stated that the ministers are unhappy with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharges son Priyank Kharge and former CM Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra Siddaramaiah getting plum postsnbspnbspSpeaking in Devanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district on Friday Muniyappa said he would not take charge as Food Minister I will not take charge of the Food Department he statednbspHe added that the party high command should recognise the seniority of leaders and correct the issues with the portfolio allocation Until then I will not take charge of the ministry allotted to me he reiteratedMuniyappa who previously served as a Union Minister in the then UPA governments at the Centre said he has extensive administrative experience He stressed that the responsibility lies with the high command to ensure proper allocation of portfolios and to communicate decisions that uphold leadership seniority and public trustnbspHe also said that Mallikarjun Kharge should have taken steps to accommodate all leaders He is in a position like a mother and should have taken everyone along I believe he will address and correct the issue Muniyappa saidThe minister further stated that he has brought the matter to the attention of Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and KC Venugopal as well as former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and current Chief Minister DK Shivakumar He expressed hope that the leadership would resolve the issuenbspMuniyappa clarified that he does not wish to criticise anyone personally but insisted that mistakes in portfolio allocation should be corrected by the party high commandHis strong reaction comes shortly after similar dissent from Ramalinga Reddy further intensifying concerns within the Karnataka Cabinet over portfolio distribution and adding pressure on the DK Shivakumarled government amid internal disagreementsnbspA seventime Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the seniormost leaders in the Karnataka CongressnbspA former Union Minister he is known for his loyalty to the party and his peoplefriendly approach He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies His daughter M Roopakala Shashidhar is a twotime MLA representing the KGF seatnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cong-crisis-unhappy-minister-muniyappa-refuses-to-take-charge-of-food-ministry-676472.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/munirs-quest-for-absolute-control-risks-pushing-pakistan-deeper-into-unrest-676473.html New Delhi June 5 Pakistan is a democracy but only technically After Asim Munir took over as the chief of the Pakistan Army he has managed to get almost all institutions under his control While major agencies such as the ISI are under the control of the Pakistan Army Field Marshal Asim Munir now proposes to get all the police forces under him An official said that the proposal is to have a single command and every major institution relating to security would under the control of the Pakistan ArmyMunir has become the allimportant man in Pakistan and today even has a say over the countryâs budgetThe Pakistan budget which is the need of the hour for the people owing to a collapsed economy has been facing delays due to unwarranted demands by the ArmyMunir wants the defence spending to increase multifold a demand that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif government has been resisting Both sides have not been on the same page and the Sharif government feels that defence allocation has to be lower and more has to be spent for the peopleOfficials say that Munir does not care about Sharifâs point of view and hence has been sparring over defence spending Munirâs demand is that defence spending should be increased by 25 per cent which the government feels is unreasonableMunir has been linking all his decisions to the failure on the part of the security forces to rein in the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA and TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTPHe feels that if all the security forces work under one command there would be better coordination and enhanced Intelligence sharingWhile Munir cites militancy as the reason the fact is that he wants absolute control of the country He feels that he could rein in the BLA and TTP if all forces come under one command and do not remain under state controlThe army chief wants to take away the distinction between the civilian law enforcement agencies and the external defence forcesIf he manages to enforce this then he has complete control over the provincial governments as well an official explainedAn Intelligence Bureau official said that all this has a lot to do with Munirâs failure as an army chief He has failed the people by taking over the political class He has not managed to rein in the TTP or BLA Ties with the Afghan Taliban have vanished under his watch And yes there was Operation Sindoor which left him exposed the official addedAnother official said that Munir is once again being blind to the real problems Such a decision would have a disastrous effect on the already troubled regions of Sindh Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPThe people are already distressed and in regions such as Balochistan and KP the people are in an all out war against the Pakistan establishmentThe official said that the people here are distressed by the lack of development in the region They have been complaining that all their rich resources are being taken away and diverted to cities such as Islamabad Karachi and RawalpindiEven the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor Project CPEC is being opposed in Balochistan as they feel that they would benefit nothing out of itThis explains the large number of attacks by the BLA on this project which has left Beijing fumingPakistan watchers and experts say that Munir feels controlling the security forces of these regions would have him and his army in control It may work but very briefly and eventually the anger of the already distressed people will take overThe regions which are already witnessing large scale violence will only witness an increase in the number of attacks the experts say They also add that the Pakistan army chief is flirting with danger and his bid to have complete control over everything will eventually backfire badly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/munirs-quest-for-absolute-control-risks-pushing-pakistan-deeper-into-unrest-676473.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-floats-new-youth-centric-movement-after-bjp-exit-to-contest-next-tn-polls-676480.html Chennai June 5 Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Friday announced his departure from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and launched a new youthfocused movement âWe the Leadersâ He said the movement would eventually be transformed into a political party later and would contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections In a video message Annamalai said his decision stemmed from a desire to pursue the mission that had originally drawn him into public life He stated that he had joined the BJP to bring positive change to Tamil Nadu and improve the lives of the people but had now chosen a different political pathAnnamalai said he had informed the BJP leadership of his intention to leave the party in December 2025 According to him senior leaders had requested that he remain with the party until the completion of the Tamil Nadu election process before formally stepping down He added that he had consulted top BJP leaders before taking the final decisionWhile expressing the highest respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi Annamalai revealed that he had disagreed with the BJP on several issues over the past 18 months He also reiterated his longstanding view that the BJP should contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on its own hinting at his differences over the tieup with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMKHe maintained that he did not want to become a problem for the party and therefore chose to move onAnnouncing the launch of âWe the Leadersâ Annamalai said his new outfit would contest the upcoming elections in the state Describing his political journey as a âsolo battleâ he said he was attempting to create a new path for himself while remaining committed to Tamil Naduâs identity and aspirationsThe former IPS officer said he wanted to walk alongside ordinary people and focus on politics centred on public welfare He argued that national parties often fail to fully understand the sentiments and expectations of the people of Tamil NaduAnnamalai also launched a sharp attack on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay saying politics should not be confined to a single family Declaring that there was âno place for cult and dynasty politicsâ he said he was determined to move beyond personalitydriven politics and build a peoplecentric political alternative in the stateHe further claimed that several prominent personalities including superstar Rajinikanth had urged him to join them politically but he had chosen to chart his own courseAnnamalai had resigned from the BJP and the partyâs national president Nitin Nabin on Friday accepted the resignation from the primary membership of the party His announcement has further fuelled expectations that the former IPS officer may finally reveal his next political move after several days of speculation about a possible departure from the BJPAhead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections this year Annamalai had quit the party positions over the BJPâs move for a prepoll alliance with the AIADMK in the state Despite quitting the party positions he had taken part in the campaigning of the party in the assembly pollsA former Karnataka cadre IPS officer Annamalai resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019 before entering politics Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks Within a year he was appointed Tamil Nadu BJP president becoming one of the youngest state chiefs in the party and a prominent face of its expansion efforts in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-floats-new-youth-centric-movement-after-bjp-exit-to-contest-next-tn-polls-676480.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hema-malini-extends-birthday-wishes-to-yogi-adityanath-praises-his-support-for-mathura-development-676505.html Mumbai June 5 Actress and Mathura MP Hema Malini has extended warm birthday wishes to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on his 54th birthday Taking to Instagram she praised the CMâs continued support for the development of Mathura The veteran actress appreciated his understanding of the constituencyâs needs and highlighted his cooperation in advancing various development initiatives Sharing her picture with Yogi Adityanath Hema wrote âAll prayers for Yogi ji CM of UP on his Janam Din today As MP of Mathura it is always a pleasure interacting with him about my constituencyâs development He understands my needs as he shares my vision for Mathura and is always ready to help May God grant him a long healthy life and many more years of service to the nation myogiadityanath happybirthday Mathura chiefministerâIn the picture the âSholayâ actor dressed in a saree is seen receiving a bouquet from Yogi AdityanathVeteran actress Jaya Prada also extended her greeting to Yogi Adityanath She wrote on Instagram âHearty congratulations and best wishes to the successful Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh respected Mr Yogi Adityanath on his birthday Your dedication to public service is inspiring Your strong transparent and dedicated leadership in public interest has given new direction to Uttar Pradesh Praying for your good health and longevity to Lord Shri Ram myogiadityanathâDefence Minister Rajnath Singh Bahujan Samaj Party BSP president Mayawati and several other prominent leaders also took to social media to extend birthday greetings to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Singh tweeted âHeartiest birthday wishes to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji Due to his strong resolve and tireless efforts Uttar Pradesh is today moving rapidly on the path of progress and prosperityâInterestingly Yogi Adityanath celebrated his 54th birthday along with World Environment Day by planting a sapling under the âEk Ped Maa Ke Naamâ initiative The plantation drive took place at his residence in Lucknow IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hema-malini-extends-birthday-wishes-to-yogi-adityanath-praises-his-support-for-mathura-development-676505.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rs-polls-rahul-gandhi-kharge-arrive-in-bengaluru-for-aicc-chiefs-nomination-amid-ktaka-cong-crisis-676509.html Bengaluru June 5 Amid the crisis faced by the new Congress government led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Bengaluru on Friday to take part in the filing of nomination by Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from the state Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to take part in the filing of nomination by Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka at the Vidhana Soudha along with senior leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali KhanUpon their arrival Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar State Congress President BK Hariprasad and former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee CWC member SiddaramaiahLater Rahul Gandhi planted a sapling and watered it upon his arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Delhi on Friday ahead of attending the nomination filing event of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha electionsChief Minister DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Minister MB Patil and other senior leaders were present on the occasionIt can be recalled that Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet alleging that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone back on his promise regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban portfolioThe development also comes a day after the allocation of portfoliosSpeaking from his Koramangala office in Bengaluru Reddy said he would submit his resignation and leave it to the leadership to decide whether to accept it or notHe further claimed that during the current government formation process he was promised the Bengaluru Urban portfolio after 25 years and was persuaded to accept the arrangementHe alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the promise would be honoured He said that despite repeated assurances he was later allocated the Water Resources portfolio instead of Bengaluru UrbanIn another setback to the newly formed Karnataka government veteran Congress leader and Minister K H Muniyappa has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the allocation of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced that he will not assume charge of the ministry Senior minister has also urged the high command to step in rectify what has gone wrongA seventime Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the seniormost leaders in the Karnataka Congress A former Union Minister he is known for his loyalty to the party and his peoplefriendly approach He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rs-polls-rahul-gandhi-kharge-arrive-in-bengaluru-for-aicc-chiefs-nomination-amid-ktaka-cong-crisis-676509.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/modi-govts-12-year-journey-reflects-new-indias-rise-shashank-mani-676519.html DW Bureau Rahul chaubey DeorianbspMarking the completion of 12 years of the Narendra Modiled government at the Centre Deoria MP Shashank Mani along with party office bearers visited Gayatripuram in the city and interacted with intellectuals while highlighting the major achievements of the government over the past decadeAddressing the gathering Shashank Mani said that the country is witnessing a historic phase under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi These 12 years are not merely a period of governance but the story of Indias transformation into a stronger selfreliant and globally respected nation Under Modi Jis leadership India has removed the word impossible from its dictionary he saidHe stated that the governments vision of Antyodayaupliftment of the last person in societyhas reached the grassroots level More than 80 crore people are receiving free ration over 12 crore toilets have been built 4 crore pucca houses constructed and nearly 10 crore Ujjwala gas connections distributed Through the Jal Jeevan Mission tap water has reached around 15 crore households Ayushman Bharat has provided health coverage of up to 5 lakh to nearly 55 crore citizens These are not just figures they represent transformed lives he addedHighlighting Indias economic growth the MP said that India has risen from being the worlds 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 5th largest economy today and is steadily moving toward becoming the third largest economy in the world He further noted that under the Make in India initiative India has emerged as the secondlargest mobile manufacturing hub globallySpeaking about the digital revolution Shashank Mani said India has become a global leader in digital payments through UPI Today more than 1400 crore UPI transactions are taking place every month showcasing the strength of Indias digital ecosystem he saidOn infrastructure development he said that more than 53000 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed during the last 12 years Vande Bharat trains expansion of airports waterways Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects have accelerated Indias growth Optical fibre connectivity and 4G5G services have now reached nearly six lakh villages he saidReferring to national security the MP stated that surgical strikes and air strikes demonstrated the strength and determination of a New India that knows how to respond decisively He also mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 saying it integrated Jammu and Kashmir more closely with the national mainstreamShashank Mani further said that Indias successful leadership during the G20 Presidency elevated the nations stature on the global stage Today no major international issue can be discussed without Indias participation he remarkedTalking about cultural and spiritual revival he said the longawaited construction of the Ram Temple had become a reality while projects like the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Mahakal Lok and Kedarnath redevelopment restored the pride of Indias spiritual heritage He also emphasized that Yoga and Ayurveda have gained worldwide recognition under the Modi governmentTwelve years ago India was often associated with delays and indecisiveness Today the nation is recognized for performance delivery and determination This remarkable transformation is the result of Prime Minister Modis visionary leadership and the hard work of 140 crore Indians he addedAmong those present on the occasion were Nagar President Ramesh Verma Media Incharge Prabhakar Tiwari Sudhir Srivastava Nagar Mahamantri Sudhir Madhesia along with intellectuals and dignitaries including Kailash Nath Chaturvedi BD Pandey Omprakash Singh Kushwaha Anand Mani Vijay Prasad Devanandan Yadav and Udaybhan Tiwari https://dailyworld.in/politics/modi-govts-12-year-journey-reflects-new-indias-rise-shashank-mani-676519.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/smart-border-project-to-create-impregnable-security-grid-hm-shah-to-bsf-jawans-676526.html Agartala June 5 IANS Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reiterated that the government will establish an impregnable border security grid by launching the Smart Border Project equipped with drones modern cameras and advanced surveillance technologiesnbspAddressing BSF personnel at the Lankamura Border Outpost along the IndiaBangladesh border in West Tripura district the Home Minister said that the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 would not be possible without ensuring the countrys securityHM Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making India a developed nation by 2047 Before achieving complete development and fulfilling the Prime Ministers vision it is essential to ensure a fully secure nationnbspHe added that the country is not only dealing with traditional challenges of war or conflict but also facing serious threats such as drug smuggling human trafficking cattle smuggling youth drug abuse and the circulation of fake currency that affects the national economyLauding the role of BSF personnel in guarding sensitive borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh HM Shah said the countrys citizens appreciate the dedication perseverance and commitment of BSF jawans ften more than that of ministers and bureaucratsnbspReferring to the Smart Border Fencing initiative which is proposed to be implemented at around 78 selective locations across different states where BSF and SSB are deployed he said the project is in its finalisation stage and a pilot project will be launched next yearHe further said the fullfledged Smart Border Project will be implemented after evaluating the shortcomings identified during the pilot phasenbspBorder security will be ensured in totality not in a fragmented manner the Home Minister saidnbspHM Shah noted that the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh present different challenges particularly in relation to drug smuggling infiltration human trafficking and the dropping of arms and narcotics via drones along with other malicious activities originating from across the borderThe Home Minister said the government is fully aware of the issues faced by BSF personnel and their families and has taken several measures to address their concerns and improve welfare conditionsnbspHe also asserted that the government will not tolerate demographic changes in West Bengal Tripura and Bihar due to infiltration and said the Centre is taking steps to strengthen border management and bridge existing gaps in security arrangementsnbspAt the beginning of his address HM Shah paid tribute on the death anniversary of Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar the second Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh widely revered as Shri GurujiThe Home Minister said Shri Guruji dedicated his entire life to nationbuilding characterbuilding and the preservation of Indian culture and left behind a legacy of ascetic discipline that continues to inspire generationsnbspDoing great work but never seeking recognition he had immense dedication towards the development of the country its security culture history language and heritage and inspired lakhs of karyakartas across the nation HM Shah saidReiterating that Guruji laid a strong ideological foundation for cultural nationalism and established service as the greatest force in nationbuilding HM Shah said the RSS under his leadership carried out public awakening across all spheres of national life and elevated national consciousness to new heightsnbspHe added that Gurujis ideas of selfreliance Swadeshi and national resurgence will continue to inspire the younger generation to always work in the interest of the nationnbspAmong those present at the event were Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka Secretary Border Management Rajendra Kumar Director General of BSF Praveen Kumar and Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier Alok Chakraborty https://dailyworld.in/politics/smart-border-project-to-create-impregnable-security-grid-hm-shah-to-bsf-jawans-676526.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/stir-in-ktaka-cong-after-reddys-resignation-hk-patil-calls-it-warning-bell-for-shivakumar-govt-676535.html Bengaluru June 5  Veteran Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister HK Patil said on Friday that Ramalinga Reddys resignation was a warning bell for the Shivakumar government Referring to reports in the media he said he had seen the news about Reddyâs resignation and later spoke to him over the phoneSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru Patil said Ramalinga Reddy is his friend and that he had personally contacted him to understand the situation He said Reddy had conveyed his views during the conversation and urged that the leadership should take immediate attention to the matterPatil later posted on X I request my friend Sri Ramalinga Reddy again to reconsider his stand in larger interest of party His resignation is a massive wake up call I urge the relevant leaders to bestow their serious attention to resolve this matter justlyHK Patil one of the seniormost leaders and a close associate of Siddaramaiah has not been chosen for the council of ministers who took oath with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar He has said that he was hopeful of making it to the cabinet in the second phase Former Minister KN Rajanna responding to the developments in Madhugiri town said the allocation of portfolios has been a matter of discussion and added that Ramalinga Reddyâs resignation issue is already âold newsâ He said the media should focus on fresh developmentsRajanna also questioned certain portfolio allocations asking why Eshwar Khandre had not been given the Forest Ministry that he earlier held during the Siddaramaiahled government He further asked why G Parameshwara had been given the Revenue portfolio instead of Home which he had handled earlierHe said opportunities are given based on timing and circumstances and added that whichever responsibility is assigned leaders must work in the interest of the people and deliver effective administrative performanceWhen asked about Ramalinga Reddyâs resignation Rajanna reiterated that it was old news and advised journalists to ask about any new developmentResponding to a question on whether the âtroubleshooter is now facing troubleâ in a reference to CM Shivakumar Rajanna said âWhich troubleshooter are you referring to It is the media that created that imageâMinister Eshwar Khandre said that party leaders would speak to Ramalinga Reddy and expressed confidence that he would withdraw his resignationMeanwhile Minister Priyank Kharge said that Ramalinga Reddyâs services were important for the party and the state He added that whatever the issue the party high command would resolve itVeteran Congress MLA RV Deshpande said that Reddy is a good person and described the matter as an internal issue that would be resolved within the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/stir-in-ktaka-cong-after-reddys-resignation-hk-patil-calls-it-warning-bell-for-shivakumar-govt-676535.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-in-search-of-good-politics-annamalais-new-x-profile-after-quitting-bjp-676538.html Chennai June 5 Moments after declaring his formal exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP K Annamalai sought to rebrand himself as a âcommon citizenâ aspiring to bring decisive and transformational change in Tamil Naduâs Dravidiandominated politics Annamalai having emerged as the most popular face of BJP in the runup to Assembly elections updated his profile on X and described himself as âA common man in search of good politicsâThe copturnedpolitician has made it clear that he will dissociate from the conventional politics of the state and will rather focus on leading a movement backed by people a move that will âclean upâ casteentrenched politics in the state and also challenge the dominance of Dravidian ideology which has remained prevalent for over five decadesDuring his policing career he earned the epithet of Singham owing to his unique style and hopes to replicate the same on the political battlefieldSome signs of this deeply harboured desire were visible during his sixyear stint with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP when he undertook aggressive campaigns to expand the partyâs footprint in a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties for nearly five decadesAnnamalai in his resignation letter to the BJP high command also spoke out about the dichotomy between the common man and the elite in politics and stated that he wanted to change this notionâI wanted to change the notion that politics is a path only for the elite and a select few not for the common man Iâm extremely thankful to the BJP leadership for trusting a very young and raw me with great responsibility and leadership positionsâ read excerpts from his resignation letterHe also stated that the people of Tamil Nadu have been fatigued by the general political discourse for many decades and yearned for changeâSome positive change happened in the past decade but they couldnât hold their groundâ he notedWith his formal exit from the BJP the newbie politician will go solo in steering a campaign based on the peoples power hoping to bring âmajor disruptionâ in the stateâs entrenched political systemAnnamalaiâs âcommon manâ pitch is expected to resonate with the public at large an experiment attempted in other states before however how this will pan out in the absence of any organised structure and welloiled party machinery is yet to be seen IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/common-man-in-search-of-good-politics-annamalais-new-x-profile-after-quitting-bjp-676538.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/namo-oxygen-parks-open-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-vows-plantation-of-15-lakh-saplings-676557.html New Delhi June 5 IANS Inaugurating 18 Namo Oxygen Parks Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced plans to plant more than 15 lakh saplings and hit out at the previous governments for not taking serious measures to improving the citys environmentnbspShe jointly inaugurated the Namo Oxygen Parks with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and launched a series of environmental initiatives under the nationwide campaign Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026 a statement saidUnion Minister Yadav said the 18 Namo Oxygen Parks have been developed and inaugurated in Delhi to serve as urban green lungs that improve air quality enhance biodiversity and provide recreational spaces for citizensnbspChief Minister Gupta called upon citizens to join the green drive to plant 15 saplings in a longterm sustained mannernbspShe suggested creation of local caretaking committees to nurture the saplings so that these grow into trees that clean the environmentShe said the Delhi government is just over a year old and during this period Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav have given valuable guidance on combating pollutionnbspThe event held at Namo Oxygen Park in Maidangarhi marked a significant step towards strengthening urban greening improving air quality and promoting communityled environmental stewardship in the National Capital Territory a statement saidIn a message on social media platform X Chief Minister Gupta said On the occasion of World Environment Day in the dignified presence of the Union Minister Bhupender Yadav ji the Mega Plantation Drive was inaugurated and 18 Namo Oxygen Parks were dedicated to the residents of DelhinbspI urge all Delhi residents to join the esteemed Prime Minister narendramodijis One Tree in the Name of Mother campaign plant a sapling care for it and become a part of the Green Delhi Mission she addedIn another video message the Chief Minister said that this year the Delhi government will take proactive measures to counter pollution including walltowall carpeting of all the roads to check dust cloudsnbspEarlier Union Minister Yadav said that the Delhi government in coordination with the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM is taking active measures to address major sources of air pollution including road dust vehicular emissions and industrial pollutionHe added that these measures include installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems deployment of Air Pollution Control Devices mechanised deep cleaning of roads and accelerated transition towards electric mobilitynbspThe Union Minister noted that urban greening initiatives are being undertaken across the country through the development of Namo Vans and similar ecological assets https://dailyworld.in/politics/namo-oxygen-parks-open-delhi-cm-rekha-gupta-vows-plantation-of-15-lakh-saplings-676557.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-andhra-mla-arrested-in-land-grab-case-in-hyderabad-676582.html Hyderabad June 5 Cyberabad Police have arrested former MLA from Andhra Pradesh Bolla Brahma Naidu in a case relating to the alleged conspiracy to grab prime government land worth about Rs 1000 crore The YSR Congress Party YSRCP leader the main accused in the case who was allegedly absconding has been arrested in Kancheepuram in Tamil NaduIt came a day after the Telangana High Court rejected Naiduâs petition seeking anticipatory bailAccording to police the case concerns an alleged attempt to encroach upon 10acre government land in Survey No 18 of Gandipet and to regularise it by creating and using forged Government Orders GOs fake revenue records and other fabricated documentsThe case was registered on May 23 at Narsingi Police Station on a complaint lodged by Gandipet tahsildar N Srinivas ReddyNarsinghi Police and Cyberabad Police Economic Offences Wing have so far arrested some accused as part of the investigation into the case Among them were Nimmal family members Radhakrishna and his driver Prabheen KumarAccording to the evidence collected during the investigation Bolla Brahma Naidu Bolla Ramesh Radhakrishna and Nimmal family members conspired to create fake government orders falsified official documents and forged records to illegally acquire government landAccording to the details that came to light during the investigation it was found that Brahma Naidu had made financial transactions of about Rs 12 crore as part of this conspiracy The investigation revealed that Rs 4 crore was paid to Nimmals family members Rs 4 crore to Radhakrishna and another Rs 4 crore to other related persons These funds were found to have been used to create illegal land rights through fake government permits and false documentsAccording to police Telangana High Court rejected Brahma Naiduâs bail plea considering the seriousness of the case the stage of investigation and prima facie evidenceSubsequently the absconding main accused Bolla Brahma Naidu was identified and arrested on Friday in the Kancheepuram area of Tamil Nadu as part of joint operations by Narsinghi Police and Cyberabad EoW Police the police said in a release on FridayBrahma Naidu is currently in police custody and will be produced before the Honble Court as per legal procedure it saidInvestigations are continuing into financial transactions related to the case fabrication of forged documents misappropriation of names and signatures of government officials as well as the roles of other persons involved in the conspiracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-andhra-mla-arrested-in-land-grab-case-in-hyderabad-676582.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-development-projects-worth-rs-18-800-crore-in-surat-676600.html Surat June 5 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth around Rs 18800 crore in Surat marking one of the largest infrastructure investment programmes undertaken in the city in recent yearsnbspThe projects span key sectors including transport connectivity industrial infrastructure power distribution healthcare and urban development aimed at strengthening Surats role as a major economic and industrial hub in GujaratAccording to official details released by the Prime Ministers Office the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation key packages of the eightlane accesscontrolled VadodaraMumbai Expressway which are expected to significantly improve highspeed connectivity between Gujarat and Maharashtra and enhance logistics efficiency across western IndianbspHe also laid the foundation stone for the fourlaning of critical sections of National Highway56 a project designed to improve road connectivity across tribal regions and enhance access towards the Statue of Unity corridorIn the industrial and utilities segment the Prime Minister inaugurated and dedicated multiple infrastructure projects including power transmission expansion systems aimed at strengthening Gujarats interstate electricity evacuation capacity under national grid improvementsnbspHealthcare infrastructure in Surat also received a major boost with the inauguration of a 200bed Employees State Insurance Corporation ESIC hospitalThe facility is designed to provide secondary healthcare services including emergency and trauma care diagnostic support and specialised treatment services for workers and their familiesnbspThe Prime Minister also reviewed and launched several industrial and urban infrastructure initiatives in the Surat region including developments linked to petroleum chemicals petrochemical investment regions and industrial estates aimed at improving operational efficiency and environmental compliance systemsDuring the visit Prime Minister Modi also undertook a review of ongoing industrial operations at Hazira in Surat district a key industrial and defence manufacturing hub that hosts largescale engineering and production facilitiesnbspHazira has emerged as a strategic industrial zone in Indias manufacturing ecosystem particularly in heavy engineering and defence production and has been a focal point of recent infrastructure expansion and industrial capacity upgradesThe visit forms part of a broader Gujarat and Union Territory tour that also includes development programmes in Daman and Lakshadweeplinked infrastructure projects with total investment commitments across regions exceeding Rs 20000 crorenbspThe Surat projects are expected to contribute to longterm improvements in urban mobility industrial output power reliability and healthcare access reinforcing the citys position as a key node in Indias western economic corridorIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-inaugurates-lays-foundation-of-development-projects-worth-rs-18-800-crore-in-surat-676600.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-to-be-hosted-in-ahmedabad-today-pm-modi-to-attend-virtually-676115.html Ahmedabad June 4 The 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship will take place in Gujarats Ahmedabad starting Thursday Hosted at the EKA Arena the event brings together 400 athletes from more than 60 countries to compete in traditional artistic rhythmic pairs and team Yogasana eventsThe fiveday event June 48 will bring together participants from countries including the United States Ghana Kenya Malaysia Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan marking the first global championship for Yogasana as a competitive sportEarlier on Wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and said Yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world Tomorrow on 4th June a very special competition the 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 commences in Ahmedabad This platform has brought together Yoga enthusiasts from around the world It is a significant milestone on the global sporting roadmap for Yogasana I will be joining the event via technology as well at around 640 PM tomorrow evening My compliments to those who have organised such an innovative event and best wishes to all taking part he addedSupported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports the Ministry of Ayush the Sports Authority of India SAI the Sports Authority of Gujarat Gujarat Tourism and the Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association the championship is being seen as an important milestone in the effort to establish Yogasana as an internationally recognised sporting disciplineHosts India will field a 122member contingent Athletes will compete across six age categories SubJunior 10 to 14 years Junior 14 to 18 years Senior 18 to 28 years Senior A 28 to 35 years Senior B 35 to 45 years and Senior C 45 to 55 years for both men and womenThe competition will feature individual events artistic events and traditional group categories The organisers will also introduce an electronic scoring system at the global level for the first time aimed at improving transparency and consistency in judgingThe championship will be overseen by 32 international judges and 51 national judgesSpeaking ahead of the event Yogasana Bharat president Udit Sheth said the championship would provide a major platform for athletes and help take Yogasana to a wider global audienceDelighted to see us hosting this pioneering World Yogasana Championship at Eka Arena Ahmedabad with 60plus countries Itâs a fantastic platform for the Indian national team and to take Yogasana sport to the world perhaps Indiaâs greatest contribution to the world of sports Sheth saidWorld Yogasana general secretary Dr Jaideep Arya described the event as a landmark moment for the disciplineThe World Yogasana Championship is more than a competition it is a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana as a global sport For the first time athletes from more than 60 countries will come together on one stage to demonstrate the athleticism discipline and artistry that Yogasana represents he saidThe championship will begin with an opening ceremony on Wednesday The competition will be broadcast live on Doordarshan from 9 am to 9 pm daily and streamed on the broadcasters YouTube channel from June 4 to 8 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-to-be-hosted-in-ahmedabad-today-pm-modi-to-attend-virtually-676115.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-ncr-braces-for-rainy-spell-as-monsoon-advances-towards-india-676117.html New Delhi June 4 DelhiNCR is likely to witness a prolonged spell of wet and unsettled weather through Friday with forecasts indicating intermittent rainfall thunderstorms lightning and strong winds The changing weather pattern is likely to provide relief from intense summer heat keeping temperatures below the seasonal average during the first week of June According to the India Meteorological Department IMD the national capital will experience partly cloudy to generally cloudy skies over the next few days A yellow alert has been issued for Thursday and Friday warning of light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms lightning and gusty winds Wind speeds are expected to reach 4050 kmph with occasional gusts touching 60 kmphAlthough no weather alert has been announced for Saturday similar atmospheric conditions are likely to continue Meteorologists have attributed the expected rainfall to normal premonsoon activity which typically influences northern India during JuneThe anticipated showers are expected to prevent temperatures from crossing the 40degree Celsius mark for at least the next six days Weather officials predict that daytime temperatures will remain between 36 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius during the opening week of the month offering residents a coolerthanusual start to June Historically average maximum temperatures during the first nine days of June hover around 40 degrees CelsiusRecent observations from Safdarjung the cityâs primary weather station reflected this trend The station recorded a maximum temperature of 391 degrees Celsius slightly below the seasonal norm The minimum temperature stood at 274 degrees Celsius marginally above averageMeanwhile the southwest monsoon will reach Kerala on Thursday marking the commencement of Indiaâs annual fourmonth rainy season The arrival of the monsoon is a major meteorological milestone as it plays a vital role in supporting agriculture replenishing water reservoirs and sustaining economic activity across the countryThe IMD has forecast widespread rainfall across several regions including Kerala and Coastal Karnataka where heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected in the coming days Weather systems active over the Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas are creating favourable conditions for rainfall across large parts of southern eastern northeastern and northwestern IndiaThe advancement of the monsoon is being closely monitored as its progress influences farming operations water availability and overall weather patterns nationwide As southern states receive the seasonâs first substantial rains northern regions such as DelhiNCR are also likely to benefit from increased moisture and premonsoon showers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-ncr-braces-for-rainy-spell-as-monsoon-advances-towards-india-676117.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-raids-ex-trinamool-mla-saokat-mollas-residence-in-bengals-south-24-parganas-676131.html Kolkata June 4 The National Investigation Agency NIA on Thursday raided the house of former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla in South 24 Parganas district NIA officials went to Saokats house in Jibantala village in ââthe Canning block of the district The search operation began in the presence of a large number of Central force personnel The investigators are also searching the party office adjacent to Saokats houseHowever it was initially reported that Saokat was not at home at the time of the raid The investigators were questioning his son Imran Molla Saokats wife and daughter were also in the houseAccording to NIA sources the search operation is in connection with the investigation into the bomb blast incident in the South Bamunia area in the same districtThe blast occurred a few days before the state Assembly elections in which one person died and several others were injuredNawsad Siddiquis party Indian Secular Front ISF had demanded an NIA investigation into the incident Later the NIA took over the responsibility of the investigation As part of the probe the NIA was conducting the raid at Saokats house and his party office Sources said that Saokat fled the house before NIA officers came for the raidMore details are awaitedEarlier the NIA had arrested several people including Trinamool leader Wahidul Islam in the investigation of the bomb blastSaokat is a former Trinamool MLA from Canning Purba constituency He was elected from this constituency twice in a row in 2016 and 2021He contested the 2026 Assembly election from the Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas district but lost to ISF candidate Nawsad Since then he has not been seen much in public However on Wednesday after Ritabrata Banerjee was recognised as the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Saokat went to the Assembly and met him He is known to be close to Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and helped him gain ground in South 24 Parganas district as a party strongman IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-raids-ex-trinamool-mla-saokat-mollas-residence-in-bengals-south-24-parganas-676131.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/white-paper-sparks-cm-satheesan-lop-vijayan-face-off-in-kerala-assembly-676146.html Thiruvananthapuram June 4 A sharp exchange erupted between Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly on Thursday over the preparation of the White Paper on Keralaâs financial position The confrontation began after Vijayan alleged that the White Paper was not prepared by the Finance Department and was a political documentHis remarks came after CM Satheesan said that several previous White Papers had also carried political dimensionsVijayan said the government had no right to expect the Opposition to follow its approach and alleged that the issue was a violation of proceduresâThis is not about following your policy The question is whether proper procedures were followedâ Vijayan said following which Opposition members raised slogans in the HouseReplying to the Opposition leader Satheesan said Vijayanâs remarks were political in nature and that he had criticised the White Paper without even examining it fullyâThe Opposition leader has a preconceived notion We have our own method of functioningâ Satheesan said and asked Vijayan to first read itEarlier former Finance Minister KN Balagopal had raised objections over the White Paper alleging that official documents had been shared with outsiders for its preparationHe claimed that such a process was against established procedures and that confidential financial information should not have been handled in such a mannerBalagopal said the Finance Department should have prepared the document after taking its officials into confidence and sought a ruling from the SpeakerResponding to the allegations Satheesan said there was no breach of secrecy and that no confidential document had been leakedâThese are all documents available in the public domain The report was prepared under the leadership of the Finance Department and was approved by the Cabinet Expert assistance was taken only for analysisâ the Chief Minister saidSatheesan maintained that the White Paper was an assessment of Keralaâs financial health and not a political documentâThe question before us is what is the actual financial condition of Kerala Many earlier White Papers had political content but this is not a political documentâ he saidThe heated exchange over the White Paper marked the first major confrontation between the government and Opposition during the Assembly session turning the stateâs financial crisis into a political battle IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/white-paper-sparks-cm-satheesan-lop-vijayan-face-off-in-kerala-assembly-676146.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/those-after-power-go-with-shivakumar-those-who-want-to-strengthen-party-join-me-ktaka-cong-chief-hariprasad-676157.html Bengaluru June 4 Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President BK Hariprasad said on Thursday that those seeking positions and power may align with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar while those focused on strengthening the organisation are welcome to work with him in building the party structure He made the remarks while speaking to the media after meeting Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara in Bengaluru The statements are likely to stir controversy âWhoever wants power let them go behind DK Shivakumar Whoever wants to organise and strengthen the party can come with me Let us share responsibilities and move forward together I will assure party workers of this and stand with themâ Hariprasad saidHe further said that party workers need not be concerned about organisational changes and that he would take responsibility for their welfareâThose who want to strengthen the party can come with us Those who have worked at different levels in the government and organisation should join hands for strengthening the partyâ he addedReferring to the national leadership Hariprasad said senior leaders including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been working to strengthen the organisationâThey are striving to build the party If we want to strengthen their efforts we should also come to the streets and participate in strugglesâ he saidReiterating his earlier point Hariprasad said there was no hidden meaning in his statement and that it should be understood in the context of organisational responsibilitiesâWhoever wants power and posts can go with DK Shivakumar Whoever wants to strengthen the organisation and support the leadership of Sonia Gandhi Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge can come with me There is no hidden meaning in thisâ he clarifiedHe added that the organisational work of the party would be taken forward in an expedited manner and assured party workers that he would stand by them in all situationsThe sources stated that the statements are intended towards former ministers who are indulged in intense lobbying for cabinet posts in the Shivakumar government Meanwhile Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara visited the Sadashivanagar residence of BK Hariprasad who has been appointed as the new President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and conveyed his congratulations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/those-after-power-go-with-shivakumar-those-who-want-to-strengthen-party-join-me-ktaka-cong-chief-hariprasad-676157.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/islam-friendly-gym-in-keralas-palakkad-sparks-debate-676160.html Palakkad June 4 A fitness centre at Puthunagaram in Keralas Palakkad has triggered a public debate after announcing that it would be converted into an Islamfriendly gym functioning in accordance with Shariabased guidelines The announcement now deleted initially shared through the Instagram profile of Nawaz Muthu T said the gym which has been operating for the past 15 years would undergo certain changes to introduce a new set of rules for its membersAccording to the announcement the proposed changes include a complete ban on music inside the gym separate workout timings for men and women and a dress code requiring members to ensure that their awrah parts of the body that are required to be covered according to Islamic guidelines remains covered while exercisingThe gym management said men and women would not be allowed to work out together and separate schedules would be arranged to maintain the guidelinesWomen members would be required to wear clothing including hijab that covers the body as per the stated religious requirementsThe move is being described by the management as Keralaâs first Islamfriendly gymThe announcement has attracted widespread attention and intense discussions on social media following which the original video posted on Instagram was removedThe development has triggered reactions from different sections with supporters viewing it as a fitness space aligned with religious preferences while others have raised questions over the nature and scope of such separate facilitiesThe background of the gym owner and further details about the proposed changes are not immediately clearConcerns have also been raised by some sections over whether the centre will remain limited to fitness activities or whether it would introduce any other forms of trainingThe controversy has brought renewed attention to the emergence of specialised fitness spaces based on religious or cultural preferences and the debate over their role in public life IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/islam-friendly-gym-in-keralas-palakkad-sparks-debate-676160.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nec-plenary-session-begins-in-shillong-amit-shah-chairs-key-meeting-676167.html Shillong June 4 IANS The 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council commenced in Shillong Meghalaya on Thursday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairing the highlevel meeting attended by chief ministers governors and senior officials from across the eight northeastern statesnbspThe plenary session being held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong is focusing on key issues related to regional development connectivity infrastructure investment tourism power education and interstate cooperation in the NortheastAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a photograph from the meeting on the social media platform X describing HM Shah as the Architect of Peace in modern IndiaIn his post CM Sarma wrote Team North East with the Architect of Peace in modern India Adarniya Amit Shah ji the Chairman of North Eastern Council 73rd Plenary of NEC ShillongThe meeting brings together the chief ministers and governors of Assam Meghalaya Arunachal Pradesh Nagaland Manipur Mizoram Tripura and Sikkim to deliberate on developmental priorities and review the progress of ongoing projects in the regionOfficials said the plenary is expected to discuss strategies for accelerating economic growth improving connectivity and strengthening coordination among the northeastern statesThe council is also likely to review recommendations submitted by various sectorspecific task forces constituted to identify growth opportunities and address developmental challenges in the regionThe annual plenary session serves as the apex policymaking forum of the North Eastern Council enabling the Centre and the northeastern states to jointly chart development strategies and monitor the implementation of major projectsUnion Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M Scindia wrote on his X handle United in our resolve to realise a stronger more prosperous RisingNortheastEarlier Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the meeting would focus on regional cooperation and the implementation of recommendations made by different task forces working in sectors such as tourism agriculture sports investment promotion and infrastructureThe NEC functioning under the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region DoNER plays a key role in planning funding and coordinating projects aimed at promoting balanced and sustainable development across the NortheastIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nec-plenary-session-begins-in-shillong-amit-shah-chairs-key-meeting-676167.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-canada-shift-khalistan-groups-find-new-platform-in-azerbaijan-676174.html New Delhi June 4 Justin Trudeauâs exit as Canadian Prime Minister marked a significant turning point in IndiaCanada relations During Trudeauâs tenure bilateral ties had deteriorated considerably largely due to differences over the Khalistan issue India had repeatedly urged Canada to act against proKhalistan elements operating from its soil but these concerns were often not addressed with Trudeau facing domestic political constraints Under Prime Minister Mark Carney however both India and Canada have recognised the issue and acknowledged the need to address itMore importantly both India and Canada increasingly view Khalistani extremism as a threat to their national security This changing assessment has prompted Khalistanlinked groups to alter their strategy Instead of operating primarily from Canada they are now seeking to expand their activities across multiple countries and are increasingly relying on pressure groups and think tanks to amplify their narrative Among the organisations drawing attention in this context is the Baku Initiative Group BIG a think tank backed by AzerbaijanThe BIG has traditionally centred its activities around anticolonial narratives In recent years however it has increasingly organised largescale events that provide a platform for separatist causes This aligns with the objectives of Khalistan groups which continue to advocate for the creation of a separate Khalistan state carved out of PunjabAccording to an official this reflects a calculated shift in strategy by Khalistan elements Faced with mounting pressure from India these groups are seeking new avenues to sustain their activities having realised that countries such as Canada the United States and the United Kingdom can no longer be viewed as safe havensKhalistanlinked groups are increasingly working with the BIG to amplify their demands on international platforms âThis collaboration forms part of a broader global strategy aimed at keeping the Khalistan movement relevant and visibleâ an official saidAs part of these efforts an event titled âThe Baku Conference Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other National Minorities in India The Realities on the Groundâ was held in Baku on January 16Global Khalistani figures from Canada the US and the UK were in attendance along with Ramesh Singh Arora the Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs for Pakistanâs Punjab Province All those who attended the conference observed a moment of silence for slain terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Further this thinktank has also published papers such as âThe Khalistan Movement Past Roots Global Dimensions and Modern LandscapeâOfficials say âThese publications are circulated in international networks The aim is to widen the reach of the Khalistan movement and drum up an antiIndia narrative Disinfo Lab a group of researchers who investigate Infowarfare and Psywar has amplified this newfound bonhomie in detailâIt also refers to a conference titled June 1984 Amritsar Events Indiaâs Transnational Repression Against Ethnic Minorities in the Context of Genocide The event was hosted at the same venue in Baku where the January 16 conference had taken place Notably Azerbaijan has only a very small Sikh population making the choice of venue particularly significantAccording to Disinfo Lab the hosting of international conferences on alleged Sikh genocide by a country with virtually no Sikh community points to a broader statebacked agenda rather than a purely humanitarian concern The report further argues that the emerging PakistanAzerbaijanTurkey axis plays a significant role in these developments It notes that both Baku and Islamabad view Armenia as an adversary and have experienced tensions in their relations with IndiaThe BIG was established on July 6 2023 at the initiative of Air Centre an Azerbaijani think tank The first agenda was to speak out against French colonialism BIGâs copublisher is the Sikh Federation International SFI In March 2026 the SFIâs legal counsel Prabjot Singh drafted a joint report in which he referred to Nijjar as an activist He also demanded sanctions on Indiaâs Intelligence chiefs while calling for Indiaâs INTERPOL Red Corner Notices against Khalistani operatives to be treated as persecutionAn Intelligence Bureau official said that Khalistanlinked groups appear to be recalibrating their strategy in response to changing circumstances In countries such as Canada these groups have often been associated with incidents of violence By aligning with organisations such as BIG they are attempting to present a different image of the movement on international platforms According to the official the emphasis is increasingly being placed on claims of persecution and on raising what they describe as human rights concerns relating to SikhsâThese efforts bear the hallmarks of a strategy backed and coordinated by Pakistanâ the official saidIslamabad has been regularly engaging with Azerbaijan in recent years Pakistanâs Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif recently flew to Baku for the World Urban Forum and set up a joint working group on trade and investment Pakistan backs Azerbaijan against Armenia in the OIC In turn Azerbaijan backs Pakistan by condemning India as it did post Operation Sindoor Pakistan also gets Bakuâs backing on the Kashmir issueAnother official says that Azerbaijan appears to be making the same mistake that the UK and Canada had committedThe Khalistan elements are adept at infiltration They usually begin by building a narrative around the alleged persecution of Sikhs in India Over time they seek to penetrate political systems as was seen in Canada The official said that these countries need to view the issue in a broader context Such elements comprising terrorists and gangsters eventually establish narcotics and extortion networks in the countries they infiltrate âAzerbaijan is the latest destination in this effortâ the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-canada-shift-khalistan-groups-find-new-platform-in-azerbaijan-676174.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-govt-announces-rs-10-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-malviya-nagar-fire-victims-676175.html New Delhi June 4 IANS The Delhi government on Thursday announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the people killed in the tragic Malviya Nagar fire incident and said that arrangements are being made to transport the mortal remains of the deceased back to their homesnbspThis came as Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited Max Hospital in Saket on Thursday and met the victims injured in the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy in which 21 people lost their livesnbspnbspA massive blaze engulfed the hotel allegedly operating without a valid Fire No Objection Certificate NoC in a congested lane of Malviya Nagar areanbspTwentyone people died in the tragic fire at the Hotel Flourish Stays in Malviya Nagar Of these 21 nine were Indians while 12 were foreigners from countries such as Bangladesh Liberia Nigeria and MozambiquenbspCM Gupta interacted with the injured and their family members and reviewed the ongoing treatment with the attending doctors She directed officials to extend all necessary assistance according to the Chief Ministers Office CMOThe CMO statement further stated that the medical expenses of the injured will be facilitated in coordination with the hospital authorities to ensure that every patient receives the best possible carenbspAn ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased and those who have been seriously injured will receive Rs 5 lakh in assistance Arrangements are being felicitated to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to their native homes the CMO saidnbspThe Delhi Government stands firmly with every affected family We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and for strength to the bereaved families during this difficult time the statement addedThe blaze affected the basement ground floor and the other 5 floors of the building with heat and smoke damage while an investigation into the incident is ongoing according to the Delhi Fire ServicesnbspThe fire erupted during the early morning hours and quickly spread through several levels of the multistorey buildingnbspRescue teams managed to evacuate 47 people from the building while 26 injured individuals continue to receive treatment at various hospitals across the citynbspMeanwhile the Delhi Police have arrested Lavkesh Bajaj the owner of the hotel building where the fatal fire broke out on Wednesday Bajaj was taken into custody hours after authorities launched a search operation to trace him and his wife against whom a Look Out Circular LOC had earlier been issuedThe arrest comes as investigators probe alleged safety violations regulatory lapses and possible negligence that may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy Authorities are examining whether mandatory fire safety measures were in place and whether the property was operating in accordance with legal requirementsnbspThe Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD currently governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has also assured strict action against those found responsibleAccording to officials action against those found guilty is expected within a week of the reports submissionnbspPolice have registered a case under provisions related to culpable homicide and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Investigators are focusing on allegations that serious negligence and violations of safety regulations may have played a role in the high casualty countIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-govt-announces-rs-10-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-malviya-nagar-fire-victims-676175.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-claims-theft-of-hard-disk-from-tn-power-utility-hq-demands-probe-676185.html Chennai June 4 PMK President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged theft of hard disks containing sensitive data from the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board TNEB claiming that the incident may be linked to an attempt to destroy evidence of past corruption and irregularities In a statement Anbumani expressed shock over reports that multiple hard disks containing crucial official records had gone missing from the power utilityâs headquarters in ChennaiHe described the alleged theft of sensitive government data from one of the stateâs most important public institutions as a matter of serious concern and said it reflected a failure in safeguarding critical recordsAccording to reports cited by the PMK leader as many as 18 hard disks were allegedly stolen from computers at the TNEB headquartersHowever only eight hard disks have reportedly been mentioned in the complaint filed with the policeAnbumani questioned the discrepancy and alleged that the actual number of missing hard disks could be much higher than what has been officially disclosedHe further claimed that the missing storage devices were believed to contain information relating to coal procurement contracts administrative decisions and records connected to alleged irregularities in the electricity sectorGiven the nature of the data he said suspicions had arisen that the theft could have been part of a larger conspiracy to erase evidence of corruption within the power utilityThe PMK chief also raised concerns about security arrangements at the TNEB headquarters He argued that access to the premises is tightly controlled and that it would be difficult for outsiders to enter and remove official equipment without assistance from insidersThis he said raises questions about possible involvement of officials or employees in the incidentAnbumani also referred to allegations that surveillance cameras installed at the headquarters had remained nonfunctional for more than five years If true he said such a prolonged failure of monitoring systems at a key government office was unacceptable and required immediate scrutinyDescribing the power sector as one of the most corruptionprone sectors in the state the PMK leader urged the Tamil Nadu government to order a comprehensive investigation into the alleged theft identify those responsible and determine whether the disappearance of the hard disks was intended to conceal evidence of wrongdoingHe also sought answers on why surveillance systems were allegedly left inoperative for years despite the sensitivity of the records housed at the facility IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-claims-theft-of-hard-disk-from-tn-power-utility-hq-demands-probe-676185.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ghaziabad-madrasa-demolition-reflects-changing-india-says-bjp-mla-676189.html Ghaziabad June 4 BJP MLA Nand Kishor Gurjar from Ghaziabads Loni on Thursday strongly supported the ongoing antiencroachment actions against illegal constructions including unauthorised madrasas and land grabbers He asserted that such measures reflect what he described as a changing India rooted in cultural unity and the values of Sanatan traditionsHis remarks came a day after authorities carried out demolition proceedings against the alleged illegal Madrasa Jamia Arabia Ishatul Islam in Dasna and initiated action against unauthorised madrasas in the Khoda areaIn one of the largest antiencroachment operations undertaken in recent months the Ghaziabad administration on Wednesday launched a major demolition drive at Madrasa Jamia Arabia Ishatul Islam located in Kallugarhi village of Dasna Acting on court directives and revenue department orders officials deployed six bulldozers to remove structures that authorities claim were built illegally on government landCommenting on the action Gurjar called for strict enforcement of the law across Uttar Pradesh and said authorities should continue taking action against illegal encroachments and activities that violate legal provisionsSpeaking to IANS Gurjar said Whether it is madrasas illegal land grabbers or anyone giving Jihad teachings nothing will be tolerated This is a changing India This is the era of Sanatan values The Partition happened based on religion and culture Some people had said that they wanted to live in India and follow the culture and traditions however some of them are now dreaming about GhazwaeHind and brutally murdering othersHe further said However now India is changing and all Sanatan followers are united People are watching everything and they want peace I am sure that the Chief Minister will ensure strong enforcement across all the districts of Uttar PradeshAccording to Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar the madrasa in Kallugarhi village had allegedly been constructed on approximately 14 to 15 acres of government land Officials estimate the value of the land to be between Rs 20 crore and Rs 25 croreThe District Magistrate stated that the institution had already been sealed earlier and that Wednesdays demolition operation was conducted as part of the implementation of eviction orders issued under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Rules 1952Authorities have also ordered the recovery of nearly Rs 123 crore as compensation in connection with the encroachment Officials said that after completion of the demolition process possession of the land will be formally transferred to the Land Management CommitteeDM Mandar emphasised that the entire exercise was being carried out in accordance with court orders and revenue records He further revealed that Farooq who allegedly operated the madrasa is currently abscondingA criminal case has been registered against him and multiple teams have been deployed to locate and apprehend him Officials said efforts are underway to trace his whereabouts and take further legal action IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ghaziabad-madrasa-demolition-reflects-changing-india-says-bjp-mla-676189.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/saudi-based-cbse-candidate-moves-sc-over-withheld-class-12-improvement-exam-result-676193.html New Delhi June 4 IANS A Class 12 student who appeared for the Central Board of Secondary Educations CBSE Improvement Examination from Saudi Arabia has moved the Supreme Court seeking directions for the declaration of his result alleging that it continues to remain withheld despite a special assessment scheme framed for students affected by examination cancellations in West Asian countriesnbspThe writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by Pransu Jigarkumar Patel contended that the nondeclaration of his result has jeopardised his higher education prospects and deprived him of admission opportunitiesAccording to the plea Patel appeared as a private candidate in the CBSE Class 12 Improvement Examination 2026 from Al Jubail in Saudi Arabia in the subjects of Physics Chemistry Mathematics English and Computer SciencenbspThe petition stated that during the examination period the CBSE cancelled several examinations including Mathematics English and Computer Science due to warrelated tensions and security concerns prevailing in the Gulf regionnbspRecognising the disruption faced by students in West Asian countries the CBSE had issued an assessment scheme on March 27 for the declaration of Class 12 results in the affected region The scheme provided for evaluation based on Quarterly HalfYearly and PreBoard Examination performance and also contemplated the conduct of special examinations wherever necessaryHowever when the CBSE declared the Class 12 results on May 13 the petitioners result was not announced and his status was reflected as RL Result LaternbspThe plea said that despite repeated representations to the CBSE on May 17 May 21 and May 30 seeking the declaration of the result under the assessment scheme or permission to appear in a special examination no response was receivedThe petitioner repeatedly approached the respondents authorities requesting a declaration of his result either by applying the Assessment Scheme or by permitting him to appear in a Special Examination However no response has been received and the result continues to remain withheld the petition statednbspIt added that the continued withholding of the result has caused serious prejudice to the petitioners academic careernbspAccording to the plea Patel had applied for admission to a university for a BTech programme in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and had paid the requisite registration feeAccording to the plea the varsity required candidates to update their Class 12 result status by June 1nbspDue to the failure of the Respondents to declare the result the Petitioner has been deprived of the opportunity to complete the admission process and is also unable to apply to other institutions the petition said The petitioner alleged that the action of the authorities was arbitrary unreasonable and discriminatory violating his fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the ConstitutionThe petition further said that the petitioner had initially approached the Delhi High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution However according to the plea the matter was not treated as an urgent case during the court vacation period and was not listed before the Vacation BenchnbspThat in these circumstances the Petitioner has no efficacious alternative remedy except to invoke the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Honble Court seeking appropriate reliefs for declaration of his result and protection of his academic future the petition saidSeeking urgent intervention the petitioner has prayed for directions to the CBSE to declare his Class 12 Improvement Examination result by applying the assessment scheme issued for West Asian countries In the alternative the plea filed through advocate Vineet Jindal has sought directions for conducting a special examination for the cancelled subjects and for the grant of consequential reliefsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/saudi-based-cbse-candidate-moves-sc-over-withheld-class-12-improvement-exam-result-676193.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dk-shivakumar-to-take-oath-as-karnataka-cm-today-675980.html New Delhi June 3 DK Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at 405 pm on Wednesday at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan Bengaluru According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the office of the Chief Ministerdesignate Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar and the members of the new cabinet at the ceremony scheduled to be held at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan on Wednesday eveningSeveral senior Congress leaders including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala are expected to attend the eventThe ceremony will also be attended by Chief Ministers Deputy Chief Ministers and Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from various states besides Members of Parliament and senior party leadersIn a notable move the guest list includes representatives from diverse sections of society Religious leaders representing different faiths have been invited along with students from the Government School at Doddalahalli in KanakapuraDaily wage workers civic workers farmer leaders representatives of Dalit organisations leaders of Backward Class organisations womens selfhelp groups women leaders and youth leaders have also been invited to participate in the eventThe invitees further include members of the media the film industry the judiciary the sports fraternity theatre personalities writers artists industrialists business leaders and representatives of the hotel industryThe broadbased invitation list is being viewed as an attempt to underscore the new governments commitment to inclusive governance and engagement with various sections of society as DK Shivakumar prepares to assume office as Karnatakas Chief MinisterEarlier on Tuesday Shivakumar said a ânew era for youthâ would begin in the state under his leadership while acknowledging that the responsibilities ahead would not be easyHe described his elevation to the top post as a victory for Congress workers and pledged to work with dedication for the people of KarnatakaâThe party has allowed a worker not a leader I am deeply obliged by the faith and confidence reposed in me I know the road ahead will not be easy and there will be difficult times but I have to manage them and continue working hardâ he saidShivakumar said the people of Karnataka had placed their trust in him and that he would strive to discharge his responsibilities with sincerity and commitmentâThe world has seen India through Bengaluru Karnataka is a very important state and wherever I go people tell me how significant it is Therefore I must take every section of society along with meâ he saidEmphasising inclusive governance he said his government would work for farmers women youth and all sections of society âI will take every section of society together from farmers to women and youth A new era for the youth will begin in Karnatakaâ he addedReflecting on his political journey Shivakumar described his rise to the Chief Ministerâs post as the result of perseverance and hard workâIt has been a tough journey Though it was delayed it was not denied This is not about Shivakumar alone it is about every Congress worker who stood by the party and believed in its democratic traditionsâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dk-shivakumar-to-take-oath-as-karnataka-cm-today-675980.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-police-arrest-another-trinamool-councillor-on-extortion-corruption-charges-676003.html Kolkata June 3 Within 24 hours of the arrest of a Trinamool Congress councillor another councillor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC has been arrested on charges of extortion and corruption The total number of Trinamool councillors of KMC to be arrested over corruption charges has risen to three said the police on WednesdayAccording to a senior officer of the Kolkata Police officers of Garfa police station arrested Arijit Das Thakur a councillor of ward number 106 of KMC on Tuesday nightHe was accused of extorting money from local promoters and businessmen by threatening themA written complaint was filed that he had been trying to extort money by influencing construction and businessrelated matters in the area for a long time The police arrested him after the primary investigation revealed the truth The officers of Garfa police station first summoned the councillor for questioning Later after a long interrogation they arrested himEarlier on Tuesday the police arrested Trinamool councillor Sachin Singh of ward number 36 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMCAccording to Lalbazar Kolkata Police headquarters sources there are allegations of extortion against the arrested councillor On Tuesday afternoon police personnel from Narkeldanga police station went to arrest Sachin At that time a section of local residents protested in front of his house They alleged that Sachin was also involved in threatening and beating up opponentsAccording to police sources Sachin was accused of postpoll violence in 2021 after state Assembly election results were declared That year he won the KMC elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket for the first timeOn May 23 the Thakurpukur police arrested Sudip Polle a Trinamool councillor of Ward No 123 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Chairman of Borough No 16 in an extortion caseSince the BJP formed a government in the state there has been a crackdown on illegal and criminal activities involving the Trinamool Congress leaders The police have been active in taking action against antisocial elements and often acting against Trinamool Congress leaders against whom allegations of breaking the law were raised In the last one month a large number of Trinamool councillors across the state have been arrested by the police across the state on charges of corruption and extortion IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-police-arrest-another-trinamool-councillor-on-extortion-corruption-charges-676003.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/always-helped-congress-move-forward-leaders-hail-dk-shivakumar-ahead-of-ktaka-cm-oath-ceremony-676009.html New Delhi June 3 Congress leaders praised DK Shivakumar on Wednesday ahead of his scheduled swearingin as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka with Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar pointing out that Shivakumar has consistently played a key role in strengthening the party Speaking to IANS Wadettiwar said Whenever the party has faced trouble in the state he has always helped Congress move forward He is known even outside his state as a fighting leader At the same time his identity is also that of a leader who shares in others joys and sorrowsââHe never compromised on his attachment to the Congress party He has always said I would prefer to go to jail but I will not join the BJP He remained firm on this and today one who fights wins People now recognise this about him I am happy that such a fighting leader is becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka todayâ he addedMadhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari who arrived in Bengaluru for the ceremony praised Shivakumarâs role in both governance and party organisationEvery resident of Karnataka takes pride in Karnatakas economic progress and development under Siddaramaiahs tenure DK Shivakumar played a crucial role in bringing the Congress party to power He also set an example by respectfully and graciously supporting and accepting the tenure of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister Both these aspects are excellent examples of mutual respect and cooperation in politics Patwari saidSenior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said the leadership transition was the result of a long political process within the partyLast 21 years there has been a process going on in Karnataka the next Chief Minister PCC president and also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar Finally the high command has decided to replace Siddaramaiah because he has already accepted highcommand work So he has been accommodated in the Congress Working Committee And the next Chief Minister is DK Shivakumar Definitely both will continue Whatever the preelection promises they will definitely conduct welfare programs in the interest of the people he saidMeanwhile BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi said the selection of the Chief Minister was an internal matter of the Congress party but claimed the political atmosphere in Karnataka was turning against the ruling partyWe wish them well It is an internal matter of the Congress party who becomes the Chief Minister and who does not However in Karnataka an atmosphere is being created against the Congress party and the current situation shows that in the upcoming elections common people and voters are looking towards the Bharatiya Janata Party he saidDK Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at 405 PM on Wednesday at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan Bengaluru Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar and members of the new CabinetThe ceremony is expected to be attended by senior Congress leaders including AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh SurjewalaChief Ministers Deputy Chief Ministers Pradesh Congress Committee presidents from various states MPs and senior party leaders are also expected to attendThe guest list further includes religious leaders students from Government School Doddalahalli in Kanakapura daily wage workers civic workers farmer leaders representatives of Dalit and Backward Class organisations womenâs selfhelp groups women leaders and youth representatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/always-helped-congress-move-forward-leaders-hail-dk-shivakumar-ahead-of-ktaka-cm-oath-ceremony-676009.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lok-bhavan-turns-police-fortress-shivakumar-all-set-to-assume-charge-676010.html Bengaluru June 3 Lok Bhavan and its surrounding areas have been turned into a police fortress ahead of the swearingin ceremony of DK Shivakumar as Chief Minister along with his Council of Ministers on Wednesday in Bengaluru More than 2000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security and ensure that no untoward incidents occur in and around Lok Bhavan Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh will directly monitor the security arrangements Three Joint Commissioners of Police and 20 Deputy Commissioners of Police DCPs will be on the ground coordinating security operations with the deployed personnelFor the programme to be held at Lok Bhavan only VIPs and VVIPs possessing valid vehicle passes will be permitted to drive their vehicles directly to the premises All dignitaries have been advised to take their seats at least one hour before the commencement of the eventVehicles of dignitaries arriving without vehicle passes will be stopped near Thimmaiah Circle and no private vehicles will be allowed beyond that pointTo ensure the safe transportation of such dignitaries from Thimmaiah Circle to the main venue at Lok Bhavan special sixseater electric golf carts have been arranged The police have already obtained the official list of dignitaries who have been issued passes and are carrying out verification checksAs Shivakumar is set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka his supporters and Congress workers have put up massive flex boards banners and cutouts at several locations across the city to congratulate the Chief MinisterdesignateIn particular Congress workers in Sumanahalli under the Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency have erected a gigantic 100foottall cutout of DK Shivakumar and are grandly celebrating the occasionMeanwhile welcome banners and flex boards have been installed along the route from Kempegowda International Airport KIA to the city to greet the party high command and distinguished leaders from various states who are arriving for the swearingin ceremony From the airport toll plaza to Bengaluru city highways and trafficcongested stretches are lined with flex boards featuring photographs of various political leadersThe Congress Kisan Cell Karnataka brought a garland made of Rs 20 currency notes to present to DK Shivakumar who is set to take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-lok-bhavan-turns-police-fortress-shivakumar-all-set-to-assume-charge-676010.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Kolkata June 3 IANS Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday approached a singlejudge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court challenging the summons from the Criminal Investigation Department CID of the West Bengal Police for interrogation in the signature mismatch casenbspThe case involves a mismatch in the signatures of some of the partys MLAs on a resolution nominating party MLAs to four crucial slots in the Assembly which are reserved for the opposition bench in the HouseThe singlejudge bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Roy has admitted his petition seeking protection from coercive police action including arrest in the case The matter will come up for hearing on FridayInitially Abhishek Banerjee was summoned at the CID office on June 1 However instead of appearing on that day he sought 15 days to appear on the pretext of his physical condition after being assaulted by the public at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on the afternoon of May 30However in the evening of June 1 the CID sleuths served him a second notice asking him to appear at the CID office on June 8On June 8 Abhishek Banerjee and his aunt the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to be in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the opposition INDIA blocA few days ago Abhishek Banerjee had sent a letter to the office of the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly Rathindra Bose naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as the two deputy leaders of the opposition and Firhad Hakim as the Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress legislative party in the state AssemblyThe Speaker however insisted that the resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators and endorsing the four names should be submitted along with the letter from Abhishek Banerjee Thereafter a resolution carrying the signatures of the Trinamool Congress legislators was submitted to the office of the SpeakerHowever things started taking a dramatic turn after two Trinamool Congress legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha pointed out to the office of the Speaker about the mismatches in the signatures of some party legislatorsSoon after that the Assembly secretariat handed over the charge of the investigation to the CID and the latter summoned Abhishek Banerjee for interrogationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/abhishek-banerjee-approaches-calcutta-hc-challenging-cid-summons-in-mla-signature-mismatch-case-676016.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/malviya-nagar-fire-incident-extremely-heartbreaking-says-president-murmu-676021.html New Delhi June 3 IANS President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday expressed grief over the tragic Malviya Nagar fire incident in which 20 people have lost their lives so far and dozens are injurednbspShe offered condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injurednbspThe news of the loss of lives in the fire incident in Malviya Nagar Delhi is extremely heartbreaking I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of those injured President Murmu said in a statementnbspAt least 20 people were killed and dozens were injured after a massive fire broke out at the multistoried Lemon Green Restaurant in Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning officials saidnbspnbspSo far 37 people were rescued and taken to the hospital while a search for others is underway they addednbspSenior officials from Delhi Police Delhi Fire Services and rescue services are present at the scene and monitoring the situationUpon receiving the information ten fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene The fire was soon brought under control However the damage was extensivenbspOfficials said that some people tried to jump from the upper floors of the building to save their lives The injured have been sent to a nearby hospital Some of the injured are reported to be in critical conditionnbspnbspThe search and rescue operations are still ongoing at the sitenbsp The rescue officials are trying to locate other people possibly trapped on different floors of the buildingIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/malviya-nagar-fire-incident-extremely-heartbreaking-says-president-murmu-676021.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/wanted-to-be-ktaka-cm-but-i-accept-partys-decision-parameshwara--676023.html Bengaluru June 3 IANS Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara who will be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister in the DK Shivakumarled government on Wednesday acknowledged that he had aspired to become CM but said he fully accepted the party high commands decision and was happy to serve in his new rolenbspSpeaking to reporters in Bengaluru ahead of the swearingin ceremony Parameshwara said he would abide by the partys decision as a disciplined worker of CongressnbspIt is true that I wanted to become the Chief Minister However as disciplined soldiers of the party we have to abide by the decision of the high command This is the partys decision and I have always maintained that I will follow whatever decision the high command takes he saidParameshwara said he viewed the post of Deputy Chief Minister as an opportunity to continue serving the people of KarnatakanbspThe party has made me the Deputy Chief Minister and I have accepted it I believe this is another opportunity to serve the people There is no question of considering it a demotion Any position is acceptable if it provides an opportunity to serve the people In that spirit I will work as the Deputy Chief Minister he saidnbspRejecting suggestions that any particular community had been overlooked in the leadership selection process Parameshwara said Congress gives opportunities to different leaders from time to timeThere is no question of neglecting any community Such a situation does not arise The party provides opportunities for different leaders to lead This time it has given an opportunity to DK Shivakumar and I congratulate and thank him he saidnbspOn the allocation of portfolios Parameshwara said the decision rests with the party leadership and the Chief MinisternbspI do not know which portfolio I will be assigned If I am given the Home Ministry I will continue in that role If I am assigned any other department I will serve there as well he saidnbspParameshwara also expressed gratitude to the Congress leadership for reposing faith in himnbspI would like to convey my sincere thanks to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala KC Venugopal and the entire party leadership At this stage of my political career they have selected me as Deputy Chief Minister I am grateful for the trust and confidence they have placed in me he saidHe said the new role would enable him to work for the people in accordance with the Congress partys ideology and manifestonbspThis is another opportunity to serve the people of Karnataka in line with the partys ideology and commitments I would also like to thank Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who were part of the decisionmaking process he addednbspParameshwara also congratulated Siddaramaiah on his appointment as a member of the Congress Working Committee CWCIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/wanted-to-be-ktaka-cm-but-i-accept-partys-decision-parameshwara--676023.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-shivakumar-meets-deve-gowda-seek-blessings-mb-patil-ramalinga-reddy-thank-party-for-cabinet-post-676031.html Bengaluru June 3 Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar on Wednesday met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at his Padmanabhanagar residence in Bengaluru and sought his blessings ahead of the swearingin ceremony in the evening even as senior Congress leaders MB Patil and Ramalinga Reddy thanked the party for inviting them to join the Council of Ministers under the incoming Chief Minister Deve Gowda warmly received Shivakumar and congratulated him on being elevated to the post of Chief MinisterDuring the meeting Shivakumar presented a bouquet to the JDS patriarch and touched his feet as a mark of respect while seeking his blessings Deve Gowda shook hands with Shivakumar felicitated him and wished him success in his new roleThe two leaders also held a brief interaction The meeting assumes political significance as Shivakumar and the Deve Gowda family have long been political rivals in Karnataka politicsIn recent weeks Shivakumar and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy son of Deve Gowda had engaged in a war of words and exchanged personal attacks over various political issuesMeanwhile senior Congress leaders MB Patil and Ramalinga Reddy expressed their gratitude to the party leadership after being invited to join the Council of Ministers under the incoming Chief MinisterMB Patil a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been invited to take oath as a minister along with Shivakumar Patil previously served as Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development in the Siddaramaiahled government An engineer and educationist by profession he represents the Babaleshwar Assembly constituency in Vijayapura districtSpeaking to reporters Patil said Shivakumar had personally called and invited him to be part of the new CabinetI convey my heartfelt gratitude to Sonia Gandhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala he saidPatil said the Congress high command had taken its decision after extensive deliberations and indicated that further expansion of the Cabinet would take place in due courseThis is the first phase of Cabinet formation There will be a second phase of Cabinet expansion as well The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC will also have a new president he saidOn portfolio allocation Patil said the decision rests entirely with the Chief MinisterI do not know how many ministers will take oath today Allocation of portfolios is the Chief Ministers prerogative and I will accept whatever responsibility is assigned to me he addedFormer Transport and Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy also confirmed that he had received a call from the party leadership inviting him to join the Cabinet Reddy known for his grassroots connect and peoplefriendly approach represents the BTM Layout Assembly constituency in Bengaluru IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-shivakumar-meets-deve-gowda-seek-blessings-mb-patil-ramalinga-reddy-thank-party-for-cabinet-post-676031.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-congratulates-shivakumar-on-taking-oath-as-karnataka-cm-assures-centres-support--676072.html New Delhi June 3 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated DK Shivakumar on taking oath as the Chief Minister of KarnatakanbspCongratulations to Shri DK Shivakumar Ji on taking oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka Best wishes for his tenure the Prime Minister said in a post on XnbspHe also assured full cooperation from the Centre stating that it would work closely with the Karnataka government for the welfare and development of the states peopleEarlier Shivakumar was sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka at a ceremony held at the Glass House in Bengalurus Lok Bhavan premisesnbspGovernor Thawar Chand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shivakumar at 410 pmnbspAmid slogans raised by supporters Shivakumar walked to the dais and paid floral tributes to the portrait of Sri Veera Gangadhara Swamiji popularly known as Ajjayya or Nonavinakere Ajja He then proceeded to take the oath of office and secrecyHolding a copy of the Constitution Shivakumar invoked the name of Veera Gangadhara Ajja whom he regards as his spiritual guide while taking the oathnbspThe ceremony began with the rendition of Vande Mataram followed by the National Anthem performed by the Karnataka State Police Band The state anthem was also played during the eventnbspSeveral senior Congress leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi were present at the swearingin ceremonyThirteen ministers also took oath along with Shivakumar on Wednesday as the new Karnataka government assumed officenbspFormer Home Minister G Parameshwara a prominent leader hailing from the Dalit community was sworn in as the Deputy Chief MinisternbspAmong the notable inclusions in the first phase of cabinet formation are Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Speaker UT KhaderIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-congratulates-shivakumar-on-taking-oath-as-karnataka-cm-assures-centres-support--676072.html Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mehbooba-mufti-asks-kashmiri-pandits-to-sink-differences-with-jk-muslims-work-together--675968.html Srinagar June 2 IANS Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President of Opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday asked the Kashmiri Pandit community to sink differences and work with local Muslims for common honour and dignitynbspIn a letter addressed to Sanjay Tickoo president of Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti Mehbooba Mufti said that the recent breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in their engagement with the Government of India offer an important lesson Sincere dialogue can lead to meaningful outcomesMehbooba Mufti wrote in the letter Today Jammu ampamp Kashmir once again stands at a critical juncture in its history A deep sense of despair uncertainty and disillusionment has taken hold across the region In these circumstances it is imperative that we build a broad consensus that rises above party lines and political affiliations to help steer JampampK out of the current impasseIf we are committed to restoring the dignity security and confidence of our people a constructive and sustained dialogue with the Government of India is not merely desirable it is essentialThe time has come for all of us to make a united appeal to the Honble Prime Minister and the Honble Home Minister urging them to initiate a meaningful and sustained engagement with the people of Jammu ampamp KashmirWe must set aside our differences disagreements and competing political narratives in the larger interest of those we represent This cannot become an exercise in claiming political credit or scoring partisan points Rather it must be a moment of collective responsibility and unity for the welfare and future of our peopleI therefore urge you to rise above our differences and join this effort At this critical moment unity is our greatest strengthTogether we can work towards a peaceful dignified and prosperous Jammu ampamp Kashmir one where the rights aspirations and identity of its people are protected and safeguarded within the framework of the Constitution of India she concudedMehbooba Mufti has time and again advocated for Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley and urged both Hindus and Muslims in JampampK to rebuild their traditional brotherhoodShe has often been quoted as saying that Kashmir is incomplete without the Pandit community and called for them to bridge dividesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mehbooba-mufti-asks-kashmiri-pandits-to-sink-differences-with-jk-muslims-work-together--675968.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-meets-delegates-of-nepals-rastriya-swatantra-party--675974.html New Delhi June 2 IANS BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday interacted with a delegation of Nepals ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party RSP led by Rabi Lamichhane sharing an overview of the partys ideological foundations and Prime Minister Narendra Modis governance modelAs part of the Know BJP initiative Nabin welcomed the delegation and shared insights on the partys organisational structure and its approach to public engagementHe explained how the party functions from the national level down to the booth level highlighting the crucial role played by BJP workers in maintaining continuous contact with citizens and addressing issues at the grassrootsNabin emphasised the deeprooted and historic ties between India and Nepal describing the relationship as one built on shared civilizational heritage cultural affinity and strong peopletopeople connectionsHe said such interactions play an important role in strengthening democratic dialogue and fostering closer engagement between political parties in the two neighbouring countriesThe RSP delegation expressed interest in understanding the BJPs membership process candidate selection mechanism and methods of identifying and nurturing grassroots leadershipResponding to their queries Nabin explained that the BJPs organisational strength stems from sustained public outreach boothlevel engagement and active participation of ordinary citizens in the democratic processThe BJP president also highlighted the governance model under PM Modi stating that development public service good governance and effective welfare delivery remain central pillars of the partys political and governance philosophyNabin also discussed the growing influence of Generation Z in politics Both sides exchanged views on the role of young people in shaping democratic participation influencing public discourse and emerging as future political leadersThe meeting was attended by several senior BJP leaders including Arun Singh Member of Parliament Sanjay Jaiswal Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj and Vijay ChauthaiwaleAs part of their visit the Nepalese delegation toured the BJP Media Centre and the partys Central Library gaining insights into the partys communication and knowledgemanagement systemsThe interaction concluded with a lunch meeting attended by several prominent BJP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Members of Parliament Manoj Tiwari Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Praveen Khandelwal and Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP chief Harsh MalhotraThe meeting is being viewed as part of the BJPs broader efforts to engage with political parties and democratic institutions across South Asia while showcasing its organisational model and governance experience through the Know BJP initiativeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-chief-nitin-nabin-meets-delegates-of-nepals-rastriya-swatantra-party--675974.html Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-to-begin-first-phase-of-census-2027-today-675847.html New Delhi June 1 With the first phase of Census 2027 set to begin on Monday more than 374 lakh people in Gujarat have already completed selfenumeration as the state gears up for what officials describe as Indias first fully digital census exercise The census the 16th in the countrys history and the eighth since Independence will be conducted in two phases across Gujarat and the rest of India The previous census was carried out in 2011Announcing the commencement of the exercise Census Director Sujal Mayatra urged all citizens to participate in the nationwide enumeration programmeThe House Listing and Housing Census will be conducted across the state from June 1 to June 30 During this phase enumerators will ask a total of 33 questions covering housing conditions family details source of drinking water toilet facilities and other assets Mayatra saidThe first phase known as the House Listing and Housing Census HLO will involve enumerators collecting information on housing conditions household composition access to drinking water sanitation facilities and other assetsThe survey will be conducted in all districts municipal corporations municipalities and villages across GujaratThe second phase comprising Population Enumeration PE and caste enumeration will be conducted between February 9 and February 28 2027According to census authorities caste data collection will be undertaken alongside the nationwide population count during this stageMayatra said During this phase population enumeration and caste enumeration will be carried out and the caste census exercise will also be completed across the countryOfficials said Gujarats selfenumeration campaign which began on May 17 received participation from Governor Acharya Devvrat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel members of the state Cabinet the Chief Secretary senior secretaries district collectors municipal commissioners and other citizens who submitted their details through the online selfenumeration facilityAs of May 30 more than 374 lakh citizens had filled selfenumeration forms under Census 2027Of these around 330 lakh submissions had been successfully completed while approximately 44000 forms remained under processingThe census operation in Gujarat will cover 110598 House Listing Blocks HLBs and will be carried out by 109038 enumerators supported by 18254 supervisorsTo prepare for the exercise enumerators supervisors and other census officials have undergone training in three phases Officials said modern technology would play a central role in this years censusDedicated Android and iOS applications have been developed in 16 languages including Gujarati and are equipped with offline data collection capabilities to facilitate enumeration in areas with limited internet connectivityA special SelfEnumeration option was also introduced allowing residents to submit their information directly through the official portalCensus authorities emphasised that all information collected under the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990 would remain strictly confidentialAll personal information collected under the provisions of the Census Act 1948 and the Census Rules 1990 will be kept completely confidential The information cannot be used for legal or taxation purposes officials saidAuthorities further noted that every citizen is legally required to provide accurate and complete information during the census process and that the law provides for penalties in cases where individuals refuse to furnish information IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-to-begin-first-phase-of-census-2027-today-675847.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-expansion-today-35-new-ministers-to-take-oath-at-lok-bhavan-675853.html Kolkata June 1 The 35 members of the extended cabinet in West Bengal will take the oath as ministers at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata at 11 am on Monday Governor RN Ravi will administer the oathLast week the Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs state president in West Bengal separately met with the partyâs central leadership to finalise the names of 35 new cabinet membersFinally these 35 BJP legislators will take oath as cabinet members on Monday In all probability the portfolio distribution of the new members of the state cabinet will also be announced on MondayAlthough speculation is there in the corridors of power and political circles in the state about who will be inducted the state BJP leadership is tightlipped on the issue âJust wait till 11 am today There might be many surprises The only thing I can say as of now is the extended cabinet will be a fair combination of veterans and new blood At the same time there will be fair representation in the state cabinet from all the districts of West Bengalâ said a state committee member of the BJP in the morning who did not wish to be namedWith the 35 new cabinet members in the state cabinet taking oath on Monday the total number of cabinet members will increase to 41 with still room left for induction of three more cabinet members considering that 15 per cent of the total Assembly strength in a state is the ceiling for the number of cabinet membersTo recall six ministers of the first BJPruled state government in West Bengal since independence including the stateâs ninth Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were sworn in by the Governor on May 9 The other five members of the cabinet who were sworn in along with CM Adhikari were Agnimitra Paul Dilip Ghosh Nisith Pramanik Ashok Kirtaniya and Khudiram TuduAfter the oath ceremony is over CM Adhikari will hold a crucial meeting with the different associations of the state government employees to finalise the payment of Dearness Allowance to the current and retired state government employees at par with their counterparts in the Central government and arrears accrued on it as per the directions of the Supreme CourtIn the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections BJP clinched a landslide victory with its candidates winning from 207 Assembly constituencies Later BJPâs tally in the state Assembly increased to 208 with the party candidate Debangshu Panda clinching a landslide victory in the repolling for Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-expansion-today-35-new-ministers-to-take-oath-at-lok-bhavan-675853.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/impose-presidents-rule-in-bengal-shiv-sena-675880.html Mumbai June 1 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Monday demanded that the Presidents rule be imposed in West Bengal where opposition MPs were being attacked The party claimed in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana that the assault allegedly launched by BJP workers on Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee was as cowardly as it was brutal and the shocking incidents that unfolded in Kolkata over the past two days have dealt a massive blow not only to the reputation of West Bengal but to the prestige of the entire countryWest Bengal which has long been considered one of Indias most civilised states has transformed into a symbol of violence hatred and mobocracy it saidThe Saamana editorial argued that while the BJP secured power in West Bengal during the Assembly elections it is evident that instead of utilising this mandate for public welfare they are using it to scratch a persistent itch for political vendettaâHad such attacks on MPs occurred during Mamata Banerjeeâs tenure the Governor would have immediately recommended the imposition of Presidentâs Rule to the Centreâ it commentedâThe current picture of Bengal is terrifying Stones were hurled directly at Abhishek Banerjees head he survived only because he was wearing a helmet A similar fate befell MP Kalyan Banerjee Abhishek Banerjee stated that the attack was preplanned and a deliberate plot to assassinate him However BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya characteristically shrugged off any responsibility claiming the BJP has no connection to these events and labelling it as public outrage Bhattacharya called this public angerâ said the editorialThe editorial further said that this raises a question Has the BJP handed out a license to Kolkatas goons to assassinate opposition MPs Mamata Banerjee served as Chief Minister for fifteen years and the people of Bengal showered immense love upon her often calling her the tiger cub who fights on the streetsâThe narrative that the public suddenly became so enamoured with the BJP that they turned around to assault Mamatas MPs out of anger is entirely unbelievable This is orchestrated systemic goonism The BJP either wants to split Mamatas party or permanently establish a regime of thugs over Bengalâ it allegedThe Thackeray camp stated that the BJP used to claim that during Mamatas regime Bangladeshi infiltrators ruined West Bengals culture and perpetuated criminal behaviour âWho then are these individuals spearheading this horrific violence under the current BJP rule The place of Bangladeshi infiltrators has merely been taken over by tilaksporting goons If anyone labels this a regime change they are committing a betrayal against the Indian Constitutionâ it remarkedAccording to the editorial the two Trinamool Congress MPs were explicitly targeted in assassination attempts Shockingly neither West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari nor Governor Ravi have broken their silence on the matter This silence indicates that these murderous assaults are statesponsored executed well within the protective framework of the current establishment The state government is granting absolute impunity to criminals with the explicit goal of eliminating opposition representativesâA wave of NeoHindutva is surging across West Bengal under the guise of public anger This prompts a final critical question When exam papers are leaked continuously fuel prices skyrocket the government lies daily and inflation inflicts untold misery on everyday life why is the public not furious about those issues Why have they instead become so helplessly infatuated with the BJPâ asked the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena in the editorialThe Thackeray camp said that the ruling establishment must explain why actual public rage has undergone a complete circumcision here when it comes to real economic distress only to be manufactured into political violence IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/impose-presidents-rule-in-bengal-shiv-sena-675880.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-concerns-among-farmers-amid-rising-cultivation-costs-675881.html Chennai June 1 Farmers across Tamil Nadu have expressed growing concern over the recent increase in fertiliser prices warning that the move could significantly raise cultivation expenses at a time when agricultural production costs are already under severe pressure The latest price revision has added to the challenges faced by the farming community which is also grappling with uncertainty over financial support measures and fluctuating returns from agricultural produceAgricultural organisations have pointed out that the cost of cultivation has been steadily increasing due to rising prices of seeds labour irrigation machinery and other essential farm inputsAccording to estimates based on prevailing financing norms farmers are already required to spend thousands of rupees per acre to cultivate major crops The latest increase in fertiliser prices is likely to further strain their finances and reduce profit marginsFarmers noted that fertilisers such as NPK mixtures complex fertilisers potash sulphates and phosphatic nutrients are widely used across a variety of crops including paddy sugarcane vegetables and horticultural produceAny increase in the cost of these essential inputs directly affects overall production expenditure and can have a significant impact on farm incomes Recent revisions have seen the price of NPK fertiliser rise sharply while rates of complex fertilisers and potash have also registered substantial increasesFarmer groups fear that the cumulative impact of these hikes could lead to a steep escalation in cultivation costs during the current agricultural seasonAgricultural representatives have warned that the sudden increase in input prices has created uncertainty among cultivators regarding their crop plans Many farmers are reportedly reassessing the extent of cultivation they can undertake particularly those dependent on borrowed capital or operating on small landholdingsThe farming community has urged both the state and Central governments to intervene and take measures to stabilise fertiliser pricesThey argue that affordable access to key agricultural inputs is essential for sustaining farm productivity and ensuring food securityWith cultivation expenses continuing to rise and market returns remaining uncertain farmers believe that immediate policy support is necessary to prevent further financial stress in the agricultural sector They maintain that controlling input costs will be crucial to safeguarding livelihoods and encouraging continued investment in farming activities across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fertiliser-price-hike-deepens-concerns-among-farmers-amid-rising-cultivation-costs-675881.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-tightens-grip-on-kiifb-signals-major-reforms-probe-on-the-cards-675884.html Thiruvananthapuram June 1 In one of the most significant administrative reforms undertaken by the newly elected UDF government Chief Minister VD Satheesan has initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board KIIFB signalling a decisive shift in the functioning of the states premier infrastructure financing agency Even though itâs just two weeks since taking over he has held two special meetings on the working and functioning of KIIFBThe move is being projected as part of a broader effort to bring greater transparency accountability and financial discipline to public institutionsSignificantly with Satheesan also holding the Finance portfolio the Chief Minister is expected to exercise direct control over KIIFB ending what government sources describe as years of autonomous functioning and weak oversightEstablished in 1999 as the states principal infrastructure funding vehicle KIIFB has evolved into one of Keralas most influential public sector institutions financing projects worth more than Rs 60000 crore across sectors ranging from roads healthcare and education to water supply power and portsOver the years however its growing financial footprint has also attracted criticism over spending practices staffing patterns and governance mechanismsThe governments decision follows preliminary reviews that reportedly pointed to widespread irregularities in appointments an increasing dependence on contract staff and the concentration of key positions among a relatively small network of individualsConcerns have also been raised over the continued presence of retired officials in influential roles and the alleged proliferation of highpaying posts outside the regular government frameworkAs part of the overhaul the government is planning to bring KIIFB under the direct supervision of the Finance Department and gradually phase out a large number of temporary and contract appointmentsFuture staffing is expected to rely primarily on qualified serving government officers and finance department personnel deputed to the institutionAllegations have also surfaced that some employees working with KIIFB are also running their own private consultanciesThe administration is also examining the organisational structure of KIIFB and its affiliated entities with a view to reducing duplication curbing expenditure and strengthening accountabilityA broader scrutiny of past appointments financial commitments and administrative decisions is also under considerationFor the Satheesan government the exercise represents more than a routine restructuringIt is being positioned as an attempt to redefine the governance architecture of an institution that has become central to Keralas development modelIf implemented in full the overhaul could mark the most farreaching transformation in KIIFBs history placing the states powerful infrastructure funding agency under tighter political and financial oversight than ever beforeNo sooner had Congressled UDF registered a stunning win in the Assembly polls than KIIFB CEO and the closest aide of outgoing Chief Minister KM Abraham quit his post IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-tightens-grip-on-kiifb-signals-major-reforms-probe-on-the-cards-675884.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-large-scale-encroachment-removal-carried-out-in-viramgam-for-road-widening-project-675886.html Viramgam June 1 A largescale demolition and encroachment removal operation was carried out in Viramgam town of Gujaratâs Ahmedabad district on Monday morning to facilitate the widening of State Highway No 17 under the ViramgamSurendranagarWadhwan fourlane road project The drive covered around 4000 square metres of government and private land along an approximately 400metre stretch near Gangasar Lake where officials said longstanding encroachments had created a traffic bottleneck affecting connectivity at the entry point of ViramgamSubDivisional Magistrate Virendra Desai said the action was conducted after following due legal procedures and land acquisition normsHe said At the entry point of Viramgam city there was a bottleneck area where three dargahs and several other small encroachments existed The land involved was privately owned and it was acquired under the land acquisition process Compensation was provided to the landowners and today we carried out the process of taking possession of the landOfficials said the operation included the demolition of several structures including three dargahs along with five shops and around 100 encroachments associated with cemetery landA heavy deployment of machinery was used during the drive including five JCB machines two Hitachi excavators and 15 dumpers to carry out the clearance workSecurity arrangements were also strengthened significantly with more than 550 police personnel deployed at the siteThe force included one Deputy Superintendent of Police DySP 15 Police Inspectors personnel from multiple police stations as well as units from the State Reserve Police SRP local Crime Branch and Special Operations GroupDy SP Tapan Kumar Dodiya said the objective of the operation was to remove a longstanding obstruction to road widening He said âDemolition work has been underway since this morning to widen the stretch of road connecting Viramgam to Viramgam town and improve connectivityâAhmedabad Rural Superintendent of Police SP Om Prakash Jat said the project was part of a major state infrastructure initiative and had been under planning for several monthsThe administration and police had been coordinating for two to three months holding multiple rounds of meetings with the District Collector SDM Dy SP police officials and community representatives before executing the operation after completing all legal formalities he told IANSHe added that extensive consultations were held with local stakeholders before the drive âBased on this planning a mega demolition operation was launched this morning The entire demolition process was completed in a very peaceful mannerâ he saidAuthorities said the coordinated operation ensured that approximately 4000 square metres of encroached land was cleared for the highway widening project which aims to improve regional connectivity by removing the historic bottleneck at Viramgamâs entry pointThe latest action follows an earlier encroachment removal drive conducted in April in the Dhandhuka area of Ahmedabad district where authorities cleared illegal constructions along stretches of the DhandhukaBagodara Highway as part of ongoing enforcement against unauthorised encroachments IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-large-scale-encroachment-removal-carried-out-in-viramgam-for-road-widening-project-675886.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ipl-final-shift-row-shivakumar-says-karnataka-wont-lose-major-matches-in-future-675889.html Bengaluru June 1 Chief Ministerdesignate and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday alleged that influence from Gujarat led to the shifting of the IPL final from Karnataka to Ahmedabad depriving fans in the state of hosting the marquee match Speaking to reporters at his residence in Bengaluru Shivakumar said the IPL final should have been held in Karnataka and that the state government had granted the necessary permissions But those from Gujarat used their influence and snatched away the match from us by shifting it to Ahmedabad he allegedShivakumar said efforts would be made to ensure that Karnataka does not lose out on hosting such major sporting events in the future We are making preparations so that such matches are not taken away from Karnataka in the future It may take some time but we are committed to strengthening our position he saidDescribing the development as an injustice to both the states cricket infrastructure and its youth Shivakumar said many young cricket enthusiasts were disappointed at not being able to watch the final at Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy StadiumIt is an injustice to the stadium we have here and also to the youngsters The cricket final was supposed to be played here but they did not allow it and shifted it to Ahmedabad Naturally many young fans are disappointed that they could not witness the final in Bengaluru he saidCongratulating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB team on their successful campaign Shivakumar said the franchise had brought pride to KarnatakaThe RCB team which is identified as Karnatakas team has played exceptionally well On behalf of the people of Karnataka and RCB supporters across the state I congratulate the players and wish them continued success They should be proud of their achievement he saidReferring to past differences Shivakumar added that Karnataka had moved forward and was focused on a new beginning Whatever happened in the past we have forgotten and moved towards a new beginning This is a success story All the players performed very well and I congratulate the entire RCB team he saidExpressing confidence about the future Shivakumar said Karnataka would continue to play a major role in Indian cricket The future is again with Karnataka he addedThe IPL 2026 final was originally scheduled to be held at Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB the defending champions were expected to host the title clash under IPL convention However the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI later shifted the final to Ahmedabads Narendra Modi StadiumThe BCCI stated that the venue was changed due to certain requirements raised by local authorities and the Karnataka State Cricket Association KSCA that were beyond the boards established guidelines and protocolsThe issue turned into a row as the decision came immediately after the Karnataka government mandated the KSCA to provide complementary tickets to legislators Reports stated that the demand included around 900 tickets for MLAs and MLCs along with additional allocations for government commitments IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ipl-final-shift-row-shivakumar-says-karnataka-wont-lose-major-matches-in-future-675889.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nitish-kumar-meets-vijay-chaudhary-as-mlc-poll-activity-gathers-pace-in-bihar-675892.html Patna June 1 Political activity has intensified in Biharâs capital Patna as preparations for the upcoming Legislative Council elections gather pace Janata Dal United National President and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary to finalise the plan and discuss the names of the candidatesEarlier Nitish Kumar had a similar meeting with JDU National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha in PatnaThe nomination for 10 vacant seats in the Bihar Legislative Council started on Monday Against this backdrop discussions regarding seatsharing within the National Democratic Alliance NDA are said to be nearing completionSources indicate that out of the ten seats around four may fall within the JDUs share Consequently competition for party nominations has intensified with several senior leaders and aspirants actively lobbying for the samePolitical observers believe that the JDU leadership is currently focused on finalising its list of candidates while carefully balancing social and regional equations The party is expected to take into account factors such as caste representation organisational contributions and electoral strategy before making its final selectionsAmid growing speculation one name has emerged prominently in political discussions Party insiders suggest that preparations may be underway to nominate Health Minister Nishant Kumar to the Legislative Council from the JDUs quota However no official confirmation has been issued by the party and leaders have remained tightlipped on the matterDespite the absence of a formal announcement the possibility continues to dominate political conversations For the remaining seats the party is reportedly working toward maintaining a broad social and political balanceConsideration is being given to providing representation to backward classes extremely backward classes minority communities and longserving party workers who have contributed significantly to strengthening the organisation over the yearsThe series of meetings and consultations in Patna has sent a clear signal that the JDU has shifted into election mode and is actively shaping its strategy for the Legislative Council polls IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nitish-kumar-meets-vijay-chaudhary-as-mlc-poll-activity-gathers-pace-in-bihar-675892.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-mourns-death-of-7-bluru-residents-in-himachal-accident-urges-aid-for-families-675893.html Bengaluru June 1 BJP Karnataka President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Monday expressed shock and grief over the death of seven Bengaluru residents in a tragic road accident near Sach Pass in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh In a statement posted on social media Vijayendra said he was deeply saddened to learn that a total of eight people including seven members of two families from Bengaluru lost their lives in the horrific accident that occurred while they were on a vacationIt is extremely shocking to learn that eight people including seven members of two Bengaluru families were killed in the tragic accident near Sach Pass in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh It is truly heartbreaking that families who had gone on a holiday met with such a tragic end he saidVijayendra urged the Karnataka government to coordinate with the Himachal Pradesh government to ensure all necessary assistance is provided to the bereaved familiesHe called upon the state government to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains of the victims back to Bengaluru and extend all possible support to the affected families during this difficult timePraying for the departed souls Vijayendra expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he hoped they would find the strength to cope with the irreparable lossI pray for eternal peace for the departed souls and for God to give the grieving family members the strength to bear this unexpected tragedy he saidIt can be noted that a tragic road accident in Himachal Pradeshs Chamba district claimed eight lives after a tourist taxi plunged into a deep gorge near Sach Pass The vehicle was travelling on the BairagarhKillar route when it met with the fatal accident at a sharp bend near KalabanThe accident occurred when the car was going towards the snowbound Sach Pass one of the toughest stretches in Himachal Pradesh the officials said Police said a car carrying tourists fell into a steep gorge around midnight on the 29th of May Following an intensive search and rescue operation carried out under difficult terrain conditions authorities recovered all eight bodies from the accident site According to police the tourists had arrived in Himachal Pradesh for sightseeing and were staying at a hotel in Dalhousie They had left for Sach Pass on the 29th of May but did not return by evening The hotel management informed the police following which a search operation was launched IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-mourns-death-of-7-bluru-residents-in-himachal-accident-urges-aid-for-families-675893.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cabinet-exercise-shifts-to-delhi-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-to-meet-cong-high-command-675895.html Bengaluru June 1 Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar and caretaker CM Siddaramaiah reached New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions with the Congress high command on the formation of the new state cabinet The two senior leaders travelled to the national capital on the same flight as the exercise to finalise the composition of the cabinet shifted to Delhi AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge also left for Delhi earlier from his residence in Bengaluru Siddaramaiahs son MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and several senior Congress leaders including former Minister HC Mahadevappa a close associate of Siddaramaiah also reached the national capitalAccording to party sources Congress leaders Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala have already held consultations and finalised the initial list of ministersSources indicated that the first phase of cabinet formation is likely to include around 10 to 12 ministers including the Chief Minister The proposed social composition of the first batch is expected to include two leaders from the Other Backward Classes OBC category two Scheduled Caste SC leaders one Scheduled Tribe ST leader two Vokkaliga leaders one Muslim representative and two Lingayat leadersThe swearingin ceremony for the first batch of ministers is expected to be held on June 3Party sources further said the Congress leadership is considering a twophase cabinet expansion The remaining ministerial berths are likely to be filled after the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council electionsAccording to sources supporters of Siddaramaiah are expected to receive a significant share of cabinet positions in the first phase of expansionThe final list of ministers is expected to be approved following consultations with the Congress central leadership in New DelhiSources further state that Siddaramaiah has also reportedly prepared a list of ministerial aspirants from his camp which he is likely to submit to the Congress high commandSeveral aspirants have already reached New Delhi as consultations on cabinet formation intensify The Congress high command is expected to scrutinise the list taking into account districtwise and communitywise representation before finalising the cabinet lineupMeanwhile Siddaramaiah is likely to press strongly for the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts in Karnataka According to discussions held at his residence his camp believes that at least three Deputy Chief Ministers should be appointed to ensure caste and community representation in the governmentA surprising development has emerged with reports suggesting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered a Rajya Sabha seat to former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife Parvathi after Siddaramaiah declined to enter national politics However Siddaramaiah is said to have politely declined the proposal according to Congress insiders IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-cabinet-exercise-shifts-to-delhi-shivakumar-siddaramaiah-to-meet-cong-high-command-675895.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/game-of-thrones-finally-ended-in-karnataka-bjp-targets-cong-over-leadership-change-675906.html New Delhi June 1 Even before the formation of Karnatakaâs new Cabinet under Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar political sparring over leadership ministerial berths and internal factionalism within the Congress has intensified with Opposition parties alleging that the ruling party remains consumed by power struggles rather than governance The latest round of attacks came after the Congress leadership finalised DK Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka ending months of speculation over a leadership transition However discussions over Cabinet formation deputy chief minister posts and key organisational appointments continue to trigger political debateReacting to the development BJP leader TR Srinivas said the prolonged contest for power within the Congress had finally reached a conclusionâThe Game of Thrones has finally ended in Karnataka I extend my best wishes to DK Shivakumar the Chief Ministerdesignate for taking oath I hope he will focus on governance issues such as urban distress rural distress farmer distress and overall administrative challenges as there is currently perceived policy paralysis in Karnataka and public dissatisfaction with governanceâ Srinivas claimedJDU national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad claimed that the leadership change reflected deeper factional tensions within the CongressâLook this was bound to happen and we had expressed our concerns earlier as well Rahul Gandhi took quite a long time to make a decision on Karnataka The reason is that whenever internal factionalism or dissatisfaction grows within a state unit Rahul Gandhi does not intervene until the party is on the verge of breaking apart This is just an indication of the ongoing tugofwar over the Cabinetâ Prasad told IANSBJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra also criticised the Karnataka government alleging that a change in leadership would not improve governance in the stateâThe Congress government has not carried out any significant development work during the last three years Even if DK Shivakumar becomes Chief Minister Karnataka will not witness any major development The Congress government has tied its own hands through its guarantee schemes and a change in leadership will not alter the development scenario in the stateâ Vijayendra claimedThe Congress Legislature Party recently elected DK Shivakumar as its new leader paving the way for him to succeed Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath on June 3 in BengaluruAttention has now shifted to the composition of the new Cabinet with intense discussions underway over ministerial positions deputy chief minister posts and the appointment of a new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC chiefSenior Congress leaders including Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have held consultations with the party high command in Delhi as the leadership works to balance regional caste and political equations in the new government IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/game-of-thrones-finally-ended-in-karnataka-bjp-targets-cong-over-leadership-change-675906.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Kolkata June 1 Aroop Biswas the former West Bengal Sports Minister on Monday approached a court in North 24 Parganas district with an anticipatory bail plea His petition at the Barasat District Court follows an FIR registered against him last week at Bidhannagar South Police Station in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the vandalism at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during Lionel Messis GOAT India Tour on December 13 last yearAlthough the petition has been admitted the date of the first hearing in the matter is yet to be decidedThe police registered the FIR on the night of May 30 on the basis of a complaint filed by the main organiser of the Messi event Satadru Dutta on May 17Biswas a fourtime Trinamool Congress legislator from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district got defeated this time from the same constituency in the recently concluded electionsHe was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs Papiya Adhikari a firsttime legislator and an actressturned politician by a margin of over 6000 votesEarlier during the previous Trinamool Congress regime the police arrested Messis tour organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with the Yuva Bharati incident He was later released on bailOn May 17 Dutta had filed a written complaint against Biswas and several others Based on that complaint the Bidhannagar South Police Station registered an FIR against the former ministerAfter the FIR was registered on the night of May 30 Dutta thanked the current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari the current state sports minister Nishith Pramanik and the stateâs director general of police Sidh Nath GuptaIn his complaint filed on May 17 Dutta claimed that Biswas had blackmarketed about 22000 tickets for the Messi event Based on that allegation the Bidhannagar South Police Station has started an investigation Incidentally the new Sports Minister of the state government Nisith Pramanik had spoken about opening a file in the Messi event fiasco after taking charge IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-bengal-minister-seeks-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-district-court-in-messi-kolkata-event-case-675911.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/meaningful-change-does-not-require-new-policies-meghalaya-cm-675912.html Shillong June 1 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday stressed the need for stronger implementation systems integrated governance and outcomeoriented policymaking to improve early childhood development maternal health and social welfare outcomes in the state and across the country Addressing the inaugural session of the threeday Early Childhood Development ECD Implementation Science Workshop in Shillong Sangma said governments often already understand the science data and policy solutions behind developmental challenges but the real task lies in effective implementation and collective political willSpeaking at the event held at Vivanta Shillong the Chief Minister recalled that when he first assumed office in 2018 he had emphasised that meaningful change does not necessarily require new schemes or policies but rather improved implementation of existing programmesQuoting an author Sangma said he had once responded to a question from the media by saying that he âwould not do anything different but would do things differentlyâHe said both the Central and State government schemes are largely designed to address developmental challenges but progress depends on how efficiently they are implemented on the groundHighlighting Meghalayaâs governance reforms Sangma said stronger implementation mechanisms had significantly improved the utilisation of centrally sponsored schemes and externally aided projectsReferring to MGNREGA he said improved execution had resulted in nearly a threefold increase in utilisation and absorption capacity He further noted that Meghalaya is currently implementing externally aided projects worth nearly Rs 12000 crore exceeding the portfolios of several other small statesâThe point I am trying to make is that we often know the problems We understand the science the data and the analysis behind them But ultimately there has to be a will to make a differenceâ the Chief Minister saidSangma stressed the importance of identifying practical and locally relevant solutions rather than relying on onesizefitsall approachesReferring to Meghalayaâs efforts to reduce maternal mortality he said the government initially believed that increasing institutional deliveries alone would solve the problem but later realised that economic and logistical barriers were major factorsâWe were encouraging institutional deliveries without recognising the economic realities these mothers facedâ he saidThe Chief Minister explained that instead of investing heavily in ambulances the government created a locally adapted transport support mechanism involving community vehicle owners while also establishing Safe Motherhood Homes for expectant mothers from remote areasâThe lesson here is that we must identify where the actual problem lies and then design solutions that are practical affordable and tailored to local realitiesâ he addedReferring to the upcoming National Games and recently completed sports infrastructure projects including a Rs 160crore indoor stadium he said the real success of such investments would be measured by improvements in the lives and achievements of young athletesThe Chief Minister said Meghalaya has increasingly adopted an integrated governance approach linking health education nutrition rural development and social welfare He said this thinking eventually led to the creation of the MOTHER programme â Meghalayaâs Outcome and Transformation in Health Education Rural Development and Social Benefit â which brings multiple departments together around maternal and child welfareâWe are no longer looking at departments or schemes in isolation We are looking at a human life and asking how government can support that life at every stageâ he saidSangma further highlighted the link between economic empowerment and maternal and child health outcomes noting that the expansion of SelfHelp Groups in Meghalaya from around 4500 to nearly 60000 over the last eight years has contributed to broader social and developmental gainsEmphasising cooperative federalism the Chief Minister said states must continue learning from one another through platforms that encourage innovation collaboration and knowledge exchange âThere are no small states or big states when it comes to innovation and good governanceâ he saidThe threeday workshop has brought together policymakers development practitioners experts and government officials from across the country to deliberate on issues related to early childhood development behavioural science systems strengthening and adaptive leadership IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/meaningful-change-does-not-require-new-policies-meghalaya-cm-675912.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-legislative-council-polls-announced-for-7-vacancies-voting-on-june-18-675916.html Bengaluru June 1 Elections have been notified to fill seven vacant seats in the Karnataka Legislative Council following the retirement of sitting members The election notification was issued by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer MK Vishalakshi on MondayThe vacancies have arisen due to the retirement of Legislative Council members Govindaraju Congress Naseer Ahmed Congress MTB Nagaraj BJP Pratap Simha Nayak BJP Tippannappa Kamakanoor Congress Sunil Valyapure BJP and BK Hariprasad Congress The nomination process commenced immediately after the notification was issuedAccording to the election schedule June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominations Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on June 9 while June 11 is the last date for withdrawal of candidaturePolling if required will be held on June 18 between 9 am and 4 pm at room number 106 first floor Vidhana Soudha The counting of votes will take place on the same day from 5 pm onwards and the election process will conclude by June 20 Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary Vishalakshi will be the election officer and Karnataka Legislative Assembly Director BS Mahalingesh would assistant election officer The candidates are directed to submit their nominations in Form D and a minimum of 10 sitting MLAs should put their signatures supporting the contestantThe candidates hailing from the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe are required to deposit Rs 5000 and other candidates are required to deposit Rs 10000 while submitting nominations The election assumes significance as it comes amid ongoing political developments in Karnataka with major parties expected to field candidates based on legislative strength and political considerationsFurther details regarding candidates and party nominations are expected in the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-legislative-council-polls-announced-for-7-vacancies-voting-on-june-18-675916.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-expels-ritabrata-banerjee-sandipan-saha-for-anti-party-activities-675920.html Kolkata June 1 The Trinamool Congress on Monday expelled two MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha for antiparty activities According to the party the decision has been communicated to them via email and WhatsApp as well as to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Basu The development came minutes after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari addressing a press conference from the state secretariat Nabanna announced that it was Trinamool MLAs Ritabrata and Sandipan who had submitted a written complaint to the Speaker regarding the Assembly signature forgery caseBased on that the Assembly Secretariat filed a complaint with Hare Street Police Station Suvendu Adhikari said that as the Police Minister he ordered the stateâs Criminal Investigation Department CID to be involved in the investigation only after the matter came to his attention Within 15 minutes of the end of Suvenduâs press conference the Trinamool Congress decided to expel Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata and Entally MLA SandipanHowever the Trinamool officially said that the two MLAs were expelled for not attending meetings convened by party leadership indulging in antiparty activities and making statements against the partyAfter the expulsion Sandipan said the party supports those who do immoral things and expels those who act morally He added that they did not know signing an attendance sheet would be treated as signing a resolutionAccording to the rules the two MLAs will remain ânonpartyâ following their expulsion from the Trinamool Congress They will not be obliged to follow the partyâs whip or instructions in the Rajya Sabha elections or in any other case Trinamool will not be able to apply for cancellation of their membership in any separate incidentThis experience is not new for Ritabrata In 2014 the CPIM made him a Rajya Sabha MP and he served until 2020 But in 2017 the CPIM expelled him on various charges Since then he remained an independent MP in the Rajya Sabha for three years After the RG Kar rape and murder incident when Jawhar Sircar resigned from the Rajya Sabha midterm Ritabrata went to the upper house of Parliament for one and a half years on a Trinamool ticket Later Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee brought him into state politics and gave him a party ticket to contest the Assembly polls this year which he wonImmediately after the expulsion of Ritabrata and Sandipan Beliaghata MLA and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh made a long post on Facebook without naming the two MLAs He wrote that it had not even been a month since the results were announced yet there was rebellion and betrayal in the partyHe questioned why they contested the election if they had so many allegations against the partyHe added that if Mamata Banerjee were the Chief Minister today many would have lobbied to become ministers but now they were distancing themselves by citing various reasonsHe termed this cowardice and said he would openly discuss the partyâs working methods in meetings and if necessary publiclyThe former ruling party faced complications under Assembly rules regarding who would be the Leader of the Opposition Deputy Leader and Chief Whip After the election results were declared on May 4 Mamata Banerjee called a meeting of winning MLAs at her Kalighat house on May 6 On that day MLAs agreed to the proposal that Mamata would decide who would be the partys leader deputy leader and chief whip in the AssemblySubsequently Trinamool Congress announced Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip A letter signed by Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was sent to the Assembly but it was not acceptedThe reason was that the election of the leader of the Parliamentary party or other office bearers had to be done in a meeting of the Parliamentary party which was not followed After leaving the May 6 meeting several MLAs told the media that Mamata had been given the responsibility to decide the leadershipWhen the Assembly Speaker rejected Abhishekâs letter MLAs were made to sign the decision of the Parliamentary party at another meeting on May 19 in Kalighat Several MLAs said they were made to sign the minutes of the May 6 meeting which led to complicationsAfter taking over the probe the CID visited the homes of four MLAs to investigate the signature scandal Among them were Nayna Bandyopadhyay Kunal Ghosh Tapas Maity and Baharul IslamA controversy arose over Baharulâs signature Although it was signed in the May 19 meeting the letter submitted to the Assembly was dated May 6 Baharul was not present at Mamataâs house that day He said investigators wanted to know his whereabouts on May 6 and he told them he was at home in Bhangar due to postpoll violenceHe claimed he was shown a signature from that day but clarified it was not hisBaharul said he had also brought the matter to the partyâs attention On the other hand senior leader and Ballygunge MLA Sovandeb said he did not understand the matter and that no one was forced to signHe added that Baharul had said after seeing the signature that it was not hisThe CID summoned Abhishek Banerjee on Monday in connection with the signature case but he did not appear citing health conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-expels-ritabrata-banerjee-sandipan-saha-for-anti-party-activities-675920.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nominations-begin-for-rs-elections-scheduled-for-june-18-675921.html New Delhi June 1 Nominations for elections to 27 Rajya Sabha seats including biennial and byeelections and to the State Legislative Councils in 3 states began on Monday with the ECI issuing a formal notification an official said In case of contested elections the poll shall be held on June 18 from 8 AM to 4 PM followed by the counting of votes at 5 PM the Election Commission of India said in a statementâThe Commission has issued notifications regarding the election programme and has appointed Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for both biennial and bye elections Details of the appointment have been published in the Gazette of IndiaState Gazettes todayâ said the statementWith this nominations for all these elections began at 11AM on Monday The last date for filing nominations is June 8 till 3 PM the ECI saidâThe scrutiny of nominations for each of these elections shall be taken up by the Returning Officers ROs concerned on June 9 2026 The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is fixed on June 11â said the statementThe biennial elections for 24 Rajya Sabha seats will be held in Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Jharkhand Madhya Pradesh Manipur Meghalaya Rajasthan Arunachal Pradesh Karnataka and MizoramRajya Sabha byeelections will be held in Maharashtra Tamil Nadu and Odisha for one seat each said the ECIIn Bihar the biennial election for the State Legislative Council will be held for nine seats In Karnataka the biennial election for the State Legislative Council will be held for seven seatsThe lone byeelection for the State Legislative Council will be held in Bihar The byeelection will be conducted for the seat vacated by former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after his election to the Rajya SabhaAnd biennial elections in Bihar will be held for nine seats whose members are set to complete their terms on June 28 The nine outgoing members include Dr Kumud Verma Professor Ghulam Ghaus Mohammad Farooq Bhishma Sahani Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha Sanjay Prakash Sameer Kumar Singh Samrat Choudhary and Sunil Kumar SinghAmong these the seats previously held by Samrat Choudhary and Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha are already vacant because both leaders were elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nominations-begin-for-rs-elections-scheduled-for-june-18-675921.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/conspiracy-behind-move-to-set-up-farmers-discom-kavitha-675815.html Hyderabad June 1 Telangana Rakshana Samithi TRS leader K Kavitha on Sunday alleged that there is a conspiracy behind the Congress governmentâs move to set up farmersâ DISCOM She alleged that the government was trying to privatise the remaining two DISCOMS by creating a farmersâ DISCOMAddressing a press conference she reacted to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddyâs remarks during an informal chat with media persons that the government will not scrap 24hour free power to farmers and that meters will not be installed for agricultural connectionsShe demanded that the Chief Minister officially make the announcement instead of speaking during the informal chat with the mediaShe also challenged the Chief Minister to announce that he will not seek votes in the elections if the remaining two DISCOMs are privatised She said her party would approach even the Supreme Court to counter the conspiracy by the governmentShe said that when this Chief Minister claims he will not scrap free electricity it only raises more suspicion She demanded that instead of chitchat he should hold a press meet and tell the people the same thingStating that the Chief Minister has not honoured the promises made in public meetings she expressed doubts if he would stick to the words he is saying nowShe appealed that the Electricity Regulatory Commission ERC should not give permission to the farmers DISCOM that harms farmers under any circumstances She said that if permission is given they will stop it even if they have to go to the Supreme Court Kavitha said that they have already filed a case on behalf of Telangana JagrutiKavitha said that Revanth Reddy who kept the farmers DISCOM secret for six months is now speaking slyly under the guise of chitchatShe challenged that if there is truly no intention to privatise the DISCOMs do they have the courage to go before the people in the coming elections and say soShe said that past bitter experiences are the reason why they cannot trust even when this Chief Minister says it so firmlyShe claimed that this time under the Rythu Bharosa scheme the government provided financial assistance only to those with less than two acres Farm loan waiver has not reached even 30 per cent of the people The government is also trying to back out on the bonus for farmersâThey promised to procure even the last grain of paddy but have still not done the procurement properlyâ she said and alleged that the government conspired to turn the farmers insurance into accidental insurance She said that all the actions taken by this government so far have been against the farmers Thats why there is no trust in the words spoken by the Chief Minister Kavitha saidKavitha also alleged that under the guise of reforms the Union Government is wiping out small and mediumscale solar playersShe said that a new GO has been brought saying that only companies manufacturing solar panels and batteries in India will get the opportunity and only five days time has been given She demanded that the Centre should immediately withdraw this issue that harms lakhs of small traders IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/conspiracy-behind-move-to-set-up-farmers-discom-kavitha-675815.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-asks-ktaka-students-to-carry-forward-legacy-of-iisc-isro-hal-avoids-comments-on-hijab-row-675834.html Bengaluru June 1 IANS Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Monday extended best wishes to students on commencement of the new academic year He noted that some of Indias premier institutions including IISc NLSIU ISRO and HAL are located in Karnataka and asked students to carry forward their legacy He refused to be drawn into the hijabsaffron shawl controversynbspResponding to questions from reporters about the governments reported move to lift restrictions on the hijab tilak kada kalava holy ash in schools and the subsequent calls by some Hindu organisations for students to wear saffron shawls Shivakumar declined to engage in the debateWe will discuss it later Whether it is a saffron shawl or a Tricolour shawl we will discuss it at the appropriate time This is not the time to discuss the matter he saidnbspFocussing on the reopening of schools Shivakumar conveyed his greetings to students and urged them to make the most of the opportunities aheadnbspToday marks the beginning of a new academic year On behalf of the government and personally I extend my best wishes to all students entering the new academic year he saidnbspHighlighting Karnatakas contribution to education and human resource development Shivakumar said the state has produced generations of accomplished professionals who have made significant contributions across the worldMany people who received their foundational education in Karnataka have gone on to contribute immensely to humanity Karnatakas rich educational heritage continues to attract attention from across the globe We have produced outstanding scientists lawyers professors and professionals in various fields he saidnbspHe noted that some of the countrys premier institutions including the Indian Institute of Science IISc the Indian Institute of Management IIM the National Law School of India University NLSIU the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO and major public sector undertakings such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HAL are located in KarnatakaStudents must carry forward this legacy We are entering a new era shaped by technology and innovation Artificial Intelligence has arrived and in the coming days I will share my thoughts and plans regarding AI as well as the states education policy on primary education he saidnbspAddressing students from rural areas Shivakumar urged them not to feel disadvantaged in comparison to their urban counterpartsnbspNo student should lose confidence Do not compare yourselves with others Our teachers are capable and the SSLC Class 10 examination results are proof of the quality of education in our schools We are committed to further improving the education system and giving it a new direction he saidnbspHe added that the present and future government would continue to support students and work towards strengthening educational opportunities across the statenbspShivakumar concluded by stating that he and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah were leaving for New Delhi later in the day and declined to comment further on political mattersIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-asks-ktaka-students-to-carry-forward-legacy-of-iisc-isro-hal-avoids-comments-on-hijab-row-675834.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html New Delhi June 1 IANS Shiromani Akali Dal SAD leaders strongly criticised the government after Punjab Police conducted a raid at the Amritsar residence of its senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia after a major clash alleging that the action was politicallymotivated and part of a broader campaign to target the OppositionnbspThe raid was carried out at Majithias Green Avenue residence following a major political standoff and clash at a local police stationAfter the confrontation Amritsar Police registered a First Information Report FIR against Majithia and several Akali Dal workersTo trace the accused named in the case police constituted 12 special teams and launched coordinated searches leading to the early morning operation at Majithias houseReacting to the development SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the ruling dispensation of pursuing a political agenda against the senior Akali leaderThis is all political vendetta They are frustrated and misleading people They put in their full effort in Majithias constituency first to cancel votes and then for booth capturing but still Majithia Sahib won Now they have made it a prestige issue to put him in jail This is all a planned operation by the Punjab government Sukhbir Singh Badal claimedSAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also questioned the police action and alleged irregularities in the handling of the caseFirst he is taken out from the police station and no action is taken against him Then the person who was allegedly kept in illegal confinement at the SHOs residence without any warrant or FIR and who was supposedly going to be killed in a staged encounter at night is rescued After that an FIR is registered against Majithia she allegedThe raid marks the latest flashpoint in the longrunning confrontation between Bikram Singh Majithia and the Punjab government The senior Akali leader has been at the centre of several investigations and legal battles in recent years In June 2025 he was also arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with a separate enquiryWhile the Punjab Police has maintained that the searches were part of an ongoing investigation linked to the FIR registered after the police station clash the SAD has accused the government of using law enforcement agencies to settle political scoresIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sad-alleges-political-vendetta-after-punjab-police-raid-on-majithias-residence-675838.html Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-amit-shahs-border-mission-set-to-become-new-political-moment-675780.html New Delhi May 31 When Union Home Minister Amit Shah set out to review and secure Indias international borders it may have appeared to be a routine exercise After all border security falls squarely within the Home Ministrys responsibilities But there is something different about this exercise In nearly eight decades of Independence India has rarely witnessed a government pursue border security with such intensity and political focus Previous governments spoke about strengthening national security The Modi government is attempting something far more expansive It wants to identify infiltration networks check illegal encroachments plug loopholes in the system and address what it sees as the longterm consequences of unchecked illegal migration across Indias bordersThat is why this mission deserves attentionAs the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office it is taking decisions that affect not only external security but also internal stability For decades infiltration from across Indias borders particularly from Bangladesh and Pakistan remained a subject of political debate but rarely received sustained administrative attentionToday the issue can no longer be ignored The situation has reached a point where the government believes that illegal infiltrators are not only compromising national security but also placing pressure on public resources They are taking away employment opportunities from local youth and most worryingly contributing to a demographic shiftWhat makes the present debate unusual is the emphasis on demography Never before has a government at the Centre spoken so openly about demographic change as a matter of national concern For decades such discussions remained confined to academic studies census reports and occasional political speeches Today they are part of mainstream political discourse It is perhaps for the first time in independent Indias history that attempts to alter demographic balances are being discussed and treated as a matter of national concernCensus data shows that Hindus constituted about 84 per cent of Indias population in 1951 while Muslims accounted for 98 per cent By 2011 the Hindu share had declined to around 798 per cent while the Muslim share had risen to 142 per centThe debate over demography cannot be separated from the legacy of Partition The creation of Pakistan was justified on the basis of religion but millions of Muslims chose to remain in India and became equal citizens of the new Republic Over the decades concerns have periodically surfaced over demographic changes in certain regions particularly along Indias eastern border These changes cannot be viewed in isolation from illegal immigration from neighbouring countries The Muslim population growth rate remains higher than that of Hindus and several other communities This stands in sharp contrast to Pakistan and Bangladesh where the share of religious minorities has steadily declined over the decadesDifferent political groups draw different conclusions from these figures But they have undoubtedly become a major reference point in discussions on demography and migrationAddressing the Narendra Mohan Memorial Lecture in October 2025 on the theme of Infiltration Demographic Change and Democracy Amit Shah said that demographic shifts in several border regions were linked not only to fertility rates but also to decades of illegal infiltration from neighbouring countriesWest Bengal has emerged as the most prominent example in this debate Recent reports and investigations relating to undocumented Bangladeshi migrants forged identity documents and alleged infiltration networks have intensified political scrutiny BJP leaders have accused the Trinamool Congress of facilitating such networks for electoral gain They argue that resistance to complete border fencing under the Mamata Banerjee government must be viewed in this context According to this argument gaps in enforcement created conditions in which infiltration networks could flourish and eventually become part of a larger votebank ecosystemQuestions are now being asked that were rarely asked with such urgency before How did illegal entrants obtain documentation Who enabled them How widespread are these networks And why were corrective measures delayed for so longSimilar concerns have been raised in Assam and other parts of the Northeast Amit Shah has previously pointed to Census trends in Assam and argued that demographic changes in several districts cannot be understood without taking infiltration into account He has noted that the decadal growth rate of the Muslim population in Assam according to the 2011 Census stood at 296 per cent and argued that such growth could not be explained without considering illegal immigration He has made similar observations about districts in West Bengal and about demographic changes affecting tribal populations in parts of JharkhandThese developments have revived longstanding concerns that were often dismissed or treated as secondary in public discourse For decades infiltration was treated primarily as a lawandorder issue The Modi government is treating it as a demographic political and national security issue as wellThat shift explains the Centres decision to constitute a HighLevel Committee to study demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal factors Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement of a Demography Mission in 2025 reflected the governments intention to place the issue at the heart of policymakingAs the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office with a historic win in West Bengal the political ground is shifting beneath the feet of parties that relied on identitybased votebank calculationsFor the BJP border security is no longer merely an administrative responsibility It has become part of a larger political project The slogan of detect delete and deport has moved from campaign rhetoric to government policyWhether this approach delivers the results remains to be seen But it is increasingly finding resonance among a large section of the population who believe that infiltration demography and national security can no longer be discussed separatelyFor decades the issue of infiltration surfaced periodically in political debates and then faded from public attention Today it occupies the centre of national discourse Whether the Modi governments approach ultimately succeeds or faces resistance one thing is clear border security is no longer being discussed only in terms of fences and checkpoints It is now tied to questions of identity representation resources and the future character of regions along Indias frontiers After years of silence the country is having a conversation it avoided for far too longDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-amit-shahs-border-mission-set-to-become-new-political-moment-675780.html Sun, 31 May 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sir-phase-iii-enumeration-house-visits-by-blos-begin-in-odisha-mizoram-sikkim-manipur-675794.html New Delhi May 31 The Election Commission of India ECI said on Sunday that the enumeration phase under the Special Intensive Revision â Phase III has started for Odisha Mizoram Sikkim and Manipur An official said in a statement that the enumeration phase for Odisha Mizoram Sikkim and Manipur began on SaturdayAll eligible electors whose Enumeration Forms are received by the Electoral Registration Officer ERO on or before June 28 2026 will be included in the Draft Electoral Rolls the ECI saidElectors who are unable to submit their Enumeration Forms by June 28 2026 may apply through Form6 along with the prescribed Declaration Form during the claims and objections period it addedDuring the enumeration phase of SIR Booth Level Officers BLOs conduct housetohouse visits and provide Enumeration Forms to all existing electorsThe ECI said electors may submit the duly filled form either through the BLO or onlineTo ensure maximum coverage BLOs will visit each household for distribution collection and verification of formsDuring housetohouse enumeration the BLOs carry at least 30 blank Form6 along with blank Declaration Forms to supply to anyone who seeks to enroll as a new elector it addedWith a view to ensure more involvement of political parties the Commission has allowed Booth Level Agents BLAs of recognised political parties to collect from the public up to 50 formsday and hand it over to the BLO before the Draft Publication the ECI saidNational and staterecognised political parties may appoint more BLAs to assist BLOs in the smooth and effective conduct of the SIR process the Commission addedThe ECI in exercise of its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India Section 21 along with other applicable provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1950 ordered SIR in 16 states and 3 Union Territories UTs on May 14The Commission said the main objective of the SIR is No eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral RollEvery person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date and is not otherwise disqualified under any law shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll the ECI addedIn Odisha there are 334 crore electors 38123 BLOs and 8391 BLAs of political parties In Mizoram there are 875 lakh voters 1353 BLOs and 3430 BLAs Sikkim has 471 electors 572 BLOs and 681 BLAs the ECI saidIn Manipur there are 2092 lakh electors 2996 BLOs and 5003 BLAs the ECI said urging electors to cooperate with election officials during the housetohouse visits IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sir-phase-iii-enumeration-house-visits-by-blos-begin-in-odisha-mizoram-sikkim-manipur-675794.html Sun, 31 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajeev-krishna-appointed-uttar-pradeshs-new-dgp-675801.html Lucknow May 31 Yogi Adityanathled Uttar Pradesh government announced the appointment of Acting DGP Rajeev Krishna as the new Director General of Police DGP of the state on Sunday An order to this effect was released in a notification signed by Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad The move brings an end to the prolonged wait for a fullterm DGP for the state as the post purportedly remained vacant after the removal of then DGP Mukul Goyal from the post in 2022Rajeev Krishna has been commanding the state police force in the capacity of Acting DGP and now with the announcement of his elevation as the permanent police chief this ends a long hiatus of four years for the top postThe 1991 batch officer Rajiv Krishnaâs name as the new DGP was finalised following deliberations by a panel of three senior officers submitted by the Union Public Service Commission UPSCThe Commission had forwarded the names of 1990batch IPS officer Renuka Mishra 1991batch IPS officers Piyush Anand and Rajiv Krishna to the state governmentThe UP government decided to entrust the leadership of the police force to Rajiv Krishna taking into account administrative experience expertise in lawandorder management and organisational capabilitiesHis appointment comes at a juncture when the state government has prioritised crime control technologydriven policing and maintaining a lawandorder environment conducive to investmentRajiv Krishna in his threedecadelong policing career has served in various pivotal positions related to intelligence operations lawandorder maintenance police modernisation and administrative managementPrior to assuming the role of Acting DGP he held key responsibilities such as Director General Intelligence and Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion BoardRajiv Krishna also holds significant experience in field policing he has served as the Police Chief in several key districts including Lucknow Agra Mathura Etawah and Gautam Buddha Nagar Noida During his tenure in Etawah his role in the operations conducted against bandit gangs garnered particular acclaimIn addition to this he has served as the ADG of the Lucknow Zone and while on central deputation held the position of IG Operations in the Border Security Force BSFRajiv Krishna was born on June 26 1969 in Gautam Buddha Nagar As an officer of the 1991 batch of the Indian Police Service IPS he joined the services on September 15 1991 Throughout his career having earned promotions at various levels he attained the rank of Director General of Police in February 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajeev-krishna-appointed-uttar-pradeshs-new-dgp-675801.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-search-trinamool-mla-madan-mitras-kamarhati-house-seize-documents-675803.html Kolkata May 31 Police conducted a search operation at Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitras house in the Kamarhati area of North 24 Parganas district on Sunday Barrackpore Police Commissionerate Deputy Commissioner South Dyutiman Bhattacharya led the search operationWhen the police reached Madan Mitras house on Sunday afternoon it was locked and the MLA was not present However the police broke open the lock and entered the premises After conducting a search for around an hour they locked the house again and leftIt is learnt that the house is named Uday Villa Trinamool Congress MLA from the Kamarhati Assembly constituency Madan Mitra also has a party office there Allegedly the land on which the house stands belongs to a central agency The police are investigating how the structure was built on land allegedly owned by a central agencyAccording to the police a large contingent entered the Uday Villa premises at around 1 pm According to local sources Madan Mitra occasionally stays at the house However it is still unclear whether he is the owner of the property The police said some documents were seized following the hourlong search operationAccording to sources close to Madan Mitra he is currently at his residence in south Kolkata The Trinamool Congress is scheduled to hold a meeting at Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjees Kalighat residence on Sunday eveningPolitical circles are keeping a close watch on how many of the 80 Trinamool Congress MLAs who won the Assembly elections will attend the meeting Sources claimed that Madan Mitra is in Kolkata to attend the gatheringSince the change of government in the state police and civic body officials have begun a crackdown on illegal constructions in and around the city that had mushroomed during the Trinamool Congress governments tenure Most of these illegal constructions were allegedly built with the support of Trinamool Congress leaders and promoters or real estate developers under the patronage of influential party leadersIn several areas bulldozer drives have been carried out to demolish such illegal constructions IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-search-trinamool-mla-madan-mitras-kamarhati-house-seize-documents-675803.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-krishi-sinchayee-yojana-strengthens-water-conservation-and-irrigation-in-ajmer-villages-675804.html Ajmer May 31 Under the Central governments flagship Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY several water conservation and irrigation development projects worth crores of rupees have been undertaken in various villages of Rajasthans Ajmer district These initiatives have improved water availability in rural areas while also contributing significantly to rainwater conservation and groundwater recharge According to Shalabh Tandon District Nodal Officer for the Vande Ganga Water Conservation Campaign multiple waterrelated infrastructure projects have been developed under the schemeIn Tikawada village water recharge shafts tanks water conservation structures and rainwater harvesting facilities have been constructed These measures help store rainwater and improve groundwater levelsTandon said The second phase of the scheme is currently being implemented It is a major project with a budget running into several crores of rupeesSupported by the Central government the scheme aims to ensure that water reaches every farm while promoting efficient management of water resourcesHe also noted that culverts have also been constructed in highway areas with a focus on water drainage and conservation These structures enable better utilisation of rainwater and support groundwater replenishmentThe ongoing work under PMKSY has brought significant relief to rural communities in AjmerFarmers are reportedly benefiting from improved irrigation facilities while the projects are also helping secure future water needsThe scheme aims to reflect the Union governments vision of Har Khet Ko Pani Water to Every Field and Per Drop More Crop on the groundMeanwhile Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced that the state will give top priority to the Central governments Jal Jeevan Mission the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY and various statelevel water conservation initiativesThe announcement followed a highlevel meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister CR PaatilThe Central government responded positively to Maharashtras financial and infrastructural demands aimed at expediting pending water projects Chief Minister Fadnavis saidHe told reporters that the meeting extensively reviewed ongoing irrigation projects under the PMKSYHe said he had requested additional funds to complete pending projects and received assurances of substantial financial assistance from the Centre IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-krishi-sinchayee-yojana-strengthens-water-conservation-and-irrigation-in-ajmer-villages-675804.html Sun, 31 May 2026 19:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjabs-law-and-order-alarming-says-haryana-cm-nayab-saini-675807.html Chandigarh May 31 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are working in tandem and share a similar ideology Referring to the just held municipal elections in Punjab he said the manner in which law and order was allegedly compromised had raised serious questions about the democratic systemHe said that by conducting the elections through ballot papers the state government demonstrated that it was apprehensive about facing defeat in a transparent democratic processSpeaking to the media in Kapurthala city CM Saini said the state government had made big promises to the people but failed to fulfil them He added that the public now understood that development cannot be achieved merely through announcements and false assurancesThe Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party government should inform the people how many of the promises made during elections have actually been fulfilled He said the expected progress in development works has not been achieved and that the law and order situation in the state has continuously deterioratedGangster and criminal activities have increased in Punjab leading to a growing sense of insecurity among ordinary citizens He said the governmentâs antidrug campaign âYudh Nashe Virudhâ has also failed to deliver the expected resultsâInstead of taking concrete measures to protect the youth from drug abuse and eradicate the menace more focus is on publicityâ He said the government should have made more serious efforts in this direction but the desired outcomes are not visible on the groundThe Chief Minister said Haryanaâs doubleengine government has worked to deliver public welfare benefits directly to the people through various schemes By integrating the Central governmentâs Ayushman Bharat Scheme with the state governmentâs Chirayu Scheme lakhs of families in Haryana have been provided access to better healthcare facilitiesHe said the government has taken effective steps to ensure free treatment for the poor and needy people He said the people of Punjab are increasingly placing their trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his developmentoriented policies and in the coming times they will work towards bringing the BJP to power in the stateHe added that the people âwant development good governance and accountability in politics and will no longer be satisfied with mere promisesâEarlier CM Saini also visited Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas and paid a courtesy call on Dera chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon During the meeting the Chief Minister sought his blessings and held discussions on various social and spiritual issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjabs-law-and-order-alarming-says-haryana-cm-nayab-saini-675807.html Sun, 31 May 2026 20:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ministers-swearing-in-to-be-decided-by-high-command-ktaka-cm-designate-shivakumar-675811.html Bengaluru May 31 Congress Legislature Party CLP leader and Karnataka Chief Ministerdesignate DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the party high command would decide whether ministers would take oath along with him during the swearingin ceremony scheduled for June 3 adding that he would not comment further on the matter Responding to a question on the composition of the new government Shivakumar said I do not know about that The party high command will take a decision I do not wish to comment on the matterSpeaking to reporters after inspecting the site earmarked for the proposed Congress Bhavan near Race Course Road Shivakumar said the party was considering holding the foundation stonelaying ceremony for the new office building immediately after the swearingin ceremonyAfter the swearingin ceremony on June 3 we are planning to hold the bhoomi puja for the construction of the Congress Bhavan near Race Course Road AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are yet to confirm their availability he saidShivakumar said invitations would be extended to all block and district Congress presidents MLAs former MLAs presidents of various party frontal organisations Members of Parliament and chairpersons of different corporations and boardsThis programme will not be open to the general public Our party workers should excuse us Due to space constraints at the venue only invited guests will be accommodated he saidHe added that the invitation for the event was yet to be formally handed over to Rahul Gandhi Preparations for the ceremony are being coordinated under the leadership of senior Congress leader Ramalinga ReddyReferring to the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar said arrangements had been made for party leaders and officebearers to watch the proceedings on LED screens at the Congress office as it would not be possible to invite everyone to the venueWe should at least provide this opportunity to the leaders who worked and struggled for us he saidWhen asked about plans to lay foundation stones for 100 party offices across the state Shivakumar said the initiative would be taken up in the coming daysOn the choice of venue for the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar said the event would be held at Lok Bhavan instead of the steps of Vidhana Soudha to avoid inconvenience to Bengaluru residents and prevent traffic congestion caused by a large influx of vehiclesSince the event is being conducted in a simple manner it will not be possible to accommodate a large crowd Our party workers should excuse us he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ministers-swearing-in-to-be-decided-by-high-command-ktaka-cm-designate-shivakumar-675811.html Sun, 31 May 2026 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ukranian-president-zelenskyy-warns-of-major-russian-strike-675814.html Washington May 31 IANS Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing a fresh largescale assault involving drones cruise missiles and ballistic missiles while urging the United States to accelerate the supply and production of air defence interceptors that Kyiv says are critical to protecting civiliansnbspIn an interview with CBS News Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence and information shared by Western partners indicated a high probability of a major Russian attack in the coming daysToday at night or tomorrow at night high percent of course nobody knows 100 per cent but there is a high percent Zelenskyy said adding that Ukrainians would be urged to use bomb shelters and take extra precautionsThe Ukrainian leader said Russia continued to launch daily attacks and had recently carried out one of its largest barrages of the warLast massive attack it was 600 drones and about 30 plus ballistic missiles he said describing ballistic missile defence as Ukraines biggest deficitZelenskyy revealed that he had sent letters to both the White House and the US Congress requesting additional support particularly antiballistic missile systems and interceptorsThis is the priority for us and big big challenge he said We have deficit with anti ballistic This is big problemThe Ukrainian President argued that the issue was no longer one of funding but of manufacturing capacity He said current production levels were insufficient to meet growing global demand 60 65 missiles per month for todays challenges its nothing he said We need to do production widerZelenskyy again pressed Washington to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile components under licenceI asked previous administration I am asking todays administration give Ukraine licenses We will increase the production of Patriot missiles he saidThe Ukrainian leader also said Russia appeared to be testing NATO responses through drone incidents involving neighbouring countriesRussia uses this just to attack politically and by weapon pressure on NATO countries to look at the reaction he said referring to reported drone incidents affecting Romania and other countries near UkraineOn diplomacy Zelenskyy said he remained willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin but argued that stronger sanctions were needed to bring Moscow to serious negotiationsI think we need more sanctions I think we need more pressure he said More sanctions more pressure they will be ready for the dialogueHe also suggested that Britain France and Germany could play leading roles in future European mediation efforts while noting Turkiyes previous involvement in prisoner exchangesZelenskyy criticised recent easing of some sanctions on Russian oil exports arguing that such moves indirectly strengthened Russias war effortLifting sanctions is a help for the soldiers of Russia Its very helpful for their defence industry he saidThe Ukrainian President also renewed allegations that Russia had forcibly removed thousands of Ukrainian children He said Kyiv had identified about 20000 children and managed to return roughly 2200We need more help We need more help We need thousands children to get them back he saidZelenskyy further disclosed that Ukraine was pursuing drone technology partnerships with European and Middle Eastern countries and hoped to finalise a major agreement with the United StatesHe said cooperation between American artificial intelligence firms and Ukrainian battlefield innovators could become the most powerful in the worldAsked what was needed to move the proposed drone partnership forward Zelenskyy replied Yes we need President Trump to say yesRussias fullscale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022 and has become Europes largest conflict since World War IIThe war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military casualties and widespread destruction across Ukraine while prompting extensive Western military and financial support for KyivIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ukranian-president-zelenskyy-warns-of-major-russian-strike-675814.html Sun, 31 May 2026 22:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-appoints-girish-chodankar-as-goa-pcc-chief-675636.html New Delhi May 30 In a major organisational reshuffle ahead of upcoming political battles in Goa the All India Congress Committee AICC has announced a fresh team for the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee GPCC The appointments announced by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal took effect immediately on May 29 2026According to the official press release Girish Chodankar has been appointed as the new President of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee The party has also named three working presidents MK Shaikh Altone DâCosta and Adv Carlos Alvares Ferriera Datta D Naik has been appointed as the treasurerThe Congress expressed gratitude to outgoing PCC president Amit Patkar for his contributions to the partyThe high command has also approved appointments for key committees to strengthen the partyâs structure in the coastal stateOn the campaign committee Yuri Alemao has been appointed chairperson while Captain Viriato Fernandes has been appointed chairperson of the manifesto committee Francisco Sardinha and Sunil Kawthankar have been appointed chairperson and coâchairperson of the coordination committeeThe decision is seen as a strategic move by the Congress high command to revitalise the party in Goa where it has been trying to regain lost ground after electoral setbacksGirish Chodankar a senior leader with strong organisational experience is expected to lead efforts to consolidate the partyâs base and prepare for future assembly and parliamentary contestsThe new team is expected to focus on grassroots mobilisation issueâbased campaigns and effective coordination with central leadershipFurther details regarding the full organisational structure are likely to be announced in the coming daysThis development is being closely watched in Goan political circles as it may significantly influence the Congressâs strategy for the next electoral cycle The inclusion of leaders from different regions and communities reflects the partyâs attempt to broaden its appeal in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-appoints-girish-chodankar-as-goa-pcc-chief-675636.html Sat, 30 May 2026 12:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-legislature-party-meeting-in-ktaka-today-to-elect-new-leader-following-siddaramaiahs-exit-as-cm-675639.html New Delhi May 30 The Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka has convened a meeting on Saturday amid ongoing political developments following Siddaramaiahs resignation as Chief Minister The meeting has been convened to elect a new leader of the Congress Legislature Party who is expected to become the partyâs choice for the Chief Ministerâs postThe CLP meeting will begin at 4 PM at the Conference Hall of Vidhana Soudha Siddaramaiah who is currently the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party will preside over the meetingKarnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President DK Shivakumar AICC General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala Legislative Council floor leader NS Bose Raju and all executive presidents of the party will be present at the meetingThe announcement was made by Allamaprabhu Patil MLA and Secretary of the Congress Legislature PartyAll Members of the Legislative Assembly MLAs Members of the Legislative Council MLCs Lok Sabha members and Rajya Sabha members have been asked to attend the meetingMeanwhile Siddaramaiah left Delhi after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge He is expected to arrive at HAL Airport in Bengaluru at 530 PM on FridayBefore departing from Delhi Siddaramaiah DK Shivakumar Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah and former minister KH Muniyappa had lunch togetherSiddaramaiah also met AICC General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal in Delhi Later he held discussions for some time with DK Shivakumar and former minister KJ GeorgeInterestingly Karnataka Minister HK Patil on Friday said that DK Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister and will likely take oath within the next two daysSpeaking to IANS Patil said âShivakumar is already the Chief Ministerdesignate Yesterday when former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his thoughts and spoke about the discussions held in Delhi he clearly stated that he had been advised to resign and that Shivakumar should be made the next Chief Minister From that moment itself it became clear that Shivakumar would be our next Chief Ministerâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-legislature-party-meeting-in-ktaka-today-to-elect-new-leader-following-siddaramaiahs-exit-as-cm-675639.html Sat, 30 May 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-surcharge-imposition-in-up-consumers-to-pay-10-pc-extra-on-june-power-bills-675665.html Lucknow May 30 The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited UPPCL has formally notified a 10 per cent Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge FPPAS on electricity bills for June a move that will affect consumers across all categories in the state The surcharge has been imposed to recover the additional expenditure incurred on power procurement and transmission costs in accordance with regulations framed by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory CommissionAccording to an order issued on May 29 the 10 per cent increase corresponding to the month of March will be recovered through electricity bills issued in June The decision means consumers will have to bear an additional burden on their monthly power bills as part of the fuel surcharge adjustment mechanismThe Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge is levied to compensate distribution companies for fluctuations in fuel prices and the increased cost of purchasing electricity from various sourcesThe development comes at a time when several parts of Uttar Pradesh are witnessing widespread and prolonged power outages amid an intense heatwave that has pushed temperatures beyond 45 degrees Celsius in many districtsThe soaring temperatures have significantly increased electricity consumption as households commercial establishments and industries rely heavily on cooling appliances and other electrical equipment to cope with the extreme weather conditionsAs a result electricity demand across the state has surged sharply and is reported to be up by nearly 5000 MW compared to previous yearsAlthough Uttar Pradesh has expanded its transmission infrastructure and enhanced its power transmission capacity in recent years officials acknowledge that the increase has not kept pace with the rapidly growing demand from consumers IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-surcharge-imposition-in-up-consumers-to-pay-10-pc-extra-on-june-power-bills-675665.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-chief-shivakumar-meets-governor-ahead-of-clp-meeting-675673.html Bengaluru May 30 Congress Karnataka unit President DK Shivakumar a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan on Saturday and held an informal discussion ahead of the crucial Congress Legislature Party CLP meeting Former Congress MP and his brother DK Suresh accompanied him His brother and former Congress MP DK Suresh accompanied himSources close to Shivakumar said the meeting was held to discuss logistical arrangements for the swearingin ceremony in the event of his elevation as Chief Minister The meeting assumed significance as the Governor is scheduled to leave for the temple town of Dharmasthala later in the afternoonAccording to sources astrologers have suggested June 1 June 3 and June 5 as auspicious dates for the oathtaking ceremony Shivakumar is understood to have discussed these dates with the Governor and sought to finalise a suitable date for the swearingin Deliberations were also reportedly held on whether the ceremony should be conducted on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha or at Raj BhavanSources indicated that June 3 is emerging as the most likely date for the swearingin ceremony and the Governors office has been informed accordingly Meanwhile intense lobbying has begun within Congress for the post of Deputy Chief Minister Senior leaders MB Patil and Eshwar Khandre are said to be staking claim to the position from the Lingayat communityFormer Assembly Speaker UT Khader veteran Congress MLA Tanveer Sait and former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are also reportedly in the race for the Deputy Chief Ministers postBoth Khader who hails from coastal Karnataka and Tanveer Sait from Mysuru district did not get an opportunity to serve in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet Sait had recently stated that he would not be unhappy over Siddaramaiahs resignation from the Chief Ministers postSenior leaders G Parameshwara and HC Mahadevappa both from the Scheduled Caste community are also hopeful of securing the Deputy Chief Ministers position amid speculation that the Congress high command may consider accommodating Siddaramaiahs son Yathindra Siddaramaiah in a key roleHowever sources said the party leadership is also examining the possibility of not creating any Deputy Chief Minister posts given the intense competition and competing claims from various communities and factionsSources further indicated that between 12 and 14 legislators are likely to be sworn in as ministers along with the new Chief MinisterShivakumars meeting with the Governor took place before the commencement of the CLP meeting as the Governor is scheduled to leave for Dharmasthala after 1 pmMeanwhile caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday received grievances from members of the public at his Cauvery residence He is travelling to Pavagada town in Tumakuru district to attend the final rites of former minister Venkataramanappa and return to Bengaluru by 140 pm and take part in the CLP meeting scheduled at 4 pm IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-congress-chief-shivakumar-meets-governor-ahead-of-clp-meeting-675673.html Sat, 30 May 2026 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajya-sabha-poll-in-meghalaya-set-for-june-18-as-incumbents-term-expires-675587.html Shillong May 29 Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer CEO Dr BDR Tiwari said on Friday that polling for the election to one Rajya Sabha seat from the state will be held on June 18 with vote counting scheduled later the same day The announcement was made after a meeting convened by the CEO with representatives of various political parties at the Main Secretariat Building in Shillong to brief them on the election process and statutory requirementsAccording to the election schedule the official notification for the Rajya Sabha election will be issued on June 1 while June 8 has been fixed as the last date for filing nominationsScrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9 and candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations till June 11Polling will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on June 18 followed by counting of votes at 5 pm the same dayThe entire election process is expected to be completed before June 20Addressing the media after the meeting Dr Tiwari said political parties were given detailed presentations on the election schedule nomination procedures method of voting counting process and legal compliances to be followed by candidates and partiesElection officials informed party representatives about the mandatory submission of nomination papers including Form 2C affidavits in Form 26 security deposits oath or affirmation requirements and Forms AA and BB for partysponsored candidates Provisions related to Forms C1 to C8 were also explained during the sessionSpecial emphasis was laid on compliance with Supreme Court directives and Election Commission guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates by both candidates and political partiesOfficials also explained the system of election through proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the open ballot voting procedure under the Representation of the People Act 1951Political parties were informed that MLAs belonging to a political party must show their marked ballot paper only to the authorised agent of their own party while Independent MLAs are prohibited from showing their ballot papers to any agentRepresentatives of political parties interacted with election officials and sought clarifications on various aspects of the election processThe lone Rajya Sabha seat allotted to Meghalaya is set to fall vacant as the incumbent Member of Parliament Dr Wanweiroy Kharlukhi completes his sixyear term in late June 2026In view of the impending vacancy the Election Commission of India has scheduled the biennial election to the seat on June 18 2026Dr Kharlukhi who represents the ruling National Peopleâs Party NPP has reportedly expressed his desire to step away from active parliamentary politics after the completion of his tenureThe NPP is expected to comfortably retain the seat given its clear majority in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajya-sabha-poll-in-meghalaya-set-for-june-18-as-incumbents-term-expires-675587.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-talking-about-ntr-to-lure-andhra-voters-says-telangana-bjp-chief-675589.html Hyderabad May 29 Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party BJP President N Ramchander Rao on Friday accused the Congress government in the state of talking about Telugu Desam Party TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NTR to attract the voters of the state in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation GHMC elections He asked the Congress why it did not install statues of NT Rama Rao NTR all these yearsThe State BJP Chief was reacting to unveiling of a statue of NTR in Hyderabad by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday to mark his birth anniversaryNTR a popular actorturnedpolitician was the founder of TDP and served as the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh in 1980s and 1990s Addressing a meeting at the state BJP office Ramchander Rao said that the Congress has made it a habit to stage political dramas for votes ahead of every election He added that ahead of the Jubilee Hills byelection Congress leaders remarked Congress means Muslim Muslim means Congress to woo Muslim votes Now with the GHMC elections in mind theyve suddenly started talking about NTR to attract Andhra voters I am asking the Congress party Why havent they installed NTR garus statue all these years Why havent they honoured his legacy Congress has no moral right to talk about NTR garu Nor does it have the qualification to claim his legacy as their own he saidThe BJP leader recalled that it was NTR who first gave the call for a Congressfree India Today the BJP is working steadfastly in that direction he saidRamchander Rao also criticised the Congress for removing Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister of KarnatakaRahul Gandhi speaks about OBCs wherever you look be it in Parliament or outside But the reality is that the Congress has even removed its only OBC Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Among the four Chief Ministers the Congress party has in the country today not a single one belongs to the OBC category the BJP leader saidHe criticised the Congress government in the state over procurement of paddy and other foodgrains from farmers He alleged that due to the absence of even basic facilities in grain procurement centres unavailability of lorries and shortage of tarpaulins farmers are facing severe hardships He claimed that it was only because of the BJPs campaign that the state government which was in deep slumber was finally forced to respondRamchander Rao said that over the past 12 years the Narendra Modiled Central government has allocated nearly Rs 13 lakh crore for the development of TelanganaThe revival of the Ramagundam Fertiliser Plant the Warangal Coach Factory the Mulugu SammakkaSarakka Central Tribal University AIIMS Bibinagar the expansion of National Highways the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road Metro expansion and MultiModal Transport System services all of these were made possible solely through the initiative of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi he addedAlleging that the people of Telangana are fed up with both the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Congress Ramchander Rao claimed that they are eagerly awaiting with hope to give a chance to the BJP The Congress has turned into a commissions party Only the BJP is a party committed to good governance and development The BJP is a party built upon the ideals of service sacrifice and selfless devotion to the motherland he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-talking-about-ntr-to-lure-andhra-voters-says-telangana-bjp-chief-675589.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/noida-homebuyers-fraud-cbi-files-chargesheet-against-shubhkamna-buildtech-directors-675594.html New Delhi May 29 IANS Intensifying its crackdown in the ongoing investigation into the Noida homebuyers cheating fraud investigation the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Friday filed its tenth chargesheet against the builders under the scanner for alleged cheating and fraudThe investigation agency filed a chargesheet against Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd and its directors on Friday in connection with alleged fraudulent activities relating to a housing project in Greater NoidaThe CBI in its investigation has found serious wrongdoings on the part of the builder According to the agency the accused builder company and its directors induced innocent homebuyersinvestors through false assurances misleading representations and deceptive promises thereby dishonestly obtaining financial gains while causing wrongful loss to the victimsThe investigation unearthed substantial evidence following which the chargesheet was filed before the competent Court under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code IPC on criminal conspiracy cheating and criminal breach of trustNotably the CBI is currently investigating 50 cases against various builder companies and unknown officials of financial institutions across the country in matters concerning alleged cheating and diversion of funds involving homebuyersTill date the CBI has filed 09 charge sheets against various builders and real estate developers namely Ms Rudra Buildwell Constructions Pvt Ltd Ms Dream Procon Pvt Ltd Ms Jaypee Infratech Ltd Ms AVJ Developers India Pvt Ltd Ms CHD Developers Pvt Ltd Ms Shubhkamna Buildtech Pvt Ltd Ms Sequel Buildcon Pvt Ltd Ms Logix City Developers Pvt Ltd and Ms Manju J Homes India Ltd and their Directors and also against the officials of certain banks and financial institutionsCBI reiterates its commitment to ensuring accountability in cases involving economic offences corruption and public fraud particularly matters adversely impacting the interests of common citizens and homebuyers the investigation agency said in a statementIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/noida-homebuyers-fraud-cbi-files-chargesheet-against-shubhkamna-buildtech-directors-675594.html Fri, 29 May 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-set-to-become-ktaka-cm-after-siddaramaiahs-resignation-hk-patil-675600.html Bengaluru May 29 Following the resignation of Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister Karnataka Minister HK Patil on Friday said that DK Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister and will likely take oath within the next two days Speaking to IANS Patil said âShivakumar is already the Chief Ministerdesignate Yesterday when former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his thoughts and spoke about the discussions held in Delhi he clearly stated that he had been advised to resign and that Shivakumar should be made the next Chief Minister From that moment itself it became clear that Shivakumar would be our next Chief MinisterâHe added that the Congress Legislature Party CLP meeting has been convened to formalise the decision âWe have a procedure to follow The CLP meeting will be held tomorrow at 4 PM where the High Commandâs decision will be formally endorsed Shivakumar is expected to be sworn in either the day after tomorrow or a day laterâ Patil saidReacting to questions regarding caste equations and the OBC factor in Karnataka politics Patil said such discussions were unnecessary âThis question is not appropriate because Shivakumar has also fought for OBC causes In a way he is also partly connected to the OBC community Therefore such questions are neither relevant nor necessaryâ he statedCommenting on Siddaramaiahâs resignation Patil praised the senior Congress leaderâs loyalty to the party âThis decision will definitely have an impact Siddaramaiah has grown even taller politically His historic decision and expression of loyalty to the party and leadership have surprised many of our opponents Though we were confident he would take such a stand the manner in which he displayed his commitment is truly notable and reflects his vast political experienceâ he saidOn whether Siddaramaiah would continue in the Cabinet Patil dismissed the possibility âNo how can he After serving as Chief Minister for eight years and being such a tall leader I do not think that question is relevantâ he addedCaretaker Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Sonia Gandhis 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi following his resignation from the CMs postSiddaramaiah received a warm welcome from Rahul Gandhi during the meeting After greeting Siddaramaiah with a handshake Rahul Gandhi hugged him and posed for photographsThe meeting comes amid major political developments in Karnataka after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister on Thursday He has however been asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until new arrangements are madeKarnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President and former Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday paid glowing tribute to Siddaramaiah following his resignation from the top post describing his political journey as a symbol of resilience perseverance and commitment to social justice IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/shivakumar-set-to-become-ktaka-cm-after-siddaramaiahs-resignation-hk-patil-675600.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-president-launches-5-national-initiatives-as-art-of-living-marks-45-years-675602.html Bengaluru May 29 The Art of Living marked 45 years of humanitarian service and global outreach on Friday as Vice President CP Radhakrishnan launched five major national initiatives at the organisationâs International Centre in Bengaluru The Vice President also unveiled a commemorative postal stamp celebrating the organisationâs contribution to individual wellbeing social transformation and global peace over the past fourandahalf decadesThe event coincided with celebrations marking the lifelong contribution of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to peace wellbeing and human values as he turned 70 this monthThe initiatives launched during the event include the Youth Career Excellence Programme Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems Art of Living Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Centre of Excellence on Consciousness Studies and Human Potential and Eco ShantiThe programmes focus on youth development entrepreneurship sustainability consciousness studies education and innovationAddressing the gathering Vice President CP Radhakrishnan praised the global reach and humanitarian work of the Art of LivingâToday is a celebration of a great vision that has touched millions of lives across continents I was astonished to learn that the Art of Living is present in 182 countries Almost the entire civilisation of mankind is getting linked through this movementâ he saidReflecting on the organisationâs journey he added âFortyfive years ago a movement began with a simple yet profound idea that inner peace is the foundation of outer harmony In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar continues to inspire humanity with the values of wisdom awareness peace and harmonyâThe Vice President also praised Gurudevâs humility and personal warmthâHis smile his humility and his affection touch everyoneâs heart What makes his contribution extraordinary is the humility and humanity he embodiesâ he remarkedWelcoming the Vice President Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted the growing global recognition of meditation and inner wellbeingâThe world today has recognised that meditation is no longer a luxury With 192 countries coming together to declare World Meditation Day there is a growing understanding that meditation is a basic necessity for a healthy happy and stressfree lifeâ he saidEmphasising holistic human development Gurudev said âThree things must always accompany us through life knowledge meditation and musicâHe also called for global harmony and unityâLet us dream of a Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam one world family free from fear tension and hatred A peaceful and harmonious world begins with peaceful and harmonious individualsâ he addedKarnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot who also addressed the gathering said Karnataka was proud to be associated with the roots of the global movementâIt is a matter of pride for Karnataka that the roots of this global movement are connected to our sacred land For more than four decades The Art of Living has been promoting peace and wellbeing at the individual community and global levels through a variety of programmesâ he saidHighlighting Gurudevâs role in peacebuilding efforts the Governor said the organisationâs work had received recognition globally for promoting a violencefree and stressfree society through human valuesDuring his visit to the Ashram the Vice President toured several facilities and initiatives of the organisation He visited Sri Sri Gurukulam interacted with students offered prayers at the Prathap Ganpati Temple took darshan of the sacred relics of Shri Somnath Jyotirlingam and visited the Sri Sri Gaushala which houses nearly 1600 indigenous cowsA special highlight of the event was a demonstration by children participating in the Art of Livingâs Intuition Programme where they showcased intuitive abilities developed through systematic training and practiceThe launch ceremony marked the culmination of a monthlong celebration at the Art of Living International Centre attended by 678 distinguished guests including political leaders business icons sportspersons entrepreneurs academicians faith leaders diplomats artists and social changemakers from India and abroadAmong the prominent personalities who participated in the celebrations over the month were Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis N Chandrababu Naidu and Pramod Sawant Governors Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Lt Gen Gurmit Singh actor Rajinikanth actor Vikrant Massey industrialists Mukesh Ambani Anant Ambani and Niranjan Hiranandani along with leading faith leaders diplomats artists and scholarsThe monthlong celebrations featured global meditations at the newly inaugurated Dhyan Mandir cultural performances discussions on mental wellbeing and consciousness and stories of transformation from individuals influenced by Gurudevâs work over the past 45 yearsThe event concluded with a renewed emphasis on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarâs vision of a stressfree and violencefree society rooted in inner peace service and human values IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vice-president-launches-5-national-initiatives-as-art-of-living-marks-45-years-675602.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-council-polls-mva-finalises-sharing-formula-for-15-seats-suspense-continues-over-2-675603.html Mumbai May 29 The Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA on Friday announced its seat sharing arrangement for the elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council slated for June 18 The last date for filing nominations is June 1 Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that of the total 17 seats consensus has been reached on 15 adding that a decision regarding the remaining two seats will be taken within the next two daysA crucial meeting of the Maha Vikas Aghadi was held today regarding the seatsharing for the Legislative Council elections We have reached an agreement on 15 out of the 17 seats Consensus has been built on which party will contest which seatHowever discussions are still ongoing for two specific seats A final decision on these remaining two seats will be made in the next two days Since all three parties have staked a claim on the Nanded and Nashik seats we have announced the decision for the other 15 seats today excluding these two Sapkal statedThe Congress party will contest the seats in Chandrapur Yavatmal BhandaraGondia Amravati Ahilyanagar Solapur DharashivBeedLatur and the Nagpur byeelection announced SapkalHe further stated that Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will field its candidates in Ratnagiri Jalgaon Parbhani Hingoli and Chhatrapati SambhajinagarFurther NCP Sharadchandra Pawar will contest three seats Pune Thane and SataraSangliLaunching a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance Sapkal said We are contesting the Legislative Council election unitedly as the Maha Vikas Aghadi The core issue of this election is that we are moving forward to save democracy defying the Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP horsetradingIt is evident that massive amounts of money is being spent in this election The situation has become a display of sheer money power In many places corporators are being lured and picked up by offering Rs 5 lakh In this election its not just the Opposition voters but even the ruling parties are poaching voters from their own allies This is the extent of the horsetrading underwayAlthough the MVA leaders announced their seatsharing formula today unanimity eluded them on two out of the 17 seats A deadlock has emerged over the Nanded and Nashik seats as all three constituent parties of the MVA have staked their claim on themHowever Sapkal assured that a final decision on these two seats would be made in the next two days While meetings are simultaneously underway within the Mahayuti alliance they are yet to officially declare their seatsharing formula for the Legislative Council electionsAccording to the Mahayuti alliance insiders of the 17 seats BJP likely to field candidates on 11 seats Shiv Sena four seats and NCP two seats IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-council-polls-mva-finalises-sharing-formula-for-15-seats-suspense-continues-over-2-675603.html Fri, 29 May 2026 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-begin-3-day-visit-to-ktaka-goa-and-kerala-today-675507.html New Delhi May 29 Vice President CP Radhakrishnan will undertake a threeday visit to Karnataka Goa and Kerala starting Friday to attend official events along with religious and cultural celebrations On Friday the Vice President will attend the global celebration marking 45 years of the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru KarnatakaLater in the day he will attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of University BDT College of Engineering at Davangere Karnataka said an official statementOn May 30 the Vice President will participate in the Statehood Day celebrations of Goa at Panaji Later in the day he will visit CSIRâNational Institute of Oceanography GoaOn May 31 the Vice President will visit the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swamy Temple He will also inaugurate the SIRI Industrial Park at Belthangady KarnatakaLater in the day the Vice President will visit Kerala to inaugurate the 140th Foundation Anniversary celebrations of Deepika Malayalam Daily at KottayamHe will also visit Kannur to participate in a private function organised by C Sadanandan Master Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha said the statementLast week Vice President Radhakrishnan in his capacity of Rajya Sabha Chairman appointed BJP Member Raghav Chadha as the new Chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Upper HouseThe Committee was reconstituted on May 20 with its other members being Jebi Mather Hisham Harsh Mahajan Gulam Ali Mayank Kumar Nayak Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha Subhasish Khuntia Rwngwra Narzary Sandosh Kumar P and Shambhu Sharan PatelThe key responsibility for Chadha came close to his recent switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP from the Aam Aadmi Party AAP along with six other MPs in the Upper HouseIn April seven Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha Ashok Mittal Sandeep Pathak Harbhajan Singh Vikram Sahney Swati Maliwal and Rajinder Gupta defected from the AAP to the BJP dealing a major blow to the AAP as its strength in the Upper House plunged from 10 to just threeSoon after Chadha met President Droupadi Murmu regarding the alleged misuse of state resources by the AAPled government in Punjab IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-begin-3-day-visit-to-ktaka-goa-and-kerala-today-675507.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-governor-accepts-cm-siddaramaiahs-resignation-dissolves-council-of-ministers-675523.html Bengaluru May 29 The Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday accepted the resignation tendered by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him In the proceedings issued by the Governor on May 29 it was stated that Siddaramaiah in a letter dated May 28 had submitted his resignation from the office of the Chief Minister of KarnatakaThe order stated âIn exercise of the powers vested in me under Article 1641 of the Constitution of India I Thaawarchand Gehlot Governor of Karnataka hereby accept the resignation of Shri Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister of Karnataka Consequently the Council of Ministers headed by him stands dissolvedâIn a separate communication addressed to Siddaramaiah the Governor said âDear Siddaramaiah I have accepted the resignation tendered by you with immediate effect Until alternative arrangements are made kindly continue as caretaker Chief Minister It is needless to state that no executive decisions shall be taken during this periodâThe Governor also issued a notification reiterating that he had accepted Siddaramaiahâs resignation under Article 1641 of the Constitution and dissolved the Council of Ministers with immediate effectThe notification further stated that Siddaramaiah would continue to function as Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are madeMeanwhile R Prabhu Shankar Special Secretary to the Governor in a letter addressed to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh said that a copy of the Governorâs notification dated May 29 had been enclosed The notification confirmed the acceptance of Siddaramaiahâs resignation and the dissolution of the Council of Ministers headed by himIn his brief resignation letter Siddaramaiah wrote âI hereby tender my resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka Kindly accept itâIt can be recalled that Siddaramaiah regarded as the Congressâ tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governor at Lok Bhavan here on Thursday bringing an end to his tenure as the stateâs longestserving Chief MinisterSpeaking about the resignation process Siddaramaiah said âI have submitted my resignation from the Chief Ministerâs post to the Governorâs SecretaryâAfter a brief pause he continued âThe Governor was not in Bengaluru and officials informed me that he would return tonight In this background I submitted my resignation letter to the Governorâs Secretary I have always maintained both inside and outside the Assembly that whenever the high command directs me I will tender my resignation Two days ago the high command asked me to step down and keeping my word I have submitted my resignationâVisibly emotional during the press conference Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot would formally accept his resignation upon returning to BengaluruâOur party enjoys the support of 138 MLAs and others have also extended support to the government We continue to have a full majority The Governor must now provide an opportunity to the next Chief Minister to form the governmentâ Siddaramaiah addedAmid the escalating political drama over the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had left Bengaluru late Wednesday night triggering intense political speculation across the state The Governor had travelled to Mumbai and then proceeded to Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday The Governorâs office had cited a family medical emergency as the reason for his sudden travel IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-governor-accepts-cm-siddaramaiahs-resignation-dissolves-council-of-ministers-675523.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-ed-action-pinarayi-vijayan-facilitates-return-of-bineesh-kodiyeri-to-kerala-cpi-675525.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 Kerala politics is witnessing a dramatic political turnaround that many within the CPIM are already describing as a rare moment of political poetic justice The decision to restore the party membership of Bineesh Kodiyeri son of former CPIM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan after three years of political exile has exposed the rapidly changing power equations inside the party especially in the backdrop of the Enforcement Directorate ED tightening its scrutiny around former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena VijayanWhat makes the development politically explosive is the widely discussed claim that Pinarayi Vijayan himself directly intervened to ensure Bineeshâs return overriding resistance within the state leadershipParty secretary MV Govindan had reportedly rejected repeated attempts to restore Bineeshâs membership despite his acquittal in the Bengaluru drugrelated case in 2023The turning point political observers say came after the dramatic ED raids in Thiruvananthapuram and the violent protests that followedWhen central agencies moved against Pinarayi Vijayanâs residence and intensified scrutiny around the monthly payment controversy involving Veena Vijayan the streets of the capital suddenly witnessed an aggressive mobilisation by CPIMDYFI workersMany of those later accused in the attacks on ED vehicles were known to be close associates and loyalists of Bineesh Kodiyeri Inside the party the message was impossible to missWhile several senior leaders reportedly kept a cautious distance Bineeshâs network emerged as one of the strongest forces willing to physically defend the former Chief Minister and build a resistance wall against the EDBineesh himself was also seen during the protestsThat spectacle appears to have emotionally and politically altered Pinarayi Vijayanâs approachYears ago when Bineesh was arrested by the ED Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had been forced to publicly distance himself from his son and even temporarily step aside as party secretary to protect the government and the partyToday with central agencies casting a shadow over his own family many in Kerala politics believe Pinarayi has finally understood the pain Kodiyeri went throughThe move is also being seen as a correction of past grievancesA section within the CPIM had long felt that Kodiyeriâs family was unfairly sidelined after his deathBineeshâs return now helps consolidate powerful Kodiyeri loyalists in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram firmly behind Pinarayi at a politically sensitive momentMore importantly the reentry signals that the CPIM is preparing for a prolonged political confrontation with central agenciesThe leadership appears to have concluded that organisers like Bineesh capable of mobilising cadres and street resistance are too valuable to keep outside the party foldIn effect the ED raids meant to corner the former Chief Minister may have instead triggered the rise of Pinarayi Vijayanâs newest political defence fortress built around the son of the man who once suffered the same fate IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-ed-action-pinarayi-vijayan-facilitates-return-of-bineesh-kodiyeri-to-kerala-cpi-675525.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-minister-booked-for-abusing-cops-viral-audio-sparks-row-675531.html Jaipur May 29 Rajasthan Cooperative Minister Gautam Dak has been booked following an alleged confrontation with police personnel at Dungla police station in Chittorgarh district The case filed on the complaint of the station officer includes charges related to obstructing government work and allegedly using abusive and indecent language against police officials The incident gained wider attention after an audio clip purportedly featuring the minister using abusive language towards police personnel went viral on social media triggering debate within political and police circlesHowever Minister Gautam Dak has denied any connection with the viral recordingIn a statement posted on social media Dak claimed that the audio had been manipulated using technology My voice has been altered through misuse of technology in an audio circulating on social media I have no connection with this edited audio the minister statedAccording to the complaint lodged by Dungla police station officer Shaitan Singh the incident dates back to May 25 Police had summoned Dhanraj Kharol a resident of Idra Mangalwad for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation During interrogation officers allegedly asked Kharol to produce other family members relevant to the caseThe complaint states that Kharol contacted former Idra Sarpanch Chandrashekhar Sharma from the police station premises Sharma allegedly called Constable Laxminarayan and threatened him while invoking the ministerâs name Soon afterwards the station officer reportedly received a call from Minister Gautam Dak and was asked to come to the main gate of the police stationAccording to the police complaint upon arrival the minister allegedly demanded that constables Vishnu and Laxminarayan be called outsideThe station officer reportedly requested that the discussion take place inside the office but the minister insisted on meeting the constables publicly The complaint alleges that once the two policemen arrived Dak used abusive and indecent language against them in front of others presentThe complaint further alleges that the minister became aggressive attempted to use criminal force and raised his hand towards police personnel allegedly intending to intimidate and humiliate themPolice also alleged that the minister threatened Constable Laxminarayan referring to his earlier transfer from Badi Sadri police stationThe station officer stated in the report that he had never faced such treatment during his service and claimed the incident caused him mental distressSenior police officials were informed about the matter on May 27The case has intensified political discussion while the minister continues to deny the allegations and maintains that the viral audio is fabricated IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-minister-booked-for-abusing-cops-viral-audio-sparks-row-675531.html Fri, 29 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-led-udf-unveils-ambitious-agenda-in-assembly-to-release-financial-white-paper-675534.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 The Congressled UDF government headed by Chief Minister VD Satheesan formally opened a new political chapter in Kerala on Friday with a highvoltage maiden policy address that combined sweeping welfare promises a sharp fiscal reality check and the first visible signs of confrontation with Lok Bhavan Presented by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in 73 minutes at the opening session of the 16th Kerala Assembly the policy declaration laid out the new governmentâs political priorities amid massive public expectations following the UDFâs electoral victoryThe session itself began dramatically with a controversy over Vande MataramThough the Kerala Police band played the national song as part of the Governorâs ceremonial reception only the opening portion was rendered despite Lok Bhavan reportedly insisting during rehearsals that the full version be played The state government is understood to have refused to alter the longstanding convention triggering the first signs of friction between the new administration and the Governorâs office on the very first working day of the AssemblyInside the House however the Satheesan government attempted to project a confident and reformoriented imageThe centrepiece of the address was the announcement that the government would soon release a financial white paper detailing Keralaâs actual economic condition and treasury liabilities inherited from the previous administrationThe move is widely being viewed as an attempt to prepare the public for difficult economic decisions while simultaneously justifying the governmentâs aggressive welfare and development agendaThe policy address repeatedly invoked the UDFâs election plank of âIndira Guaranteesâ promising that all key commitments would be implementedAmong the biggest announcements were an increase in welfare pensions formation of a dedicated department for senior citizens and scholarship support for economically weaker students pursuing higher educationThe government also officially reaffirmed one of its most popular promises free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15 across the stateIn a major infrastructure push the government announced plans for an integrated transport system connecting road water and air transport networks under a large mobility projectThe address also promised reforms in excise policy expansion of Plus One seats stronger intervention in mananimal conflict zones and comprehensive agricultural reforms including scientific soiltesting systems and a women farmersâ consortiumThe speech strongly underlined the governmentâs commitment to corruptionfree and secular governance declaring that communal politics and divisive forces would not be allowed space in KeralaWith the UDF commanding 102 seats in the 140member Assembly the Left reduced to 35 and the BJP entering the House for the first time with three legislators Fridayâs session signalled not just the arrival of a new government but the beginning of a potentially combative new political era in KeralaThe Assembly will resume its session on Tuesday to pass the Governorâs address IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-led-udf-unveils-ambitious-agenda-in-assembly-to-release-financial-white-paper-675534.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/muraleedharan-leads-bjp-attack-over-truncated-vande-mataram-in-kerala-assembly-675537.html Thiruvananthapuram May 29 Senior BJP leader and firsttime legislator V Muraleedharan on Friday led a sharp attack against the Kerala government after a row erupted in the Assembly over the rendition of Vande Mataram during Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekarâs ceremonial reception Muraleedharan a former Union Minister is one of the BJPâs three legislators in the newlyconstituted 140member AssemblyHe accused the government of insulting both Raj Bhavan and the national song by refusing to play the complete version of Vande Mataram despite reported directions from the Governorâs office and the CentreThe controversy broke out on the first major working day of the 16th Kerala Assembly when the Kerala Police band rendered only the opening portion of Vande Mataram before the Governorâs maiden policy addressRaj Bhavan had reportedly instructed during rehearsals that the full rendition of the national song be played at official events attended by the GovernorHowever the government headed by Chief Minister VD Satheesan is understood to have retained the existing convention of playing only the first portion triggering the first major faceoff between the new UDF administration and Lok BhavanLaunching a political offensive Muraleedharan took to his social media and alleged that the government had bowed before the ideological positions of the CPIM and JamaateIslamiHe claimed the move reflected acceptance of arguments that Vande Mataram was inconsistent with secular valuesThe BJP leader also sought to put the Congress on the defensive historically asking when the party had begun distancing itself from a song first sung during the 1896 Congress session and closely associated with Indiaâs freedom struggleDespite the escalating political row Governor Arlekar avoided any direct confrontation inside the House and began his address in Malayalam with a âNamaskaramâ making no mention of the controversyThe dispute however overshadowed the UDF governmentâs maiden policy address which contained several major announcements including a financial White Paper on Keralaâs economy welfare expansion and infrastructure reformsWith the BJP making its debut in the Kerala Assembly with three MLAs and Muraleedharan emerging as one of its most aggressive voices inside the House Fridayâs Vande Mataram controversy has quickly turned into the first major ideological battle confronting the Satheesan government IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/muraleedharan-leads-bjp-attack-over-truncated-vande-mataram-in-kerala-assembly-675537.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resignation-triggers-political-row-bjp-targets-congress-leadership-675539.html New Delhi May 29 The resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday triggered fresh political controversy with the BJP questioning the Congress leadership Speaking to IANS BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya said âSiddaramaiah was doing bad politics He wants to finish the Congress in KarnatakaââHe thinks that if he is not there what will Congress do in Karnataka It depends on Congress what decision will be taken it is certain BJP will come to power there soonâThe resignation has sparked a strong political exchange between the BJP and Congress with leaders trading sharp remarks over the leadership change and its timingResponding to the development Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said âNo member of Congress will question the decision of the High Command The BJPâs only job is to spread hatred and lies Whatever responsibility is given we are supposed to keep working BJP is deliberately spreading rumoursâWest Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh also reacted stating âIt has been a tradition in the Congress that no Chief Minister is able to complete their tenure The same applies to the ministers It is their internal matter who resigns but people deserve development and justiceâThe resignation of Siddaramaiah marks a significant political development in Karnataka coming after weeks of speculation over a possible leadership change within the state Congress unitSiddaramaiah regarded as the Congressâ tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governors secretary at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru on Thursday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Cabinet ministers and senior party leaders formally ending his tenure as Chief MinisterThe development also concluded weeks of political uncertainty and internal discussions within the ruling partyLater addressing a press conference in Bengaluru alongside Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara Siddaramaiah said he had resigned in line with instructions from the Congress High CommandHe said he would always abide by the High Commandâs decision adding that he had followed its direction in stepping downSiddaramaiah 78 now joins an elite group of Karnataka leaders who have served as Chief Minister more than once including S Nijalingappa Veerendra Patil D Devaraj Urs Ramakrishna Hegde HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resignation-triggers-political-row-bjp-targets-congress-leadership-675539.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/aap-making-substantial-lead-in-punjab-civic-polls-as-per-early-vote-count-trends-675541.html Chandigarh May 29 The ruling AAP in Punjab has been making substantial leads as per early vote count trends on Friday for the election to Urban Local Bodies The main Opposition Congress and the regional outfit Shiromani Akali Dal are necktoneck The AAP won 178 wards while the Congress and SAD tally stood at 58 and 53 wards respectively till 11 AMThe elections are seen as a litmus test for the AAP just ahead of the Assembly elections in the state slated in early 2027The state on May 26 went to the polls to elect representatives in 102 civic bodies comprising eight municipal corporations 75 municipal councils and 19 nagar panchayatsThe elections covered 1897 wards that saw a voter turnout of 6394 per cent A total of 7554 candidates are in the fray across all Urban Local BodiesThe eight municipal corporations are in Abohar Mohali Moga Bathinda Barnala Batala Kapurthala and PathankotOf the total candidates in the fray 1801 belong to the AAP 1550 to the Congress 1316 to the BJP 1251 to the SAD and 96 to the BSP while 1528 are Independent and 13 other candidatesNagar panchayats recorded the highest voter turnout at 7618 per cent followed by Municipal Councils with 6506 per cent and Municipal Corporations 5991 per centAccording to the state Election Commission Municipal Corporations accounted for 1071 lakh electors of whom 641 lakh cast their votes Municipal Councils had the largest electorate with over 2287 lakh voters and nearly 1488 lakh votes were cast In Nagar Panchayats over 107 lakh votes were recorded out of 141 lakh electorsPolling day saw clashes involving supporters of the BJP Congress AAP and the Akali Dal and allegations of booth capturing were reported at several placesIn Raikot Congress candidate from Ward 4 Jagdev Singh Jagga was allegedly attacked with sharpedged weapons by a group of men while in Barnala the husband of BJP candidate Deepinder Kaur from Ward 15 was allegedly assaulted after objecting to suspected bogus votingClashes were also reported in Gidderbaha in Muktsar district where supporters of AAP and the Akali Dal confronted each other during polling in Wards 18 and 19State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Congress legislator Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the incident and slammed the AAP government over the law and order situation in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/aap-making-substantial-lead-in-punjab-civic-polls-as-per-early-vote-count-trends-675541.html Fri, 29 May 2026 15:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharmila-meets-rahul-gandhi-amid-buzz-about-rajya-sabha-nomination-675575.html AmaravatiNew Delhi May 29 Congresss Andhra Pradesh state President Y S Sharmila on Friday met senior party leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the national capital amid reports that the high command is considering her name for nomination to the Rajya Sabha When media persons asked Sharmila about her name being circulated for nomination to the Rajya Sabha she merely remarked that Rahul Gandhi knows betterWhen Sharmila came out after the meeting media persons asked her about the discussion that took place She evaded a reply when asked if her reported nomination to the Rajya Sabha was discussedThis discussion was about regular Andhra Pradesh political affairs she said When journalists continued their questions about her name being circulated for the nomination to the upper house of Parliament she said I am very sure Rahul Gandhi ji knows the bestLater Sharmila said in a post on X that they discussed issues relating to the strengthening the party in the stateSharmila said that she met Rahul Gandhi at his residence at 10 Janpath We discussed various issues regarding the strengthening of the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh and received several suggestions from Mr Rahul Gandhi she saidCongress General Secretary Organisation KC Venugopal was also reported to be present during the meetingThe central leadership of the Congress party is reportedly considering the proposal to nominate Sharmila for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka where the party is in powerElections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka are scheduled on June 18Sharmilaâs likely nomination to the Rajya Sabha is being seen as part of the strategy by the Congress high command to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh where the party has had no MP or state legislator for more than a decadeSharmila sister of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Pary president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was appointed state Congress President in January 2024 after she merged her YSR Telangana Party with the CongressShe led the party in the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha held in May 2024 However for a third consecutive time the Congress party drew a blank in both the Assembly and the Lok SabhaThe Congress party was virtually wiped out in 2014 as the party failed to win a single Assembly or Lok Sabha seat due to public anger over the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh The party lost several senior leaders who joined either the YSRCP or the TDPThe party failed to open its account in 2019 as well There were hopes that Sharmilaâs appointment as state party chief would change the partyâs fortunes in 2024 However it once again failed to open its account IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sharmila-meets-rahul-gandhi-amid-buzz-about-rajya-sabha-nomination-675575.html Fri, 29 May 2026 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/lucknow-tin-shed-collapses-at-charbagh-railway-station-three-injured-675578.html Lucknow May 29 A portion of a tin shed at Platform No 5 of Lucknowâs Charbagh Railway Station collapsed on Friday injuring at least three people including passengers and a train ticket examiner TTE The incident occurred around 8 am while redevelopment and modernisation work was underway at the station under the Rail Land Development Authority RLDAAccording to officials the tin shed on Platforms 4 and 5 suddenly collapsed onto the platform area causing panic among passengers waiting for trains Railway Protection Force RPF personnel immediately rushed to the spot rescued the injured and shifted them to a nearby hospital for treatment Movement on the affected platform was temporarily suspended following the incidentOfficials said three passengers sustained injuries in the collapse and were admitted to the hospital Work to clear the debris from the damaged shed began soon after the incidentAn injured passenger Abhishek Balmiki who was present at the station at the time of the accident described the terrifying moment âI was going to Haridwar with five friends for a trip We were standing at Platform 5 of Charbagh Railway Station waiting for our train because it was delayed Suddenly the tin shed fell on usâ he told IANSAccording to railway officials the shed that collapsed had already been marked for removal as part of the ongoing redevelopment work at the station Despite this Platform 5 remained operational for passenger movement while the adjacent Platform 4 had been closed due to modernisation activitiesOfficials said the injured passengers along with several others were waiting for the HowrahDoon Express 13037 on Platform 5 when the incident took placeEarlier on Thursday at least six workers were killed after an underconstruction bridge collapsed during a latenight storm in Uttar Pradeshs Hamirpur district The death count is feared to rise to eightUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tragic incident and directed officials to intensify relief and rescue operations at the sitePosting on X CM Yogi said âThe loss of lives in a tragic accident on the Betwa River in Hamirpur district is extremely heartbreaking and heartrending My condolences are with the bereaved families Instructions have been issued to the district administration to swiftly carry out relief and rescue operations in coordination with SDRF I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls attain a place at His divine feet and the injured recover swiftlyâAccording to the Chief Ministerâs Office CMO CM Yogi took immediate cognisance of the incident and directed senior officials to reach the site without delay and accelerate rescue operationsHe also instructed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and provide adequate compensation to the families of the deceased IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/lucknow-tin-shed-collapses-at-charbagh-railway-station-three-injured-675578.html Fri, 29 May 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/may-eid-al-adha-deepen-spirit-of-brotherhood-happiness-in-society-pm-modi-675420.html New Delhi May 28 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Eid alAdha greetings to the countrymen and prayed for happiness and good health in societynbspEid ulAdha greetings May this occasion deepen the spirit of brotherhood and happiness in our society Praying for everyones success and good health PM Modi said in a post on XBakrid also known as Eid alAdha is being celebrated with deep religious fervour and enthusiasm across the country on Thursday as thousands of devotees gathered at mosques and Eidgahs from early morning to offer special prayers and mark one of the most significant festivals in IslamLarge congregations of worshippers were witnessed at several places across the country with people dressed in traditional attire participating in prayers and exchanging greetings with family members friends and neighboursWorshippers said the festival carries a message of brotherhood communal harmony and peaceful coexistence while also reminding people about compassion sacrifice and charityAuthorities made elaborate security arrangements in several cities to ensure that celebrations passed off peacefully and law and order were maintained during the festivitiesEid alAdha widely known as Bakrid in India holds immense religious significance for Muslims across the world The festival commemorates the devotion and sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to Gods command The occasion symbolises unwavering faith obedience to God gratitude compassion forgiveness sacrifice and charityFamilies gathered to celebrate the festival with prayers festive meals and acts of kindness while many people also distributed food and extended help to the underprivileged as part of the spirit of the occasionWhile Bakrid was celebrated in most parts of India on Thursday some regions including parts of Jammu and Kashmir observed the festival on WednesdayAs with other Islamic festivals the date of Eid alAdha depends on the sighting of the crescent moonnbspThis year religious authorities in several parts of India confirmed that the DhulHijjah crescent moon was not sighted on the expected evening As a result the beginning of the Islamic month shifted by a day leading to Bakrid being celebrated on May 28 in most states across the countryIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/may-eid-al-adha-deepen-spirit-of-brotherhood-happiness-in-society-pm-modi-675420.html Thu, 28 May 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-begin-two-day-gujarat-visit-today-launch-multiple-development-projects-675421.html Gandhinagar May 28 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will begin his twoday visit to Gujarat on Thursday during which he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects across the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and Ahmedabad and to hold organisational and review meetingsShah who is also the Member of Parliament from the constituency will begin his programmes on Thursday with a series of developmentrelated events across different locationsIn Vadsar he will inaugurate the newly constructed Jedva Lake developed under the Anandam Parivar CSR fundAt the same location as well as in Jalund and Sardhav he will also inaugurate newly established libraries developed under Toyota Kirloskar Motors Limiteds CSR initiativeAt Khatraj he will lay the foundation stone for lake beautification works undertaken by the Arvind Foundation He will also inaugurate a newly constructed village panchayat officeFurther engagements include the inauguration of the Pay Centre Primary School at Moti Bhoyan as well as the foundation stone laying and inauguration of various development works in Sonipur village and in areas under the Kalol and Gandhinagar North assembly constituenciesDuring the visit to Sonipur Shah is also scheduled to have lunch at the residence of former sarpanch and senior BJP worker Gandaji ThakorLater at the state party headquarters Shri Kamalam a meeting of senior BJP officebearers will be held in his presenceHe is also scheduled to inaugurate the CBSE regional office at the Chandkheda area of Ahmedabad and a newly constructed hostel building at the Umiyadham campus in SolaIn Ahmedabad the newly constructed Bharat Mata sculpture developed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at New Vadaj will be inauguratedThis will be followed by a review meeting at the Circuit House on preparations for the Olympic Commonwealth and World Police and Fire Games which will be chaired by ShahAfter completing the scheduled programmes on Thursday he is expected to travel to Bhuj in Kutch The visit continues on Friday with additional engagements as part of the twoday programme across GujaratIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-begin-two-day-gujarat-visit-today-launch-multiple-development-projects-675421.html Thu, 28 May 2026 13:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-celebrations-erupt-at-shivakumars-residence-security-beefed-up-near-guvs-house-675423.html Bengaluru May 28 IANS Celebrations broke out at the residence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar on Thursday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his decision to resign during the highprofile breakfast meeting held at his official residence KaverinbspnbspFollowing the development large numbers of Shivakumars supporters and fans gathered outside his residence in Sadashivanagar Bengaluru Supporters were seen chanting slogans in his favour distributing sweets and celebrating amid strong speculation that Shivakumar is set to become the next Chief Minister of KarnatakaPolice and security personnel were deployed in large numbers at the residence to manage the swelling crowd and maintain law and ordernbspSources said that while announcing his resignation decision before Cabinet colleagues Siddaramaiah spoke about the states financial condition challenges in implementing the governments guarantee schemes and the need to continue welfare programmes in the futurenbspAccording to sources Siddaramaiah informed the ministers that the Congress high command had conveyed to him that DK Shivakumar would be the next Chief Minister Members of the Council of Ministers reportedly expressed their consent and support following the announcementSiddaramaiah also urged his Cabinet colleagues to continue delivering good governance and welfare programmes to the people of the statenbspSources stated that Siddaramaiah remained composed while making the announcement However after concluding his remarks the Chief Minister reportedly became emotional I am satisfied with the work that I have done he is said to have told his colleaguesSeveral ministers considered close to Siddaramaiah including Labour Minister Santosh Lad also became emotional during the meetingnbspMeanwhile after the meeting Shivakumar returned to his residence Sources close to him said that he is expected to visit Nonavinakere Mutt to seek the blessings of seer Ajjayya Swamiji and discuss an auspicious time for the swearingin ceremony Shivakumar is reportedly accompanied by his daughter during the visitSecurity has also been tightened at Lok Bhavan ahead of Siddaramaiahs scheduled arrival to submit his resignation Barricades have been installed around the premises and senior officials have stepped up security arrangementsnbspLok Bhavan Secretary R Prabhushankar has arrived at the premises and Siddaramaiah is expected to hand over his resignation letter to him as Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot is currently in Indore Madhya Pradesh following a personal emergencyIn a major development Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his decision to tender his resignation during the breakfast meeting hosted by him at his official residence Kaveri in BengalurunbspThe official statement by the CMs office stated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will visit Lok Bhavan today at 230 PM Later at 3 PM he will address a press conference at his other official residence KrishnanbspState Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil while leaving after attending the breakfast meeting further confirmed CM is going to Raj Bhavan CM Siddaramaiah will make Shivakumar the new CM https://dailyworld.in/politics/karnataka-celebrations-erupt-at-shivakumars-residence-security-beefed-up-near-guvs-house-675423.html Thu, 28 May 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resigns-brings-curtains-down-on-tenure-as-karnatakas-longest-serving-cm-675454.html Bengaluru May 28 IANS Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarded as the Congresss tallest mass leader in recent times submitted his resignation to the Governor at Lok Bhavan here on Thursday bringing an end to his tenure as the states longestserving Chief MinisternbspThe development also brought the curtain down on weeks of intense political drama and speculation surrounding a possible leadership change in KarnatakanbspnbspSiddaramaiah submitted his resignation to the Governors Secretary in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar all cabinet ministers and other prominent party leadersLater addressing a joint press conference in Bengaluru alongside Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara Siddaramaiah said I have submitted my resignation from the Chief Ministers post to the Governors SecretarynbspThe Governor was not in town and officials informed me that he would return by tonight Against this background I have submitted my resignation letter to the Governors Secretary I have always said both inside and outside the Assembly that whenever the high command directs me I will tender my resignation Two days ago the high command asked me to step down and keeping my word I am submitting my resignationSiddaramaiah 78 now joins an elite group of Karnataka politicians who have occupied the Chief Ministers post more than once including S Nijalingappa Veerendra Patil D Devaraj Urs Ramakrishna Hegde HD Kumaraswamy and BS YediyurappanbspBorn in August 1947 in Siddaramanahundi village of Mysuru district Siddaramaiah rose from humble beginnings to become one of Karnatakas most influential political leaders As a child he tended cattle and began his formal education directly from Class 4 He later completed a law degree before entering politicsHis father Siddarame Gowda had unsuccessfully contested Gram Panchayat elections and reportedly advised Siddaramaiah not to trust people in politics However Siddaramaiah went on to successfully contest and win a Taluk Board election marking the beginning of his long political journeynbspOver the course of his career Siddaramaiah contested 12 Assembly elections and won nine of them He also holds the record for presenting 17 state budgetsnbspJDS supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is widely regarded as Siddaramaiahs political mentor who helped shape him into a mass leader However ideological and political differences later led Siddaramaiah to part ways with Deve Gowda and the Janata Dal He subsequently joined the Congress and went on to become a twoterm Chief Minister and Karnatakas longestserving CMSiddaramaiah is known for several major welfare and social justice initiatives during his political career His decisions on internal reservation reservation for oppressed communities in government tenders and providing largescale representation to backward and oppressed classes in the cabinet have often been described by supporters as pathbreaking measuresnbspHe also emerged as one of the Congresss strongest critics of the BJP RSS Hindutva politics Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahnbspAt the same time Siddaramaiah has often faced criticism from political opponents who accused him of pursuing appeasement politicsSiddaramaiahs political journey spans nearly five decades and includes several major turning points He first contested the Assembly election in 1978 from the Chamundeshwari constituency on the ticket of the Lok Dal led by former PM Charan Singh but lost In 1983 he won from Chamundeshwari as an Independent candidate He later became the Transport Minister in the SR Bommai cabinet in 1988 However in 1989 he lost the Assembly election from Chamundeshwari In 1991 he contested the Lok Sabha election from Koppal but suffered defeatnbspIn 1992 Siddaramaiah joined the Janata Dal following the merger of the Samajwadi Janata Party His political career gained momentum in 1994 when he won from Chamundeshwari for the third time and became Finance Minister in the Deve Gowda cabinet In 1996 he was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister in the late JH Patel government He secured his fourth victory from Chamundeshwari in 2004A major turning point came in 2005 when Siddaramaiah launched the AHINDA movement and was later expelled from the JDS In 2006 he joined the Congress in the presence of its thenPresident Sonia Gandhi and won a byelection by a narrow margin of 257 votes In 2008 he won from Varuna and became MLA for the sixth timenbspSiddaramaiah reached the peak of his political career in 2013 when he took the oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 13 In the 2018 Assembly elections he won from the Badami constituency while losing from Chamundeshwari Later in 2018 after the formation of the CongressJDS coalition government he was appointed chairman of the coordination committee between the two parties Later he served as the opposition leader in 2019nbspWith Siddaramaiah stepping down from office Karnataka politics now enters a new phase even as his supporters describe his tenure as one of the most influential and transformative periods in the states political history https://dailyworld.in/politics/siddaramaiah-resigns-brings-curtains-down-on-tenure-as-karnatakas-longest-serving-cm-675454.html Thu, 28 May 2026 17:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/union-minister-manohar-lal-sets-sept-deadline-to-flatten-delhis-bhalswa-garbage-mountain-675456.html New Delhi May 28 IANS Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on Thursday visited the Bhalswa landfill site in North Delhi to review the ongoing legacy waste remediation work and directed civic officials to complete the task by September this yearnbspDuring the visit Manohar Lal reviewed the biomining operations environmental safeguards fire prevention measures leachate management systems and the future road map for complete remediation of the dumpsite said an official statementIn a message on X the Union Minister said Today I conducted a detailed inspection of the ongoing cleaning and waste processing operations at the Bhalswa Dumpsite Last year I had resolved that by October 2026 this dumpsite would be completely eliminated and work is continuing at a warfooting to achieve that very goalnbspTo eliminate this massive mountain of garbage the processing of legacy waste and the scientific waste disposal process have been accelerated through scientific and modern technologies he saidAt the same time continuous efforts are being made to improve cleanliness health safety and civic amenities in the surrounding areas while ensuring compliance with environmental standards said Manohar LalnbspUnder the leadership of Prime Minister Shri narendramodi ji the Central government is fully committed to realizing the vision of Swachh Bharat Mission by providing Delhi residents with a clean and pollutionfree environment and in this direction all necessary steps are being swiftly taken to ensure the closure of the Bhalswa dumpsite within the stipulated timeframe he saidThe officials told the Union Minister that the site had approximately 73 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste in June 2022 and since July 2022 biomining operations have been continuously undertaken in mission mode with around 15000 metric tonnes processed dailynbspAs on May 26 this year around 2317 lakh metric tonnes of waste is left at the site for remediationnbspManohar Lal said that owing to the sustained biomining and remediation efforts nearly 43 acres of land has been reclaimed out of the total dumpsite area of about 70 acresBhalswa dumpsite has been adopted by Manohar Lal under the Dumpsite Remediation and Action Plan DRAP initiative a nationwide missionmode programme launched by the Ministry under Swachh Bharat Mission U 20nbspThe plan aims for remediation of major legacy dumpsites across the country with the target of achieving Lakshya Zero Dumpsites through scientific remediation environmental restoration and reclamation of valuable urban landIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/union-minister-manohar-lal-sets-sept-deadline-to-flatten-delhis-bhalswa-garbage-mountain-675456.html Thu, 28 May 2026 17:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/revanth-reddy-considered-joining-bjp-before-cong-claims-mp-dharmapuri-arvind-675329.html Hyderabad May 27 BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind on Wednesday made a startling claim that he had information suggesting Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had once considered joining the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP before moving from the Telugu Desam Party TDP to Congress while asserting that such a leader cannot be loyal to anybody The remarks came a day after Arvind alleged that Revanth Reddy could eventually do a Suvendu Adhikari to the Congress party He had also suggested that CM Reddy might have some sort of understanding or connection with Prime Minister Narendra ModiI am a small worker in the BJP so I do not have complete details But just like how Suvendu Adhikari aligned with the BJP in West Bengal Revanth Reddy might also be trying to build a similar relationship with PM Modi Arvind had said while referring to PM Modis recent remarks at a public event in HyderabadReacting further to the issue while speaking to IANS Arvind stated Revanth Reddy had switched multiple political parties in the past and therefore his future political position remained uncertainIt is the Revanth model I will not say Assam model West Bengal model or some other model Revanth was in BRS He moved to TDP He moved to Congress In between I have certain information before moving to Congress he was considering the BJP So such a person cannot be loyal to anybody We never know He might take up another party Arvind saidWhen asked whether the BJP would accept Revanth Reddy if he were to join the party in the future the BJP MP said the matter would entirely depend on the party leadershipThat is up to the party high command I cannot commit But generally the Bharatiya Janata Party is a huge party And when certain people come they accept mostly they accept But at the end of the day it is the party high commands decision he addedArvind also criticised the Revanth Reddyled Telangana government over the removal of a hired Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC bus driver identified as B Ashok from duty at the Jagtial depot on May 26 The action was taken after the driver allegedly advised local Congress leaders protesting against fuel prices to instead focus on the procurement of paddy and maize from distressed farmersThe BJP MP accused the Congress government in Telangana of acting with arrogance and highhandedness against the RTC driverHe was suggesting to the Congress leaders who were agitating on the road He was advising them to focus on speeding up the process of paddy procurement and also paying a reasonable price to the maize farmer He was not criticising anybody He was just suggesting Maybe he got a farming background or is a sympathiser of a farmer Arvind saidThe Congress government dealt with him with highhandedness and arrogance Removing him from duty is uncalled for And we will not appreciate this move of the Congress party We will stand by the driver personally Partywise we will stand by the driver he addedThe BJP MP also attacked the Congress over criticism directed at the Centre regarding rising fuel prices and alleged that Telangana had among the highest fuel prices in the country because of statelevel taxesI have the prices of various states across the nation Telangana is the highest The price is Rs 11570 per litre Kerala another Congressruled state has a Rs 11230 per litre Karnataka Rs 10770 per litre Tamil Nadu Rs 10560 per litre Compared to Delhiruled states Delhi Rs 995 Gujarat Rs 991 UP Rs 995 Haryana Rs 997 Arvind claimedHe further said that the Central government had already reduced fuel prices earlier and urged the Telangana government to cut VAT on petroleum productsAlready the Central government has reduced Rs 10 in March So it is up to the state government to take a step forward and reduce prices the duty prices which the VAT amount They are collecting the highest in the country So I suggest the state government reduce its duty on fuel the BJP MP added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/revanth-reddy-considered-joining-bjp-before-cong-claims-mp-dharmapuri-arvind-675329.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/heinous-crime-against-pinarayi-vijayan-cpi-675339.html Thiruvananthapuram May 27 CPIM General Secretary MA Baby on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the BJPled Centre and the Congress party after the Enforcement Directorate ED carried out raids at 10 locations across Kerala linked to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan his family members and associates in the controversial CMRLExalogic case Describing the ED action as âa heinous crime against Pinarayi Vijayanâ Baby alleged that the Narendra Modi government was using Central agencies to politically target the CPIM and its seniormost leader in KeralaâThe justification for this raid is the Kerala High Court order allowing the ED probe to continue But Veena Vijayan Vijayanâs daughter had cooperated with the investigation and appeared before the concerned officials whenever summonedâ Baby saidThe ED on Wednesday starting 6 am is engaged in simultaneous searches at Vijayanâs residences in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur the Kozhikode residence of former Minister PA Mohammed Riyas premises linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd CMRL and other locations connected to the alleged financial transactions involving Veena Vijayanâs IT firm ExalogicRiyas the Beypore CPIM legislator is Veenas husbandThe case centres around allegations that Exalogic received payments from CMRL for services that were allegedly not renderedHowever Baby sought to distance the party from the merits of the case saying the company itself had already clarified its standâI am not going into the merits of the CMRL issue The company itself has made its position clearâ he said Drawing parallels with the Emergency era Baby said Vijayan had faced political persecution in the past as well âEven during the Emergency Pinarayi Vijayan was haunted Now the Modi government is repeating the sameâ he alleged while also accusing the Congress of joining hands with the BJP in targeting VijayanReferring to earlier controversies involving the son of late CPIM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Baby maintained that the present case was entirely differentAs the ED action triggered outrage within the CPIM protests erupted in Kannur and Kozhikode with party workers raising slogans against the Centre and the EDSenior CPIM leaders held emergency consultations and indications are that the protests could spread across Kerala during the course of the dayMeanwhile security has been tightened for BJP leader Shaun George who was among those instrumental in pursuing complaints related to the Veena Vijayan case before the Serious Fraud Investigation Office SFIO IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/heinous-crime-against-pinarayi-vijayan-cpi-675339.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/we-will-abide-by-high-commands-decision-parameshwara-amid-ktaka-leadership-change-buzz-675353.html Bengaluru May 27 Amid strong speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka state Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said the party leaders will abide by the decision of the Congress high command He also said that the partys General Secretary and Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala would address a press conference and provide clarity on the issueSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru Parameshwara while responding to questions regarding the leadership change speculation said âWe are committed to abiding by the decision of the high command Whatever the matter the high command will make a decision As of now we only know about the discussions regarding the selection of candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council electionsâHe further stated âAICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala is arriving in Bengaluru and he will provide all clarifications regarding the leadership change issue We are not aware of the details of the meeting in Delhi yesterday We do not know what was discussed thereâParameshwara added that Surjewala would hold discussions with party leaders in Bengaluru before briefing the media âHe will provide all details including information related to the meeting He may address a press conference either today or tomorrow We do not know what Surjewala and other senior leaders are going to announceâ he saidResponding to questions regarding the latenight meeting on Tuesday Parameshwara clarified that no political discussion took place in the residence of Minister KJ George âWe had dinner together there Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not discuss anything related to leadership change with usâ he statedMeanwhile according to sources Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly sought time at Raj Bhavan at 1030 am on Thursday and is expected to tender his resignation Sources stated that after the breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Siddaramaiah is likely to proceed to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignationSources further claimed that the Chief Minister has personally invited cabinet ministers for a meeting scheduled for Thursday Messages in this regard were reportedly sent to all ministers on Tuesday nightSeveral ministers and senior legislators including close associate and Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa have started arriving at the Chief Ministerâs residence amid the ongoing political developmentsAmid strong rumours of a leadership change in Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC President DK Shivakumar is set to hold a breakfast meeting with CM Siddaramaiah on Thursday further fuelling speculation over the political scenario in the stateShivakumarâs office on Wednesday confirmed the breakfast meeting with Siddaramaiah scheduled for Thursday May 28 at the Chief Ministerâs residence Kaveri in BengaluruThe official statement said that Shivakumar who is currently in Delhi will leave from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 5 am on Thursday and arrive in Bengaluru at 830 am After arriving in Bengaluru he will head straight to Siddaramaiahâs official residence for the breakfast meeting at 9 amSources stated that after the meeting both leaders are likely to address a press conference and clarify the ongoing speculation surrounding the leadership change issueAmid the speculation Surjewala is arriving in Bengaluru on Wednesday Though it is officially claimed that his visit is related to the elections concerning the Greater Bengaluru Authority GBA insiders say he is arriving and staying in the city to ensure a smooth transition of powerSources further stated that CM Siddaramaiah has been asked by Rahul Gandhi to step down to facilitate Shivakumarâs elevation to the post of Chief Minister The Siddaramaiah camp is now claiming that he is ready to tender his resignation as Rahul Gandhi played a key role in helping him become Chief Minister for a second term However the camp maintains that a group of ministers and his staunch supporters are strongly opposed to the move and insist that Siddaramaiah should not step down under any circumstances IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/we-will-abide-by-high-commands-decision-parameshwara-amid-ktaka-leadership-change-buzz-675353.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-congress-stand-exposed-bjp-on-scs-ruling-on-sir-675357.html New Delhi May 27 IANS The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Wednesday said that the Supreme Courts ruling on the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls exposed that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress stood with the infiltrationsThe Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Indias decision to undertake a SIR of electoral rolls holding that the revision exercise was within the constitutional and statutory powers of the poll body and was aimed at preserving the integrity of the electoral processnbspnbspReacting to this BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandhari said Rahul Gandhi ampamp Congress party stands exposed Supreme Court declare SIR Process Legal ampamp ConstitutionalIts clear Rahul Gandhi ampamp Congress opposed all through because they stood with illegal infiltrators not with Indian voters This was in true sense an Anti National Act Will Rahul Gandhi apologise today for defaming Indian Democracy he addedA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ruled that the impugned SIR exercise did not violate the provisions of the Representation of the People Act RPA 1950 or the rules framed thereunder and held that the ECI was empowered to undertake such a revision under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 213 of the RPA ActHolding that the ECI had not acted in excess of its powers the Supreme Court observed that the SIR exercise breathes life into the constitutional mandate under Article 324 within the precise statutory contours provided by Section 213 of the Representation of the People Act 1950It further held that the objective of the SIR exercise bore a direct nexus to the constitutional goal of free and fair elections Free and fair elections do not rest merely upon the mechanics of polling They fundamentally depend upon the integrity accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls which form the foundation of the democratic process the CJI Kantled Bench saidReferring to the reasons recorded by the ECI for initiating the SIR exercise the apex court found that more than four decades had passed since the last intensive revision and that largescale additions and deletions rapid urbanisation and migration had created the possibility of duplication and inaccuracies in the electoral rollsThe judgment came on a batch of petitions challenging the SIR exercise initiated by the ECI beginning with Bihar and subsequently extended to several states and Union TerritoriesUTs including West Bengal Kerala and Tamil NaduIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-congress-stand-exposed-bjp-on-scs-ruling-on-sir-675357.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-seeks-centre-cbse-response-on-plea-challenging-three-language-mandate-675383.html New Delhi May 27 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the validity of the Central Board of Secondary Educations CBSE revised threelanguage formula mandating Class 9 students to study three languages including at least two native Indian languages from the current academic sessionA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi issued notice on a petition challenging the CBSE circular and sought a comprehensive response from the Centre the CBSE and the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERTDeclining to grant any interim stay on the implementation of the policy the CJIled Bench said it would take up the matter for final hearing in the second week of July after the top court reopens following the summer vacationDuring the hearing senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the petitioner contended that the CBSE circular effectively mandates students to study three languages from July 1 despite the lack of preparedness on the groundEven textbooks are not available he submitted highlighting practical difficulties in rolling out the policy Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing in a connected matter argued that the issue raised important constitutional concerns including federalism and the right to choose ones languageLanguage is a matter of choice and cannot be imposed Sibal submitted describing the policy as having federal implicationsHowever the bench observed that the apex court at this stage was not examining the federal aspect but was focused on implementationrelated issues such as the availability of teachers and study materialDuring the hearing Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appearing for the Centre opposed the plea for urgent interim relief and submitted that the matter could be heard in detail later since the implementation would remain subject to the Supreme Courts final ordersAs per the CBSEs May 15 circular issued as part of a transitional alignment with the National Education Policy NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education NCFSE 2023 Class 9 students will be required to study three languages R1 R2 and R3 with at least two being native Indian languagesThe Board clarified that students may opt for a foreign language only as the third language provided the other two are Indian languages or as an additional fourth languageTo address concerns about the availability of study material CBSE said that until dedicated textbooks are released Class 6nbsp textbooks for the third language would be used for Class 9 studentsIt also stated that no Board examination would be conducted for the third language at the Class 10 level with assessment remaining internalThe Board acknowledged potential challenges in securing qualified language teachers and allowed schools to adopt flexible measures such as interschool resource sharing hybrid teaching and hiring retired educators during the transition periodMeanwhile former Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has urged the CBSE to withdraw the circular contending that the sudden implementation would impose unnecessary academic burden on students and parentsIn a post on X Annamalai said that while he had initially welcomed the threelanguage framework introduced in April 2026 the latest circular which makes it compulsory for Class 9 students from the current academic session has caused anxiety among parents particularly in Tamil Nadu where language issues remain politically sensitiveHe claimed that the earlier notification had indicated that the requirement for Class 9 students would come into effect only from the 202930 academic year and argued that students who had already chosen their languages in Class 6 should not be compelled to abruptly take up an additional language nowWarning that abrupt changes in curriculum could affect students performance Annamalai called on the CBSE to reconsider the decisionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-seeks-centre-cbse-response-on-plea-challenging-three-language-mandate-675383.html Wed, 27 May 2026 16:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/seven-cpi-m-workers-held-after-two-hour-standoff-at-party-office-over-ed-attack-675393.html Thiruvananthapuram May 27 IANS Seven CPIM workers were taken into police custody on Wednesday for allegedly attacking Enforcement Directorate ED officials and damaging their vehicles outside the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after their raid there ending nearly two hours of high drama in the heart of the state capitalnbspThe tense standoff unfolded outside a local CPIM office where a few accused in the attack case were believed to have taken shelter after the violence that erupted following the ED raids linked to the CMRLExalogic financial transactions caseHectic discussions were held between top Kerala Police officials and senior CPIM leaders outside as police handed over photographs of the identified accused to the party leadersnbspAmong the CPIM leaders engaged in the talks were Rajya Sabha member John Brittas former ministers V Sivankutty and Kadakampally Surendran besides CPIM legislator V JoynbspAs police officials reportedly informed the CPIM leaders that several of the identified accused were inside Joy made it clear that the police would not be allowed to enter the party office under any circumstances at the end of prolonged discussions between the two sides three of the accused were seen walking out of the party office before being taken into custody by the policenbspFour others were also earlier detained in connection with the attacknbspBrittas who led the talks on behalf of the CPIM said the party would not protect any wrongdoers but urged the police not to create unnecessary tension around the party officenbspWe will not shield anyone who has done wrong Those involved can be arrested even if it takes an hour or two But there is no need to create a scene Brittas told the media after the discussions with police officialsPolice had earlier identified at least 10 accused using CCTV visuals media footage and videos circulating on social medianbspInvestigators alleged that CPIM workers attacked ED officials and central security personnel using stones and concrete blocks after the raids concluded earlier in the daynbspSeveral vehicles including those used by ED officials were damaged in the violence while drivers and a few police personnel sustained injuriesnbspThe incident has triggered a major political controversy in Kerala with opposition parties accusing the CPIM of attempting to intimidate central agencies probing the highprofile financial transactions caseIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/seven-cpi-m-workers-held-after-two-hour-standoff-at-party-office-over-ed-attack-675393.html Wed, 27 May 2026 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-during-first-official-delhi-visit-today-675320.html New Delhi May 27 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay is set to visit New Delhi on Wednesday in his first official trip to the national capital after assuming office During the visit he is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to submit memoranda seeking enhanced financial assistance for Tamil Nadu and faster approvals for several key infrastructure and development projectsAccording to sources Vijay is expected to leave for Delhi on Wednesday and return to Chennai on the same dayThe Chief Minister is expected to push for greater Central support for infrastructure expansion pending financial allocations industrial growth initiatives welfare programmes and major connectivity projects considered crucial for Tamil Naduâs economic developmentThe visit assumes political significance as it comes just weeks after Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK scripted one of the most remarkable electoral performances in Tamil Naduâs recent political historyContesting its maiden Assembly election the TVK emerged as the single largest party by securing 108 seats in the 234member Assembly ending the longstanding political dominance of the Dravidian majors However despite emerging as the largest party it fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats resulting in intense postelection political developmentsVijay subsequently secured support from several parties including the Congress Left parties the Indian Union Muslim League IUML and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK enabling him to comfortably cross the required threshold and eventually paving the way for the formation of a coalition government a political arrangement the state has not witnessed for several decades The development marked a major shift in the stateâs political structure traditionally dominated by singleparty or allianceled governments under either the DMK or the AIADMK IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-during-first-official-delhi-visit-today-675320.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-mlas-meet-pm-modi-in-delhi-discuss-governance-constituency-development-675323.html New Delhi May 27 A group of Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party BJP MLAs met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi on Tuesday evening The meeting which brought together representatives from different constituencies of Gujarat was described by participants as a courtesy interaction during which they conveyed their experiences in public life and received guidance on governance and public serviceVejalpur MLA Amit Thaker said the meeting left a strong impression on him and described it as a source of renewed motivationHe said âIt was an honour to meet the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence who is the illustrious servant of the nation pride of India and a source of inspiration for 140 crore citizens Patriotism development service and security these four words are the living embodiment of respected Narendra ModiThis meeting was not just a moment but a renewed inspiration to move forward with greater dedication towards public service I will continue to work with more strength and new resolve for the development of Vejalpur and Ahmedabad he addedSavarkundlaLiliya MLA Mahesh Kaswala also termed the interaction a memorable occasion noting its timing alongside the Prime Ministerâs years in public serviceHe said âToday I had the honourable and historic opportunity to meet the respected Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi Meeting him on a special day marking 12 years of dedicated public service of the Prime Minister is a moment of great pride and joy for me This was not just a meeting but an experience of positivity and the energy of ânation firstâHe further added I received inspiration from the Prime Minister to further advance public welfare works for SavarkundlaLiliya and the entire state of Gujarat with greater enthusiasm and dedicationâAmong other legislators present were Bapunagar MLA Dineshsinh Kushwaha Gandhinagar North MLA Rita Patel Naroda MLA Payal Kukrani and Vijapur MLA Chatursinh Javanji Chavda along with other members of the delegationParticipants said the interaction provided them an opportunity to discuss constituencylevel development issues and to reflect on administrative prioritiesThe meeting concluded with the MLAs expressing appreciation for the exchange and stating that the discussion would help reinforce their focus on governance and public welfare initiatives in their respective constituencies across Gujarat IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/gujarat-mlas-meet-pm-modi-in-delhi-discuss-governance-constituency-development-675323.html Wed, 27 May 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-satheesan-to-meet-pm-modi-in-new-delhi-today-675144.html New Delhi May 26 Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan will hold his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi marking a politically significant engagement soon after assuming office This is Satheesans first meeting with PM Modi after the United Democratic Front government came to power in KeralaThough details of the agenda have not been officially disclosed the discussions are expected to focus on Keralaâs immediate development priorities central assistance and key state issues requiring Union government interventionLater in the day the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at 230 pm at Kartavya Bhavan in New DelhiEarlier on Saturday Satheesan held backtoback meetings with senior Congress leaders signalling the party leadershipâs continued engagement with the new Kerala administrationHe first met Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal at around 9 am followed by discussions with Congress President Mallikarjuna KhargeSatheesan later met senior leaders Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi VadraDuring the interactions he is learnt to have thanked the Congress high command for its support during the Assembly electionsOrganisational matters and the partyâs future political strategy were also discussed according to sourcesMeanwhile Satheesanâs first visit to Delhi after becoming Chief Minister drew enthusiastic crowds at Kerala House where students and supporters gathered late into the night to greet himThe Chief Minister spent time interacting with visitors and posed for photographs adding to the celebratory atmosphere surrounding his arrival in the national capitalSatheesan led the Congressled United Democratic Front to a stunning victory in the Assembly electionsThe UDF won 102 seats while the Left was reduced to just 35 seats from 99 The BJP also reopened its account by winning three seatsOn May 18 Satheesan along with 20 of his Cabinet colleagues was sworn in IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-cm-satheesan-to-meet-pm-modi-in-new-delhi-today-675144.html Tue, 26 May 2026 07:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-begins-for-punjab-civic-bodies-litmus-test-for-aap-675150.html Chandigarh May 26 Ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab slated in early 2027 the AAPruled state on Tuesday went to the polls to elect councillors for 1896 wards and eight municipal corporations amid tight security A total of 3545 lakh voters will exercise their franchise till 5 pm Electors across the state could be seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 8 am âThere has been no report of any delay in starting the poll processâ a state electoral officer told IANS hereThe state Election Commission has deputed around 32000 police personnel and 35000 election staff to ensure free and fair elections at eight municipal corporations 75 municipal councils and 20 nagar panchayatsThe eight municipal corporations are in Abohar Mohali Moga Bathinda Barnala Batala Kapurthala and Pathankot Of 7555 candidates in the fray 1801 belong to the Aam Aadmi Party 1550 to the Congress 1316 to the BJP 1251 to the Shiromani Akali Dal and 96 to the Bahujan Samaj Party while 1528 are Independent and 13 other candidates The electorate comprises 1833712 male voters 1711635 women and 220 voters listed under the âotherâ categoryAhead of the municipal elections the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed a PIL challenging the Election Commissionâs decision to switch from electronic voting machines EVMs to ballot papers A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had rejected the plea that the shift from EVMVVPAT to ballot papers had been made abruptly through an administrative communication without any statutory amendment legislative sanction or public consultationâIt is now too late for us to pass any orders or issue any writ since the election programme was published as early as May 13 The election programme of municipal elections has progressed to an advanced stage where the last date of withdrawal of candidature was May 19â it had observed on May 22Later the Supreme Court too dismissed the petition seeking the use of EVMs instead of ballot papers in the municipal elections Noting that the elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday the bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi refused to interfere saying it was too late as all arrangements had been madeState BJP President Sunil Jakhar has warned the government against using any illegal means to win the local body elections saying Punjab would no longer bow to AAPâs fear and pressure tacticsHe said statements being made by AAP MLAs and leaders about shutting polling booth doors and capturing booths to win elections reflected the desperation of the government Although Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann did not campaign for the polls his ministers MPs and MLAs campaigned aggressively for the party candidatesWhatever the outcome of the ongoing elections the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP believes it is rapidly emerging as one of the strongest political forces in the state and steadily expanding its footprint in both urban and rural regions The transformation in the BJPâs position in Punjab politics between the February 2021 local body elections and the current May 2026 civic polls has been dramatic a senior BJP functionary told IANSIn 2021 the party faced protests across several parts of Punjab and even struggled to field candidates in many areas In sharp contrast he said the current elections witnessed enthusiastic participation from aspiring BJP candidates with people lining up to seek party tickets while no protests against BJP candidates were reported anywhere in the stateThe BJP fielded 1226 candidates for Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections and 367 candidates for the eight Municipal Corporation elections reflecting the partyâs rapidly growing organisational strength and acceptance among the people of Punjab Importantly the BJPâs growing support is no longer limited to urban Punjab IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-begins-for-punjab-civic-bodies-litmus-test-for-aap-675150.html Tue, 26 May 2026 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-welcomes-tn-govts-crop-loan-waiver-seeks-wider-relief-for-farmers-675151.html Chennai May 26 PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss on Tuesday welcomed the Tamil Nadu governmentâs decision to waive crop loans for small and marginal farmers through cooperative societies while urging the state to introduce broader relief measures to address the challenges faced by the farming community In a statement Ramadoss said the governmentâs order to write off crop loans of up to Rs 50000 availed through cooperative societies since May last year was a positive and muchneeded step He also welcomed the decision to provide partial relief for loans in higher categories noting that farmers with crop loans between Rs 50000 and Rs 1 lakh would receive waivers ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 40000He observed that while the announcement may not completely reduce the burden on all farmers it should be viewed as an attempt to provide support and confidence to the agricultural community under difficult economic circumstancesRamadoss pointed out that farmers across various sectors are currently struggling due to multiple challenges including recurring natural disasters rising production costs and inadequate returns for their agricultural produceIn this situation he said the government should consider announcing more comprehensive relief packages aimed at addressing the broader financial distress affecting the farming sector He further stressed that steps should be taken to ensure that all farmers receive essential agricultural inputs such as seeds fertilisers and other materials at subsidised prices through cooperative societiesAccording to him timely access to such resources would help reduce cultivation costs and improve productivityThe PMK leader also called on the government to ensure that farmers who benefit from the crop loan waiver scheme are provided fresh loans through cooperative societies so that they can continue their agricultural activities without disruption He said there should not be any administrative obstacles in extending such supportRamadoss additionally urged the state government to consider extending partial crop loan relief to farmers beyond the small and marginal categoryHe said protecting farmers and improving their livelihoods remains one of the governmentâs foremost responsibilities adding that sustained and farmerfriendly policies are essential to safeguard the agricultural sector which he described as the backbone of Tamil Nadu IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pmk-welcomes-tn-govts-crop-loan-waiver-seeks-wider-relief-for-farmers-675151.html Tue, 26 May 2026 08:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-underway-for-first-phase-of-1-293-gram-panchayats-in-himachal-675205.html Shimla May 26 Voting began on Tuesday for 1293 gram panchayats in the first phase of Panchayati Raj elections in Himachal Pradesh amid tight security The next two phases of the poll with a total of 3745 gram panchayats will be held on May 28 and 30 The main Opposition BJP has expressed apprehensions about the misuse of government machinery by the ruling Congress in the electioneeringPolling will be conducted through ballot papers till 3 pm Each voter will cast five separate votes to elect a ward member vicepradhan pradhan panchayat samiti member and zila parishad member The results for panch pradhan and uppradhan posts will be declared immediately after polling in each phase while counting for panchayat samiti and zila parishad seats will take place on May 31Earlier a voter turnout of 6916 per cent was recorded in the elections to 51 urban local bodies ULBs including four Municipal Corporations held across the state on May 17Hamirpur district recorded the highest voter turnout at around 78 per cent while Solan district registered the lowest at 64 per centAmong the urban local bodies Naina Devi recorded the highest turnout at 86 per centThe polling for the four Municipal Corporations Dharamsala Palampur Mandi and Solan was concluded on May 17 alongside 51 other urban local bodies but election results will be declared on May 31A BJP delegation led by state President Rajeev Bindal on Monday met Governor Kavinder Gupta here and raised concerns regarding alleged interference in Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections by the governmentLeader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was also present at the meeting along with several senior BJP leaders and officebearersThe delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor highlighting what the party termed as repeated attempts by the government to manipulate democratic processes amend rules during the election period and influence the public mandate through administrative and political pressure IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/polling-underway-for-first-phase-of-1-293-gram-panchayats-in-himachal-675205.html Tue, 26 May 2026 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-hold-meeting-on-crisis-facing-maha-onion-growers-sugar-cooperatives-675219.html Mumbai May 26 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting at his Delhi residence on Wednesday to address the crisis confronting Maharashtras onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry The meeting scheduled for 5 pm will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar along with senior ministers legislators and representatives of cooperative sugar bodiesThe intervention comes amid mounting stress in the stateâs agrarian economy with onion farmers reeling under a sharp price crash and the sugar sector facing policy uncertainties and rising costs due to the export banMinisters Chhagan Bhujbal Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Shivendraraje Bhosale legislators Dilip Walse Patil Jayant Patil Vinay Kore Abhimanyu Pawar the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Chairman Harshvardhan Patil and the Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in Maharashtra Chairman PR Patil will also attend the meetingThe onion belt of Maharashtra primarily Nashik Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and parts of Marathwada is witnessing severe farm distress Despite strong production a convergence of adverse weather and geopolitical bottlenecks has driven wholesale prices to a fraction of production costsIn several Agricultural Produce Market Committees APMCs like Satana Lasalgaon and Paithan wholesale rates for belowaverage quality onions crashed to between 50 paise and Re 1 per kg in early May Premiumquality stocks are being secured at only Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kgAccording to data from the State Agriculture Department cultivation rose to 10 lakh hectares in the 202526 season yielding a bumper 165170 lakh metric tonnes However input costs seeds fertilisers labour and transport average Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg leading to severe financial losses for cultivatorsThe ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely hit traditional export markets like the Arab nations and Iran Container freight prices from India skyrocketed from 600 to 6500 pricing out Indian exporters while competitors like Egypt and Yemen supply these markets via overland trucks Over 150 containers remain stranded at Mumbaiâs Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust JNPTUnseasonal rainfall and hailstorms across North Maharashtra and Marathwada have compromised the quality and shelflife of the rabi harvest forcing desperate farmers to execute immediate distress salesOn May 15 2026 the Central Government announced it would procure 2 lakh tonnes of onions via NAFED and NCCF at Rs 1235 per kg Rs 1235 per quintal The Maharashtra State Onion Growersâ Association has strongly rejected this rate calling it inadequate to cover basic inputs and demanding a minimum floor price of Rs 30 per kg along with a Rs 1500 per quintal subsidy for past lossesTaking note of ongoing agitation launched by onion growers the Centre on Monday decided to increase the procurement price set by NAFED for onions from Rs 1235 to Rs 1580 per kg However the onion growers have said it was not enough when the production cost is Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg The onion growers have launched fresh agitation in Chandwad from Nashik district demanding a minimum purchase of Rs 30 per kg They have warned not to allow even an inch of movement on the MumbaiAgra highwayIn the case of Maharashtra cooperative sugar industry despite the state concluding the 202526 crushing season as Indias top sugarproducing state crushing 104421 lakh tonnes of cane to yield 9920 lakh tonnes of sugar the sector faces immense structural friction On May 13 2026 the Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT imposed an immediate ban on the export of raw white and refined sugar until September 30 2026 to secure a domestic supply and control retail inflation This came just three months after the Centre had permitted exports in February 2026The ruling and opposition parties along with farmer bodies such as the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS and Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana criticised the policy flipflop saying it cuts off highvalue international revenues at a time when global demand is peakingWhile the Centre raised the Fair and Remunerative Price FRP paid to cane farmers to Rs 365 per quintal for the upcoming season the Minimum Selling Price MSP of sugar has remained frozen at Rs 31 per kg since 2019 However the sugar industry has pointed out that the average production cost for mills has soared to Rs 4172 per kg leading to a widening viability gapMoreover the financial squeeze on mills has trickled down to the sugarcane growers As of midMay 2026 83 sugar mills across Maharashtra owe Rs 934 crore in outstanding FRP dues to farmers The Sugar Commissionerate has initiated hearings and issued seizure warnings to noncompliant factoriesAdding to the distress the IMD has projected the 2026 Southwest Monsoon at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average LPA amid emerging El Nino warnings sparking fears of a sharp cane shortfall for the 202627 crushing season beginning in OctoberA senior minister said that for both onion and sugar the overarching friction stems from an imbalance between rising domestic cultivation costs and restrictive trade policies designed to keep retail inflation low pushing the financial burden directly onto the rural economy He argued that against this backdrop the Centreâs bailout package is needed to help crisisridden onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry to survive IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-hold-meeting-on-crisis-facing-maha-onion-growers-sugar-cooperatives-675219.html Tue, 26 May 2026 12:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-meet-on-maharashtra-onion-growers-and-sugar-cooperatives-crisis-675225.html Mumbai May 26 IANSnbsp Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting at his Delhi residence on Wednesday to address the crisis confronting Maharashtras onion growers and the cooperative sugar industrynbspThe meeting scheduled for 5 pm will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar along with senior ministers legislators and representatives of cooperative sugar bodiesThe intervention comes amid mounting stress in the states agrarian economy with onion farmers reeling under a sharp price crash and the sugar sector facing policy uncertainties and rising costs due to the export banMinisters Chhagan Bhujbal Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Shivendraraje Bhosale legislators Dilip Walse Patil Jayant Patil Vinay Kore Abhimanyu Pawar the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Chairman Harshvardhan Patil and the Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in Maharashtra Chairman PR Patil will also attend the meetingThe onion belt of Maharashtra primarily Nashik Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and parts of Marathwada is witnessing severe farm distress Despite strong production a convergence of adverse weather and geopolitical bottlenecks has driven wholesale prices to a fraction of production costsIn several Agricultural Produce Market Committees APMCs like Satana Lasalgaon and Paithan wholesale rates for belowaverage quality onions crashed to between 50 paise and Re 1 per kg in early May Premiumquality stocks are being secured at only Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kgAccording to data from the State Agriculture Department cultivation rose to 10 lakh hectares in the 202526 season yielding a bumper 165170 lakh metric tonnes However input costs seeds fertilisers labour and transport average Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg leading to severe financial losses for cultivatorsThe ongoing conflict in West Asia has severely hit traditional export markets like the Arab nations and Iran Container freight prices from India skyrocketed from 600 to 6500 pricing out Indian exporters while competitors like Egypt and Yemen supply these markets via overland trucks Over 150 containers remain stranded at Mumbais Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust JNPTUnseasonal rainfall and hailstorms across North Maharashtra and Marathwada have compromised the quality and shelflife of the rabi harvest forcing desperate farmers to execute immediate distress salesOn May 15 2026 the Central Government announced it would procure 2 lakh tonnes of onions via NAFED and NCCF at Rs 1235 per kg Rs 1235 per quintal The Maharashtra State Onion Growers Association has strongly rejected this rate calling it inadequate to cover basic inputs and demanding a minimum floor price of Rs 30 per kg along with a Rs 1500 per quintal subsidy for past lossesTaking note of ongoing agitation launched by onion growers the Centre on Monday decided to increase the procurement price set by NAFED for onions from Rs 1235 to Rs 1580 per kg However the onion growers have said it was not enough when the production cost is Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg The onion growers have launched fresh agitation in Chandwad from Nashik district demanding a minimum purchase of Rs 30 per kg They have warned not to allow even an inch of movement on the MumbaiAgra highwayIn the case of Maharashtra cooperative sugar industry despite the state concluding the 202526 crushing season as Indias top sugarproducing state crushing 104421 lakh tonnes of cane to yield 9920 lakh tonnes of sugar the sector faces immense structural friction On May 13 2026 the Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT imposed an immediate ban on the export of raw white and refined sugar until September 30 2026 to secure a domestic supply and control retail inflation This came just three months after the Centre had permitted exports in February 2026The ruling and opposition parties along with farmer bodies such as the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS and Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana criticised the policy flipflop saying it cuts off highvalue international revenues at a time when global demand is peakingWhile the Centre raised the Fair and Remunerative Price FRP paid to cane farmers to Rs 365 per quintal for the upcoming season the Minimum Selling Price MSP of sugar has remained frozen at Rs 31 per kg since 2019 However the sugar industry has pointed out that the average production cost for mills has soared to Rs 4172 per kg leading to a widening viability gapMoreover the financial squeeze on mills has trickled down to the sugarcane growers As of midMay 2026 83 sugar mills across Maharashtra owe Rs 934 crore in outstanding FRP dues to farmers The Sugar Commissionerate has initiated hearings and issued seizure warnings to noncompliant factoriesAdding to the distress the IMD has projected the 2026 Southwest Monsoon at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average LPA amid emerging El Nino warnings sparking fears of a sharp cane shortfall for the 202627 crushing season beginning in OctoberA senior minister said that for both onion and sugar the overarching friction stems from an imbalance between rising domestic cultivation costs and restrictive trade policies designed to keep retail inflation low pushing the financial burden directly onto the rural economy He argued that against this backdrop the Centres bailout package is needed to help crisisridden onion growers and the cooperative sugar industry to surviveIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-to-meet-on-maharashtra-onion-growers-and-sugar-cooperatives-crisis-675225.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-meets-pm-modi-in-delhi-outreach-after-udfs-landslide-win-675226.html New Delhi May 26 IANS In his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after leading the Congressled UDF to a sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly elections Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday held crucial talks with the PM in New Delhi signalling the start of the new state governments engagement with the CentrenbspThe PMO office posted pictures of the meeting between the twoThe nearly 20minute meeting at the Prime Ministers Office assumed political significance coming just days after the change of guard in Kerala ending the decadelong rule of the Left Democratic Front led by former Chief Minister Pinarayi VijayanCM Satheesan was accompanied by Kerala Chief Secretary A Jayathilak during the meetingSources said the Chief Minister submitted a detailed memorandum seeking Central support for several key development projects and financial packages for the state while also following up on a number of pending issues concerning KeralaThough official details of the discussions were not disclosed it is learnt that infrastructure development financial assistance pending railway and highway projects disaster relief support and issues concerning Keralas overall fiscal position figured prominently during the talksDespite the political importance attached to the meeting Satheesan remained tightlipped while leaving the venue and avoided responding to questions from the media regarding the outcome of the discussions with the Prime MinisterThe Chief Minister has temporarily camped at Kerala House as part of his twoday visit to the national capitalLater in the day Satheesan is scheduled to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to press for greater financial support for Kerala amid the states continuing fiscal challengesOn Wednesday the Chief Minister is expected to hold separate meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before returning to ThiruvananthapuramThe Delhi visit is being closely watched both politically and administratively with indications that the new UDF government is keen to strike a pragmatic working relationship with the BJPled Centre despite sharp political differences between the two sidesIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-meets-pm-modi-in-delhi-outreach-after-udfs-landslide-win-675226.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-arrests-15-in-sir-based-road-blockade-judges-detention-cases-in-malda-ld-675233.html New Delhi May 26 IANS The National Investigation Agency NIA arrested 15 protesters in a special operation conducted in West Bengals Malda district in connection with last months road blockade incidents and the alleged illegal detention of judicial officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision SIR exercise of electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections in the stateThe NIA had taken over the investigation following directions from the Election Commission of India after the Supreme Court reportedly took suo motu cognisance of the incidents During the extensive operation carried out in Malda district the agency apprehended 15 individuals on Monday who had been allegedly involved in blocking roads and detaining judicial officers on duty in two separate casesIn one of the cases 12 individuals including the main accused Joshim Sk and Asmaul Sk were arrested for allegedly detaining a woman judicial officer for nearly eight hours on the road between Haibatola and AmlitolaThree other accused identified as Alamgir Sk Nurul Islam and Habibur Rahman were arrested in connection with the blockade of Bagmara Bridge in the Mothabari block areaAccording to officials investigations are underway to identify and trace other persons allegedly involved in the incidents The NIA is also probing the possibility of a larger conspiracy behind the coordinated road blockades and the detention of judicial officersBefore the latest arrests nearly 50 people had already been taken into custody in connection with the caseThose arrested earlier included advocate Mofakkerul Islam Trinamool Congress Kaliachak Block President Mohammad Sariul Sheikh Indian Secular Front ISF Gram Panchayat member Golam Rabbani and ISF candidate Shahjahan Ali KadriPolice had earlier identified advocate Mofakkerul Islam and ISF leader Maulana Shahjahan Ali among the alleged key conspirators in the matterThe case is linked to violence that erupted on April 1 at the Mothabari Block Office in Malda district during protests related to the electoral roll revision exerciseAccording to officials judicial officers engaged in the SIR exercise allegedly came under attack while performing official duties Police later rescued the officers from the protest site but authorities claimed that the convoy escorting them was attacked again while leaving the areaThe incident drew nationwide attention after reports surfaced that seven judicial officers were allegedly surrounded by a large mob during the protests Officials stated that nearly 200 to 300 protesters gathered near the Kaliachak II block office and allegedly confined the officers inside the premises for more than nine hoursThe officers reportedly remained trapped without food or water and allegedly faced verbal abuse and threats before being rescued by security personnel around midnight Among those reportedly confined inside were three women officers and another officer accompanied by a fiveyearold childWest Bengal Police later described the violence as a preplanned attack rather than a spontaneous protestFollowing the incident Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to create unrest in the state and plotting to have the West Bengal Assembly elections cancelled in order to impose Presidents RuleIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nia-arrests-15-in-sir-based-road-blockade-judges-detention-cases-in-malda-ld-675233.html Tue, 26 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-orders-swift-action-against-serious-crimes-calls-for-faster-trials-strict-punishment-675133.html Chennai May 25 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S Joseph Vijay on Monday directed police officials to ensure the immediate registration of cases speedy investigations and strict punishment for those involved in serious crimes with particular focus on offences against women and childrennbspnbspThe directive was issued during a highlevel review meeting held at the State Secretariat to assess measures related to crimes against women and children expediting criminal cases preventive action and awareness initiativesnbspAccording to an official statement released by the Tamil Nadu government the meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Vijay and attended by senior officials from the police department the Social Welfare Department and the office of the Advocate GeneralnbspDuring the meeting the Chief Minister stressed the need for swift handling of cases involving sexual offences and said legal procedures should be pursued effectively to ensure stringent punishment for offendersnbspHe observed that timely investigation and successful prosecution leading to severe punishment would act as a strong deterrent against those planning to commit such crimes in the futurenbspThe Chief Minister instructed officials to strengthen coordination between investigative agencies and departments concerned to ensure that criminal cases especially those involving women and children move forward without unnecessary delaysnbspHe also emphasised the importance of preventive measures and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing crime and improving public safetynbspOfficials discussed the present status of investigations the speed of legal proceedings and the need for greater awareness among the public regarding safety measures and legal protections available for vulnerable sections of societynbspThe meeting also reviewed mechanisms to improve the handling of sensitive cases and examined ways to ensure that justice is delivered within a shorter timeframenbspSenior officials who attended the meeting included Chief Secretary Dr M Saikumar Additional Chief Secretary for Home Prohibition and Excise Department Dr K Manivasan Advocate General Vijay Narayan Social Welfare and Women Rights Department Secretary Mariam Pallavi Baldev and Director General of Police Dr Sandeep Rai Rathod along with other police and government officialsnbspThe review comes amid increasing public focus on law and order and crimes involving women and children across the statenbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-orders-swift-action-against-serious-crimes-calls-for-faster-trials-strict-punishment-675133.html Mon, 25 May 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/green-technology-set-to-revamp-gujarats-roads-new-projects-in-various-cities-sanctioned-at-rs-1-147-crore-675075.html Gandhinagar May 24 Gujarat is advancing towards environmentally friendly and sustainable development through the modernisation of its road infrastructure To add strength to the states green corridors the state government is set to undertake Rs 1147 crores project for the construction of climateresilient roads using modern technology Work on 20 roads across various districts of the state will begin using green technology with old road materials being reused to reduce costs and promote sustainabilityThe introduction of modern and environmentfriendly roads is set to bring down costs of construction besides improving their durability and longevityThe array of projects include road widening resurfacing RCC gutter lines protection works fourlaning earthworks side shoulders rumble strips road furniture white topping and glass grid technology They will be developed using climateresilient and environmentally friendly modern technologyUnder the green technology being used for reconstruction the road are excavated treated with lime and stabilised through pulverising and rollingThe old road material is then spread over the surface followed by dry rolling cement spreading and chemical stabilisation Levelling and compaction are carried out using modern machineryAfter seven days a Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer SAMI a hightech fibre sheet is laid before asphalt application to prevent cracks absorb vehicular pressure and increase the lifespan of the roadAccording to experts the green technology promotes the reuse of materials such as old pavement soil and metal helping reduce construction costs while strengthening the road baseThis also improves the longterm durability of roads increases their lifespan and reduces the need for frequent repairs It also helps lower carbon emissions and conserve natural resourcesReconstruction work using green technology worth Rs 50 crore has been approved for the JambusarTankaliDeola road in Bharuch districtAmong the other key projects undergoing reconstruction under the green technology include LanwaManundSanderBalisana Road and RadhanpurMashaliMadhapura Road in Patan district Bhidiya Somnath Road in Gir Somnath SantrampurJalod Road in Mahisagar DayadaraNabipurJanor Road and IlavKosamba Road in Bharuch MorbiNani VavdiBaghthala Road in Morbi Surendranagar Bypass Road in Surendranagar DindoliKaradwaIklera Road in Surat ManglejNareshwar Road and KarjanAmod Road in Vadodara KosindraBhakha Road in Chhota Udepur IsarwadaUndel Road and VadtalJolBakrol Road in Anand ValamKadi Road and PepluKapra Road in Mehsana LuniGundalaPatriTapparBabiya Road in Kutch TalajaGopnath Road in Bhavnagar KalavadJamvanthaliFala Road in Jamnagar and Kothara Approach Road in Narmada district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/green-technology-set-to-revamp-gujarats-roads-new-projects-in-various-cities-sanctioned-at-rs-1-147-crore-675075.html Sun, 24 May 2026 20:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-ministers-upset-after-chief-secy-announces-bureaucratic-reshuffle-674999.html Thiruvananthapuram May 24 A major confrontation appears to be brewing within the newly formed state government after Kerala Ministers expressed displeasure over the sweeping IAS reshuffle carried out by Chief Secretary A Jayathilak who is due to retire next month The controversy has erupted barely days after the new administration led by Chief Minister VD Satheesan assumed office with Ministers accusing the Chief Secretary of pushing through key appointments and transfers without consulting the political leadership concernedThe strongest resentment has emerged over the transfer of district collectors and appointments to sensitive departments which several Ministers claim were made unilaterallyRevenue Minister AP Anil Kumar was reportedly kept in the dark about the reshuffle involving collectors in key districts while Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty is understood to have objected strongly to the appointment of Arun K Vijayan as Director of Industries without prior consultationThe unusual public expression of dissatisfaction by Ministers has triggered intense discussions within government circles especially since the reshuffle was executed at a time when the administration was expected to settle into office under the new political leadershipSenior leaders are learnt to be concerned that the controversy could deepen into a larger tussle between the bureaucracy and the elected Kerala governmentThe appointment of Arun K Vijayan has emerged as the most contentious decisionThe former Kannur Collector had faced severe criticism in connection with the suicide case of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate ADM Naveen BabuAllegations were raised that Vijayan remained silent when then Kannur District Panchayat President and top CPIM leader PP Divya publicly humiliated the ADM Naveen Babu during a farewell eventNaveen Babus family had also levelled serious accusations against the Collector at the timeDespite the controversy Vijayan has now been elevated as Director of Industries and also given additional charge as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation a move that has reportedly upset sections within the state governmentThe reshuffle has brought extensive changes across the administrative hierarchyPatil Ajit Bhagwat Rao has been appointed Finance Resources Secretary while PB Nooh becomes the new GST Commissioner K Imbasekhar has been named Managing Director of the Kerala Water AuthoritySnehal Kumar Singh has been appointed Director of Collegiate Education with additional charge as Entrance CommissionerWith Chief Secretary Jayathilak set to retire next month the controversy surrounding his final round of appointments is expected to become a major political talking point in the days aheadChief Minister VD Satheesan was in Delhi on Saturday when this reshuffle took place IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-ministers-upset-after-chief-secy-announces-bureaucratic-reshuffle-674999.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Jaipur May 24 The Bhopal Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal NGT while taking a serious note of groundwater contamination in and around the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation RIICO Industrial Area in Sotanala of Rajasthans Alwar has directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board RSPCB to submit a detailed action taken report The matter pertains to original application titled Ms Dhansa Labs Limited formerly Ambey Laboratories Ltd vs Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board amp Others which came up for hearing on Saturday before a bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh Judicial Member and Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi Expert MemberThe application highlights serious concerns over groundwater pollution allegedly caused by pesticide residues discharged from industries operating in the RIICO industrial areas of Sotanala and adjoining regionsDuring the proceedings the Tribunal took note of findings recorded in a scientific study conducted by the National Institute of Hydrology NIH Roorkee at the instance of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control BoardAccording to the NIH report groundwater in the RIICO industrial areas of Keshwana and Sotanala has been found to be severely contaminatedThe study also warned that the contamination plume may gradually spread towards the RIICO industrial area of Behror in the future potentially aggravating environmental and public health risks in the regionThe report also said that the deteriorating groundwater quality could have adverse impacts on human healthIt recommended urgent remedial measures including scientific groundwater remediation and implementation of rainwater harvesting systems particularly rooftop rainwater harvesting structures to help restore groundwater quality and improve rechargeTaking the matter seriously the National Green Tribunal directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to identify the industries actually responsible for the contamination place on record the remedial and corrective measures undertaken so far and ensure further action in accordance with the recommendations made in the NIH reportThe Tribunal has listed the matter for further hearing on August 19 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ngt-seeks-action-taken-report-from-rpcb-in-alwar-groundwater-contamination-case-675000.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ban-on-heavy-vehicles-at-bridge-in-bihars-gopalganj-due-to-structural-concerns-675002.html Patna May 23 Fresh concerns over bridge safety in Bihar have emerged after structural issues were reported on the JadopurMangalpur Mahasetu a key bridge connecting Gopalganj and Bettiah Following the detection of a gap in one of the bridge spans the district administration has imposed an immediate ban on the movement of heavy vehicles across the bridge officials said on SaturdayAt present only light and small vehicles are being allowed to cross under strict monitoring and with caution to prevent any untoward incidentGopalganj District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Sinha said the structural gap observed in the bridge is a matter of serious concern and warned that delay in repairs could worsen the condition and make restoration more difficultAccording to District Magistrate Sinha expert teams from the National Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology Patna are being called to conduct a detailed technical assessment and safety inspection of the bridgeHe said that the expert team will inspect the structure identify the causes behind the cracks and gaps and recommend immediate repair measuresThe JadopurMangalpur Mahasetu stretches nearly 192 km and serves as an important transport link between Gopalganj and BettiahThe bridge significantly reduced travel distance between the two districts by nearly 120 km and is considered a lifeline for hundreds of villages located in the riverine Diara regionsOfficials noted that the bridge had earlier faced issues in 2020 when flooding and river pressure caused cracks in the approach roadThose damages were later repaired and additional road connectivity works were undertaken in 2023 and 2024Constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 550 crore the bridge was inaugurated during 2015â16 by the then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish KumarThe emergence of major structural concerns within a decade of inauguration has now raised fresh questions over construction quality longterm maintenance and monitoring of infrastructure projects in the stateEarlier a section of the Vikramshila Bridge in Bhagalpur district collapsed which led to criticism of the Bihar governmentNow the repair work on the damaged section is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ban-on-heavy-vehicles-at-bridge-in-bihars-gopalganj-due-to-structural-concerns-675002.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bsp-supremo-mayawati-reviews-poll-strategy-in-up-stresses-on-stronger-booth-level-connect-675019.html Lucknow May 24 IANS Bahujan Samaj Party BSP national president and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati on Sunday held a key meeting of the partys state unit in Lucknow and asked workers to strengthen the organisation down to the polling booth level while intensifying preparations for the 2027 Assembly electionsnbspnbspReviewing the partys organisational work and election readiness at the BSP state office on Mall Avenue Mayawati said preparations must be made more efficient and vigilant in view of what she described as new and serious challenges emerging in elections across the countryShe said the BSPs objective was to form a propeople government in Uttar Pradesh for the fifth time citing growing public support for the partynbspThe meeting was attended by boothlevel incharges as well as Assembly district and state committee officebearers who presented progress reports on organisational strengthening social outreach and financial support for the partyExpressing satisfaction over the implementation of directions issued during the previous meeting Mayawati nonetheless cautioned party workers against complacency and said the political environment indicated rival parties were engaged in deceptive politicsCalling on workers to unite all sections of society she urged them to work towards victory with the slogan Haathi wale button ko dabao satta mein wapas lao Press the button on the elephant bring back to power and stressed the importance of safeguarding every votenbspReferring to the Assembly elections held recently in five states Mayawati said the BSP needed to draw lessons from those contests as Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and Punjab move closer to elections expected early next year or slightly ahead of scheduleShe alleged that ruling parties often resort to polarisation and diversionary politics during elections and later fail to address peoples welfare concernsnbspThe BSP chief said ordinary people were struggling with inflation unemployment and policy burdens and accused parties in power of making attractive promises during elections only to turn indifferent afterwardnbspDescribing the countrys political social and economic conditions as distressing and painful she said governments should remain committed to constitutional and welfareoriented governance rather than policies favouring big industrialists and the wealthyMayawati said the people of Uttar Pradesh have not forgotten BSPs record in governance during its previous four terms which she claimed ensured law and order and promoted employmentoriented development with dignitynbspThe people of Uttar Pradesh are once again looking towards the experienced and tested BSP government and its leadership with hope she saidShe also invoked BSP founder Kanshi Ram saying the party remained committed to his mission of Sarvajan Hitay Sarvajan SukhaynbspAppealing to voters in Uttar Pradesh to place their trust in the BSP once again Mayawati said governments should focus on livelihood peace communal harmony and law and order and should not turn away from their constitutional responsibility of functioning as welfareoriented administrationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bsp-supremo-mayawati-reviews-poll-strategy-in-up-stresses-on-stronger-booth-level-connect-675019.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/seeman-criticises-shivakumar-over-mekedatu-dam-remarks-urges-tn-govt-to-oppose-ktaka-move-675021.html Chennai May 24 Naam Tamilar Katchi NTK coordinator Seeman has vehemently condemned Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for his recent comments that Tamil Nadu lacks the authority to contest the proposed Mekedatu Dam project on the Cauvery River Seeman characterised these remarks as the height of arrogance and an effort to undermine Tamil Nadus historical and legal rights over the river In a statement on Sunday Seeman alleged that Karnatakaâs continued push for the Mekedatu dam reflected a larger attempt to gain complete control over the Cauvery River waters at the expense of Tamil NaduHe argued that such efforts run contrary to established principles governing interstate river water sharing and accused Karnataka of attempting to deny downstream regions their legitimate share of water resourcesHighlighting the historical significance of the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu Seeman said the river shared a bond with Tamil society that predates the formation of both the Kannada language and the Karnataka stateHe maintained that the river has been an integral part of Tamil civilisation and culture for centuries and therefore cannot be treated as the exclusive property of a single stateQuestioning Karnatakaâs position Seeman asked whether the Cauvery River belonged solely to Karnataka and stressed that existing river watersharing principles recognise the rights of downstream statesAccording to him downstream regions have a strong stake in the equitable distribution of river waters making Tamil Naduâs concerns over projects such as the Mekedatu dam valid and legitimateHe said DK Shivakumarâs comments reflected an attitude of dominance and disregard for the concerns of Tamil Nadu and strongly condemned the statementSeeman further appealed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to officially condemn the Karnataka Deputy Chief Ministerâs remarks and take a firm stand against Karnatakaâs efforts to construct the Mekedatu damThe Mekedatu project has remained a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for several years with Tamil Nadu consistently expressing concerns that the proposed reservoir could affect the flow of Cauvery water to the state and impact irrigation and drinking water requirements IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/seeman-criticises-shivakumar-over-mekedatu-dam-remarks-urges-tn-govt-to-oppose-ktaka-move-675021.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/landlord-asks-trinamool-to-vacate-east-kolkata-building-housing-party-hq-675024.html Kolkata May 24 The Trinamool Congress leadership has received a notice to vacate the partys temporary headquarters or Trinamool Bhaban located in East Kolkata The owner of the rented multistorey building in the Topsia area along the EM Bypass which was the Trinamool headquarters for the past few years has asked the party to vacate It is reported that this decision was made due to security concerns following the vandalism outside the building after the Assembly election results were announcedThe owner of this luxurious multistorey building is Montu Saha the head of one of the states renowned companies Modern Decorators He himself is said to have verbally informed the Trinamool leadership about vacating the houseSaha has also specified that the deadline to vacate the multistorey building has been given He said that he had spoken to the Trinamool leadership and the party has clearly assured him that the multistorey building will be completely vacated within the next two monthsThere has been a recent political upheaval in the state after the change of government However Montu Saha said that there was no political motive pressure or any other reason behind itHe said Immediately after the results of the Assembly elections were announced on May 4 there was widespread vandalism outside that house If there is any damage to the house the loss will be mine There is nothing else in thisâSaha said he asked Trinamool to vacate the house mainly due to security reasons and has no personal grudge against the party He also confirmed that the Trinamool leadership has always paid the house rent as per the agreementThere has been no response from Trinamool Congress on the issueIt is worth noting that after retaining power in the 2021 Assembly elections the Trinamool top leadership decided to renovate the partys main office located in the Topsia area The old building was demolished and a modern multistorey building was built For this reason the building in the metropolitan area of ââEM Bypass was rented in 2022 as an alternative officeAlthough the building was initially rented for only two years the contract was extended by another two years since work on the main building in Topsia was not completedAs a result for the last four years this metropolitan building was the main hub of all the political and organisational activities of the Trinamool In this temporary Trinamool building separate wellfurnished rooms were arranged for party supremo Mamata Banerjee and General Secretary Abhishek BanerjeeAlmost every important organisational meeting of the party election strategy formulation and press conference were held in this house The top leaders of the party MLAs and ministers used to come here every day This office was mainly managed and looked after by the partys state president Subrata Bakshi and vicepresident Jay Prakash Majumdar IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/landlord-asks-trinamool-to-vacate-east-kolkata-building-housing-party-hq-675024.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/palaniswami-attacks-tn-govt-over-long-power-cuts-urges-immediate-action-675027.html Chennai May 24 AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the newly elected Tamil Nadu government over reports of power disruptions in several parts of the state alleging that inadequate planning and unstable governance have resulted in widespread electricity shortages affecting both households and industries In a statement Palaniswami said it was well known that electricity demand in Tamil Nadu rises significantly during the summer season due to increased domestic consumption during daytime hours as well as higher industrial and commercial usageHe said that during the AIADMK government under former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa advanced precautionary measures were regularly undertaken to ensure that the stateâs seasonal power requirements were met without disruptionRecalling the AIADMKâs tenure in power Palaniswami claimed that when the âAmma governmentâ assumed office in 2011 it inherited a difficult situation where many parts of Tamil Nadu had been experiencing power cuts lasting over 10 hours a day He said the government subsequently addressed the crisis and transformed Tamil Nadu into a powersurplus state through a series of strategic interventionsPalaniswami stated that the previous administration had anticipated increased summer demand and taken steps to expand electricity generation from wind solar and thermal power sources He added that additional power had also been procured through shortterm arrangements from the Central government and private power producers to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply across the stateCriticising the current administration EPS alleged that its âsuperficial and unstableâ approach had created serious difficulties for people across various regions of Tamil NaduAccording to him prolonged and unannounced power cuts have disrupted daily life with residents experiencing sleepless nights and daytime outages affecting household activities including cooking and other essential tasksHe also referred to media reports claiming that residents affected by power outages had staged protests and demonstrations in several placesHe pointed to reports from Chennaiâs suburban areas including Thandaiyarpet where residents allegedly faced repeated power interruptions and had taken to the streets in protestThe AIADMK leader further said the power disruptions had affected not only households but also micro small and medium enterprises as well as larger industries causing economic strain across sectors He urged the newly formed government not to cite its recent assumption of office as an excuse and called for immediate warfooting measures to address the power crisis IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/palaniswami-attacks-tn-govt-over-long-power-cuts-urges-immediate-action-675027.html Sun, 24 May 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-govt-directs-creation-of-holding-centres-to-keep-illegal-infiltrators-foreign-prisoners-675051.html Kolkata May 24 IANS The West Bengal government has ordered the creation of holding centres in each district to keep those arrested on suspicion of being Bangladeshis or Rohingyasnbsp a senior government official said on SundaynbspSuspects can be detained in these holding centres for 30 daysnbspnbspThe state government has said that not only those arrested on suspicion of being infiltrators but also those who were previously caught and imprisoned and those in the process of being sent out of the country can be kept thereThe Central government had already issued instructions to identify and send back infiltratorsnbspChief Minister Suvendu Adhikari recently held a press conference in the State Secretariat Nabanna and said that the previous Trinamool Congress government did not follow the instructions of the Central governmentnbspAfter the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP government came to power the relevant law has been implemented in the statenbspThis time those who are not included in the CAA or the Citizenship Amendment Act will be identified immediately and arrested They will be directly handed over to the Border Security Force BSF The BSF will work to send them back to their respective countries After Suvendu Adhikaris announcement the state government has issued instructions in this regardThe directive of the state government says that the process of sending back Bangladeshis or Rohingyas who have been caught illegally residing in this state is being started for which holding centres will be set up in all districts across the statenbspAll these centres will be used to keep illegal infiltrators and foreign prisoners released from the jails of this statenbspnbspInstructions are being given to take necessary steps to set up the centresnbspAn instruction to this effect has been sent from Nabanna to the West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta the District Magistrate of each district and the Superintendents of Police This instruction has also been sent to the Commissioners of each police Commissionerate including KolkatanbspOn May 2 2025 the Foreigners Division of the Union Home Ministry issued an eightpage guideline on Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltratorsnbspIt also mentioned the creation of holding centres to keep the infiltratorsnbspAccording to the Centres guidelines if law enforcement officials suspect that a person is not an Indian citizen heshe can be arrested Heshe can be detained in a holding centre for 30 days Within 30 days the documents will be checked to verify whether he is an Indian citizen or notnbspThe final decision in this regard will be taken by the concerned District Magistrate or District Collectorlevel officernbspThe West Bengal government has adopted a policy of detect delete and deport for illegal immigrantsnbspThe Centres guidelines have detailed instructions on how this process will be carried outnbspThe Centre has asked each state to form a special task force STF of police based on districts to identify illegal immigrants and send them back to their respective countriesnbspThose who are identified as infiltrators at the holding centre will have their biometric information collected and uploaded on the Centres portal after they will be handed over to the Border Guard They will be blacklisted in IndianbspThe guidelines also state that in emergency situations after the investigation is completed the Border Guard or Coast Guard can pick up the illegal immigrants from the holding centre They can be sent directly outside the countrys bordersIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-govt-directs-creation-of-holding-centres-to-keep-illegal-infiltrators-foreign-prisoners-675051.html Sun, 24 May 2026 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/every-country-in-world-has-stupid-people-marco-rubio-on-racist-remarks-against-indians-in-us--675054.html New Delhi May 24 IANS US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday described the United States as a welcoming country and termed the racist comments made against Indians as the actions of stupid peoplenbspAddressing a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Rubio stated that he takes such comments very seriouslyOn being asked about racist remarks against Indians in the US he responded I dont know how to address that but Ill take that very seriously about the comments Look Im sure that there are people who have made comments online and other places because every country in the world has stupid people Im sure there are stupid people here There are stupid people in the United States who make dumb comments all the time I dont know what else to tell you other than uh the United States is a very welcoming country Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country have come from our country from all over the world have become Americans have assimilated into our way of life and have contributed greatly So thats all I can comment on that in regard to your pointHighlighting the contribution of the Indian community in the US economy Rubio said Over 20 billion dollars have been invested in the US economy by Indian companies We want that number to continue to increase and obviously the expertise as well that theyve provided to our economy has been very very valuableRubio also stated that the US is modernising its migration system and changes in immigration policy were applied across the world and not Indiaspecific He noted that over 20 million people had illegally entered the US over the past few years and stressed the importance of addressing that challengeOn concerns about the recent changes in J1 visa F1 H1B visa and his message to Indians in this regard Rubio said The changes that are happening now or the modernisation of our migration system into the United States is not focused is not Indiaspecific It is global its being applied across the world We are in a period of modernisation and Ill be frank and honest with you because its important to talk about this Weve had a migratory crisis in the United States This is not because of India but broadly we had over 20 million people illegally enter the United States over the last few years and weve had to address that challenge In addition to that challenge and I think this is true for India this is true for every country in the worldEverything that you do as a country needs to be in your national interest and that includes your immigration policyHe noted that immigration has enriched the country but stressed that the system must be adjusted with changing timesThe United States I believe is the most welcoming country in the world for immigration Every single year a million people roughly become permanent residents of the United States and contribute greatly My parents entered the United States as permanent residents in 1956 from Cuba and so its a process thats enriched us but it has to be a process thats adjusted in every era to the realities of the modern times in which you live and we are and its long overdue he addedRubio said that the US is currently undergoing a process of reforming the system and acknowledged that the transition could create some difficulties and friction points However he stated that the system that will be implemented after the process will be more efficient and better than the previous systemThe United States is currently undergoing a process of reforming the system by which we choose how many people come into our country who comes in when they come in etc Anytime you undertake a reform anytime you undertake a change in the system by which you admit people or frankly anytime you undertake a reform in any system not just on immigration there are going to be theres going to be a period of transition thats going to create you know some friction points and some difficulties and so forth Ultimately we think that when this process is in place once this process has been modernised and thats really what it is We are modernising the US immigration system for the 21st century so that it is an immigration system thats not just good for America but its also good for the people that are comingOnce we are complete and once weve done the work of modernising that system I think were going to going to wind up with a system thats more efficient and even better than the previous system and in some ways may prove to be even more beneficial than the previous system was to people from India who seek to enter the United States to work and innovate But obviously theres going to be a period of adjustment along the way So I just dont what I want to clear is that the changes while they may be having a disproportionate impact on a place like India that provides so many highskilled workers to the US economy it is not a system that is targeted at India It is one thats being applied globally But were in a period of transition and like any period of transition theres going to be some bumps on that road But we think ultimately our destination is going to be a better system a more efficient system one that works better than the one that we had embraced previously and more sustainable by the way he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/every-country-in-world-has-stupid-people-marco-rubio-on-racist-remarks-against-indians-in-us--675054.html Sun, 24 May 2026 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-should-worry-about-himself-nda-leaders-on-remarks-against-modi-govt--675055.html New Delhi May 24 IANS The National Democratic Alliance NDA leaders led by the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday They said Gandhi should worry about his own electoral victory rather than thinking about the BJPnbspThe political exchange comes after LoP Gandhi reportedly said that the Modi government will fall in the next one year during a Congress minority advisory committee meeting attributing it to rising economic discontentnbspBihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi said Rahul Gandhi should worry about himself whether he will win any election or not the Congress has been wiped outThe Congress party is no longer relevant in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular leader in the world and the Bharatiya Janata Party is the largest party globally he told reportersnbspAccording to Union Minister and Republican Party of India Athawale National President Ramdas Athawale Rahul Gandhi is making predictions about the futurenbspHis predictions are not accurate The whole country knows that in 2019 when the Congress Party got only 52 seats Rahul Gandhi had said that he would remove PM Narendra Modi but under the Prime Ministers leadership the NDA won a majority he told IANSReferring to the BJP individually falling short of a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections he said Though the BJP fell short we did not allege bogus voting or blame the Electronic Voting Machine EVMnbspHe asserted that the BJPled NDA will gain a majority in the 2029 polls as well and PM Modi will be sworn in as the Prime MinisternbspMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called Gandhis statement as wishful thinkingUttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said Rahul Gandhi is going through extreme frustrationnbspHe said that PM Modis welfare schemes for the poor have garnered popularity among the people and public trust in the Prime Minister has increasedRahul Gandhi and the Congress party understand this very well that their plans are no longer going to succeed That is why they Congress have been constantly using inappropriate words against BJP leaders The people of the country will never forgive them he addednbspEarlier a political controversy had erupted over LoP Rahul Gandhis alleged traitor remark against PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rahul-gandhi-should-worry-about-himself-nda-leaders-on-remarks-against-modi-govt--675055.html Sun, 24 May 2026 17:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/falta-repoll-bjp-candidate-wins-by-a-margin-of-1-09-021-votes-cpm-finishes-second-675060.html Kolkata May 24 IANS Results for the Falta Assembly repoll in West Bengal have been declared at the end of all the rounds of counting on Sunday with the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP candidate Debangshu Panda being declared elected by a landslide margin of 109021 votesnbspWhile Panda secured a total of 149666 votes CPIM candidate Sambhunath Kurmi came in the second position securing a total of 40645 votesnbspCongress candidate Abdur Razzak came in the third position receiving 10084 votesTrinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan ended fourth in the tally securing 7783 votesnbspThe deposits of both Congress and Trinamool Congress candidates have been forfeitednbspThe results of the Falta repoll are unique from two angles This is for the first time in any election in history since the Trinamool Congress foundation in January 1988 that any party candidate has finished the race in the fourth positionnbspSecondly this is the first time since 2011 which marked the end of the 34year Left Front regime and the beginning of the Trinamool Congress 15year regime that any party candidate has had his or her deposit forfeitedThe repoll at Falta was conducted on May 21nbspWith the victory of Panda in Falta BJPs total tally in the 294 West Bengal Assembly constituencies now stands at 208 followed by Trinamool Congress at 80 Congress and Aam Janata Unnayan Party AJUP at two each and CPIM and All India Secular Front AISF at one eachnbspThe trend on Sunday is a complete study in contrast to the results in Falta both in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls as well as in the 2024 Lok Sabha pollsIn the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections the Trinamool Congress Shankar Kumar Nashkar was elected by a margin of 41000 votes from Falta which is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituencynbspAbhishek Banerjee Trinamool Congress general secretary and Mamata Banerjees nephew has represented the Diamond Harbour seat three timesnbspIn the 2024 Lok Sabha polls the Falta Assembly constituency gave Banerjee a lead margin of around 120000 votes which opposition parties described as a mockery of the polling processPolling for the Falta Assembly constituency was conducted on April 29 in the second phase of the recently concluded twophase Assembly polls in the statenbspOn April 29 several complaints of electoral malpractices were reported in Falta At several polling booths the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were covered with white tape Hundreds of voters took to the streets after they were not allowed to vote allegedly by Jahangir Khans supportersnbspSubsequently special poll observer Subrata Gupta currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry Based on Guptas findings the Election Commission of India ECI ordered repoll across the entire Falta Assembly constituencyIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/falta-repoll-bjp-candidate-wins-by-a-margin-of-1-09-021-votes-cpm-finishes-second-675060.html Sun, 24 May 2026 17:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-when-a-cockroach-seeks-space-in-indian-politics-675061.html New Delhi May 24 Few creatures invite as much dislike as cockroaches do which is why it is weird that the same insect has suddenly become the centre of fascination for a section of people who otherwise would never hesitate to eliminate it The cockroach has managed to create such a buzz that it is now trending across social media gathering followers in massive numbers In a democracy divergent views and satire have always had space They often reflect the vibrancy of public discourse So when an Indian student studying at a foreign university decided to channel his mischievous creativity into a satirical political idea built around a cockroach the reaction that followed was far larger than anyone might have anticipatedEven the student himself Abhijeet Dipke from Maharashtras Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district may not have expected the scale at which his socalled Cockroach Janta Party CJP would resonate online There is nothing inherently wrong with satire India has a long tradition of using humour and mockery to question authority Long before the digital age newspaper cartoons served as some of the sharpest political commentaries Satirical mushairas ridiculed governments through poetry while in recent years standup comedy and online content have emerged as powerful tools of political expression In that sense the rise of something like the CJP is not extraordinary in itselfBut questions inevitably arise Can a single student operating independently generate such a widespread digital storm That seems unlikely Given how political narratives are increasingly shaped online and considering similar developments witnessed in countries such as Nepal Bangladesh and Sri Lanka suspicions about larger backing naturally emergeDipkes association with the Aam Aadmi Party is part of the public record now Reports suggest he was linked to the party between 2020 and 2023 and volunteered with its social media team Some accounts also claim that he participated in the AAPs digital campaigning during the 2020 Delhi Assembly election won by the Arvind Kejriwalled partyThis has led to speculation that the CJP may not be entirely independent but could instead resemble a politically driven digital experiment The CJP seems to be trying to ape the India Against Corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare which Kejriwal later used to form the AAP Whether that comparison is fully justified or not time will tell but the parallels are being discussedThe timing of the CJPs rise has added another layer to the debateIn recent weeks Kejriwals confrontation with the judiciary has intensified The friction became visible after his appearance on April 13 before Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in connection with the excise policy case where he argued for her recusal Clips of the courtroom exchange quickly spread across social mediaLater on April 27 Kejriwal wrote to Justice Sharma stating that he would neither appear before her personally nor through legal counsel Claiming he had lost hope of receiving justice from the judge he said he would follow Mahatma Gandhis path of satyagraha Manish Sisodia adopted a similar line and both leaders later visited Raj GhatA strong social media campaign accompanied these developments with attempts to portray both Kejriwal and the AAP as victims in the judicial process Justice Sharma eventually recused herself from the matter while also initiating contempt proceedings against Kejriwal Sisodia Sanjay Singh Saurabh Bharadwaj and others over alleged attempts to undermine the courts integrity onlineAmid these developments came the announcement of the CJP The launch followed shortly after remarks were attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant involving the words parasites and cockroaches during court proceedings on May 15 Although clarification later emerged that the comments had been misinterpreted The CJP also attempted to build momentum around the NEET paper leak controversy Dipkes first public campaign involved an online petition demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan He also released a video message urging students and young people to mobilise around the issue Notably these videos appeared days after Kejriwal publicly appealed to students on May 12 to protest over the NEET controversyPolitics rarely functions in isolation and Dipkes old social media posts reflecting his admiration for Sisodia and commitment to the AAP have further fuelled speculation One such post written before he left for Boston thanked Sisodia for the opportunities provided to him and reaffirmed his support for the party A photograph of the two together has also resurfaced onlineWhether the CJP is truly an AAPbacked digital movement on the lines of IAC remains open to interpretation But the episode certainly raises broader questions How easily can online narratives be manufactured How vulnerable are young audiences especially Gen Z users to highly packaged political messaging emerging from outside the countryEqually notable is the attention the platform has begun receiving in sections of the international media Some political parties in India particularly within the Opposition are now openly or indirectly speaking in favour of the CJP perhaps without fully realising what its sudden rise actually reflectsHad the Opposition in India remained consistently constructive and not entirely indulged in BJPhate mongering politics the political space would never have been left open for something symbolised by a cockroach to occupy itThat is what makes the trend unsettling Political satire has its place in a democracy but when public frustration begins finding expression through symbols associated with decay and disorder it points to a deeper vacuum in the opposition ecosystemPeople understand what a cockroach represents And just as it is never allowed to breed unchecked in homes democratic spaces too must remain cautiousDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fairpoint-when-a-cockroach-seeks-space-in-indian-politics-675061.html Sun, 24 May 2026 17:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-gymkhana-club-eviction-congress-questions-move-bjp-hits-back-675062.html New Delhi May 24 The Union governments plan to reclaim the 273acre land of the Delhi Gymkhana Club sparked a political duel on Sunday with the Congress questioning the need for acquiring the big swathe of land for PM residence and the BJP criticising it for doubting the public security purposes behind the move Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leader Amit Malviya posted a video on his X account featuring Congress leader Surendra RajputIn the video Rajput is seen alleging that the Clubs land was being reclaimed to expand Prime Minister Narendra Modis official residence at Lok Kalyan MargRajput is also seen in the video asking a question How much space does the Prime Minister need to live in The BJPled government will have to explain thisMalviya hit back saying Sonia Gandhi who occupies 10 Janpath spread across 15181 square metres larger than 7 Lok Kalyan Marg at 14101 square metres has apparently sent a note to Surendar Rajput It reads sit downThe entitlement and hypocrisy in the Congress ecosystem never cease to amaze Malviya said InCharge of BJPs National Information and Technology Department on XThe imperialera Club frequented by the highheeled and the influential in the power corridors is located close to the Prime Ministers official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the heart of Lutyens DelhiThe Club management was issued an eviction notice by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on May 22 informing that the premises would be taken over by the Union government on June 5The land at 2 Safdarjung Road was given to the exclusive Club started in the Colonial era on a perpetual lease in 1918 and the current process for reclaiming the land would vest the parcel with President Droupadi MurmuThe government notice referred to Clause 4 of the lease deed noting that the lessor has the authority to reenter the premises if the land is required for a public purposeExercising those powers the President of India acting through the Land and Development Office has determined the lease and ordered immediate reentry of the property the notice saidIn response the Clubs management has sought an urgent meeting with Ministry officials to seek clarity on issues in the interests of member and the employeesThe Club functionaries are also reportedly considering a legal challenge to the Ministrys land reclaim noticeThe Centre has also issued eviction notice to the Indian Polo Association opposite Prime Ministers official residenceIn this case as well the Ministry linked the reclaiming of land as a necessity to strengthen and secure Defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-gymkhana-club-eviction-congress-questions-move-bjp-hits-back-675062.html Sun, 24 May 2026 18:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/l-g-ts-sandhu-praises-delhis-8-year-old-ai-whizkid-ranvir-singh-sachdeva-675066.html New Delhi May 24 Delhi Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu on Sunday highlighted the achievements of the cityâs eightyearold AI whizkid who rocked the tech world by becoming the youngest speaker at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 In a message on X Sandhu shared the photo of Ranvir Singh Sachdeva praising his understanding of future technologiesâWonderful meeting young Ranvir Singh Sachdeva in Rishikesh a few days ago At just eight years old this exceptional child from Delhi has already developed a remarkable understanding of Artificial Intelligence earning recognition as the youngest speaker at the India AI Impact Summit 2026â said Sandhu on XâIt is inspiring to see our youngest minds engaging so confidently with future technologies while embracing the values of responsible innovation and digital literacy Such talent and curiosity at a young age reflect the immense potential of Indiaâs next generation A very bright future indeed awaits himâ said the Lieutenant GovernorSandhu is a big proponent of technologydriven ease of living and ease of business often highlighting the transformative power of innovation digital infrastructure and responsible technologyEarlier this month the Lieutenant Governor attended a technology conference and wrote on X âA pleasure to deliver the keynote address on the Role of Technology in Nation Building at the NASSCOM Global Confluence 2026 in New Delhi Emphasised the transformative power of innovation digital infrastructure amp responsible tech in shaping an inclusive amp futureready IndiaâRecently Sandhu also directed Delhi officials to hasten reforms to enhance Ease of Living and the transition towards a âPermitted Until Prohibitedâ ecosystem removing regulatory hurdles by June 30âGuided by the Prime Ministerâs vision of reducing compliance burden and improving ease of living for citizens every procedural reform must translate into greater efficiency transparency and opportunity for the people of Delhiâ the LG told officials including Chief Secretary Rajeev VermaSandhu also signalled that the Delhi government would fasttrack the Ease of Doing Business Bill 2026 to streamline approvals and simplify complianceIn a message on X the Lieutenant Governor said âAdvised officers to ensure implementation of all remaining priority areas identified by the Government of India for Ease of Doing Business reforms by June 30 2026 without failâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/l-g-ts-sandhu-praises-delhis-8-year-old-ai-whizkid-ranvir-singh-sachdeva-675066.html Sun, 24 May 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/dharmendra-pradhan-sends-for-iit-experts-to-resolve-cbse-website-glitches-675068.html New Delhi May 24 IANS Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has decided to rope in professors and technical experts from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and IIT Kanpur to help the CBSE ensure a glitchfree reevaluation process an official said on SundayPradhans direction to involve IIT experts comes in the backdrop of concerns raised by students and parents regarding the CBSE postresult services portal which has allegedly crashed or remained inaccessible for filing applications for revaluation and seeking copies of answersheetsThe glitches have forced the Central Board of Secondary Education CBSE to repeatedly extend the deadline for filling revaluation applications and depositing feePradhan recently conceded hiccups in the new OnScreen Marking OSM system of the CBSE saying that these were part of attempts to create a new systemHe said that creating a new system may face shortcomings and only collective consultation and criticism can show the way forwardA statement issued by the Ministry said on Sunday that the expert teams will implement focused technological improvements of the systems and technical workflows and specifically examine portal stability and server performance the statement addedThe team will also examine the overall IT Infrastructure robustness and assist in taking corrective measures to ensure that login authenticationuser access systemspayment gateways are accurate and in orderPradhan reiterated that student interests remain paramount and all necessary corrective measures need to be undertaken by CBSE on priority to ensure a transparent efficient and studentfriendly systemHe dismissed the criticism of OSM highlighting its benefits of errorfree scientific and uniform assessment in Board examsPradhan said the time has come to admit lack of uniformity in assessment and award of marks to resourceful parents wards studying in an urban school and marks given to a meritorious student from a distant rural schoolIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/dharmendra-pradhan-sends-for-iit-experts-to-resolve-cbse-website-glitches-675068.html Sun, 24 May 2026 18:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-highlights-rich-legacy-and-progress-of-sikkim-675069.html New Delhi May 24 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared an article authored by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia as Sikkim enters its 51st year of statehood The Prime Minister noted that the article highlights Khangchendzonga lauding it as the protector of the land memory and consciousness of SikkimâHe highlights that the five treasures of Khangchendzonga continue to illuminate the states journey paving the way for Viksit Sikkim 2047 PM Modi wrote on XThe minister writes that Khangchendzonga the âmountain massifâ stands out in our imagination as distant Himalayan peaks wrapped in Lungta prayer flags clouds and snow Nearly onefourth of Sikkimâs land is embraced by the Khangchendzonga National Park For centuries Khangchendzonga has lived in the folklore of the indigenous communities as a sacred civilisational force â the protector of land memory and consciousness of Sikkim itself The great Lama Lhatsun Chenpo interpreted this belief with poetic brilliance calling the five summits as the Five Treasures of the Eternal Snow âthe peak most conspicuously gilded by the rising sun is the treasury of gold the peak that remains in cold grey shade is the storehouse for silver and other peaks are vaults for gems grains and the holy booksâThe minister states that during his recent visit for Sikkimâs 51st Statehood Day celebrations this lore revealed itself with renewed contemporary relevanceThe first treasure is gold and nowhere is Sikkim richer than in its people Development acquires permanence only when it grows from the confidence of communities and Sikkim offers compelling evidence of that truth in the unity and social harmony of the Lepcha Bhutia and Nepali communities Scindia observed He underscored that the second treasure silver manifests itself through Sikkimâs elemental beauty and biodiversity The Teesta and Rangeet rivers revealed themselves between the dense forests and clouds while unbloomed cherry trees stood amongst the slopes of tea gardens awaiting the onset of winterThe third treasure is gems and in Sikkim these gems are cultural spiritual and civilisational They appear in various monasteries in the grand Buddha Park at Ravangla in the Bhaleydhunga skywalk overlooking the valley and in the sacred geography blessed by Guru Padmasambhava himself Sikkim continues to preserve a sense of spirituality that feels increasingly precious and pristine in todayâs restless world This spiritual inheritance now coexists with modern aspirations the minister statesHe also highlights that the fourth treasure grains carries the story of sustenance Sikkimâs journey as a 100 per cent organic state is among the most important developmental achievements in contemporary India The stateâs success in organic farming cardamom cultivation and sustainable agriculture demonstrates how mountain ecosystems can sustain prosperous local economiesThe fifth treasure the holy books is Sikkimâs intelligence It lives in education where the new educational institutions and the permanent campus of Sikkim State University in Namchi reflect a future that respects tradition while opening doors to knowledge skill and innovation The future of Viksit Bharat shall depend substantially upon how effectively such institutions nurture talent across the frontier regions of the country PM Modiâs visit made this clear as he spoke of education connectivity health care urban development and tourism as the pillars of Sikkimâs next phase The old and the new meet here with unusual grace and the result is a development model rooted in heritage the minister added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-highlights-rich-legacy-and-progress-of-sikkim-675069.html Sun, 24 May 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-struggling-amid-worsening-foreign-exchange-crisis-675071.html New Delhi May 24 Pakistan is grappling with a mounting foreign exchange crisis driven by pressure to repay roughly 48 billion of external debt weak investor confidence and falling foreign direct investment FDI according to an international media report The report in the Times of Oman stated that foreign direct investment in Pakistan plummeted by 33 per cent in FY26 to 1195 billion from 192 billion in 2023â24 and 183 billion in 2024â25 As a share of GDP FDI remained below 045 per centThe report highlighted that the declining confidence in the countryâs economy is also reflected in the exit and downsizing of several multinational companies in recent years Various policy measures announced by the government to revive investors confidence have failed to yield resultsThe report mentions Procter amp Gamble among the multinational giants that have decided to shut down manufacturing operations in Pakistan along with companies such as Shell Telenor Uber Yamaha Eni some foreign banks and pharmaceutical firms deciding to scale down or shut operations in PakistanThe report mentioned labour force survey data showing the unemployment rate rising to 63 per cent to 69 per cent from 2020â21 to 2024â25 with women and youth experiencing the biggest bruntPakistanâs external and fiscal vulnerabilities are apparent from public debt surging to Rs 8052 lakh crore by the end of FY25 while external debt and liabilities stood at 138 billion the report said Economic growth for the last three years has averaged about 17 per cent The governmentâs debt is worth 70 per cent of GDP and gross financing needs are among the highest in the world it addedThe report also points out that Pakistanâs economy remained highly exposed to West Asian shocks as the country spends about 4 per cent of GDP annually on fuel and fertiliser imports from the Gulf Due to heavy reliance on fuel food and remittances from West Asia and the Gulf the economy is under significant strain with Islamabad ordering austerity measures like the closure of schools and a reduced work week to deal with the oil crisis it said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pakistan-struggling-amid-worsening-foreign-exchange-crisis-675071.html Sun, 24 May 2026 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cabinet-expansion-reshapes-vijay-govt-portfolios-distributed-as-23-new-ministers-take-over-674818.html Chennai May 21 In a major political and administrative exercise aimed at strengthening governance and broadening representation Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday carried out the first major expansion of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet inducting 23 new ministers and simultaneously restructuring key portfolios The move significantly expands the administrative structure of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKled government that assumed office earlier this monthThe cabinet expansion comes less than two weeks after the formation of the Vijayled government and is being viewed as an effort to accommodate regional social and alliance considerations while filling several important departments that had remained unassigned during the initial phase of government formationAmong the politically significant developments was the inclusion of Congress representatives in the ministryS Rajesh Kumar of Killiyoor and P Viswanathan of Melur were inducted into the cabinet marking Congressâ entry into the Tamil Nadu government after nearly six decadesRajesh Kumar was assigned the Tourism portfolio while Viswanathan was given charge of Higher Education including Technical Education Electronics Science and TechnologyApart from the induction of new faces the government also revised responsibilities among senior ministersChief Minister Vijay retained core departments including Home Police and General Administration while adding Special Initiatives and Poverty Alleviationrelated subjects under his direct controlMinister N Anand relinquished poverty alleviation responsibilities while R Nirmalkumarâs Law and Energy portfolios underwent modificationsA major reshuffle involved KA Sengottaiyan who was shifted from Finance to Revenue and Disaster ManagementThe crucial Finance Planning and Development portfolio has now been assigned to the newly inducted minister N Marie WilsonSeveral longpending sectors also received dedicated ministers Agriculture was assigned to Vinoth Housing to B Rajkumar Artificial Intelligence and Digital Services to Kumar R Labour Welfare and Skill Development to Mohamed Farvas and Social Welfare and Women Empowerment to JegadeshwariThe government also created dedicated responsibilities for NonResident Tamils Welfare and AIdriven digital governance initiativesOfficials said the expansion is expected to improve administrative efficiency while helping the government address sectorspecific priorities as it moves into its first full phase of governance IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-cabinet-expansion-reshapes-vijay-govt-portfolios-distributed-as-23-new-ministers-take-over-674818.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674819.html New Delhi May 21 India has managed to clearly establish a direct Pakistan hand in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost After a painstaking probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA it was established that the attack was handled from Lahore by Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias Langde a top operative of the LashkareTayiba A clear pattern has come to light before and after the terror attack that took place on April 22 2025 in which 26 people were killedInvestigations suggest that Pakistan had thought it would get away with the attack However as the international condemnation grew and India began preparing for a strong response the Pakistanis did not want to have anything to do with the attackAn official explained that it all began with the provocative statements made by Pakistanâs army chief Asim MunirMunir had said days before the attack during an Overseas Pakistanis Convention that Kashmir is our jugular vein it will be out jugular vein and we will not forget itHe also spoke about the twonation theory and highlighted explicitly the differences between Hindus and MuslimsThis was aimed at ideological division Prior to this he had spoken about war Munir said that three wars had been fought for Kashmir and if need be then ten more would be foughtAn official said that these statements were aimed at inciting violence and it went on to become the platform for the Pahalgam terror attack on IndiaThe official pointed out that the sequence of events post the Pahalgam attack had the Pakistanis worried All of a sudden they wanted to have nothing to do with the attack The NIA describes this clearly in its chargesheet when speaking about The Resistance Front The outfit which is an offshoot of the LashkareTayiba had claimed responsibility for the attack but immediately withdrewThe claim was made on a Telegram channel called âKashmir Fightâ However when the heat was up and the Pakistanis realised that the Narendra Modi government was planning harsh retaliation The Resistance Front withdrew its statement and claimed that its Telegram channel had been hackedAnother official explained that ideally The Resistance Front would have wanted to tomtom about the attack and its capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir However the outfit was advised by the Pakistani establishment to withdraw that statementAfter having withdrawn the statement the Pakistanis indulged in a false flag narrative It wanted to send out a message that the attack was carried out by someone else and there was no Pakistani link to itAnother key aspect that played on the minds of the Pakistanis was the change of doctrine India said that an act of terror would not be treated as crossborder terror but as an act of war It was clear that despite Asim Munirâs tall claims about being ready for ten more wars the Pakistan army was clearly not ready or prepared for a fight with IndiaThis explains the false flag narrative the official added The NIAâs probe found that the Telegram channel âKashmir Fightâ was being operated from Battagram area in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPA second channel called The Resistance FrontOfFcial which was also used to guide the Pahalgam attack was being operated from Rawalpindi according to the probe by the NIAThe mobile phones that were recovered from the Pahalgam attackers who were killed during Operation Mahadev also helped the NIA establish the Pakistan linkOne of the phones was purchased online and sent to an address in Lahoreâs QaideAzam Industrial Estate The second phone was purchased from Karachi the NIA foundThe NIA said that the entire operation was managed staged and handled from Pakistan by Saifullah and this suggests the direct role of the LashkareTayibaThe NIA also identified two Pakistani locals Bashir Ahmed and Parvez who helped the Pakistani terrorists carry out the attack Further the NIA said that on April 15 and 16 the LashkareTayiba sent Faisal Jatt alias Suleiman Habib Tahir alias Chhotu and Hamza Afghani all Pakistanis to carry out a reconnaissance of the Baisaran Valley This helped them understand the security arrangements in the areaThe Pahalgam attack was then carried out on April 22 and during the entire duration of the strike the terrorists were provided real time information that included coordinates and other logistical dataIndia hit back by carrying out Operation Sindoor during which a significant number of terror infrastructure belonging to the LashkareTayiba JaisheMohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen were razed to rubble IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674819.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/re-polling-begins-for-bengals-falta-assembly-constituency-674759.html Kolkata May 21 Repolling commenced for Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday under a blanket security coverage provided by the 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF personnel a number significantly high for a single constituency The polling process had been peaceful till the time the report was filedWith Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan announcing his withdrawal from the contest recently political observers feel that a victory in the Falta repolling has now become a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP which if won would thus improve the partys tally in the West Bengal Assembly to 208Last week Khan announced his decision to withdraw from the contest expressing solidarity with the new development package for Falta as announced by the new and ninth Chief Minister Suvendu AdhikariHowever the CEOs office clarified that irrespective of Khans announcement his name would remain as a Trinamool Congress candidate in the repoll and continue to appear on the EVMPolling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29 On May 21 it will just be a repoll So nothing else changes including the candidates contesting from Falta the CEOs office insider saidObservers suggest that it will be interesting to see whether the vote percentages for the CPIM and Congress candidates in the Falta Assembly seat improve remain the same or decline compared to the previous electionsOn April 29 several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from Falta At several polling booths the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tapeSubsequently special poll observer Subrata Gupta currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry into the allegationsBased on Guptas findings the Election Commission of India ECI ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/re-polling-begins-for-bengals-falta-assembly-constituency-674759.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-transport-strike-unions-demand-fare-revision-amid-rising-fuel-costs-674775.html New Delhi May 21 Truck taxi and autorickshaw drivers in the national capital began a threeday strike on Thursday demanding a revision in fares and relief from rising fuel prices and operational expenses The strike which will continue until May 23 is likely to impact transport services across DelhiNCR Drivers participating in the protest said that despite working for nearly 12 hours a day they are struggling financially due to stagnant fares and the continuous increase in the prices of diesel petrol and CNGSpeaking about the strike a truck driver said that transport workers have been demanding a fare hike for several yearsâOur fares have not been increased for a long time which means our wages have also remained stagnant At the same time diesel petrol and CNG prices have continued to rise and even the prices of food essentials have increased We have gone on strike to demand higher fares and better wagesâ he saidA cab driver expressed similar concerns saying âWe work throughout the night but are unable to save even Rs 500 From that amount we have to manage household expenses such as cooking oil vegetables and other essentialsâAnother cab driver told IANS that earlier they somehow managed to survive but now their financial condition has worsened considerably Our accounts are almost empty now Fuel prices have increased but if we raise fares customers face problems We are completely dependent on this work for survivalâ he addedA taxi driver at Delhi Airport also spoke about the impact of rising fuel costs âThe number of taxis is currently low and people are saying there could be a complete strike Diesel petrol and CNG prices have increased significantly Passengers are unwilling to pay higher fares making it difficult for us to operate vehiclesâ he saidThe impact of the strike was visible at Delhiâs Indira Gandhi International Airport where fewer taxis were seen compared to a normal day However passengers did not face major inconvenience as cabs operated by several appbased companies continued to functionDrivers at the airport stated that while the number of taxis had reduced fare rates had not yet been revised They blamed rising fuel prices for triggering the agitation and said the full impact of the strike could become visible later in the dayMore than 68 transport unions under the banners of the All India Motor Transport Congress AIMTC and the United Front of All Transport Associations UFTA are expected to participate in the âchakka jamâ protestEarlier this week the AIMTC wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta listing several demandsThe unions are demanding an increase in taxi fares a rollback of the Enhanced Congestion Charges ECC and reconsideration of restrictions imposed on commercial vehicles According to the unions taxi fares in DelhiNCR have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years despite a sharp rise in fuel prices and operational costsTransport unions have warned that if the Delhi government fails to issue a notification regarding fare revision within the next two weeks the agitation will be intensified further IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-transport-strike-unions-demand-fare-revision-amid-rising-fuel-costs-674775.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-accuses-karnataka-govt-of-prioritising-real-estate-development-over-bengalurus-safety-674798.html Bengaluru May 21 Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the state government alleging that it was more interested in attaching the Bengaluru tag to neighbouring districts to develop real estate rather than ensuring the safety and law and order situation in the state capital In a statement Ashoka alleged that if even âhalf the interestâ shown by the government in developing areas around Bengaluru had been shown towards public safety and law enforcement the Silicon City would not have turned into a âcrime cityâHe accused the government of neglecting Bengaluruâs development and law and order while focussing solely on developing neighbouring districtsâAs a result our proud Silicon City has turned into a crime city The capital of innovation is becoming the capital of crimesâ he allegedCiting crime statistics Ashoka alleged that Bengaluru ranked second in the country in murder cases among metropolitan cities with 176 murder cases registered in 2024He further alleged that crimes against women were on the rise stating that 4748 cases of atrocities against women including 16 gang rape cases had been registered in the cityâIs this the socalled âBrand Bengaluruââ he questionedAshoka also described Bengaluru as the âcyber crime capitalâ claiming that 17561 cyber crime cases were registered in a single year with cyber criminals looting the hardearned money of citizensReferring to drugrelated crimes he alleged that narcotic substances worth Rs 9869 crore including ganja and heroin had been seized but the drug mafia continued to operate fearlesslyThe BJP leader further claimed that even senior citizens were not safe in the city with 671 cases targeting elderly persons being registeredHe also expressed concern over the rise in juvenile crime cases stating that the number of such cases had increased from 200 in 2022 to 427 in 2023 while 386 cases had already been registered in 2024Questioning the state governmentâs Sadhana Samavesha celebrations Ashoka asked whether this was the governmentâs achievement and whether this represented its vision of Brand BengaluruHe alleged that while public safety in Bengaluru had collapsed Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were more concerned about real estate gains in Tumakuru and Ramanagara districtsâThe government has lost the moral right to continue in powerâ he said adding that removing the Congress government had become essential for protecting Bengaluruâs dignity safety and future IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-accuses-karnataka-govt-of-prioritising-real-estate-development-over-bengalurus-safety-674798.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Ranchi May 21 Security forces got major success in Jharkhand on Thursday as they secured the surrender of 27 Maoists marking the largest such collective surrender in the states history The group included 25 Maoists active in the Saranda and Kolhan regions of the state in West Singhbhum district along with two extremists from the banned Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad JJMP They laid down arms at the police headquarters in Ranchi in the presence of Director General of Police DGP Tadasha Mishra and senior officials of the police department and CRPFAmong those who surrendered were eight hardcore Maoists carrying cash rewards These included six cadres with a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each one with a reward of Rs 2 lakh and a woman cadre carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakhPolice said the surrendered extremists were involved in 426 serious cases across various police stations in the state These cases include charges of murder attacks on security forces extortion explosions and other armed activitiesDuring the surrender the cadres also handed over a large cache of arms and ammunition including one LMG INSAS four INSAS rifles nine SLRs a boltaction rifle a pistol 31 magazines 2987 live cartridges and eight walkietalkiesOfficials said the continued operations by security forces and the Jharkhand governmentâs surrender and rehabilitation policy played a key role in persuading them to return to the mainstream of societyThose who surrendered include seven subzonal commanders seven area commanders and 13 active cadres of the CPI Maoist Key surrendered Maoists include Gadi Munda alias Gulshan Nagendra Munda alias Prabhat Munda Rekha Munda alias Jayanti Sagen Angaria alias Dokol Suleman Hansda alias Suni Hansda and JJMP member Sachin BekOthers who returned to the mainstream include Darshan alias Binj Hansda Karan Tiu alias Dangur Basumati Jerai alias Basu Baijnath Munda Raghu Kayam alias Guna Kishore Sirka alias Durga Sirka and Ram Dayal MundaAmong the women cadres who surrendered are Vandana alias Shanti Sunita Sardar Sapna alias Suru Kalundia and Anisha Koda alias RaniPolice officials said all surrendered extremists would receive financial assistance and rehabilitation benefits under the state governmentâs policy Additional incentives will also be provided for depositing weaponsSenior officials present at the event included IG Pankaj Kamboj IG Prabhat Kumar IG Sunil Bansal IG Asim Vikrant Minz IG Anoop Birthare IG Mayur Patel Kanhaiyalal DIG Indrajeet Mehta DIG Manoj Ratan Chauthe DIG Kartik S Shailendra Barnwal SSP Rakesh Ranjan SP Harish Bin Juma and SP Saurabh among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kmc-restricts-access-to-birth-death-registration-portal-to-verify-certificates-issued-in-bengal-sir-period-674812.html Kolkata May 21 The birth and death registration portal of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been partially closed to verify certificates issued during the Special Intensive Revision SIR period said KMC officials on Thursday Insiders from the KMC said that during the SIR period there was an abnormal rise in the number of applications for backdated birth and death certificates for the purpose of being used as supporting documents in the revision exerciseHowever the sources said the new state government feels that there are high possibilities that the death and birth certificates issued during that SIR period might not be genuine and hence a decision has been taken to reverify them for which the portal has been partially closedExplaining the partial shutdown of the portal an insider from the KMC said that certain options will not be available for some timeâFor now data of the current cases of deaths and births can be uploaded and certificates will be available from the portal However for the time being old birth and death certificates or digital certificates will not be available from that portal At the same time duplicate copies of lost certificates might also not be available from the portal for the time being However the partial closure of the portal will be temporary and soon all the options will be available thereâ the KMC insider saidHowever he admitted that the public might face some problems because of the partial closure of the portal âThe reverification of the certificates issued during the SIR period is also necessary to ascertain whether the certificates issued then were genuine or notâ the KMC insider addedHowever he admitted that following the decision there is confusion among the public who are trying to access old data an option which has been disabled for the time being Due to this altercations between people and KMC employees are breaking out IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kmc-restricts-access-to-birth-death-registration-portal-to-verify-certificates-issued-in-bengal-sir-period-674812.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-hc-reserves-order-on-raghav-chadhas-interim-plea-against-removal-of-defamatory-content-674814.html New Delhi May 21 IANS The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on an interim application filed by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha seeking the removal of allegedly defamatory and manipulated online content portraying that he sold himself for money after switching from the AAP to the BJPnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad orally observed that prima facie the content flagged by Chadha appeared to be criticism of a political decision and did not disclose any violation of personality rightsPrima facie there is no personality right involved in this case A decision taken by you in a political arena is being criticised the Delhi High Court remarked during the hearingIt further observed that the distinction between criticism and defamation was quite thin and indicated that the present matter may not warrant interim injunction on the basis of personality rightsJustice Prasad orally remarked that while personality rights protect against unauthorised commercial exploitation of an individuals persona they do not extend to shielding public figures from critique of their political actionsSenior advocate Rajiv Nayar appearing for Chadha contended that certain posts went beyond criticism and were defamatory in nature alleging that they falsely portrayed the MP as having sold himself for moneyThe senior counsel referred to images depicting the Prime Minister showering Chadha with cash and other morphed visualsNayar pressed for interim relief limited to the removal of such content arguing that the material was profane and damaging to Chadhas reputationHowever the Delhi High Court orally remarked that the issue raised may fall within the domain of defamation rather than personality rightsIt is not a defamation suit It is a suit on the basis of personality rights Justice Prasad said while suggesting that Chadha may seek amendment of the plaint if he intends to pursue defamation claimsAfter hearing submissions the Delhi High Court reserved its order on the plea seeking interim reliefChadha had moved the High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged unauthorised use and misuse of his name image likeness and identity across online and digital platforms including through AIgenerated deepfake and morphed contentThe plea also sought directions for removal of synthetic voice cloning fabricated speeches and manipulated digital content allegedly circulated after his recent switch from AAP to BJPThe Raghav Chadha case adds to a growing list of highprofile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High CourtIn recent months former cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir former cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar actors Arjun Kapoor Allu Arjun Nagarjuna Kajol Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan singer Jubin Nautiyal filmmaker Karan Johar podcaster Raj Shamani and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor have secured or sought court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity likeness or AIgenerated imitationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-hc-reserves-order-on-raghav-chadhas-interim-plea-against-removal-of-defamatory-content-674814.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-govt-transfers-17-ips-officers-sps-of-seven-districts-changed-674601.html Jaipur May 20 The Rajasthan government has carried out a major reshuffle in the police department transferring 17 IPS officers and replacing the Superintendents of Police SPs in seven districts The districts affected by the late Tuesday night reshuffle include Chittorgarh Bhilwara DidwanaKuchaman Nagaur Tonk Bharatpur and DausaAs part of the transfers Harendra Kumar Mahawar has been appointed Inspector General IG of the Kota Range a post that had been lying vacant Manish Tripathi has been shifted from Superintendent of Police SP Chittorgarh to SP ATS JaipurDharmendra Singh who was serving as SP Bhilwara has now been appointed SP ChittorgarhSagar previously posted as SP Dausa will take over as the new SP of BhilwaraGyan Chandra Yadav who was serving in the ATS has been appointed SP of DidwanaKuchamanRicha Tomar the outgoing SP of DidwanaKuchaman has been transferred as Commandant of the 11th Battalion of the RAC in DelhiRajesh Kumar Meena has been transferred from SP Tonk to SP Bharatpur while Roshan Meena has been shifted from SP Nagaur to SP TonkPiyush Dixit earlier posted as SP in the ACB Jaipur has now been appointed SP DausaLata Manoj Kumar has been transferred from the post of ADG Civil Rights AntiHuman Trafficking and Community Policing to ADG Community Policing and Public GrievancesKB Vandana who was awaiting posting after returning from central deputation on April 29 has been appointed IG CID Crime Branch JaipurParam Jyoti has been transferred from IG Crime Police Headquarters to IG RAC Jaipur Kaluram Rawat has been shifted from IG Civil Rights and AntiHuman Trafficking to IG TelecommunicationsThe latest reshuffle has seen some officers transferred again within a short span Harendra Kumar Mahawar and Kaluram Rawat had both been transferred earlier on February 23 Similarly Piyush Dixit who was appointed SP in the ACB on March 19 has now been shifted to Dausa within just two monthsShweta Dhankhar has been posted as DIG RAC Jaipur after serving as DIG Civil Rights at Police HeadquartersBhuvan Bhushan Yadav has been transferred from DIG ACB Bikaner to DIG SOG JaipurGordhan Lal Saunkariya has been shifted from SP Law and Order Police Headquarters to SP ACB JaipurAshima Vaswani has been transferred from SP Mavli to ASP Bharatpur CityAdditionally ADG Police Headquarters Hawa Singh Ghumaria has been given additional charge of ADG Civil Rights and AntiHuman Trafficking IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-govt-transfers-17-ips-officers-sps-of-seven-districts-changed-674601.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/unity-move-in-aiadmk-as-efforts-begin-to-bridge-palaniswami-shanmugham-rift-674607.html Chennai May 20 Even as AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS called for unity during a meeting of district secretaries parallel efforts appear to be underway within the party to reconcile differences between him and the dissident faction led by senior leader CVe Shanmugam amid concerns that continued infighting could weaken the party further Party sources said a section of senior leaders has initiated attempts to reduce tensions between the EPS camp and Shanmugamâs group believing that prolonged internal divisions would only benefit political rivals and hurt the AIADMKâs prospects in the long term However the extent of progress made in these efforts remains unclearThe developments come at a time when Shanmugam has reiterated his demand for an early meeting of the partyâs General Council to discuss crucial issues including the AIADMKâs repeated electoral setbacks in recent yearsThe informal meeting of district secretaries on Tuesday convened by Palaniswami witnessed some unexpected developments Though it was originally scheduled to be held at his residence the venue was shifted at the last minute to the AIADMK headquartersLeaders loyal to EPS claimed that the majority of the partyâs 82 district secretaries attended the meeting while the rival camp insisted that a considerable number of officebearers stayed awayFormer minister and senior leader D Jayakumar was among the notable absenteesThe AIADMK headquarters later stated that some district secretaries who could not attend had conveyed reasons for their absenceAccording to party sources Palaniswami used the meeting to explain the partyâs electoral performance and reassure district secretaries including newly appointed functionaries that AIADMK had previously overcome difficult political phases and returned to power despite severe electoral setbacksMeanwhile Shanmugam held separate consultations with supporting MLAs and officebearers at his office Speaking to reporters afterwards he said his camp was ready for dialogue but stressed that the General Council should be convened at the earliestâWe are ready for discussions but the General Council meeting should be convened at the earliest Our aim is to strengthen and unify the AIADMK by bringing back leaders who were expelled and those who drifted away from the partyâ Shanmugam saidHe also claimed that Palaniswami had so far removed 31 district secretaries from their positionsIn the latest organisational reshuffle former MLA Elambai R Thamizhselvan was removed as Perambalur district secretary on Tuesday evening IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/unity-move-in-aiadmk-as-efforts-begin-to-bridge-palaniswami-shanmugham-rift-674607.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/greater-chennai-corporation-plans-biometric-attendance-system-to-ensure-full-duty-hours-for-employees-674613.html Chennai May 20 The Greater Chennai Corporation GCC in Tamil Nadu is planning to introduce a comprehensive biometric attendance system for its employees in an effort to improve workplace discipline and ensure staff complete their mandatory eighthour work shifts The move comes in response to repeated complaints regarding employees not reporting to work on time and concerns over attendance monitoring particularly among fieldlevel staff Corporation officials said complaints had surfaced from various zones with the Ambattur zone witnessing recurring allegations involving conservancy sanitary inspectors and irregular attendance patternsThe proposed system is expected to strengthen accountability and improve the monitoring of employee work schedules across the civic body According to GCC records the Corporation currently employs 36381 workers including 12960 permanent employees and 23421 contract staff membersGiven the size of the workforce and the nature of operations spread across multiple zones and departments officials believe a technologydriven attendance system could help streamline administration and enhance efficiencyGCC Commissioner GS Sameeran confirmed that preliminary discussions had been held regarding the feasibility of introducing biometric attendance for all categories of employeesHe stated that the proposal is still at an early stage and that detailed plans would be finalised only after further assessment of implementation requirements and operational progressAs part of the proposed framework employees may be required to record their attendance twice a day once at the beginning of their shift and again at the end of the workday Officials involved in field inspections and outdoor duties could also be brought under a mobilebased attendance mechanism integrated with geofencing technology Such a system would capture the employeeâs photograph and location details while marking attendance enabling authorities to verify field presence in real timeFormer GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said discussions on introducing facerecognition attendance systems had already taken place and that a mobile application for field staff attendance had been developed earlierEmployee unions however claim similar systems introduced in the past were not implemented effectively and have raised concerns about enforcement gaps At present biometric attendance is operational only for administrative staff at the Ripon Building while several senior officials remain exempt from the system IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/greater-chennai-corporation-plans-biometric-attendance-system-to-ensure-full-duty-hours-for-employees-674613.html Wed, 20 May 2026 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/onion-farmers-will-make-you-cry-tomorrow-shiv-sen-674622.html Mumbai May 20 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Wednesday accused the Maharashtra government of apathy towards the onion growers who are reeling under financial stress due to a sharp fall in prices The party said that regardless of the season the onion growers in the state are perpetually left in tears Sometimes unseasonable rains and severe hailstorms snatch the harvest right out of their hands and at other times even when they manage a bumper harvest the governments sheer incompetence forces them to sell their produce at throwaway prices or dump it on the streets it saidThe Thackeray camp in an editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana said that the states onion farmers find themselves pushed to the brink once again While onion production has been excellent market prices have plummeted relentlessly The current price offered for onions fails to even cover the basic cost of production yet the government remains characteristically indifferent As a result the crop that farmers cultivated with immense hardship has turned into a lossmaking venture it saidThe editorial referred to the recent announcement of the onion procurement price of Rs 1235 per quintal made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a programme in Satara in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan âHowever leave aside profit this price does not even cover the cost of production making this rate nothing but a mockery of the farmers The government should have determined the procurement price keeping various factors in mind Instead the government has forced a decadeold rate onto the farmers To add to this the government has hiked fuel prices for the second time which will further increase onion transportation costsâ claimed the editorialOn the international front the Gulf War has led to a drop in onion exports causing an oversupply in the domestic market State agencies however lack the capacity to manage and clear such a massive influx of onion stock These compounding factors have triggered a continuous collapse in onion prices stated the editorial highlighting the severity of the crisisâInstead of reining in this downward spiral the ruling administration has reduced farmers to a state where they are forced to sell their onions for a meagre Re 1 per kilogram In a poignant protest against this injustice Sudhakar Sultane a farmer from Marathwada mailed a letter a onerupee coin and a single onion to the Chief Minister Yet this thickskinned government remains completely unmovedâ remarked the editorialThe Thackeray camp said that three years ago while serving as the Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis had promised a guaranteed rate of Rs 2410 per quintal Where has that promise vanished today Why is Fadnavis now stubbornly sticking to a mere Rs 1235 per quintal Since there are no immediate elections looming in the state the ruling politicians evidently feel no urgency to wipe away the tears of these farmers These are the same rulers who artificially freeze fuel price hikes during Assembly elections in five states purely for political mileage only to burden the public with heavy losses the moment voting concludes Expecting such politicians to provide a fair price and compensate the losses of ordinary onion growers is entirely unrealisticâ commented the editorialThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena claimed that due to the governments neglect Maharashtras onion growers are trapped in a vicious cycle âIf they store the harvest it rots if they sell it it goes for dirtcheap prices Today the government has brought tears to their eyes and refuses to even bother wiping them away But the ruling administration must remember one thing tomorrow these very onion farmers will undoubtedly bring tears to your eyesâ it warned IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/onion-farmers-will-make-you-cry-tomorrow-shiv-sen-674622.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-red-bastion-to-cong-led-treasury-bench-sudhakaran-becomes-kerala-pro-tem-speaker-674632.html Thiruvananthapuram May 20 In a politically loaded moment that underlined Keralaâs dramatic change of guard veteran legislator and former CPIM strongman G Sudhakaran was on Wednesday sworn in as a legislator of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan Present on the occasion were Chief Minister VD Satheesan and his cabinet colleaguesSudhakaran was nominated by the state cabinet on Monday as the Protem Speaker who was once among the most influential faces of the CPIM in south KeralaNow an Independent backed by the Congressled UDF has instantly become one of the most discussed political developments following the emphatic defeat suffered by the Left in the Assembly electionsThe 75yearold twotime former minister and a seasoned tactician during Left rule Sudhakaran had contested from his traditional Ambalapuzha constituency after openly rebelling against the CPIM leadershipFollowing his decision to enter the fray as an Independent the Congressled UDF threw its weight behind him turning the election into a prestige battleHis victory was later viewed in political circles as both a personal comeback and a symbolic rejection of the CPIM leadershipâs handling of senior leadersAs Protem Speaker Sudhakaran will administer the oath of office to the remaining 139 newly elected MLAs when the Assembly convenes on ThursdayHis tenure however will last only till the election of the new Speaker on FridaySenior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is set to be elected Speaker with the numbers overwhelmingly stacked in favour of the ruling frontThe UDF currently commands 102 seats in the Assembly while the Left Democratic Front has been reduced to 35 membersThe BJP has opened its account with three seatsBut beyond the procedural formalities all eyes are now on the conduct of the CPIM legislators inside the House when Sudhakaran occupies the Speakerâs chairThe development carries unmistakable political irony for the party which had expelled him after he chose to contest against its official lineFor many observers Thursdayâs Assembly session promises more than a routine swearingin ceremony it will also serve as the first visual reminder of Keralaâs sharply altered political landscape IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/from-red-bastion-to-cong-led-treasury-bench-sudhakaran-becomes-kerala-pro-tem-speaker-674632.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-cm-dhami-pay-final-respects-to-bc-khanduri-in-dehradun-674648.html Dehradun May 20 IANS Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday paid final respects to former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Major General Retd Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri in Dehradun calling him an extraordinary leader whose contributions leave a lasting legacyMaj Gen Khanduri passed away in Dehradun on Tuesday at the age of 91 The final rites will be held in Haridwar later in the day with full state honoursIn a statement VP Radhakrishnan said Paid heartfelt tributes to former Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Major General B C Khanduri Ji at his residence in Dehradun todayHe will be remembered as an extraordinary leader a distinguished soldier and a veteran administrator who devoted his life to the service of the nation and its people whose contribution to improving connectivity and strengthening Indias road infrastructure remains a lasting legacy he addedSeveral other leaders including Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also paid their final respects to the veteran BJP leader at his Basant Vihar residence in DehradunIn a post on X CM Dhami said For me revered Khanduri Ji was not merely a senior leader but a guardian source of inspiration and guide His affection discipline simplicity dedication to national service and work style will forever remain a source of inspiration The values guidance and ideals imparted by him in public life are an invaluable legacy for meLater the mortal remains of Maj Gen Khanduri were brought to the state BJP office for the people and party workers to pay their final respectsThe revered Khanduri ji made significant contributions to the service of Mother India while in the Army Thereafter he chose the path of public service through the Bharatiya Janata Party making national interest and social service his lifes mission His disciplined life simple personality and dedication to public welfare will forever remain an inspiration to us all CM Dhami said in another post on XHis passing is an irreparable loss to the BJP family His fearlessness sharp leadership abilities and unwavering commitment to principles in political and public life will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for us all he addedBhuwan Chandra Khanduri was born on October 1 1934 in DehradunA former Army officer who transitioned into politics Maj Gen Khanduri served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand first from 2007 to 2009 and second from 2011 to 2012 steering the states administrationFrom 1954 to 1990 spanning a full 36 years he served in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army During this long tenure he served as a Regimental Commander participated in the 1971 IndiaPakistan War held the position of Chief Engineer in the Army and served as the Additional Military Secretary at Army HeadquartersnbspIn 1982 he was conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal AVSM by the President of India in recognition of his exceptional services The discipline simplicity and integrity that had become ingrained in his very being during his time in the Army eventually became the defining characteristics of his political identity as wellHe was introduced to the world of politics during the Ram Mandir movement in the 1990s at which time he joined the BJPIn 1991 he entered Parliament for the first time after winning the Lok Sabha election from the Garhwal constituency Subsequently he continued to win from this very seat in 1998 1999 and 2004During Atal Bihari Vajpayees tenure he served as the Minister of State Independent Charge for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways from 2000 to 2003 subsequently in 2003 he was elevated to the rank of Cabinet MinisterFollowing the 2004 Lok Sabha elections he transitioned from parliamentary politics to statelevel politicsIn February 2007 he led the BJP to victory in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly elections and on March 8 2007 he assumed office as the states Chief MinisterDuring his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vp-radhakrishnan-cm-dhami-pay-final-respects-to-bc-khanduri-in-dehradun-674648.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-led-tvk-govt-likely-to-expand-cabinet-tomorrow-674655.html Chennai May 20 The C Joseph Vijayled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK government is preparing for its first Cabinet expansion on Thursday with the exercise emerging as a crucial political balancing act aimed at addressing alliance expectations regional representation and internal party dynamics Sources indicated that the final round of consultations on the ministerial list is nearing completion ahead of a likely swearingin ceremony scheduled for Thursday morningGovernor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar who is currently holding additional charge is expected to arrive in Chennai on Wednesday evening to oversee the formalities related to the expansionAccording to sources within the ruling establishment the government is likely to accommodate alliance partner Congress in the expanded CabinetTwo Congress legislators have emerged as leading contenders for ministerial positionsDespite speculation surrounding possible Cabinet berths for members of the AIADMK faction led by CVe Shanmugam and SP Velumani sources indicated that the ruling leadership has stepped back from such a move following strong opposition from alliance partners including Congress Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCKA senior minister speaking on condition of anonymity said there had never been any formal discussion regarding the induction of AIADMK legislators into the Cabinet and clarified that their support during the Assembly confidence vote was merely political support extended on the floor of the HouseSources close to the government also revealed that legal advisers and alliance partners had warned against taking politically sensitive decisions that could potentially create instability at the beginning of the governmentâs tenureMeanwhile intense lobbying has reportedly begun within the TVK with several firsttime MLAs and influential party functionaries pushing for representation in the CabinetThe expansion is also expected to address the absence of ministers in more than 20 key government departments including Higher Education Revenue Transport and Social WelfareSeveral other portfolios such as Agriculture Housing and Urban Development Tourism Information Technology Labour Welfare Fisheries and Environment continue to remain without formally appointed ministersSecretariat sources said some departments are currently functioning under informal supervision by existing ministers with officials already reviewing files and holding discussions pending formal portfolio allocations IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-led-tvk-govt-likely-to-expand-cabinet-tomorrow-674655.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-pay-tribute-to-prakasam-pantulu-on-death-anniversary-674671.html Amaravati May 20 Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday paid tributes to Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu who served as the premier of the Madras Presidency and the first Chief Minister of Andhra State on his death anniversary The Governor said Prakasam Pantulu was a fearless freedom fighter visionary leader and a symbol of courage and integrity Popularly known as âAndhra Kesariâ he dedicated his life to the service of the nation and the welfare of the peopleHis sacrifices patriotism and commitment towards democratic values continue to inspire future generations Governor Abdul Nazeer saidChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also paid tributes to Prakasam Pantulu âTanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garu was a symbol of the courage adventures and selfrespect of the Telugu people He was a great soul who lived solely for the people with unwavering patriotism honesty and dedication On the occasion of Prakasam Pantulu Garus death anniversary let us remember the services of that noble leaderâ Chandrababu Naidu saidFormer chief minister and YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy paid floral tributes by garlanding the portrait of Prakasam Pantulu at the partyâs central office at Tadepalli âA symbol of courage an alter ego of integrity and an immortal emblem of public service the great leader Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garu He was a valiant hero who stood unflinchingly against the oppression of British rulers offering his chest to their bullets without fear The path he treaded for the rights of the people and the upliftment of society remains an eternal source of inspiration for todays generations On the occasion of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garus birth anniversary today we remember his services and pay our homageâ Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a post on âXâMinister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh also paid tributes to Praksam Pantulu âOn the occasion of the death anniversary of the prominent freedom fighter and the first Chief Minister of Andhra State Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu I offer my profound respects to the memory of that great soul Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was a person who dedicated his life to the nation He stands as a symbol of courage and valor public service and patriotism His services from the freedom struggle to the formation of the state are unforgettable Let us all rededicate ourselves to realizing the ideals of Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantuluâ Lokesh posted on âXâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-pay-tribute-to-prakasam-pantulu-on-death-anniversary-674671.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/centre-ready-for-in-principle-approval-for-hyderabad-metro-phase-ii-kishan-reddy-674674.html Hyderabad May 20 Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said on Wednesday that the Centre has no objections for inprinciple approval to Hyderabad Metro PhaseII project He stated that the Centre is prepared to proceed on a costsharing basis wherein the Central and Telangana governments contribute equally Kishan Reddy stated this after meeting Union Minister for Urban Development Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on WednesdayThey jointly conducted a review of various key projects currently underway in Hyderabad city under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Urban DevelopmentThe two Central ministers discussed several important issues related to urban development infrastructure sanitation and public transportationThey also discussed the Phase II project of the Hyderabad Metro In light of the State government having already taken over operations from LampT Khattar stated that the Central government would comprehensively examine the Detailed Project Report DPR and other technical specifications pertaining to the remaining PhaseII works and subsequently take a decisionKishan Reddy said in a statement that the Centre has no objection for inprinciple approval to Hyderabad Metro PhaseII project and that it is prepared to proceed on 5050 cost sharing basis with the Telangana governmentNoting that the State government has already submitted proposals for the PhaseII Metro expansion covering a stretch of 162 kms Khattar revealed that the Central government would give these proposals positive consideration and initiate further necessary actionsAccording to Kishan Reddy Manohar Lal Khattar shared key details regarding the sanitation of the Musi River in Hyderabad He stated that as part of the Central governments AMRUT 20 scheme a total of 39 Sewage Treatment Plants STPs have been sanctioned to treat the sewage flowing into the Musi River with the total cost of these projects amounting to â¹3975 croreKhattar further revealed that these 39 STPs will have the capacity to treat 972 million litres of sewage per day He noted that this initiative will not only prevent untreated wastewater from flowing directly into the Musi River but will also contribute significantly to the conservation of the river and the improvement of sanitation within the cityKishan Reddy said Khattar clarified that the Central government is extending its full cooperation towards the development of Hyderabad city and the provision of improved infrastructure facilities for its citizensKishan Reddy thanked him on behalf of the people of Hyderabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/centre-ready-for-in-principle-approval-for-hyderabad-metro-phase-ii-kishan-reddy-674674.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/nhrc-chief-cautions-state-rights-panels-against-exceeding-jurisdiction-674561.html New Delhi May 19 NHRC Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian cautioned State Commissions against exceeding their jurisdiction underlining the need to avoid duplication of cases and improve information sharing an official said on Tuesdayâ Addressing a daylong virtual conference of the State Human Rights Commissions SHRCs along with Special Rapporteurs and Special Monitors Justice Ramasubramanian said that while courts have expanded the scope of fundamental rights human rights institutions must remain guided by the definition under the Protection of Human Rights ActâHe said that maintaining jurisdictional clarity would reduce unnecessary litigation and enable Commissions to deliver more effective highquality serviceâJustice Ramasubramanian urged SHRCs to digitise their operations and join the common integrated HRCNet portal with the National Human Rights Commission NHRC expressing hope for closer collaboration and future inperson engagements among the CommissionsâNHRC Members Justice Dr Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi Vijaya Bharathi Sayani Secretary General Bharat Lal DG I Anupama Nilekar Chandra and senior officers were presentâJustice Sarangi described the interaction between the NHRC and SHRCs as an important initiative to strengthen coordinationâHe called for better communication and coordination between them to ensure effective implementation of orders and timely delivery of benefits to persons in distress particularly in sensitive matters such as custodial deathsâSayani urged SHRCs to increase field visits and engage more with affected communitiesâShe said that coordination between SHRCs and NHRC Special Monitors and Special Rapporteurs may strengthen institutional effectiveness She also highlighted the initiative of the Karnataka government to display SHRC contact details for public assistanceâSecretary General Bharat Lal highlighted that in the last 5 years 428 lakh complaints have been received out of which major complaints fall in different categories Police related violations 18 per cent organised exploitation by mafias 174 per cent service matters â nonpayment of pensionssalary 6 per cent violations of womenâs rights 58 per cent conditions in jails and prisons 35 per cent Workers rights violations 22 per cent health related violations 2 per cent human rights violations in educational institutions 2 per cent child rights violations 17 per cent among othersâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/nhrc-chief-cautions-state-rights-panels-against-exceeding-jurisdiction-674561.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-waqf-board-set-to-receive-records-from-telangana-674572.html Amaravati May 19 Records about Waqf properties in Andhra Pradesh are set to be handed over to the state from Telangana a senior official said on Tuesday The records are with the Waqf Board of the combined Andhra Pradesh located in Telangana and their transfer has been pending for more than a decadeAndhra Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman Shaik Abdul Aziz said progress had been made towards resolving the longpending issue regarding the records which had remained stalled for 10 yearsHe said the positive development came after the intervention of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Minority Welfare NMD FarooqAccording to Abdul Aziz the Waqf Board has also initiated measures to secure outstanding funds in addition to the recordsFollowing the bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh in 2014 key records files survey forms districtwise gazettes copies of Board resolutions and other vital documents pertaining to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board had remained under the jurisdiction of the Telangana Waqf BoardAlthough the Waqf Act 1995 along with the bifurcation guidelines formulated by the Central Government mandated the transfer of all records asset details and associated funds relevant to Andhra Pradesh to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board the process had failed to gain momentum over the last several yearsAbdul Aziz stated that upon assuming responsibilities as Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman he treated the matter as a top priority He said he personally met the Chairman of the Telangana Waqf Board and devoted special attention to the issueHe further stated that he held multiple meetings with the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officials of the Telangana Waqf Board and actively pursued the matter through official correspondenceAccording to Abdul Aziz Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Farooq took special cognisance of the issue He said they not only intervened at the appropriate levels but also extended exceptional cooperation towards resolving the problemHe noted that it was due to their intervention that rapid progress on the matter became possibleDescribing it as a welcome development Abdul Aziz said that as a result of continuous followups highlevel official discussions and administrative efforts the Telangana government had finally issued orders through a memorandum to the Hyderabad District Collector to release the records room and hand it over to the Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana State Waqf BoardHe informed that the Telangana Waqf Board currently holds a total of 2971 files eight Survey Commissioner report books and three gazettes pertaining to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf BoardHe stated that the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board would take custody of the records once the records room was vacated and the records handed over to the Telangana Chief Executive OfficerHe added that official teams had already been dispatched on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board to expedite the process of identifying inventorying and taking custody of the recordsHe emphasised that these crucial records are indispensable for the protection of Waqf properties the management of legal cases the verification of surveys and the uploading of details onto the Central Governmentâs UMEED portalHe revealed that measures are currently underway to recover not only the records but also the outstanding cash balances deposits and other financial assets due to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf BoardHe noted that the outstanding cash balances deposits and other financial dues owed to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board amount to Rs 555 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/andhra-pradesh-waqf-board-set-to-receive-records-from-telangana-674572.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-can-meet-rising-critical-mineral-demand-g-kishan-reddy-674574.html Jaipur May 19 Union Minister for Mines and Coal G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said Rajasthan possesses vast reserves of critical minerals and has the potential to meet the growing demand from strategic sectors such as defence energy agriculture solar power and automobiles He said the state is rapidly emerging as a major hub for critical minerals driven by proactive policies scientific mining practices and a favourable investment climateReddy was speaking during a review meeting of the Department of Mines and Coal held on Tuesday at the Chief Ministerâs Residence in JaipurThe Union Minister said the countryâs mining sector had witnessed comprehensive reformsâThe Central Governmentâs policies focused on improving the ease of doing business have accelerated exploration auctioning and production activities in the critical minerals sectorâ he saidAccording to Reddy Rajasthan possesses vast reserves of critical minerals and has the potential to meet growing demand from sectors such as defence energy agriculture solar power and automobilesHe added that the state was making rapid progress in the mining sectorâScientific mining practices investorfriendly policies and transparent governance have helped create a favourable investment climate positioning Rajasthan as a major mining hub in the countryâ the Union Minister saidReddy stressed the need for close coordination between the Central and State Governments to resolve miningrelated issues within a fixed timeframe and to promote investment and productionDetailed discussions were also held on matters related to the energy sector including the Coal IndiaRajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited joint venture solar energy projects auction of critical mineral blocks District Mineral Foundation funds environmental and forest clearances speedy operationalisation of mineral blocks and ongoing geological and mineral exploration activities in the stateChief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that Rajasthan ranks among the countryâs leading mineralrich states and possesses immense potential in the mining sectorThe state is endowed with 82 mineral types of which 57 are currently being minedHe said the State Government was prioritising transparency policy reforms and infrastructure development in the mining sectorSharma directed officials to hold regular meetings in coordination with the Central Government to resolve miningrelated issues and ensure that all mining projects are completed within the stipulated timeframeHe said the Siwana Ring Complex spread over nearly 725 square kilometres in Barmer and Balotra districts is a geological structure comprising circular and semicircular igneous rocksRare Earth Elements and Heavy Rare Earth Elements have been identified in the Siwana Ring Complex and Siwana Granite formationsAccording to Sharma the region is strategically important to the modern technology and clean energy sectorsThe Chief Minister directed officials to appoint a nodal officer to ensure the effective implementation of initiatives related to the Siwana Ring ComplexHe also instructed the Mines Department and the concerned District Collectors to coordinate with Central Government officials to accelerate work on the projectSharma urged the Central Government to share information regarding sites identified and explored by the Geological Survey of India within the stateHe said this would help ensure that land identified for conservation purposes is not later allotted for other usesThe Chief Minister also directed officials to expedite processes for environmental and forest clearances emphasising that mineral blocks that have already been auctioned should commence production at the earliestSharma further instructed the Mines Department to conduct regular review meetings and formulate action plans for mining activities to prevent future bottlenecks and avoid duplication of workDuring the meeting Additional Chief Secretary for Mines and Petroleum Aparna Arora gave a presentation on the State Governmentâs policies related to the mining and petroleum sectors along with issues concerning the Central GovernmentChief Secretary V Srinivas and senior officials from the Central and State Governments were also present during the meeting IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-can-meet-rising-critical-mineral-demand-g-kishan-reddy-674574.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ups-shahi-chief-mufti-backs-cm-yogis-order-says-offering-namaz-on-roads-against-islam-674576.html Aligarh May 19 Shahi Chief Mufti of Uttar Pradesh Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain on Tuesday came out in support of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths statement that offering namaz on public roads should not be allowed The Muslim religious leader asserted that such a practice is against Islam Addressing an event on Monday Chief Minister Yogi said that religious gatherings involving a large number of people should be conducted in an organised manner at designated places and if required in shifts to avoid overcrowding and disruptionDefending the UP CMs statement Hussain said CM Yogis statement that namaz should not be offered on roads is absolutely correct in terms of IslamFurther he said According to Islam namaz should not be offered at any disputed or public placesRoads are meant for commuters People of all religions commute through the roads and especially ambulances pass through them Therefore one should be careful that namaz is not offered at such places he addedHe reiterated Muslims should not do it Its against IslamThe religious leader referred to a recent Allahabad High courts judgment which held that the right to practise religion does not extend to converting private premises into an unregulated congregational spaceHe said According to the courts order the decision implies for all religions without any biasThe court had dismissed a plea seeking permission and police protection for offering regular namaz at an alleged private property in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal districtUPs Shahi Chief Mufti further responded to claims that functions of other religions do take place on roads like Kanwar Yatra and Holika Dahan and jagratasThere is a difference between Kanwar Yatra and namaz The latter is offered while sitting and when one is at peace while Kanwar Yatra is a procession Both of them cannot be compared he saidEarlier the Uttarakhand Madarsa Education Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Qasmi also expressed support for Chief Minister Adityanaths remarks saying that those who claim to represent the Muslim community often lack a proper understanding of Islamic teachings IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ups-shahi-chief-mufti-backs-cm-yogis-order-says-offering-namaz-on-roads-against-islam-674576.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-accuses-ktaka-govt-of-suppressing-farmer-suicide-cases-674581.html Bengaluru May 19 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka had deliberately suppressed farmer suicide cases in the state and accused it of celebrating governance achievements while farmers continued to die in distress Addressing reporters at the Janata Dal Secular state office JP Bhavan in Bengaluru Kumaraswamy cited National Crime Records Bureau data and claimed that 2423 farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide in Karnataka in 2023 while another 2971 deaths were reported in 2024âIn just two years 5394 farmers have lost their lives Karnataka stands second in the country in farmer suicide cases Is the government unaware of these figures or is it intentionally suppressing themâ he questionedKumaraswamy said he was shocked after reading a newspaper report highlighting the rise in farmer suicides and criticised the state government for allegedly ignoring the issue while organising large public conventionsâI expected the government to wake up after such reports appeared in newspapers Instead it is busy holding celebration conventions with no concern for farmersâ welfareâ he allegedTargeting the Congress governmentâs convention in Tumakuru marking three years in office Kumaraswamy accused it of spending crores of rupees extravagantly while farmers were sufferingâThis government has built a tomb over the lives of farmers and is showcasing its grandeur on top of it Farmers are dying every day while the government is celebrating in the name of guarantee schemesâ he saidQuestioning the effectiveness of the state governmentâs welfare guarantees Kumaraswamy asked why farmers were continuing to commit suicide if the schemes were truly successfulHe further alleged that officials were being misused to mobilise crowds for the government eventâThe government itself is bringing people to attend the convention Officials have been given targets to gather crowds because people are not voluntarily attending Congress programmesâ he chargedThe Union Minister also criticised the functioning of the Revenue Department alleging that farmers across the state continued to face serious problems despite the government publicising revenuerelated initiatives during the conventionâThey are now projecting a âLand Guaranteeâ as the sixth guarantee scheme and seeking publicity But the continuing farmer suicides expose the true state of governanceâ he saidResponding to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumarâs challenge over the proposed Bidadi Township project Kumaraswamy said he was ready for a public debate anywhereâI am prepared for a debate Nearly 3500 people in Bidadi have submitted objections and petitions Farmers are allegedly being threatened by goons and police pressure If the project was genuinely beneficial farmers themselves would have willingly given their landâ he allegedKumaraswamy said the government should act in farmers interests and reconsider the projectThe Janata Dal Secular leader also announced that former Member of Legislative Assembly Akhanda Srinivas Murthy was likely to join the party soonDescribing his visit to Murthyâs residence in Bengaluru earlier in the day as a courtesy visit Kumaraswamy said discussions were held regarding strengthening the party organisationâHe is keen on joining the Janata Dal Secular and we will soon finalise a date for formally inducting him into the partyâ he saidKolar Member of Parliament Mallesh Babu Greater Bengaluru Janata Dal Secular President HM Ramesh Gowda former Legislative Council member Chowdareddy Thoopalli and several other leaders accompanied Kumaraswamy during the visit IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kumaraswamy-accuses-ktaka-govt-of-suppressing-farmer-suicide-cases-674581.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jal-shakti-minister-cr-paatil-reviews-studies-on-assam-irrigation-projects-674582.html New Delhi May 19 Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil on Tuesday reviewed the expanding role in externally funded projects including studies on sustainable irrigation development in Assam economic impacts of Brahmaputra water diversion and water management practices in North East India Speaking at the 6th Meeting of the Governing Body of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management NERIWALM an institute under the Department of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Paatil emphasised the importance of scientific water managementHe also shed light on capacitybuilding and greater state engagement to address emerging challenges in the North Eastern Region according to an official statementHe reaffirmed the Ministryâs commitment to strengthening NERIWALMâs role as a centre of excellence in water and land managementA major agenda item included the proposal to establish an Irrigation Field Laboratory and Demonstration Farm to enhance research field demonstrations and the dissemination of irrigation technologies in the regionThe Governing Body also discussed recommendations on scholarship support for MTech and PhD students faculty development strengthening research capabilities and advancing studies in climate and GISbased applications in water resources managementFurther the meeting reviewed findings of a significant study on livelihood challenges faced by erosionaffected families in the Brahmaputra Valley and deliberated on sustainable rehabilitation and livelihood interventions for displaced communitiesThe Governing Body reviewed the instituteâs achievements approved key institutional matters and deliberated on future strategies to strengthen water and land management in the North Eastern RegionThe Governing Body approved the Annual Report and Audited Accounts for FY 2024â25 and appreciated NERIWALMâs continued progress in capacity building research and academic activitiesDuring the year NERIWALM exceeded its training targets by organising 71 training programmes benefitting more than 2800 participants while continuing its specialised MTech and PhD programmes in Water Resource Management IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jal-shakti-minister-cr-paatil-reviews-studies-on-assam-irrigation-projects-674582.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-congress-seeks-sarna-religion-code-in-census-flags-voter-list-deletions-674583.html Ranchi May 19 The Congresss Jharkhand unit on Tuesday demanded that the Centre implement a Sarna religion code in the ongoing Census to ensure a distinct religious identity for tribal communities Addressing a press conference at the party office here state Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and CLP leader Pradeep Yadav said that more than 125 crore people in the country follow the tribal Sarna faith but there is no separate code or column for it in the Census formsThey said this is a decadesold demand of tribal communities which continues to be ignored by the Central governmentThe leaders alleged that the Centre does not want to recognise the independent religious and cultural identity of tribal people They asserted that the party will continue to raise the issue of the Sarna religion code both on the streets and in the legislatureRaising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls the Congress leaders claimed that the names of a large number of voters are being removed across the countryThey alleged that the process could unfairly delete crores of voters affecting democratic rights In Jharkhand too where the Election Commission is set to launch the exercise from June the party said it will closely monitor developmentsThey added that the Congress has already begun activating its organisation down to the booth level in the state to ensure that votersâ names remain on the electoral rollsThe leaders also criticised the Centreâs economic policies and rising inflation Yadav said prices of fuel and essential commodities continue to increase adding to the financial burden on common peopleReferring to the alleged NEET paper leak case the Congress demanded a fair probe by the Central government Yadav said repeated irregularities in the examination system are a matter of serious concern for studentsâ future IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jharkhand-congress-seeks-sarna-religion-code-in-census-flags-voter-list-deletions-674583.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-chair-26th-central-zone-council-meeting-in-bastar-today-674441.html New Delhi May 19 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar on Tuesday marking a significant moment for regional governance and development in central India The highprofile meeting being held in the historic Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is also being seen as a reflection of the successful restoration of peace and stability in an area once heavily affectedThe event will see the convergence of the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and the host state of Chhattisgarh making it a critical forum for interstate cooperation and federal dialogueIn anticipation of this significant event Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a comprehensive highlevel review meeting to assess the ongoing preparationsDuring this preparatory session senior administrative officials presented a detailed PowerPoint overview outlining the specific topics and strategic proposals that the Chhattisgarh government plans to introduce during the council proceedingsReviewing each agenda point thoroughly Chief Minister Sai assigned clear responsibilities to top officials and issued strict directives to ensure flawless execution emphasising that arrangements must be handled with utmost seriousness and seamless coordinationReflecting on the importance of the event Chief Minister Sai earlier highlighted that the member states of the Central Zonal Council play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of a Developed IndiaHe noted that this particular council serves as an exemplary model for the entire country uniquely defined by an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and a total absence of disputes among its participantsAccording to the Chief Minister these regional councils have transformed into highly effective platforms for fostering constructive dialogue and resolving shared challenges bridging the gap between individual states as well as between the provincial governments and the CentreHosting this national assembly in Bastar is a source of immense pride for ChhattisgarhChief Minister Sai pointed out that organising a convention of this magnitude in Bastar reflects the successful restoration of peace in the area under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-amit-shah-to-chair-26th-central-zone-council-meeting-in-bastar-today-674441.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-questions-cong-govts-self-praising-report-card-3-year-celebratory-event-674462.html Bengaluru May 19 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government questioning its decision to celebrate completion of three years in office and alleging that the state has witnessed âmisgovernance corruption and administrative collapseâ under its rule It can be noted that amid continuing speculation over leadership issues within the Congress party the Karnataka government is set to celebrate the completion of three years in office with a mega event titled Pragatiyatta Karnataka in Tumakuru near Bengaluru on Tuesday As part of the programme the government will distribute property documents to 152 lakh beneficiariesIn a statement Vijayendra asked what exactly the Congress government intended to celebrate alleging that the state was facing rising debt an empty treasury and a lack of development works He claimed that roads hospitals schools irrigation projects and civic infrastructure works across the state were suffering due to a shortage of funds while the government was focused on advertisements and political managementHe further alleged that the financial burden of the governmentâs policies would ultimately fall on the youth of Karnataka in the future The BJP leader also accused the government of failing to clear contractor payments delaying infrastructure projects and delivering âzero developmentâ during its tenureCriticising the Congress governmentâs guarantee schemes Vijayendra alleged that the guarantees were irregular and delayed and were being used more as electoral tools than welfare commitments He also accused the government of burdening common citizens through price hikes of essential commoditiesVijayendra further alleged that scams commissions and diversion of public resources had become rampant under the present administration He claimed that Karnataka was being turned into an âATMâ for the Congress high command in an attempt to protect the ruling leadershipâs positionThe BJP state president also targeted the government over the law and order situation in the state He alleged that riots drug networks rowdy activities murders and assaults had increased creating fear among citizens According to him criminals appeared emboldened under the current government while ordinary people no longer felt protectedReferring to recent allegations regarding prison conditions Vijayendra claimed that even jails were turning into âparty hubsâ with criminals allegedly enjoying VIP treatment inside prisons âIf criminals are celebrating inside prisons what moral right does the Congress government have to celebrate outsideâ he questionedAccusing the government of failing on finances development welfare delivery and law and order Vijayendra described the Congress governmentâs anniversary celebrations as a reminder of âthree years of misgovernance corruption appeasement and betrayal of peopleâs trustâHe asserted that while the Congress may project a âselfpraising report cardâ the people of Karnataka would deliver their verdict through the ballot box IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-questions-cong-govts-self-praising-report-card-3-year-celebratory-event-674462.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Kolkata May 19 A new division bench of the Calcutta High Court Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh will hear on Tuesday the case on the 2024 ghastly rape and murder of a woman doctor of the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital As per the cause list of the Calcutta High Court the hearing in the matter will start at 1 pmAfter the previous division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused from hearing the matter on May 12 observing that âthis important case needs to be heard quicklyâ the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on May 15 referred the matter to the new division bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice GhoshWhile referring the matter to the new bench Justice Paul observed that all petitions connected to the matter including the plea by the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene would now be heard by the new division benchTo recall although the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI which is probing the matter did not object to the plea from the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene the previous state government led by the previous Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had objectedIn fact the previous division bench headed by Justice Mantha during a hearing then questioned why the state government was objecting to the plea from the victimâs family when CBI as the investigating agency was not objectingRecently the new state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the suspension of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and two deputy commissioners of the city police namely Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta for shoddy handling of the initial probe by the city police before the charge of the probe was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High CourtAdhikari had on Monday also announced the state governmentâs decision to permit the ED to prosecute the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh who has been linked to both the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder of the junior doctor a permission which was long held back by the previous regimeHowever since the ED is conducting the probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case the formal permission granted by the state government to prosecute and convict Sandip Ghosh is limited to that caseThe Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting a parallel probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder case within the same hospital premises in August 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-raises-upper-age-limit-by-10-years-for-direct-recruitment-jobs-674478.html Hyderabad May 19 The Telangana government has raised the upper age limit by 10 years for a period of one year for direct recruitment jobs The state government issued a Government Order GO Number 86 raising the upper age limitWith this the upper age limit has been raised from 34 years to 44 yearsThe government on February 8 2024 issued GO No 30 raising the maximum age limit prescribed in the Telangana State and Subordinate Service Rules 1996 for appointment by direct recruitments by two years in addition to 10 years for a period of two yearsThis had taken the upper age limit to 46 years However with the GO lapsing in February 2026 the base upper age limit for direct recruitment was reverted to 34 yearsThe latest GO states that a number of representations have been received from unemployed youths for considering relaxation of the upper age limit for direct recruitment to enable more unemployed youth to become eligible to compete in the recruitment processâAfter careful examination of the matter Government have decided to raise the upper age limit by ten 10 years ie from 34 years to 44 years to other than Uniform Services for a period of one 1 year for the ensuing direct recruitments in various categories of posts to be notified by the recruiting agencies in the Stateâ reads the GO issued by Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna RaoTelangana Rakshana Sena TRS leader K Kavitha had demanded that the state government implement the 10year age relaxation announced in 2024 for recruitments through the State Public Service CommissionShe called for cancelling the notification issued by the Public Service Commission to fill 20 posts of Assistant Scientist in the Pollution Control Board with an age eligibility criterion of 1834 yearsKavitha had warned that if the government fails to cancel the notification issued on April 20 and implement GO 30 issued in 2024 without any restrictions they will launch a massive agitationThe former MP said that Congress came to power with the votes of unemployed people after promising in its election manifesto to fill two lakh jobs within two months but after coming to power it completely forgot about issuing job notificationsShe stated on February 8 2024 the government issued GO 30 extending the 10year age relaxation granted by the previous government by an additional two years thereby projecting an image of benefiting the unemployedIt was stipulated that this relaxation would remain in force for two years Consequently the upper age limit for employment eligibility was raised from 44 to 46 years However despite the passage of twoandahalf years since then not a single job notification has been released she alleged IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/telangana-raises-upper-age-limit-by-10-years-for-direct-recruitment-jobs-674478.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mamata-banerjee-to-meet-party-mlas-today-to-outline-oppn-strategy-674492.html Kolkata May 19 IANS Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has on Tuesday convened a meeting with the 80 elected party legislators in the recently concluded Assembly polls to discuss and adopt a strategy as the principal opposition party in the state nownbspTrinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee is also supposed to be present at the meeting in the afternoonA party member in the current Assembly on strict condition of anonymity said one of the major issues on the agenda is how to tackle the situation when the political administration of the different civic bodies in the state which are still Trinamool Congresscontrolled are facing bureaucratic insubordination in the changed political situationThe meeting has been convened amid the development with Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC authorities which still has the current and fourtime Trinamool Congress and former member in the previous Mamata Banerjeeled cabinet Firhad Hakim as its Mayor issuing notices under Section 4001 of the KMC Act 1980 which allows owners of allegedly illegal constructions an opportunity to appear before civic authorities and present their casenbspNotices have been served to 17 properties owned by Abhishek Banerjee in areas within the KMC jurisdiction and copies have been pasted on the walls of these propertiesIncidentally the KMC authorities served these notices a couple of days after the current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari while addressing a gathering at Falat in South 24 Parganas district last week hinted at enquiries about such properties linked to one corporate entity reportedly owned by Abhishek BanerjeeHowever while hinting at this the Chief Minister felt short of directly naming Banerjee and instead addressed him as Mr NephewIn the meeting Adhikari also said that he had brought a list of 24 properties owned by a company of Mr Nephew from the KMCEven on Monday the Chief Minister reminded that the new cabinet led by him is determined to take strong legal action against every person who was involved in corruption and looting public money during the previous Trinamool Congress regimeIncidentally on Monday the Chief Minister announced the formation of two separate probe commissions both headed by retired judges of the Calcutta High Court to investigate cases of institutional corruption and crime against womenBoth the probe commissions will start functioning from June Justice Biswajit Basu retired of the Calcutta High Court will head the committee probing cases of institutional corruption On the other hand the committee probing cases of crime against women will be headed by Justice Samapti Chattopadhyay the Chief Minister told media persons on Monday afternoonIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mamata-banerjee-to-meet-party-mlas-today-to-outline-oppn-strategy-674492.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/second-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-pushes-petrol-near-rs-109-in-jaipur-674496.html Jaipur May 19 IANS Rajasthan witnessed the second hike in petrol and diesel prices within a week on Tuesday as petroleum companies increased petrol rates by around 94 paise per litre and diesel by approximately 91 paise per litre Following the latest revision petrol prices in Jaipur have risen to Rs 10891 per litre while diesel is now being sold at Rs 9414 per litrenbspThe fresh increase comes just four days after fuel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre on May 15 intensifying concerns over rising transportation and household expenses Oil companies have attributed the repeated hikes to the continued surge in crude oil prices in the international marketWith fuel costs steadily climbing transporters and traders fear a ripple effect on the prices of vegetables food items construction materials and delivery services potentially adding further pressure on inflation Amid rumours of fuel shortages circulating on social media and in local markets petrol companies have assured the public that fuel and LPG supplies across Rajasthan remain normal and adequateManoj Gupta Executive Director and Rajasthan StateLevel Coordinator for Indian Oil Corporation said fuel stocks are being monitored roundtheclock and replenishment is taking place without delay wherever required Oil companies have appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying maintain normal fuel consumption patterns and refrain from believing or spreading misleading reports regarding fuel availabilityStateLevel Coordinator Manoj Gupta Executive Director and State Head IOCL stated The overall petroleum supply situation in Rajasthan is completely stable normal and adequate The entire fuel supply chain from all our terminals and depots right down to the retail outlets petrol pumps in cities and villages is operating smoothly and with great efficiency There are absolutely no disruptions of any kind to the supply anywhere across the entire stateAccording to officials fuel stocks across all districts of Rajasthan are being monitored continuously and in realtimeIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/second-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-pushes-petrol-near-rs-109-in-jaipur-674496.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-uttarakhand-cm-bhuwan-chandra-khanduri-passes-away-in-dehradun-674499.html Dehradun May 19 Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Major General Retd Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri passed away on Tuesday at Max Hospital in Dehradun after a prolonged illness A former Army officer who transitioned into politics General Khanduri served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand first from 2007 to 2009 and second from 2011 to 2012 steering the states administration During his tenure he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the stateUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the passing of General Khanduri and called his death an irreparable loss in the landscape of national politics In a statement CM Dhami said I have received the tragic news of the passing of the Honourable Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri Retd former Chief Minister of UttarakhandRecalling Gen Khanduris tenure in the Indian Army the Chief Minister said During his tenure in the Indian Army Shri Khanduri set an unparalleled example of national service discipline and dedication From his military career to his public life his persona remained steadfastly devoted to the national interest and public serviceIn the realm of politics CM Dhami said that Gen Khanduri established a strong legacy defined by the development of Uttarakhand good governance transparency and an honest work ethic As a public leader he took numerous pivotal decisions for the progress of the state and through his simplicity candour and efficiency carved a special place for himself in the hearts of the people His demise constitutes an irreparable loss not only for Uttarakhand but for the landscape of national politics as well he saidI pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to his noble soul at His divine feet and to bestow upon his bereaved family the strength to bear this profound grief CM Dhami added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/former-uttarakhand-cm-bhuwan-chandra-khanduri-passes-away-in-dehradun-674499.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pak-heads-for-civil-military-showdown-over-asim-munirs-massive-defence-demands-674504.html New Delhi May 19 Field Marshal Asim Munir is in complete control of Pakistan The country may be ruled by a democratic government but the fact is that the Pakistan Army under Munir is in complete control However even as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir put up a united front in reality there are tensions brewing over massive military spending For the outside world it appears as though everything is hunkydory between the government and the Pakistan ArmyWhile to a certain extent it may be the relationship is about to be tested in a big way soon Officials say that while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir put up a united front in front of the cameras in reality there are tensions that are brewingThe tensions are over military spending and now the government feels that Munir is seeking a bit too much while completely ignoring the economy of the countryThe current military spending stands at Rs 2500 billion This according to the experts itself is huge While the Sharif government has approved military spending in large numbers this time it is objecting to the new demand by the militaryAhead of the federal budge for the fiscal year 202627 the military has been pressuring the government to increase the funding by 20 per cent The government however is questioning this demand The finance ministry is questioning the logic behind such a massive allocation especially after it hiked the military spending by 20 per cent in the previous fiscalAnother official said that given the current economic mess that Pakistan is in the finance ministry can afford to increase the military spending by just 5 per centOfficials say that Islamabad is under immense pressure from the International Monetary Fund IMF to clear off loans At such a time if the government gives into this demand there is bound to be pressure from the IMFPakistan watchers say that it is the governmentâs headache to deal with the IMF The military will casually wash its hands off when such pressure mounts the experts also sayFurther the demand for a 20 per cent increase comes at a time when a team of the IMF is camping in Pakistan The team is holding discussions with Islamabad over the framework of the budget The IMF is carefully examining all expenditures which includes military spendingThe fund managers of Pakistan would find it very hard to convince the IMF about the military spending hike that has been soughtOfficials say that the situation that Pakistan is facing currently is nothing new Even in the past there have demands for enhanced military spending and the government has always given inAn official explained that this time around it would be different and the finance ministry is set to put up a fight There is no option but to resist this demand an official said This is bound to lead to a confrontation between the government and the military the official addedAnother official said that even if the government wants to give in to the demands of the military it may not be able to do so The IMF has been stern in its message to the Pakistan government especially when it comes to military spendingOfficials say that for Munir the enhanced spending is necessary He has been trying to provoke India and has falsely claimed gains during Operation SindoorThe operation undertaken by the Indian armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed showed how vulnerable and weak the Pakistan military isThe experts say that Asim Munir is aware of the vulnerabilities of his military He realises that major upgrades are needed and hence the enhanced millinery becomes important This time however he may face hurdles as the finance ministry is ready for a confrontation with the army chief over this issue officials also said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pak-heads-for-civil-military-showdown-over-asim-munirs-massive-defence-demands-674504.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-arrest-mastermind-behind-park-circus-violence-in-kolkata-674513.html Kolkata May 19 The sleuths of Kolkata Police on Tuesday morning arrested Faridul Islam the mastermind behind the violence at minoritydominated Park Circus area in central Kolkata on Sunday afternoon Protesters pelted stones and bricks injuring several police personnel while the latter attempted to prevent a violent demonstration against the use of bulldozers to demolish illegal constructions An insider from the city police said that the arrested person took the lead role in organising the violent protest demonstration first through provocative social media posts and then by giving instigating speeches at the demonstration site on Sunday afternoonAccording to a city police insider the accused persons involved in rowdyism on that day are being identified and arrested after examining the CCTV footage of the day of the incidentWith the arrest of Faridul the number of people arrested in this connection has increased to 46The entire Park Circus area turned into a virtual battlefield on Sunday afternoonAfter the protesters blocked the busy sevenpoint crossing at Park Circus illegally the Kolkata Police and the Central Armed Police Force CAPF personnel tried to remove the blockade The protesters then started pelting stones and bricks at themPolice vehicles were vandalised and some police and CAPF personnel were severely injured in that sudden attack by the protesters Later the police and CAPF personnel resorted to massive lathicharge to bring the situation under controlChief Minister Suvendu Adhikari went to the office of the deputy commissioner of the South East Division of Kolkata Police under whose jurisdiction Park Circus comes to talk to them on MondayStanding at Park Circus crossing CM Adhikari gave a message of zero tolerance towards hooliganism He made it clear that no antisocial act would be tolerated Highranking officials of Kolkata Police including the city police chief Ajay Nand were present along with the Chief Minister thenThis was the first and last attack on police personnel during my governmentâs tenure If any policeman is attacked in future strict legal action would follow Sundayâs agitation was a preplanned action Any political organisation or religious organisation can inform the police and organise their programme But gathering people raising religious slogans and pelting stones cannot be accepted Stone pelting at police has stopped in Kashmir and Srinagar and I think it will stop in West Bengal and Kolkata as wellâ the Chief Minister said on Monday afternoonLater he spoke to the injured police personnel and injured CAPF personnel IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/police-arrest-mastermind-behind-park-circus-violence-in-kolkata-674513.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-visits-tirumala-temple-says-prayed-for-country-to-overcome-economic-crisis-674518.html BengaluruTirumala May 19 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he prayed to Lord Venkateshwara at the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Tirumala for the country to overcome the economic crisis and for the state to receive good rainfall His visit to Tirumala has assumed significance amid the ongoing leadership tussle in the state Shivakumar along with his wife Usha offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy at around 3 amHe arrived in Tirumala on Monday evening and stayed there overnight Later he travelled to Tumakuru to attend the mega event organised by the Karnataka government to mark the completion of three years in officeShivakumar is considered a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister and had recently stated that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be called to Delhi Speaking to mediapersons after offering prayers at the Tirumala Tirupati temple Shivakumar said he sought blessings for peace prosperity and good health for people across the countryâI have prayed to Lord Venkateswara that the country should not suffer from an economic crisis that everyone be blessed with strength and good health and that the state receives good rainfallâ he saidThe Deputy Chief Minister said he also prayed for peace and stability in the country and for the nation to effectively face its challengesâI have prayed that the entire country be filled with peace and that it faces its challenges effectively I am very happy to have come here on this significant dayâ he saidShivakumar said he was visiting Tirumala after nearly six to seven years and appreciated the changes and development initiatives undertaken by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTDâThe Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has brought about many changes and developments It has maintained discipline and cleanliness and is running a good administration The government has done good work I thank everyoneâ he saidExpressing happiness over the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara Shivakumar also praised the functioning of the TTD administration and its chairmanâI am delighted to have had the darshan of Sri Venkateswara The TTD Chairman is also doing excellent work along with his team I met the Revenue Minister here as well and he too is doing outstanding work I extend my best wishes to all of themâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-visits-tirumala-temple-says-prayed-for-country-to-overcome-economic-crisis-674518.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-hc-sentences-youtuber-to-six-months-jail-for-criminal-contempt-674521.html New Delhi May 19 IANS The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja who runs the channel Fight 4 Judicial Reforms to six months simple imprisonment in two criminal contempt cases for making derogatory and scandalous remarks against the judiciary and judicial officersnbspA division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja also imposed a fine of Rs 2000 in each matter while observing that the contemnor had shown no remorse and had in fact compounded the contempt through further scandalous submissions made during the hearingHowever the Delhi High Court suspended the sentence for 60 days to enable Pahuja to challenge its judgment holding him guilty of criminal contempt before the Supreme CourtThe Justice Chawlaled Bench said that despite being given an opportunity to make submissions on punishment the contemnor questioned the conviction itself and during oral arguments made further scandalous remarks against the judicial systemHe in fact compounds his contempt by making further scandalous submissions before this Court and thus evidently he is neither repentant nor deserves any mercy the order saidRejecting his plea to recall the conviction judgment the Delhi High Court said it could not sit in review of its earlier order and that the contemnor was free to challenge the same in accordance with lawAs far as his submissions on our judgment dated 21042026 are concerned we cannot sit in review of the said judgment and the contemnor has full right and had an opportunity to challenge the same in accordance with law the bench saidIt further recorded that during oral arguments Pahuja made remarks such as adaalaton ki manmarzi badhti jaa rahi hai aur main koi nyay ki umeed nahi kar raha the wilfulness of the courts is constantly increasing and I am not hopeful of any justice and described the functioning of courts as taanashahi dictatorshipAdvocate Harsh Prabhaka amicus curiae appointed in the matter submitted that Pahuja had shown no course correction or remorse and continued uploading videos targeting judicial officers despite earlier directions restraining him from doing soConsidering the nature of the conduct the Delhi High Court observed that leniency in such circumstances could embolden similar conduct in the future and that the case warranted maximum punishmentnbspWe also find that by not imposing adequate punishment on him we may encourage him to repeat these acts in future and to embolden him in doing the same We are of the opinion that these cases call for the imposition of the maximum punishment the bench observednbspAccordingly the Delhi High Court sentenced Pahuja to six months simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2000 in each case directing that the sentences would run concurrentlynbspIt further ordered that in case of default in payment of the fine he would undergo an additional one months simple imprisonmentnbspHowever taking note of the contemnors submission that he intends to challenge the judgment before the Supreme Court the bench suspended the sentence for a period of 60 daysnbspIn case an order suspending the sentence is not passed by the Supreme Court the contemnor shall on his own surrender before the Registrar General of this Court forthwith on expiry of the abovementioned period the order saidnbspThe contempt proceedings arose from videos and online content uploaded by Pahuja on his YouTube channel in which he made sweeping and unverified allegations against judicial officers and the judiciary In its earlier judgment the Delhi High Court had held that such remarks were intended to scandalise the institution and lower public confidence in the justice system and were not protected under the right to free speechnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-hc-sentences-youtuber-to-six-months-jail-for-criminal-contempt-674521.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-block-president-arrested-in-cooch-behar-on-charges-of-violence-molestation-674529.html Kolkata May 19 A Trinamool Congress block president has been arrested in north Bengals Cooch Behar district for allegedly indulging in violence and molestation said the police on Tuesday The police have arrested Abdul Kader the Trinamool Congress president of Cooch Behar IB block The police arrested him from Guriahati II gram panchayat areas on MondayHe was produced in court on Monday afternoon According to police sources there are allegations of vandalism looting and molestation against him before the West Bengal Assembly elections Based on a complaint over these allegations the Trinamool leader has been arrestedThis marks the second highprofile arrest of a Trinamool block president in the region within a matter of days signalling a sweeping crackdown on political violence following the recent change of guard in the state administrationA few days back Shuvankar Dey the Trinamool President for Cooch Behar Block II was arrested in connection with an attack on the convoy of the current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari dating back to August 5 2025It may be recalled that in August last year Adhikaris convoy was attacked in Cooch Behar district of north Bengal where he had gone to lead a protest rallyThe arrest of two Trinamool Congress block presidents in Cooch Behar has started a heated discussion in political circlesSince the BJP formed a government in the state there has been a crackdown on illegal and criminal activities of Trinamool Congress leaders The police have been active in taking action against antisocial elements and often acting against Trinamool Congress leaders against whom allegations of breaking the law were raisedRecently Trinamool Congress councillor of Baranagar Municipality in North 24 Parganas district Shantanu Majumdar alias Mejo has been arrested on charges of extortion He is the councillor of ward number 14 of BaranagarOn May 9 police arrested Trinamool Congress councillor Bhishmadev Karmakar in Berhampore of Murshidabad district who was accused of obstructing Congress leader Adhir Chowdhurys Assembly election campaignOn May 6 a Trinamool councillor was arrested on charges of punching and breaking a police officers nose in Hooghlys Serampore Trinamool councillor Rajesh Shah alias Kukua however alleged political vendetta against himOn May 5 a Trinamool Congress councillor named Amirul Sheikh Islam was arrested again under the Arms Act He is the councillor of ward number 14 of Pujali Municipality in Diamond Harbour of South 24 Parganas district IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/trinamool-block-president-arrested-in-cooch-behar-on-charges-of-violence-molestation-674529.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/the-stunning-fall-of-kerala-cpi-674542.html Thiruvananthapuram May 19 From being projected as the golden generation of the CPIM to becoming symbols of political arrogance and public backlash the journey of Arya Rajendran and KM Sachin Dev is perhaps one of the most dramatic political cautionary tales in recent Kerala politics There was a time when the young couple embodied everything the party wanted to showcase before the public ie youth energy modernity and ideological commitmentAt just 21 Arya scripted history by becoming the youngest mayor in the country when she took charge of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in 2020Few months later Dev emerged as the youngest member of the Kerala Assembly after his emphatic victory from Balussery at the age of 23For the CPIM they were not merely young leaders They were branding exercises proof that the party could still produce fresh faces capable of connecting with a changing generationTheir 2022 marriage only added to the aura around them and the media celebrated them endlessly while party workers flaunted them proudlyTogether they looked like a political fairytale in the making But politics has a cruel way of humbling those who begin to believe too deeply in their own invincibilityThe first visible crack came in April 2024 when the couple got embroiled in the now infamous altercation with a KSRTC driver in ThiruvananthapuramWhat could have remained a routine roadside argument quickly snowballed into a public relations disasterAllegations flew from both sides police cases were registered and television channels played the visuals repeatedlyFor many ordinary people the incident reinforced an uncomfortable perception that power had begun getting into the heads of the oncerelatable young leadersThat single episode altered public perception sharplyThe image of youthful simplicity slowly gave way to accusations of entitlement and political arroganceSocial media which had once celebrated them as icons of a new generation turned mercilessTrolls multiplied Memes flourished The political sheen around the couple began fading rapidlyThe electoral setbacks that followed only deepened the fall Arya was denied renomination in the local body polls a stunning development for someone once seen as the partyâs future face in the capitalWorse still for the CPIM the BJP wrested control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation ending decades of Left dominance and symbolically marking the collapse of the image that Arya once representedThen came the final blow Dev once hailed as one of the brightest young legislators in Kerala lost the Assembly election by over 16000 votes to the Congress candidateThe defeat was not merely electoral it was psychologicalFrom commanding headlines as rising stars the couple suddenly found themselves reduced to examples in debates about political immaturity and unchecked egoAnd now comes the bitterest irony of all the KSRTC driver whose clash with them damaged their public image is set to be reinstated almost serving as the closing scene in a political downfall few could have imagined six years agoIn Kerala politics where leaders often rise rapidly on waves of public affection Arya and Devâs story is a reminder that humility remains the most valuable currency in public lifePower may arrive early Fame may arrive suddenly But when authority begins to resemble entitlement the fall can be even faster than the rise IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/the-stunning-fall-of-kerala-cpi-674542.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/no-compromise-on-safeguarding-rights-of-fishermen-says-andhra-cm-naidu-674544.html Amaravati May 19 Amid reports of alleged trespassing and illegal fishing by mechanised fishing boats of Tamil Nadu in the territorial waters of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday made it clear that Andhra Pradesh will not tolerate anyone from neighbouring states encroaching upon its coastal waters âThis coastline belongs to us the boats are ours and the fishing rights are ours there will be no compromise on this matterâ he declared while addressing fishermen at Thummalapenta Village in SPSR Nellore districtâWe will not tolerate anyone from neighbouring states encroaching upon our coastal waters We will safeguard the rights of our fishermenâ he saidThe Chief Minister assured farmers that the government will maintain strict surveillance along the coastline and take measures to prevent boats from neighbouring states from entering our watersParticipating in the programme âin the service of fishermenâ the Chief Minister said as the fishing is banned from April 15 to June 14 the government is providing financial assistance of Rs 20000 to every fishermans familyâWe have deposited a total of Rs 262 crore directly into the bank accounts of 130796 fishermen familiesâ he said and assured that the coalition government remain committed to supporting themHe noted that hundreds of thousands of fisherfolk derive their livelihood from fishing along the stateâs extensive coastline However between 2019 and 2024 fish production witnessed a drastic declineThe Chief Minister stated that after agriculture and the construction sector the fisheries sector is the primary source of livelihood for the largest number of peopleâAndhra Pradesh stands at the forefront of fish production in the country We will continue to stand firmly by our fishermenâ he saidHe listed the steps taken to help fishermen including a diesel subsidy of Rs 9 per litre for mechanised and motorised fishing boats In 202627 the government provided diesel subsidies worth Rs 50 crore to fishing boatsThe government is also establishing nine fishing harbours and eight fish landing centres for Rs 3256 crore To ensure the safety of fishermen it installed 4550 transponders at sea and established a robust communication systemHe gave an assurance that 200 mechanised boats will be sanctioned for fishermen In addition to providing a 60 per cent subsidy the government will sanction the remaining amount as a loanStating that the government is undertaking construction of the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour for Rs 288 crore to economically empower fishermen he urged them not to believe the false propaganda being spread by certain individuals regarding this projectâWe will encourage fishermen to embrace new technologies alongside their traditional fishing practices We will bring prosperity into the lives of fishermen through seaweed cultivation We will enable fisherwomen and women belonging to DWCRA groups to earn additional income through seaweed farmingâ Chandrababu Naidu said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/no-compromise-on-safeguarding-rights-of-fishermen-says-andhra-cm-naidu-674544.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/meghalaya-youth-second-to-none-says-conrad-sangma-at-ncc-battalion-inauguration-674557.html Shillong May 19 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the stateâs youth are âsecond to noneâ and asserted that investments in young people should be seen not as expenditure but as the foundation for the stateâs future growth and transformation Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the newly relocated 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC complex at Cherangre in Tura the Chief Minister said the National Cadet Corps plays a crucial role in shaping disciplined confident and responsible citizensâI have always believed that the youth of Meghalaya are second to none not just in the country but in the worldâ Sangma said adding that young people in the state only need the right opportunities and exposure to excel in different fieldsCalling the inauguration a âmomentous occasionâ the Chief Minister said the establishment of the battalion in Tura was âalmost like a dream come trueâ and aligned with the governmentâs broader vision of youth empowermentâThe success of a government should not be measured by how many crores are spent or how many buildings are constructed It should be measured by how many lives are transformed because of those investmentsâ he saidHighlighting Meghalayaâs demographic profile CM Sangma said nearly 75 per cent of the stateâs population is below the age of 35 and almost half is below 20 years making youth development one of the governmentâs top prioritiesHe said the recently announced Youth and Sports Policy aims to create a longterm roadmap to empower young people through education sports entrepreneurship arts culture and skill developmentâThe inauguration of the 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC complex is part of that larger vision It brings us one step closer to achieving the future we envision for our youthâ he statedRecalling his childhood fascination with the armed forces and police services CM Sangma said the discipline dedication and sense of purpose associated with uniformed personnel had deeply inspired himâThe NCC instils discipline patriotism hard work and values that shape young people into responsible citizensâ he addedThe Chief Minister also assured continued government support for strengthening NCC infrastructure and youthoriented initiatives across the stateTracing the battalionâs history officials said the 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC originated from the 15 Assam Artillery Battery NCC raised in 1961 and was upgraded in October 2020 The battalion currently oversees NCC activities across five districts of Garo Hills and has expanded its reach to seven colleges and 18 schools with around 2400 cadets enrolled as of May 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/meghalaya-youth-second-to-none-says-conrad-sangma-at-ncc-battalion-inauguration-674557.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-chief-secretary-reviews-arrangements-for-machail-mata-yatra-674559.html Srinagar May 19 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the annual Machail Mata Yatra Officials said that the Chief Secretary reviewed elaborate arrangements for smooth safe conduct of Machail Mata Yatra at a highlevel meetingThe Chief Secretary took stock of the arrangements being put in place by the concerned Divisional and District Administrations for the smooth safe and hasslefree conduct of the annual Machail Mata Yatra scheduled to commence in August this year in the mountainous region of KishtwarThe meeting besides Additional Chief Secretary PWD and Principal Secretary Home was attended by Director General Fire amp Emergency Services Divisional Commissioner Jammu IGP Jammu Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar SSP Kishtwar Managing Director JPDCL Chief Engineer Project Sampark and other officers concernedDuring the meeting the Chief Secretary took a detailed assessment of the arrangements being made for ensuring safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage this year including sanitation measures entrusted to the Rural Development Department and arrangements related to water supply power medical facilities transport management and emergency response by the line departments concernedThe Chief Secretary also reviewed the implementation of the directions issued in the aftermath of last years disaster incident along the yatra route He took a detailed appraisal of measures such as introduction of online and RFIDbased registration systems disaster mitigation initiatives installation of Automatic Rain Gauges ARG and Automatic Weather Stations AWS for realtime weather alerts and development of detailed Standard Operating Procedures SOPs aimed at ensuring safety and smooth movement of pilgrims throughout the Yatra periodThe Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar apprised the meeting that elaborate accommodation arrangements were being made at various locations including Kishtwar headquarters Gulabgarh Chishoti and Machail to cater to the expected rush of devoteesGovernment accommodations private lodging facilities homestays and tented accommodations are being augmented while a dedicated tent city is also being established at Machail for the convenience of pilgrimsSpecial emphasis was laid on crowd management and realtime monitoring of pilgrims through implementation of 100 per cent online registration and RFIDenabled tracking mechanismsThe arrangements for daily monitoring of pilgrim movement deployment of adequate manpower at sensitive points and strengthening coordination among departments for effective management of the Yatra were also detailed out by the Divisional Commissioner during this meetingTo enhance pilgrim safety the administration is also undertaking landslide mitigation measures and strengthening monitoring systems at vulnerable stretches along the routeThe departments concerned were directed to maintain strict vigil and ensure immediate response to any weatherrelated exigencies during the pilgrimage periodThe Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma divulged the details about the comprehensive traffic and transport management plans prepared to ensure smooth vehicular movement and timely restoration of road connectivity wherever requiredHe apprised the meeting about the establishment of designated parking areas regulation of traffic movement and ensuring uninterrupted access for emergency response vehiclesThe Chief Secretary further reviewed medical preparedness and emergency response arrangements for the Yatra The meeting was informed that medical camps ambulance services emergency response teams and firstaid facilities would be established at key locations along the routeAdequate healthcare personnel and essential medicines are also being arranged to meet any eventuality during the pilgrimage The meeting also reviewed arrangements related to drinking water supply uninterrupted electricity communication facilities sanitation and solid waste management made for this years yatraDirections were issued to all departments to work in close coordination to ensure efficient delivery of essential services and maintain cleanliness and environmental protection along the pilgrimage routeReiterating the administrationâs commitment towards ensuring a spiritually fulfilling and incidentfree pilgrimage the Chief Secretary called for coordinated efforts among all stakeholder departments and agencies for successful conduct of the Machail Mata Yatra this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-chief-secretary-reviews-arrangements-for-machail-mata-yatra-674559.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-tn-minister-takes-break-from-politics-after-electoral-loss-says-will-return-recharged-674305.html Chennai May 18 Senior DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P Thiaga Rajan PTR has announced that he will temporarily step back from active politics following the partyâs defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saying he intends to take a âshort breakâ after spending a decade in elected office In a detailed statement reflecting on the election outcome and the evolving political environment in Tamil Nadu PTR said he was looking forward to spending a few weeks away from public life and reconnecting with life as a private citizenHe explained that the break would allow him to pursue opportunities that had remained out of reach during his years in public office including invitations to deliver lectures and participate in events in India and abroadPTR also revealed that he plans to devote time to writing a book Alongside his professional commitments he said he hopes to focus on his health and adopt a more balanced lifestyle after recently turning 60At the same time the former minister made it clear that his decision should not be interpreted as a permanent withdrawal from politics âI am adapting to the reality that I am not going to be an elected representative for a while at least until the next electionBut my passion for public service and to be an agent of change remains undiminished I shall return recharged and refreshedâ he saidPTR has been one of the prominent and articulate faces of the DMK in recent years earning recognition for his strong views on governance and economic policy mattersHe was first elected from the Madurai Central constituency in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly election and retained the seat in 2021Following the DMKâs victory that year Chief Minister MK Stalin appointed him Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management During his tenure PTR released a White Paper detailing Tamil Naduâs financial condition and debt profile In a Cabinet reshuffle in May 2023 he was moved to the Information Technology and Digital Services portfolio However his electoral journey suffered a setback in the 2026 Assembly election when he lost Madurai Central to TVK candidate Madhar Badhurudeen who secured a decisive victory by a margin of more than 19000 votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-tn-minister-takes-break-from-politics-after-electoral-loss-says-will-return-recharged-674305.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/edappadi-fears-losing-grip-over-his-party-leadership-dmks-elangovan-on-aiadmk-rift-674306.html Chennai May 18 DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Monday claimed that the ongoing rift within the AIADMK is rooted in Edappadi K Palaniswamiâs fear that his leadership position could weaken if senior leaders from the partyâs past are brought back into the fold The remarks came as the internal crisis within the AIADMK intensified further with factional tensions spreading across several district units in Tamil Nadu and leading to police intervention in multiple locationsThe growing confrontation between supporters of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS and the rival faction led by former Ministers SP Velumani and CVe Shanmugham has reportedly escalated into a battle for organisational control In several districts party offices were locked and placed under police security amid rising tensionsEPS has meanwhile accused the rebel faction of prioritising personal ambitions for ministerial posts over the unity and stability of the partyReacting to the developments Elangovan told IANS âThis fight has been going on for quite some time and Edappadi K Palaniswami does not want to bring back leaders who were earlier senior members of the AIADMK He is afraid that if they return his own position may be weakened This only reflects the weakness in Edappadiâs leadership which has led to all these splitsâThe DMK leader also commented on actor Rajinikanth congratulating actorturnedpolitician Vijay following the announcement of the Assembly election resultsRajinikanth had earlier taken to X to extend his wishes to Vijay after the election outcome Later he also dismissed rumours suggesting that he was jealous of Vijayâs political success The veteran actor clarified that his recent meeting with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was purely personal in nature and stressed that their friendship spans nearly four decades and goes beyond political affiliationsRajinikanth had also strongly rejected speculation that the meeting with Stalin was aimed at preventing Vijay from emerging as Chief MinisterResponding to the issue Elangovan said âWhat is wrong with it He appreciates Stalin and knows that Stalin is a close friend of his When someone from the film industry comes to power he Rajinikanth will definitely wish them What is wrong with thatâElangovan also reacted to criticism raised by actor Vishal and several others over Chief Minister Vijay allocating the Film Industry portfolio to Minister RajmohanâThere should be somebody who knows the film industry They must be posted as ministers so that they know what the film industry is and how to improve it Maybe that is the reason there is criticismâ Elangovan said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/edappadi-fears-losing-grip-over-his-party-leadership-dmks-elangovan-on-aiadmk-rift-674306.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-taking-oath-cm-satheesan-holds-first-cabinet-meeting-674308.html Thiruvananthapuram May 18 Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirit of thousands of jubilant supporters as the new government led by VD Satheesan formally stepped into office on Monday marking the beginning of a new political chapter in Kerala after a gap of 10 years Soon after the swearingin ceremony Satheesan and his 21member cabinet drove to Lok Bhavan for the customary tea hosted by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath ArlekarEven as ministers exchanged greetings and settled into the reality of governance dark clouds gathered over the capital cityBy the time the new ministers began their journey to the North Block of the State Secretariat for the first cabinet meeting torrential rain had lashed the cityBut the weather only seemed to energise the crowd waiting outside Amid the downpour rose loud chants of âSatheesanâ and slogans welcoming the Congressled UDF government back to powerA sizeable section of the crowd comprised proUDF Secretariat employees party workers and ordinary supporters who had gathered despite the rain to witness the historic momentSecurity personnel struggled to control the swelling crowd as ministers made their way into the Secretariat premisesSatheesan first entered the Chief Ministerâs office where he formally assumed charge by signing the initial files marking the transfer of powerWhile the new Chief Minister completed the official formalities cabinet colleagues slowly assembled in the cabinet meeting hall adjacent to his officeMinutes later Satheesan walked into the cabinet room and took his seat at the head of the long table signalling the formal commencement of the first cabinet meeting of the new governmentExpectations are already mounting over the decisions to emerge from the maiden meeting with several key policy announcements and welfare measures anticipated in the coming daysMany of these are expected to directly impact the lives of ordinary Keralites Satheesan will brief the media after the conclusion of the cabinet meeting outlining the governmentâs immediate priorities and direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-taking-oath-cm-satheesan-holds-first-cabinet-meeting-674308.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bhilwara-petrol-pumps-shut-indefinitely-as-dealers-protest-unethical-inspections-674323.html Jaipur May 18 All petrol pumps in Rajasthanâs Bhilwara district were shut indefinitely from Monday after the Bhilwara Petroleum Dealer Society called a strike protesting alleged âunethicalâ inspection practices and objectionable social media remarks targeting pump owners The decision was taken during a meeting of the Society held on Sunday According to Society Secretary Ashok Kumar Mundra the sale of petrol and diesel at all fuel stations in the district was suspended from 9 am on MondayThe dealers have launched the strike in protest against alleged objectionable social media comments targeting petrol pump owners as well as what they described as âunethicalâ inspection procedures that have damaged their reputationThe Society said it would submit a memorandum to the district administration outlining its demands and grievances Dealers claim the move was necessary to protect their credibility and public image after surprise inspections were conducted at several petrol pumps in Bhilwara on the directions of Rajasthan Minister for Consumer Affairs Sumit GodaraThe inspections were carried out under the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act During the inspections officials allegedly detected a shortage of 30 millilitres of fuel in a standard 5litre measurement However the Dealersâ Society has strongly contested the findings arguing that the testing process was technically flawed and misleadingAccording to the Society the design of dispensing machines is such that even a discrepancy of 21 millilitres can cause the metre to display a reading of 30 milliliters Dealers insist this does not necessarily mean consumers were shortchanged by the same amountThe Society further clarified that government norms allow a permissible variation of up to 25 millilitres either excess or short in a 5litre fuel measurement In such cases dealers cannot legally be held guilty of underdelivery they saidPetrol pump owners also objected to what they termed a âmedia trialâ alleging that the issue was widely circulated across print electronic and social media platforms before any legal determination of wrongdoing had been made The dealers alleged that several unidentified individuals posted derogatory and baseless comments against petrol pump owners on social media severely harming their reputationSociety officebearers including President Zahir Hussain Secretary Ashok Kumar Mundra and Treasurer Dinesh Bhagat said they have full faith in the judicial system but would not tolerate public defamation in the name of investigations In their memorandum to the District Collector the dealers demanded immediate legal action against those spreading false information and posting objectionable remarks on social mediaThe Society stated that petrol pumps across Bhilwara would remain closed until their demands are addressedEarlier on Sunday officials from the Rajasthan Ministry for Consumer Affairs said that four fuel nozzles at three petrol pumps in Bhilwara district have been sealed after inspections found discrepancies in fuel dispensingAt Deepak Petroleum Shiv Indian Oil and Shri Shyam Filling Station the pumps were reportedly delivering 34 to 90 millilitres less petrol than the prescribed quantity they said in an official statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bhilwara-petrol-pumps-shut-indefinitely-as-dealers-protest-unethical-inspections-674323.html Mon, 18 May 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-clears-7th-pay-commission-annapurna-bhandar-rollout-674329.html Kolkata May 18 The West Bengal cabinet on Monday approved implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees Announcing the decision after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari state minister for Women amp Child Development and Social Welfare Agnimitra Paul said the move addresses a longpending demand of employees She said the matter was taken up at the cabinet meeting and the proposal was clearedShe said that the state cabinet also cleared the proposal for implementation of the Annapurna Bhandar project the monthly financial assistance scheme for women in the state involving a monthly allowance of Rs 3000 which was proposed in the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs Sankalp Patra election manifesto in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly electionsAccording to her the women who were receiving monthly allowances under the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme a similar financial assistance scheme run by the previous Mamata Banerjeeled government will automatically get linked to the new Annapurna Bhandar projectâThe money will be automatically transferred to their bank accounts Those who were not receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme benefits so far can now apply for enrollment under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme The new applications can be made only for which a new portal will be opened shortlyâ Paul explainedâAt the same timeâ she added âthe state cabinet in its meeting today had also cleared a proposal for free rides for all women in the state in all staterun public buses from June 1âShe also said that at the moment no decision has been made in the cabinet meeting about increasing the number of buses âWe will use the existing infrastructure of government buses The full state budget will be presented in June However in the cabinet meeting the Chief Minister said that some new electric buses will be included in the state transport systemâ Paul saidHowever she informed that the state cabinet has decided to stop all supportive schemes provided on the basis of religious classifications under both the state information amp cultural affairs and minority affairs amp madrasah education departments from next monthâSuch scholarship will be in force only for this current month and will be stopped from June 1â Paul said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bengal-cabinet-clears-7th-pay-commission-annapurna-bhandar-rollout-674329.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674331.html New Delhi May 18 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that India is targeting exports worth 2 trillion over the next five years while pegging the overall exports target for FY27 at 1 trillion Indias total exports of goods and services increased to an alltime high of 863 billion in FY26 despite the uncertainties in global markets triggered by the US tariff turmoil and geopolitical tensionsThe minister said India continues to remain a bright spot amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and tensions in West Asia due to the Iran warAddressing an event here the minister said that Indiaâs FTAs now cover over twothirds of global tradeThe minister also said that Indiaâs free trade agreement with Oman is expected to come into effect from June 1 while the FTAs signed with other countries are also likely to be implemented this year after the legal process is completedIndia and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA on December 18 2025 giving most Indian exports including textiles dutyfree accessThe CEPA gives India zeroduty access on 9808 per cent of Omanâs tariff lines covering 9938 per cent of Indian exports by valueIndia will cut duties on about 78 per cent of its tariff lines covering nearly 95 per cent of imports from Oman with sensitive products given access mainly through tariffrate quotasTalks for the free trade agreement began in November 2023 and were successfully wrapped up in August 2025 after five rounds of negotiations The total volume of trade between India and Oman touched 1061 billion in 202425 which represented a growth of 186 per cent over the previous yearIndia has also operationalised trade agreements with the UAE Australia and the European Free Trade Association EFTA bloc among others while pacts with the European Union and the United Kingdom are expected to come into force this yearOther FTAs which are going through legal ratification will also start kicking in Goyal saidThe minister also released the seventh Logistics Ease Across Different States LEADS 2025 report and the 4th ceremony for Logistics Excellence Advancements and Perform Shield LEAPS 2025 He said that the government has taken reducing logistics costs as an urgent national mission to make India globally competitiveHe added that heavy investments are being made in infrastructure and delivery systems to ensure seamless logistics across the country Goyal highlighted that the countryâs growth remains strong driven by continuous investments across sectors rapid innovation by startups and competitive labour costs backed by Indiaâs skilled workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674331.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-unveils-welfare-bonanza-in-first-cabinet-meeting-674333.html Thiruvananthapuram May 18 Delivering on election promises within hours of assuming office the maiden cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday rolled out a series of sweeping welfare decisions signalling the beginning of an aggressive peoplecentric governance model under the new Congressled UDF government In perhaps the biggest announcement of the day the government declared free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15 implementing one of the five guarantees promised by the UDF during the election campaignCM Satheesan also announced the creation of a separate department for the welfare of senior citizens describing it as the first such initiative in the countryDrawing inspiration from Japanâs elderly care system the Chief Minister said a detailed study of the Japanese model would be conducted within two monthsâA society is judged by how it treats its elderly Kerala will soon become a model state in caring for senior citizensâ CM Satheesan said after the cabinet meetingThe government also moved swiftly to address longpending demands of ASHA workersKeeping another election promise the cabinet approved a Rs 3000 hike in their honorarium raising it to Rs 12000Retirement benefitrelated announcements for ASHA workers are expected within a monthAnganwadi workers catering workers preprimary teachers and ayahs were also granted a Rs 1000 increase in wages Satheesan said additional benefits would be considered once the stateâs financial condition improvesIn another politically significant move veteran former CPIM leader G Sudhakaran who was booted out of the party and contested with the UDF support was appointed Protem Speaker The MLAs swearingin will be held on May 21 and the next day the election of the Speaker will take place On May 29 the Governor will address the AssemblyThe government also named senior advocate Jaiju Babu as Advocate General after the incumbent resigned while T Asaf Ali was appointed Director General of ProsecutionThe cabinet further ordered a Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha in December 2023CM Satheesan announced that a White Paper on Keralaâs finances would soon be prepared by an expert committee while monsoon preparedness would be treated as an urgent priority of the new administration IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-satheesan-unveils-welfare-bonanza-in-first-cabinet-meeting-674333.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html New Delhi May 18 The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest litigation PIL seeking directions for framing a uniform wage and welfare framework for priests sevadars and temple staff working in statecontrolled temples across the country A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed disinclination to interfere in the matter and refused to entertain the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who appeared in personAfter the apex court indicated its unwillingness to examine the issue Upadhyay sought permission to withdraw the petition with liberty to approach the appropriate authoritiesThe Justice Vikram Nathled Bench thereafter dismissed the matter as withdrawnThe petitioner seeks permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the appropriate authorities The petition is dismissed as withdrawn the top court recorded in its orderThe plea had sought directions to the Centre and state governments to constitute a judicial commission or expert committee to review the wages and service conditions of priests sevadars and temple staff in temples under government control The petition also sought a declaration that priests and temple staff fall within the definition of employee under Section 2k of the Code on Wages 2019 making them entitled to minimum wages and other labour welfare protectionsThe plea contended that once state governments assume administrative financial and economic control over temples an employeremployee relationship arises between temple administrations and priests or temple workers It claimed that priests and temple staff in several states survive on arbitrary honorariums dakshinabased payments and meagre remuneration often ranging between Rs 1000 and Rs 5000 per month without pension healthcare or social security protectionsReferring to statutory frameworks governing temples in states such as Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Telangana Karnataka and Kerala the plea argued that governments exercise pervasive control over appointments service conditions disciplinary supervision and temple revenues while simultaneously denying labour welfare protections to temple workersThe petition further relied on constitutional provisions under Articles 14 and 21 contending that denial of fair wages and dignified livelihood to priests and temple staff violates their fundamental rightsReferring to judicial precedents including observations of the Allahabad High Court on minimum wages for temple staff the plea contended that the issue had nationwide implications and warranted intervention by the apex court IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/there-can-be-no-rift-between-bjp-and-jd-674340.html Bengaluru May 18 Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Monday asserted that there can be no difference between the BJP and the JDS stating that the partnership between the two parties within the NDA will continue to be robust Speaking to reporters after offering special prayers at the Venkateshwara Temple in JP Nagar on the occasion of his 94th birthday Deve Gowda said he remained committed to working for the welfare of the people despite his advancing ageâI will continue to work for the people of the state to the best of my ability I have made a firm resolve to continue fighting for the problems of the people for some more time I will not sit at home just because I have turned 93 Even if required I will move around in a wheelchairâ he saidResponding to questions regarding the 2028 Assembly elections Deve Gowda stated that the JDS was a partner in the NDA and shared cordial relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahâWe are partners in the NDA We have good relations with PM Modi and Amit Shah There will not be any crisis in this alliance Even if difficult situations arise during the course of this political struggle we will sit together resolve them and continue the fightâ he saidHe further stated that he had no concerns regarding the future of the alliance due to the strong relationship the party shared with the BJP leadershipReferring to the political situation in South India Deve Gowda said Congress leaders often claimed that the party was strong in Kerala Telangana and Karnataka but added that the future political scenario remained to be seenâLet us wait and see what happens in the future I do not want to speak much about it now I will speak when the appropriate time comesâ he remarkedCalling upon JDS workers to remain disciplined and committed to the party Deve Gowda urged them to fulfil the responsibilities assigned by Union Minister and senior JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy at the taluk and district levelsâI appeal to party workers and legislators to work sincerely as disciplined soldiers of the party and carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them with dedicationâ he saidDeve Gowda also expressed concern over the worsening problems faced by the people and indicated that he would address the issue further during a press conference scheduled for May 20âThe problems faced by the people have become very serious I have already spoken about this in a press conference earlier I will again address the media on May 20 and discuss issues concerning the state and the countryâ he saidHighlighting his long political journey Deve Gowda said he had spent 68 years in public life fighting for peopleâs causesâIt does not matter how much recognition people give me What matters is continuing the struggle I will keep workingâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/there-can-be-no-rift-between-bjp-and-jd-674340.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-governor-unveils-new-emblem-names-13-gates-within-assembly-premises-674342.html Jaipur May 18 Marking 75 years of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Governor Haribhau Bagde on Monday unveiled the newly designed emblem of the Assembly and announced the names of 13 gates within the premises Describing the Legislative Assembly as the âsacred temple of democracyâ the Governor said the new emblem reflects Rajasthanâs rich cultural identity and democratic heritage He noted that while the Legislative Assembly was formally constituted in 1952 after Independence the roots of representative governance in the state go back to 1913 when Maharaja Ganga Singh established a Pratinidhi Sabha Representative AssemblyCalling the unveiling a significant milestone during Indiaâs Amrit Kaal Bagde said the emblem symbolises the collective spirit and values of Rajasthanâs peopleThe logo developed on the initiative of Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani incorporates symbols such as the Rohida flower the Khejri tree and the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly buildingThe Governor said these elements represent the resilience and vibrant cultural spirit of Rajasthanâs people who continue to celebrate life despite the regionâs harsh geographical conditions Referring to the Khejri tree as Rajasthanâs own Kalpa Vriksha he also recalled the historic sacrifice made by villagers in Khejadli to protect trees describing it as a lasting symbol of harmony between nature and societyDuring his address the Governor shared an anecdote involving Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha He recounted how Mavalankar once responded to a man claiming expertise in management by pointing out the food left wasted on his plate and remarking that proper management begins with personal disciplineUsing the story to underline the importance of responsibility and practical conduct the Governor said effective management principles should guide every aspect of life and governance The Governor stressed the need to improve educational opportunities for underprivileged children stating that a nation progresses through education and the talent of its youth He called for greater emphasis on practical learning and quality education in schoolsDrawing from his experience as Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Bagde said democracy becomes stronger when citizens remain equally conscious of their duties and rights He also praised the decision to name the Assembly gates after places associated with Rajasthanâs valour and heroic traditions calling it a tribute to the stateâs glorious legacy IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rajasthan-governor-unveils-new-emblem-names-13-gates-within-assembly-premises-674342.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-gupta-calls-on-lg-sandhu-to-discuss-development-growth-issues-674343.html New Delhi May 18 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday discussed issues related to development and growth with Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu a meeting which came amid a major push by the government to promote public transport and undertake measures to check monsoon flooding âHonâble Chief Minister Smt guptarekha called on Honâble LtGovDelhi Sardar SandhuTaranjitS LokNiwasDelhi Discussions focussed on key issues related to the development and growth of Delhiâ said Lok Niwas in a message on XThe discussions followed the Chief Ministerâs reiteration that if it concerns Delhiâs people the development work will get doneShe also announced Rs 150 crore for Dwarkaâs development alongside the Rs 6200 crore Metro expansion project from Kirti Nagar to PalamEarlier on Monday Chief Minister Gupta participated in the âMetro Mondayâ initiative launched under the âMera Bharat Mera Yogdanâ public campaign conveying the message of public transport usage fuel conservation and responsible citizen participationFollowing the Chief Ministerâs appeal all Ministers of the Delhi Government and senior government officials also used Metro Rail and buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation DTC to commute to their officesThe Chief Minister began her day with a message of public participation She walked from her residence at Raj Niwas Marg in Civil Lines to Lok Niwas closeby to attend a meeting chaired by the Lieutenant GovernorThereafter the Chief Minister travelled by electric car to Kashmere Gate Metro Station and used Delhi Metro services from there to ITO Metro Station After reaching ITO Metro Station the Chief Minister used the feeder bus service to travel to her office at the Delhi SecretariatCabinet Ministers in the Delhi Government Parvesh Verma and Ravinder Indraj were also present with the Chief Minister during the journeyThe Chief Minister said that the âMera Bharat Mera Yogdanâ campaign is not merely a government initiative but a movement for public participation Its objective is to convey to every citizen that even a small effort made in national interest plays a significant role in strengthening the countryâs energy security environmental protection and economic balance IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/delhi-cm-gupta-calls-on-lg-sandhu-to-discuss-development-growth-issues-674343.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/aiadmk-rift-deepens-in-tn-as-district-units-turn-battlegrounds-674252.html Chennai May 18 The internal crisis within the AIADMK has deepened further as the partyâs growing factional battle spread across district units in Tamil Nadu triggering tensions and prompting police intervention in several places Supporters of Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS and the rival faction led by former Ministers SP Velumani and CVe Shanmugham are increasingly engaged in a struggle for control leading to party offices being locked and brought under security watchFollowing similar developments in Villupuram Cuddalore Pudukkottai and Karur the latest flashpoint emerged in Dindigul where police stepped in to prevent a confrontation between rival groups seeking control of the district party unitThe Dindigul dispute has brought two influential leaders and former ministers Natham Viswanathan and Dindigul Srinivasan into direct conflict The differences surfaced after EPS removed several districtlevel functionaries believed to be aligned with the rebel factionWhile Natham Viswanathan has backed the VelumaniShanmugham camp Dindigul Srinivasan has remained firmly with EPS Supporters of Viswanathan sought police protection to enter the district office while Srinivasanâs supporters opposed the move resulting in police sealing access and preventing both groups from entering the premises to avoid any lawandorder situationLater Srinivasan held a meeting with his supporters and reiterated that the AIADMK general council had unanimously accepted Edappadi K Palaniswami as the partyâs general secretary and undisputed leaderResponding to questions regarding the rebel MLAs he said the matter would be decided according to legal procedures and indicated that action against them remained inevitableMeanwhile the VelumaniShanmugham faction intensified efforts to convene an emergency general council meeting aimed at challenging the current leadership structureSupporters of the rebel camp have reportedly begun collecting signatures from general council and executive committee members across the state and claim they have already secured support from more than 1000 members At the same time the EPS camp has continued pressing for action against the 25 rebel MLAs accused of violating the party whip during the Assembly trust vote IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/aiadmk-rift-deepens-in-tn-as-district-units-turn-battlegrounds-674252.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/unprecedented-victory-kerala-witnessing-new-political-era-kharge-674255.html New Delhi May 18 On attending the swearingin ceremony of CMdesignate VD Satheesan as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the occasion marks a historic and celebratory moment for the state âAll the Cabinet Ministers will take oath along with him and the ministers from the LDF will also take oath We are going to celebrate a grand occasion today This is an unprecedented victory with such a huge majority never seen there before It is the first time such a large mandate has been achieved and everyone is happy which is why we are all going togetherâ Kharge saidSenior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also described the moment as significant for the people of Kerala and said the verdict reflected a strong public mandate for changeâToday is an auspicious day for the people of Kerala because after 10 years the UDF is coming to power The 10year rule of LDF has been rejected by the people of Kerala So it is our bounden duty to give good governance to the people of Keralaâ he saidPreparations were done at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram as VD Satheesan is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Kerala A large number of people have gathered at the venue ahead of the swearingin ceremonyFifteen years after the Congress last occupied the seat of power in Kerala under late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy the state woke up on Monday to a politically charged atmosphere filled with celebration nostalgia and renewed expectations as the Congressled UDF returns to powerGovernor Rajendra V Arlekar will administer the oath of office to the entire cabinet at the Central Stadium VD Satheesan will take oath as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister formally ending the decadelong rule of CPIM veteran Pinarayi VijayanThe swearingin marks not merely a change of government but the Congress leaders describe it as the beginning of a new political era in KeralaFrom the early hours of the day the state capital wore a festive look Roads leading to the venue were packed with Congress workers and supporters dressed in white khadi waving party flags chanting slogans and distributing sweetsVehicles from across Kerala streamed into Thiruvananthapuram as thousands gathered to witness the historic transition of power The mood within the Congress camp remained one of triumph and vindication after years of political setbacksThe United Democratic Front UDF staged a strong comeback winning 102 seats in the 140member Assembly while the Congress alone secured a record 63 seats its bestever performance in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/unprecedented-victory-kerala-witnessing-new-political-era-kharge-674255.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-deve-gowda-lauds-his-contributions-to-nation-674256.html New Delhi May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended best wishes to former PM HD Deve Gowda on his birthday and said that he has made an outstanding contribution to the nation during his long years in public life PM Modi took to social media X and said Best wishes to Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji on his birthday He has made an outstanding contribution to our nation during his long years in public life He is known for his deep understanding of policyrelated issues and during his long years in public life Praying for his long and healthy lifeUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also extended birthday greetings and said Birthday greetings to former PM amp towering statesman Shri H D Devegowda Ji A son of the soil in the truest sense your lifelong dedication to farmers amp rural India has left an indelible mark on our nation Wishing you a long healthy amp blessed lifeBJP President Nitin Nabin extended birthday wishes and said Warm birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji As a veteran leader and a true Son of the Soil your lifelong commitment to the welfare of farmers and the development of rural India is truly inspiring I pray for your good health happiness and a long life in the service of the nationDefence Minister Rajnath Singh said Greetings and warm wishes to former Prime Minister Shri H D Deve Gowda ji on his birthday He has made noteworthy contribution to Indias development particularly in safeguarding the interests of farmers Praying for his good health and long lifeHD Deve Gowda a staunch crusader of socioeconomic development and an ardent admirer of Indiaâs rich cultural heritage was born on this day in 1933 in Haradanahalli village Holenarasipura taluk Hassan district KarnatakaA Civil Engineering diploma holder Deve Gowda plunged into active politics at the early age of 20 After completing his education he joined the Congress Party in 1953 and remained a member until 1962 Coming from a middleclass agrarian background and exposed to the hardships of farmersâ lives young Gowda vowed to champion the cause of poor farmers underprivileged communities and oppressed sections of societyStarting from the grassroots level of the democratic system Gowda gradually rose through the political ranks He earned a place in the hearts of the people while serving as the President of the Anjaneya Cooperative Society and later as a member of the Taluk Development Board HolenarasipuraAspiring to address social inequalities he always envisioned an ideal welfare state At the age of 28 Gowda contested the 1962 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election as an Independent candidate and achieved a remarkable victory An effective speaker on the Assembly floor he earned admiration from colleagues and seniors alike The Holenarasipura constituency elected him to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for three more consecutive terms the Fourth Assembly 196771 the Fifth Assembly 197277 and the Sixth Assembly 197883His tenure as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly from March 1972 to March 1976 and again from November 1976 to December 1977 brought him considerable acclaimAs a member of the Seventh and Eighth Assemblies he served as the Minister for Public Works and Irrigation During his tenure as Irrigation Minister several irrigation projects were initiated and implemented In 1987 he resigned from the Cabinet in protest against insufficient budgetary allocation for irrigation projectsA crusader for freedom and equality he incurred the displeasure of the Central government during the Emergency period 197576 and was imprisoned Deve Gowda used this period of incarceration to deepen his knowledge through extensive reading His interactions with other prominent political leaders jailed during the Emergency helped shape his political outlook and personality He emerged from prison more experienced and determinedElected to Parliament from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency in 1991 he played a significant role in highlighting the problems of Karnataka especially those affecting farmers to national attention He earned respect for his forthright advocacy of farmersâ issues in Parliament and for upholding the dignity and prestige of parliamentary institutionsDeve Gowda served twice as president of the Janata Party at the state level and became the President of the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal in 1994 He was the driving force behind the Janata Dalâs rise to power in Karnataka in 1994 Elected leader of the Janata Dal Legislative Party he assumed office as the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka on December 11 1994 He later contested from the Ramanagara Assembly constituency and won by a massive marginHis vast political experience and strong grassroots support enabled him to address several challenges faced by the state His political acumen was evident in his handling of the Idgah Maidan issue in Hubballi a politically sensitive dispute involving property claimed by the minority community Gowda successfully facilitated a peaceful resolution to the matterIn January 1995 Gowda visited Switzerland to attend the Forum of International Economists His visits to several European and Middle Eastern countries reflected his stature as a dedicated political leader His visit to Singapore helped attract muchneeded foreign investment to Karnataka demonstrating his administrative and economic visionSince the 1970s both friends and critics have noted his deep involvement in politics and governance Gowda often described his politics as âthe politics of the peopleâ expressing happiness when surrounded by people and working for their welfareIn the 1989 Karnataka Assembly elections the Janata Party performed poorly winning only 2 out of 222 seats contested Gowda himself faced defeat in both constituencies he contested marking the first electoral setback of his political careerThis defeat sharpened his determination to rebuild his political standing and prompted him to reassess his political approach He strengthened relationships both in Karnataka and in Delhi and set aside past rivalries Gowda became known for his simple lifestyle lowprofile personality and effective leadershipBefore entering politics Gowda worked as a contractor undertaking minor public works His seven years as an Independent legislator gave him a valuable perspective on party politics A tireless worker he was frequently seen reading books and periodicals in the legislature library After being reelected in 1967 he gained greater confidence and following the split in the Congress Party in 1969 he joined the Congress O led by Shri Nijalingappa which was then in power in Karnataka His major political breakthrough came after the defeat of Congress O in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections when he emerged as a prominent opposition leader during the wave of support for Indira GandhiBorn to Dodde Gowda and Smt Devamma Deve Gowda has always taken pride in his humble agricultural background He is married to Chennamma and the couple has four sons and two daughters One of his sons became an MLA in Karnataka while another was elected to the Lok SabhaThe leadership of the Third Front a coalition of regional parties and nonCongress nonBJP parties and eventually the office of Prime Minister came to Gowda without active personal ambition for the postDeve Gowda resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 30 1996 and was sworn in as the 11th Prime Minister of India on June 1 1996 He headed a United Front coalition government for just under a year leaving office after losing support from the Congress party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-deve-gowda-lauds-his-contributions-to-nation-674256.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-announces-biennial-elections-for-16-maha-legislative-council-seats-polling-on-june-18-674267.html Mumbai May 18 The Election Commission of India ECI on Monday announced the schedule for the longdelayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC from 16 Local Authorities Constituencies The polling is scheduled on June 18 and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22 According to a press note the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process which must be completed before late June The notification will be issued on May 25 the last date of filing nominations on June 1 scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4The constituencies along with the names of the members whose terms expired include Solapur Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak Retired January 1 2022 Ahmednagar Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap Retired January 1 2022 Thane Phatak Ravindra Sadanand Retired June 8 2022 Jalgaon Chandubhai V Patel Retired December 5 2022 SanglicumSatara Kadam Mohanrao Shripati Retired December 5 2022 Nanded Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar Retired December 5 2022 Yavatmal Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi Retired December 5 2022 Pune Anil Shivajirao Bhosale Retired December 5 2022BhandaracumGondia Dr Parinay Ramesh Fuke Retired December 5 2022 RaigadcumRatnagiricumSindhudurg Aniket Sunil Tatkare Retired May 31 2024 Nashik Narendra Bhikaji Darade Retired June 21 2024 WardhacumChandrapurcumGadchiroli Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar Retired June 21 2024 Amravati Pravin Ramchandra Pote Retired June 21 2024 OsmanabadcumLaturcumBeed Dhas Suresh Ramchandra Retired June 21 2024 ParbhanicumHingoli Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria Retired June 21 2024 and AurangabadcumJalna Ambadas Eknathrao Danve Retired August 29 2025The upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022Under standard ECI guidelines an election for a Local Authoritys constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors voters within those local bodies are in position Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections such as municipal corporations municipal councils and zilla parishads across Maharashtra over the last few years these criteria were not met As a result representation for these areas remained suspendedThe situation has now changed The Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 16 affected constituencies paving the way for the democratic process to resume said the ECI in the notification The 16 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods with some members having retired as far back as January 2022The Model Code of Conduct MCC concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECIs code guidelines restricting any fresh policy announcements administrative transfers or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local selfgovernment elections has fundamentally flipped the script as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections Major regional hubs like Pune Thane Nashik SangliSatara and Yavatmal which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillorsHaving successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur the BJP expects to claim a lions share of these 16 local body seats Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like ThanePalghar and RaigadRatnagiriSindhudurgFor the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress Uddhav Thackerayâs Shiv SenaUBT and Sharad Pawarâs NCPSP these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape Unlike the Assemblyelected seats where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers the Local Authorities seats are a winnertakesall game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillorsThe reality of the local bodies tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground noted a political analyst Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik Jalgaon or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv SenaUBT maintains a committed cadre baseWith 10 newly elected members recently sworn in including six from the BJP the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority Successfully capturing the bulk of the 16 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavisled Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony allowing a frictionfree passage for crucial infrastructure approvals industrial policies and administrative reforms ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-announces-biennial-elections-for-16-maha-legislative-council-seats-polling-on-june-18-674267.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-announces-biennial-polls-for-17-maha-legislative-council-seats-voting-on-june-18-674276.html Mumbai May 18 The Election Commission of India ECI on Monday announced the schedule for the longdelayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC from 17 Local Authorities Constituencies The polling is scheduled on June 18 and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22 According to a press note the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process which must be completed before late June The notification will be issued on May 25 the last date of filing nominations on June 1 scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4The constituencies along with the names of the members whose terms expired include Solapur Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak Retired January 1 2022 Ahmednagar Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap Retired January 1 2022 Thane Phatak Ravindra Sadanand Retired June 8 2022 Jalgaon Chandubhai V Patel Retired December 5 2022 SanglicumSatara Kadam Mohanrao Shripati Retired December 5 2022 Nanded Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar Retired December 5 2022 Yavatmal Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi Retired December 5 2022 Pune Anil Shivajirao Bhosale Retired December 5 2022BhandaracumGondia Dr Parinay Ramesh Fuke Retired December 5 2022 RaigadcumRatnagiricumSindhudurg Aniket Sunil Tatkare Retired May 31 2024 Nashik Narendra Bhikaji Darade Retired June 21 2024 WardhacumChandrapurcumGadchiroli Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar Retired June 21 2024 Amravati Pravin Ramchandra Pote Retired June 21 2024 OsmanabadcumLaturcumBeed Dhas Suresh Ramchandra Retired June 21 2024 ParbhanicumHingoli Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria Retired June 21 2024 and AurangabadcumJalna Ambadas Eknathrao Danve Retired August 29 2025For the 17th seat from Nagpur Local Authoritiesâ Constituency which fell vacant on November 23 2024 after the incumbent BJP legislator Chandrashekhar Bawankule resigned the polling will also take place on June 18 Bawankule who was to retire on January 1 2028 stepped down as he contested the state Assembly elections and won from the Kamthi constituencyThe upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022Under standard ECI guidelines an election for a Local Authoritys constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors voters within those local bodies are in position Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections such as municipal corporations municipal councils and zilla parishads across Maharashtra over the last few years these criteria were not met As a result representation for these areas remained suspendedThe situation has now changed The Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 17 affected constituencies paving the way for the democratic process to resume said the ECI in the notification The 17 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods with some members having retired as far back as January 2022The Model Code of Conduct MCC concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECIs code guidelines restricting any fresh policy announcements administrative transfers or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local selfgovernment elections has fundamentally flipped the script as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections Major regional hubs like Pune Thane Nashik SangliSatara and Yavatmal which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillorsHaving successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur the BJP expects to claim a lions share of these 17 local body seats Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like ThanePalghar and RaigadRatnagiriSindhudurgFor the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress Uddhav Thackerayâs Shiv SenaUBT and Sharad Pawarâs NCPSP these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape Unlike the Assemblyelected seats where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers the Local Authorities seats are a winnertakesall game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillorsThe reality of the local bodies tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground noted a political analyst Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik Jalgaon or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv SenaUBT maintains a committed cadre baseWith 10 newly elected members recently sworn in including six from the BJP the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority Successfully capturing the bulk of the 17 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavisled Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony allowing a frictionfree passage for crucial infrastructure approvals industrial policies and administrative reforms ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-announces-biennial-polls-for-17-maha-legislative-council-seats-voting-on-june-18-674276.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ncp-supremacy-tussle-sunetra-pawar-caught-between-young-turks-and-old-guard-674277.html Mumbai May 18 The Nationalist Congress Party NCP has plunged into a quiet but fierce battle for institutional supremacy At the absolute centre of this storm is Maharashtraâs first woman Deputy Chief Minister and newlyminted NCP National President Sunetra Pawar Having recently won the highstakes Baramati Assembly byeelection to secure her legislative legitimacy she now faces a far more complex domestic battlefield Party insiders confirm she is increasingly caught in a structural tugofwar between the ambitious Young Turks championed by her son Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar and the partyâs deeplyentrenched Old Guard led by political veterans Praful Patel and Sunil TatkareThe friction within the NCP erupted into public view following a series of highly scrutinised communications sent by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India ECIA formal list of officebearers in the newlyconstituted national executive submitted to the ECI on April 29 this year explicitly omitted the definitive organisational titles of Praful Patel National Working President and Sunil Tatkare Maharashtra State Unit ChiefWhile smaller officebearers had their designations clearly detailed the spaces next to the names of the two veteran leaders were left conspicuously blankAs the letter leaked and triggered intense media speculation of a fresh vertical split both Sunetra Pawar and party leaders including Umesh Patil rushed to downplay the issue labelling it a technical oversight or clerical mistakeDespite public damage control senior sources within the party reveal that the letter was an intentional defensive manoeuvre aggressively pushed by the factions younger leadership tier notably Parth Pawar The move was reportedly designed to halt any unauthorised constitutional changes or structural dominance by the veteran duo in the administrative vacuum left by late Ajit PawarTo effectively guide the NCP out of this crisis and prevent a structural meltdown Sunetra Pawar will have to navigate three immediate interlocking challenges including striking an equilibrium in the succession war overcoming the diminished leverage factor and navigating the shadow of Maratha strongman and family patriarch Sharad Pawar and reunification rumoursSunetra Pawarâs most delicate challenge is balancing maternal and dynastic obligations with pragmatic party administrationThe Young Turks want to quickly centralise power within the immediate family to preserve Ajit Pawars core legacy However if Sunetra Pawar sidelining veterans like Praful Patel Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal is perceived as systemic it risks alienating the very leaders who possess the organisational machinery corporate networks and legal expertise necessary to keep the party afloatWhile Sunetra Pawar holds her late husbands executive title of Deputy Chief Minister she does not possess his unparalleled administrative leverageLate Dy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawarâs authority was anchored in his control over the State Finance Ministry which allowed him to control funding to vital rural constituencies With that portfolio currently resting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunetra Pawar is left managing State Excise Sports and Minority DevelopmentLacking the financial leverage to heavily incentivise rural cooperative satraps she faces an uphill task in retaining the loyalty of sugar cooperative directors district cooperative bank chiefs and Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee APMC heads who may begin looking towards Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena or the Opposition MVA for political survivalMoreover the Opposition NCP SP faction led by leaders like Rohit Pawar has actively capitalised on this internal rift By publicly fanning rumours that the Old Guard is merely looking out for personal political survival at the expense of the Pawar family the Opposition is testing the resilience of Sunetras cadreSunetra Pawar will have to definitively assert her autonomous leadership brand to halt grassroots confusion regarding a potential messy future reconciliation with the family patriarchAgainst this backdrop to transition the NCP from a party managing a legacy of grief to a robust independent political force political analysts said that Sunetra Pawar will have to immediately convene a formal national executive meeting to officially reaffirm the roles of the Old Guard while concurrently defining clear substantial responsibilities for the younger leadershipLeaving designations ambiguous only invites paralysing distrust She will have to carve out a peoplecentric identity of her factionWith critical local body elections on the horizon she must fiercely protect the partyâs seatsharing quotas against a highly assertive BJP and Shindeled Shiv Sena demonstrating to her MLAs that her leadership can still guarantee their electoral survivalSunetra Pawarâs transition from a lowprofile social organiser to a frontline political chief is complete However her true test does not lie in beating external political opponents but in whether she can successfully broker peace between the ambitious youth and the seasoned veterans inside her own war roomSanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjayjiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ncp-supremacy-tussle-sunetra-pawar-caught-between-young-turks-and-old-guard-674277.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/even-ed-raids-wont-be-able-to-save-bjp-in-goa-atishi-674279.html New Delhi May 18 Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena on Monday said that even Enforcement Directorate ED raids would not be able to save the BJP in Goa Her remarks came after the ED conducted raids at premises linked to AAP leader Deepak Singla and others in Delhi and Goa in connection with an alleged money laundering caseAtishi took to social media platform X to share a video message saying âEven ED raids wonât be able to save the BJP in GoaâShe alleged that the BJP had previously used the ED against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal during electionsâThe whole nation saw how the BJP used the ED against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal The agency targeted Trinamool Congress leaders during the elections and several party workers were sent to jailâ she saidShe further alleged that data related to Trinamool Congress organisations was accessed with the help of the EDâOnce the elections were over those workers were released from jail After Bengal they started targeting Punjab Raids were conducted at the houses of AAP leaders Leaders who joined the BJP did not face any actionâ she claimedAtishi also referred to AAP leader Sanjeev Arora alleging that action was taken against him after he refused to join the BJPâAfter Punjab their next target is Goa They know very well that the people of Goa are unhappy with the BJP government and that the party could be voted out of power They are also seeing that AAPâs popularity in the state is increasingâ she saidClaiming that the raids on Deepak Singlaâs residence were politicallymotivated she said âAround 15 ED vehicles and nearly 50 officers are involved in the raids They are trying to gather organisational data and information about how AAP functions how it connects with people and who its workers areâAtishi asserted that the AAP would not be intimidated by such actionsâI want to tell the BJP that we are not afraid of ED threats The people of Goa are watching everything The BJP has ruined Goa and even ED raids will not be able to save the party thereâ she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/even-ed-raids-wont-be-able-to-save-bjp-in-goa-atishi-674279.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/my-best-wishes-for-his-tenure-pm-modi-congratulates-vd-satheesan-on-taking-oath-as-kerala-cm-674286.html New Delhi May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated veteran Congress leader VD Satheesan on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala and conveyed best wishes for his tenure PM Modi took to social media platform X and said Congratulations to Shri VD Satheesan Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam My best wishes for his tenure The Central Government assures all possible support for the newlyformed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspirations of the peopleMeanwhile a thunderous roar swept across the packed Central Stadium as VD Satheesan rose to take oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala marking the return of a Congressled UDF government to power after a gap of 10 yearsThe moment Satheesanâs name was announced by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar the crowd erupted into prolonged cheers with party workers waving flags and raising slogans in celebration of the Congressâ return to officeThe excitement was unmistakable as for many Congress workers and supporters this was a longawaited political homecomingThe last Congressled UDF government in Kerala was headed by the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who took oath in 2011The swearingin ceremony held at the Central Stadium just a stoneâs throw away from the seat of power the Secretariat carried both political symbolism and emotional weightSatheesan who turns 62 on Sunday took the oath in the name of God as thousands watched from inside and outside the overflowing venueIn a departure from established convention several national and state political heavyweights shared the dais with Satheesan and his 20 Cabinet colleaguesAmong them were senior Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan State BJP president and newlyelected MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar secretaries of both Communist parties and senior Congress veteransThe Chief Ministers from Congressruled Karnataka Telangana and Himachal Pradesh were seated on the dais underlining the national importance attached by the Congress leadership to the Kerala victoryVeteran IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty was the second to take the oath followed by senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Sunny JosephThe 21member ministry includes 12 ministers from the Congress five from the IUML and one each from Kerala Congress Kerala Congress Jacob CMP and RSP IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/my-best-wishes-for-his-tenure-pm-modi-congratulates-vd-satheesan-on-taking-oath-as-kerala-cm-674286.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congratulations-best-wishes-to-new-govt-bjps-chandrasekhar-as-vd-satheesan-takes-oath-as-kerala-cm-674290.html New Delhi May 18 Kerala BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar extended congratulations and best wishes to the new government as VD Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram âEvery five years in our democracy people are given the opportunity to vote and choose a new government and today is that day In every democracy this is an important occasion In the democracy of our state through the process decided by the people a government has been elected It is our duty to be part of this event and we are here to extend our best wishes to the incoming governmentâ Chandrasekhar saidKerala Mayor VV Rajesh also termed the event historic and noted the participation of senior political leaders across party linesâThatâs a historic moment and our state president who is an MLA also attended that programâ he saidCongress leader K Muraleedharan said he was taking on the responsibility entrusted to him with seriousness âI am taking this responsibility very seriouslyâ he saidMeanwhile VD Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala amid a thunderous roar at the packed Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning marking the formal return of a Congressled United Democratic Front UDF government after a gap of 10 yearsAs Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar called out his name the crowd erupted in loud cheers with party workers waving flags and raising slogans celebrating the return of the Congressled alliance to powerThe atmosphere at the venue reflected a strong sense of political homecoming for Congress supporters many of whom had waited over a decade for the partyâs return to office in the stateThe last Congressled UDF government in Kerala was headed by the late Oommen Chandy who took oath in 2011The swearingin ceremony at the Central Stadium located close to the Kerala Secretariat carried strong political symbolism and emotional significanceSatheesan who turns 62 on Sunday took the oath in the name of God in the presence of thousands of supporters and dignitariesIn a notable display of political convergence leaders from multiple parties and national figures shared the stage with the new Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleaguesAmong those present were senior Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar and senior leaders from both the Communist parties and CongressChief Ministers from Congressruled Karnataka Telangana and Himachal Pradesh were also present underscoring the national significance of the political eventVeteran IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty was the second to take the oath followed by senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Sunny Joseph IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congratulations-best-wishes-to-new-govt-bjps-chandrasekhar-as-vd-satheesan-takes-oath-as-kerala-cm-674290.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Rome May 17 Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said Incredible India on the move in Rome Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said on social media platform X on SaturdayAccording to the Embassy the campaign was flagged off by Deputy Chief of Mission Gaurav GandhiHop On Hop Off HOHO buses are red tourist buses that offer a panoramic tour of Rome with multilingual commentariesTourists can hop on and hop off the buses as many times as they wantThe campaign was launched by the Indian Embassy ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Italy from May 19 to May 21Prime Minister Modi is visiting Italy at the invitation of PM Giorgia MeloniThe Prime Minister had last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 SummitDuring the visit PM Modi will call on the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister MeloniThe visit comes after intense leaderlevel engagement and is anchored by the Joint Strategic Plan of Action 202529 which serves as the operational roadmap for the partnershipItaly increasingly views India not just as a market but as a major power and an indispensable partner for EuropeItalys championing of IndiaâMiddle EastâEurope Economic Corridor IMEEC as a founding member with the SparkleAirtel BlueRaman submarine cable to Genoa now activated makes it the western anchor of the corridorIMEEC ensures not just stability of supply chains but also gives a boost to Indias energy securityItaly is Indias fourth largest trading partner in the EU with bilateral trade reaching 1677 billion in 2025 and a target of â20 billion by 2029Tata Motors â38 billion acquisition of the Iveco Group is the largest Indian investment in Italy till date while Italy has opened a SIMEST office in Delhi with a â500 million funding line and SACE has added â200 million for SMEsThe postIndiaEU Free Trade Agreement environment unlocks fresh scale for both sides IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/stop-politicising-cong-must-answer-for-own-disastrous-record-on-exam-scams-bjp-leader-pradeep-bhandari-674155.html New Delhi May 16 The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has criticised the Congress accusing it of playing politics with the academic futures of twentytwo lakh students across the country Highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday asked the Congress to stop politicising the actions of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and instead focus on its own historical shortcomings regarding national examinationsTaking to his official X account Bhandari challenged the Congress to answer for its past record on major academic scamsHe pointed out numerous highprofile examination paper leaks and scandals that took place under previous Congress administrations specifically referencing the All India PreMedical Test leaks Staff Selection Commission scams and Central Board of Secondary Education paper leaksHe also noted that multiple recruitment scams had repeatedly occurred in states ruled by the CongressBhandari claimed that the people have not forgotten how the name of Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra was linked to past examination paper leak scandals accusing the current Congress leadership of continuing to provide patronage to those involvedIn stark contrast the BJP spokesperson defended the performance and integrity of the current BJP administrationHe emphasised that the Narendra Modiled Union government responded with swift accountability following the emergence of irregularities in the NEETUG 2026 examinationBhandari said that the NEET examination was cancelled quickly to protect honest students and an immediate reexamination was scheduled for June 21 without placing any additional financial burden on the aspirantsHe further credited the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for publicly addressing the issue and accepting institutional responsibility while noting that the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation immediatelyDetailing the law enforcement action taken so far Bhandari listed the arrests of key individuals including alleged mastermind PV Kulkarni and Biology lecturer Manisha MandhareHe added that various operations have led to the apprehension of related operatives from multiple locations including Jaipur Gurugram and NashikBhandari also said that the Union government is neither executing a coverup nor maintaining silence but is rather taking decisive actionHe added that the Narendra Modi government stands firmly in support of honest students over political opportunists and exam mafias IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/stop-politicising-cong-must-answer-for-own-disastrous-record-on-exam-scams-bjp-leader-pradeep-bhandari-674155.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bulldozer-drive-clears-illegal-encroachments-outside-howrah-railway-station-674173.html Kolkata May 17 The railway administration conducted a major antiencroachment drive outside Howrah Station in West Bengal using bulldozers to clear illegal shops and structures A notice had been issued earlier to clear the area As the illegal encroachment remained Railway Police used bulldozers to evict illegal shops from outside the Howrah station The action was carried out late Saturday nightThose who used to do small businesses on the streets and footpaths outside the station without permission have been evicted Many of the temporary shops have also been demolished and the entire station premises have been cleared by using bulldozersThe encroached areas adjacent to the station had been hindering pedestrian movement The Railway Police claimed the action was taken for the convenience of the common people saying that from now on there will be no more problems for the passengersOn Saturday night a huge crowd gathered outside Howrah station to watch the eviction drive However the police asked people to carry on with their work and not crowd around the eviction drive The police were heard saying on a loudspeaker Dont crowd here Passengers go to the station take the bus those who have come here to catch the bus There is no drama happening here You do your job Let the administration do its jobA large number of Railway Police Force RPF were involved in the eviction drive who were accompanied by the regular police force It is reported that more than 150 illegal shops were demolished with bulldozersAs the bulldozers entered the area in the presence of the police there was a commotion with the squatters initially resisting The footpath traders alleged that the Railways had given them a notice to vacate their premises a day earlier And then suddenly the Saturday night operation was carried out Many were able to move their stalls elsewhereThe railway authorities however said that the eviction drive was being carried out for the convenience of the passengersA large number of passengers and other onlookers who had gathered at the spot said that they were also happy about the action being takenEarlier illegal encroachments were cleared similarly from outside the Sealdah Station in KolkataIt may be noted that in a bulldozer drive recently an illegal factory in a residential building was demolished in the Topsia area of East Kolkata where a fire broke out killing two people and injuring three others IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bulldozer-drive-clears-illegal-encroachments-outside-howrah-railway-station-674173.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bro-steps-in-to-restore-connectivity-begins-bailey-bridge-work-after-vikramshila-setu-collapse-in-bihar-674178.html Patna May 17 Days after a portion of the Vikramshila Setu in Bihars Bhagalpur district collapsed the Border Roads Organisation BRO has begun the construction of a temporary Bailey bridge over the damaged area The development comes as a major relief for the commuters as the collapse of the bridge disrupted connectivity and caused difficulties for the general publicAs of now a 49metrelong temporary Bailey bridge is being constructed to restore light vehicular trafficAhead of the construction on Saturday priests along with BRO personnel performed bhoomi pujan at the site The officials aim to complete the construction as soon as possible given the time constraint arising due to the problems being faced by commutersThe Bihar government has planned to resume the movement of small vehicles on the bridge soonThe incident had occurred in the wee hours of May 4 following which the Bihar government initiated administrative action and sought central assistance to fasttrack repairsAccording to an official following subsidence in the approach section on the Bhagalpur side a stretch of nearly 33 meters of the bridge gave way and fell into the Ganga RiverThe states Road Construction Department has suspended an Executive Engineer on charges of negligenceGiven the seriousness of the situation Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military leadership for the construction of the bridgeConnectivity across 16 districts including the Seemanchal region and Jharkhand was disrupted in the aftermath of the incident and the daily movement of nearly 1 lakh people has also been affectedThe bridge serves as a critical lifeline between north and south BiharThe incident has raised serious concerns especially as the bridge has undergone three rounds of repairs in the past decade with the latest maintenance completed in March 2026The recurrence of structural damage has triggered questions about construction quality and oversight IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bro-steps-in-to-restore-connectivity-begins-bailey-bridge-work-after-vikramshila-setu-collapse-in-bihar-674178.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/put-in-hours-of-study-hopeful-of-good-results-aspirants-on-jee-advanced-2026-674182.html New Delhi May 17 Aspirants appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination JEE Advanced 2026 on Sunday were anxious as they waited to enter exam centres in various parts of the country However the students were hopeful of scoring well after grinding for hours to prepare for the nationallevel examination for admission to various engineering colleges Candidates have to first qualify the JEE Main examination to be eligible for the Advanced examIn Gujarats Ahmedabad a student who aimed for a seat at IIT Delhi said I have worked very hard for the past two years so I am feeling very nervous and anxious about how the exam will go But I am also confident that the hard work I have put in will definitely bring good resultsI want to take admission in Computer Science he told IANSAnother student who wants to pursue aeronautics engineering from IIT Bombay said I have also worked hard for this exam and am also hoping for a good score I used to come for my tuition classes at seven in the morning and leave at seven in the eveningJay a student waiting outside an exam centre in the states Rajkot district said I have scored well in JEE Mains and am hoping to score high in the Advanced too I want to pursue civil engineeringJay said that he studied for sixseven hours daily during his preparation for the examAnother civil engineering aspirant Priyanshi also highlighted her parents support behind her hard work and expressed confidence that her 10 hours of studying every day will bear fruitRajesh whose parents are farmers said that he prepared for eightnine hours in a day to fulfill his dream of becoming an engineerMy parents and teachers have supported me a lot in my studies he told IANSAnother student whose father runs a tuition centre said that it was his father who motivated him to take up the competitive exam I want to become a software engineer he mentionedA crowd of parents waited in anticipation outside several examination centres across the nationIn Punjabs Patiala Balbir Singh whose brothers granddaughter is appearing for the examination said that the seating and other arrangements related to the exam have improved from what it was beforeAnother parent emphasised that students preparing for such competitive examinations remain under immense pressureThe children study till 130 2 am and wake up early in the morning to resume their preparation Parents also remain worried seeing the hard work and stress their children go through he saidReferring to the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak he urged the government to take appropriate measures so that such instances are not repeated which also leads to student suicides as their years of hard work go in vain IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/put-in-hours-of-study-hopeful-of-good-results-aspirants-on-jee-advanced-2026-674182.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-leader-claims-kerala-cms-pick-under-iuml-pressure-calls-cong-islamic-national-caliphate-674190.html New Delhi May 17 Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday claimed that Congress selected VD Satheesan as the Chief Minister of Kerala due to pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League IUML He also labelled the grand old party as the Islamic National Caliphate accusing it of being antiHindu Speaking to IANS Poonawalla said We had already said that VD Satheesan is not the Chief Minister of the Congress but was chosen as the first Chief Minister of the Muslim League because the choice of the Congress MLAs was someone elseHe alleged that the Congress High Command in Delhi picked Satheesans name due to pressure from the Muslim League and the JamaatThe Muslim league thinks that now since their government has come to power in Kerala they can do anything and want to make a Muslim Islamic Republic he further allegedHe added The Congress which has bowed down to the Muslim league now must change its name from Indian National Congress to Islamic National CaliphateResponding to the question regarding Congress stand on the Bhojshala verdict the BJP leader reiterated the partys antiHindu allegation against CongressPoonawalla said When the court delivered its verdict in favour of Hindus in the Bhojshala matter why is the Indian National Congress so upset The Congress party has become so antiHindu that even when Hindus secure their constitutional rights through the court the party still opposes itToday the Congress identity has become synonymous with insulting the Hindus he allegedNotably Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had accused the BJP of exploiting the Bhojshala issue to provoke a HinduMuslim divideLaunching an attack on Singh Poonawalla said When Muslims speak against Hindus and compare Bhagwa Saffron and Hindus to terror are these things not communal for Digvijaya Singh but when a court passes an order it amounts to communalism for himHe further termed the Congress leaders statement as a remark on the judiciaryHe alleged that Digvijaya Singh is representing the Congress partys antiHindu faceSeparately Shehzad Poonawalla accused Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee of provoking the public with his statementBanerjee had earlier accused the BJPled Centre of misusing Central agencies and administrative machinery against the Trinamool Congress TMCReacting to the same Poonawalla said He Banerjee himself is a lawyer but still doesnt have faith in the Supreme Court TMC is The Mazaak of Constitution who refused to accept defeat after the Assembly poll results IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-leader-claims-kerala-cms-pick-under-iuml-pressure-calls-cong-islamic-national-caliphate-674190.html Sun, 17 May 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cm-sarma-reaffirms-commitment-to-reclaim-over-1250-sq-km-of-encroached-land-674209.html Guwahati May 17 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday reiterated the NDA governments commitment to reclaiming encroached land across the state stating that groundlevel operations have already begun as part of the administrations larger campaign against illegal occupation of landTaking to X the Chief Minister said the government remains determined to recover vast stretches of land that it claims have been illegally encroached uponNDA 30 is committed to reclaiming over 1250 sq km of encroached land in Assam We are already on the ground working towards realising this promise CM Sarma wroteAlong with the post the Chief Minister also shared a video showing yellow JCB backhoe loaders demolishing structures and clearing large heaps of debris including wooden planks and metal sheets in what appeared to be a rural hilly areaSarma has repeatedly asserted his governments resolve to intensify eviction and land recovery drives in AssamOn the eve of taking oath as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term Sarma on May 11 had declared that the land identity and future of Assam would remain nonnegotiable under his administrationHe had then pledged that the government would free nearly 5 lakh bighas of land from encroachment by significantly scaling up eviction drives during the NDA governments new term compared to operations carried out earlierThe Chief Minister had also used social media to announce what he described as a stronger and more aggressive campaign against illegal land occupation in the stateAssams land identity and future are nonnegotiable After freeing 15 lakh bighas of land from encroachment NDA 30 moves ahead with a firm resolve to reclaim 5 lakh more bighas for the people of Assam Because for us Jati Mati Bheti comes first he had posted on XThe slogan Jati Mati Bheti referring to community land and homeland has remained central to the BJPled governments political messaging in Assam particularly on issues linked to identity and land rightsMeanwhile CM Sarma has also reiterated the NDA governments commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code UCC in Assam stating that every assurance made in the partys election manifesto would be honouredSpeaking to reporters the Chief Minister said the government was fully committed to carrying forward all promises outlined during the election campaignUCC is a part of our election manifesto So every point in our election manifesto not only UCC all that we have mentioned in our election manifesto well try 100 per cent to implement Sarma saidHis remarks come amid renewed national discussions surrounding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in BJPruled statesThe proposed UCC seeks to replace religionbased personal laws governing issues such as marriage divorce inheritance and adoption with a uniform legal framework applicable equally to all citizens irrespective of religionIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/assam-cm-sarma-reaffirms-commitment-to-reclaim-over-1250-sq-km-of-encroached-land-674209.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-inaugurates-million-minds-tech-park-real-estate-management-institute-in-ahmedabad--674217.html Gandhinagar May 17 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Million Minds Tech Park and the Ganesh Real Estate Management Institute in Ahmedabad on SundaynbspSpeaking on the occasion the Union Home Minister said that Gujarat will take lead in the field of technology just the way it has led the nation since IndependencenbspHe added that these two projects would give fresh momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of transforming Gujarat from merely a manufacturing hub into a leading global centre for services and technologyExpressing his vision of placing Gujarat among the top three states in the service sector Home Minister Shah said that the state has consistently focused on economic activitiesnbspThrough the Million Minds Tech Park thousands of highly skilled employment opportunities will be created for the youth of the statenbspThe tech park will promote research innovation and technological development in advanced sectors such as Artificial Intelligence AI robotics and semiconductorsUnion Minister Amit Shah also said that the Ganesh Real Estate Management Institute would play an important role in bringing professionalism and modernisation to the real estate sectornbspThe institute will prepare skilled human resources through modern urban planning technologyoriented courses and training aligned with global standardsnbspThe Union Home Minister noted that Gujarat is today providing a new direction to the country in the fields of technology industry and modern infrastructure development and such specialised institutions and technologydriven projects would strengthen the states position in the global economyHe added that the tech city being developed over nearly 65 acres in the AhmedabadGIFT CityGandhinagar highgrowth corridor near Vaishnodevi Circle will include GradeA office spaces residential facilities retail and hospitality infrastructure The project is expected to generate more than 70000 highskilled jobsnbspGujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that the state has achieved remarkable progress in manufacturing ports infrastructure green energy pharmaceuticals and investment transforming the politics of development into national ideologyThe state is now entering a new phase of development driven by IT innovation and a technologybased economy the Chief Minister notednbspHe also remarked that the Million Minds Tech Park would play a significant role in Gujarats technologydriven growth describing it as not merely a real estate development but also a centre that would generate highskilled employment and accelerate the digital economynbspHe also said that the dream of Gujarat 20 is becoming a reality through sectors such as the digital economy Artificial Intelligence semiconductors Global Capability Centres GCC and knowledgebased servicesDue to the state governments IT policy and GCC policy along with the encouraging policies of the Central Government Gujarats IT sector is poised for rapid growthnbspChief Minister Patel added that GIFT City is emerging as a global financial and technology ecosystem while the semiconductor ecosystem developing in Sanand and Dholera Special Investment Region will establish Gujarat as a semiconductor hubGIFT City and Dholera will become powerful engines of Gujarats economic growth in the coming years he assertednbspThe Chief Minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the countrys first semihighspeed rail project between Ahmedabad and Dholera to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 20000 crorenbspHe said such modern infrastructure would play a crucial role in attracting investments from across India and abroadIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-inaugurates-million-minds-tech-park-real-estate-management-institute-in-ahmedabad--674217.html Sun, 17 May 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-review-key-development-projects-in-gujarat-today-674053.html New Delhi May 16 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will be on a twoday visit to Gujarat starting Saturday where he will participate in a series of official programmes in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar During the visit the senior BJP leader is expected to review major development initiatives interact with newly elected civic representatives and inaugurate a new milk processing plant aimed at strengthening the dairy sector in the regionAs part of his engagements Amit Shah will meet the newly elected corporators of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC He will also hold review meetings with senior municipal officials to assess the progress of ongoing development works in Ahmedabad and GandhinagarThe Union Minister will chair a highlevel review meeting at the AMC South West Zone office in Ahmedabad on Saturday The meeting will focus on development projects under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and is expected to include discussions on several important civic and infrastructure initiatives worth crores of rupeesKey issues likely to be discussed during the meeting include urban infrastructure development pond interlinking projects and preparations for the Mission 5 Million Trees campaign planned for the upcoming monsoon season Senior civic officials including the Municipal Commissioner and top administrative officers are expected to attend the review meetingThe visit is being seen as significant in terms of monitoring development activities and accelerating civic projects in the region Officials are also expected to brief the Union Minister on the implementation status of various public welfare and environmental initiativesOn May 17 Amit Shah will travel to Gandhinagar district to inaugurate a newly constructed milk processing plant of Madhur Dairy operated by the Gandhinagar District Milk Producersâ Cooperative SocietyThe new dairy plant has been set up near Dashela village close to Chiloda in Gandhinagar district The inauguration programme is scheduled to begin at 100 PM During the visit the Union Home Minister will inspect the modern milk processing facility and later address a public gathering at the venueThe newly inaugurated plant is expected to significantly enhance dairy processing capacity in the region and provide benefits to local milk producers associated with the cooperative network IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/hm-shah-to-review-key-development-projects-in-gujarat-today-674053.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html New Delhi May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the Netherlands PM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across EuropeAnnouncing the Prime Ministerâs arrival Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X stating âGoedeavond Nederland PM narendramodi has arrived in the Netherlands The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted IndiaâNetherlands partnership and to engage with the largest Indian diaspora on mainland EuropeâEarlier during a special briefing on the Prime Ministerâs visit Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said âOur partnership has considerably deepened over the last few years across traditional sectors of trade investment and priority sectors of WAH â water agriculture and health â as well as peopletopeople ties In recent years cooperation has further expanded into strategic areas such as technology innovation defence security semiconductors renewable energy education and the maritime domainâPeopletopeople ties continue to remain a significant pillar of the IndiaNetherlands bilateral relationship The Netherlands is home to more than 90000 NonResident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin as well as over 200000 members of the Suriname Hindustani community Additionally around 3500 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education at various universities across the countryThe visit carries a rich and substantive agenda and is expected to consolidate the new strategic dimensions of the partnership that have emerged through the sustained efforts of both countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html The Hague May 16 Members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands on Saturday described themselves as fortunate to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally calling the experience one of the greatest honours of their lives A member of the Indian diaspora told IANS âWe are fortunate to meet PM Modi personally I would like to say that PM Modi is not just an Indian leader but a world leader He has put in a lot of effort into making India a strong nationâAnother member of the diaspora expressed excitement over the interaction and said âIt was amazing It was the honour of our lives Meeting PM Modi in person was truly a blessingâA member of the Muslim community in the Indian diaspora also shared happiness after meeting the Prime Minister and said âI am very happy I have grown up in India and today I got an opportunity to meet PM ModiâArtistes from the Netherlands who performed during the event also expressed gratitude and excitement over the opportunity to present Indian culture before the Prime MinisterOne artiste said âWe presented a beautiful Ram bhajan We were very honoured to perform in front of PM Modi It was blissful to see the twinkle in his eyes and it was truly a blessing to perform for himâAnother artiste said âIt was beautiful to present our classical art forms here in the Netherlands in front of PM Modi It truly feels like a blessed momentâA third performer described the occasion as a âunique experienceâ and said it was a great honour to perform before âone of the world leadersâEarlier in the day PM Modi shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsPM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across Europe IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-kerala-cm-vijayan-faces-heat-as-cpi-674074.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 For nearly three decades Pinarayi Vijayan stood as the unquestioned strongman of the CPIM in Kerala Now the Assembly poll debacle has triggered a wave of dissent against Vijayan From the time he entered the EK Nayanar Cabinet in 1996 and later assumed charge as state secretary in 1998 Vijayan steadily consolidated his authority within the party with an iron grip that few dared to challengeHowever the political landscape within the CPIM appears to have dramatically shifted after the crushing Assembly election debacle of May 4 when the Left Front which once commanded 99 seats in the 140member Assembly was reduced to a mere 35 seatsThe electoral humiliation has triggered an unprecedented wave of dissent against Vijayan and state secretary MV GovindanWhat began as murmurs inside the Politburo soon spilled into the state committee meeting where Vijayan reportedly faced criticism unlike anything seen in his long political careerThat discontent has now spread to the district level with Pathanamthitta and Kannur district secretariat meetings openly questioning the leadership style and political decisions of both Vijayan and GovindanThe criticism from Pathanamthitta was particularly explosiveLeaders there openly challenged the decision to appoint Vijayan as Leader of the Opposition after the defeat arguing that the agelimit relaxation granted to him was meant to continue as Chief Minister and not to remain at the helm after a massive electoral rejectionThe meeting also attacked the functioning of the Chief Ministerâs Office alleging that grassroots party workers were alienated and denied access during the Left governmentâs decade long tenureKannur long considered Vijayanâs political fortress echoed similar concernsLeaders reportedly said the party leadership failed to read the public mood and that Vijayanâs style and public statements became liabilities during the campaignGovindan too finds himself under pressureUnlike Vijayan Govindan never fully connected either with the cadre or the broader publicNow allegations that he prioritised personal and family interests over organisational issues have further weakened his standing within the party It has doubled after his wife lost to a party rebelWith 12 more district committee meetings yet to take place party insiders do not expect the criticism to subsideAttention is now turning towards whether the CPIM leadership will convene a special plenum to seriously assess the collapseIronically after the disastrous 2024 Lok Sabha elections and again following the Leftâs worstever setback in the local body polls the leadership had promised a âreviewâThe same narrative is now being repeated once again But this time the crisis appears deeperThe CPIM is facing not just an electoral defeat but a crisis of leadership And for the first time in decades both Pinarayi Vijayan and Govindan appear politically vulnerable within their own party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ex-kerala-cm-vijayan-faces-heat-as-cpi-674074.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674077.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Naduâs staterun transport corporations are staring at an additional annual financial burden of nearly Rs 17558 crore following the recent Rs 286 per litre hike in highspeed diesel prices announced by oil marketing companies The increase is expected to further strain the already lossmaking public transport sector in the state The eight state transport undertakings â Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC State Express Transport Corporation SETC and the six divisions of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation TNSTC â together operate around 19000 buses every day across more than 10120 routes These buses consume an average of 1682 lakh litres of diesel daily while covering nearly 81 lakh kilometres across Tamil NaduAccording to Transport Department Secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru the transport corporations are already incurring a combined daily loss of nearly Rs 19 crore With the latest rise in diesel prices the daily operational loss is expected to rise further by around Rs 4811 lakhOfficials said the transport corporations spend nearly Rs 5200 crore annually on diesel purchases alone which accounts for around 26 per cent of the total expenditure involved in operating bus services The staterun buses continue to remain the backbone of Tamil Naduâs public transport network connecting nearly 98 per cent of villages with populations exceeding 1000Transport workersâ unions have blamed the worsening financial condition on the governmentâs continued reluctance to revise bus fares in proportion to rising fuel prices Government bus fares were last revised in January 2018 when diesel was priced at around Rs 65 per litre The price has now touched nearly Rs 95 per litreOfficial records show that the average daily loss of the transport corporations rose steadily from Rs 1683 crore in 202223 to Rs 177 crore in 202324 before reaching Rs 189 crore in 202425 Despite the mounting losses Tamil Nadu continues to register the highest public transport ridership in the countryAverage daily passenger usage increased from 155 crore commuters in 202122 to nearly 205 crore in 202526 This includes around 70 lakh women passengers travelling free of cost under the State governmentâs Vidiyal Payanam scheme operating on 7331 ordinary busesTamil Nadu also continues to maintain one of the cheapest bus fare structures in the country The fare for ordinary buses stands at 58 paise per kilometre while ultra deluxe buses charge Rs 1 per kilometreIn neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Kerala ordinary bus fares range between 75 paise and Rs 1 per kilometre while premium services charge between Rs 120 and Rs 168 per kilometre IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674077.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674079.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Naduâs staterun transport corporations are staring at an additional annual financial burden of nearly Rs 17558 crore following the recent Rs 286 per litre hike in highspeed diesel prices announced by oil marketing companies The increase is expected to further strain the already lossmaking public transport sector in the state The eight state transport undertakings â Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC State Express Transport Corporation SETC and the six divisions of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation TNSTC â together operate around 19000 buses every day across more than 10120 routes These buses consume an average of 1682 lakh litres of diesel daily while covering nearly 81 lakh kilometres across Tamil NaduAccording to Transport Department Secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru the transport corporations are already incurring a combined daily loss of nearly Rs 19 crore With the latest rise in diesel prices the daily operational loss is expected to rise further by around Rs 4811 lakhOfficials said the transport corporations spend nearly Rs 5200 crore annually on diesel purchases alone which accounts for around 26 per cent of the total expenditure involved in operating bus services The staterun buses continue to remain the backbone of Tamil Naduâs public transport network connecting nearly 98 per cent of villages with populations exceeding 1000Transport workersâ unions have blamed the worsening financial condition on the governmentâs continued reluctance to revise bus fares in proportion to rising fuel prices Government bus fares were last revised in January 2018 when diesel was priced at around Rs 65 per litre The price has now touched nearly Rs 95 per litreOfficial records show that the average daily loss of the transport corporations rose steadily from Rs 1683 crore in 202223 to Rs 177 crore in 202324 before reaching Rs 189 crore in 202425 Despite the mounting losses Tamil Nadu continues to register the highest public transport ridership in the countryAverage daily passenger usage increased from 155 crore commuters in 202122 to nearly 205 crore in 202526 This includes around 70 lakh women passengers travelling free of cost under the State governmentâs Vidiyal Payanam scheme operating on 7331 ordinary busesTamil Nadu also continues to maintain one of the cheapest bus fare structures in the country The fare for ordinary buses stands at 58 paise per kilometre while ultra deluxe buses charge Rs 1 per kilometreIn neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Kerala ordinary bus fares range between 75 paise and Rs 1 per kilometre while premium services charge between Rs 120 and Rs 168 per kilometre IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674079.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-vijayendra-takes-metro-backs-pm-modi-targets-congress-on-fuel-prices-674080.html Bengaluru May 16 Karnataka BJP State President BY Vijayendra on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs call for conservation of fuel must be followed by all citizens in view of global economic challenges and rising fuel prices Speaking in Bengaluru while travelling by public transport Metro rail to attend official engagements Vijayendra said the global warlike situation and its economic consequences had affected not only India but countries across the worldâOur Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for conservation At a time when the world is facing economic challenges every citizen in the country should think about thisâ he saidReferring to the Prime Minister reducing the number of convoy vehicles Vijayendra said the BJP national leadership was also following the same principleâThe Prime Minister has reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy Following his call even the BJP National President is practising this It is a good thought We need to minimise the use of vehiclesâ he saidVijayendra further said the Prime Minister had encouraged citizens to use buses and public transport wherever possible âHe has given a call to switch to buses and public transport He is a model for every citizen of the country As the State President of the party it is my duty to follow his appealâ he saidHe said he was travelling by Metro to attend a party event at Kumbalagodu on the outskirts of Bengaluru and would also visit the Art of Living Centre to seek the blessings of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi ShankarâI am travelling by Metro to the venues and will also return by Metroâ he addedCommenting on the criticism over fuel price hikes Vijayendra questioned the opposition parties over their stand and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of repeatedly increasing taxes on fuelâDo opposition parties not know why fuel prices are being increased If they are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over petrol price hikes then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar should have resigned last year itselfâ he saidVijayendra alleged that the Karnataka government had increased fuel prices despite there being no comparable hike at the Centre or global level at that timeâWithout any corresponding price rise at the Centre or global level the Congress government in Karnataka increased fuel prices by imposing higher taxes They have done it multiple times How many times would Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have resigned then They should not speak merely for the sake of politicsâ he saidHe further stated that opposition parties should understand the present global economic situation and the reasons behind the Prime Ministerâs call for conservation of fuelAsked whether the Centre had delayed fuel price hikes until after state elections Vijayendra rejected the allegation and cited the Union governmentâs decision to increase the income tax exemption limitâFor the benefit of the middle class and to reduce the income tax burden there were demands to revise tax slabs If Congress were in power it would have announced it during the elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do it during the elections The government took the decision two years before the Lok Sabha elections and increased the tax exemption limit up to Rs 12 lakhâ he saidHe asserted that the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi never took decisions with elections in mind but acted in the interest of the people and the poor at an appropriate timeMeanwhile Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also defended the Narendra Modiled Central government over fuel prices and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of burdening people with repeated price hikes on essential commodities and public servicesIn a statement Ashoka said the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not imposed âeven a single paisa burdenâ on common citizens for 49 months despite global wars and international oil crisesâThe Narendra Modiled government maintained fuel price stability for a continuous period of four years despite immense pressure arising from wars and global oil market volatility This is a record in the history of independent Indiaâ he saidAshoka claimed that while fuel prices had increased sharply in several countries the rise in India remained comparatively lowâFuel prices increased by 897 per cent in Myanmar 549 per cent in Pakistan and 445 per cent in the United States whereas in India the increase was only 32 per cent This reflects the efficiency and strength of Modiâs governanceâ he statedAshoka further alleged that milk prices had been increased by Rs 9 electricity tariffs by 56 paise per unit and bus fares by 15 per cent during the Congress governmentâs tenure in KarnatakaâWater charges property tax and Metro fares have also gone upâ he saidAccusing the state government of misleading the public through its guarantee schemes Ashoka said âOn one hand they offer Rs 2000 guarantees but on the other hand they are taking away more than Rs 4000 every month from citizens through repeated price hikes What else should this be called if not daylight robberyâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ktaka-bjp-chief-vijayendra-takes-metro-backs-pm-modi-targets-congress-on-fuel-prices-674080.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-urges-citizens-to-remain-cautious-as-pm-modi-dismisses-foreign-travel-levy-report-674090.html Patna May 16 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed a sourcebased media report claiming that the government was considering imposing a levy on foreign travel the BJP on Saturday urged caution Speaking to IANS Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said âThe Prime Minister has already clarified the matter PM Modi has appealed to all citizens of the country regarding the ongoing concerns related to the dollar and gold markets urging them to remain alert and cautious in order to keep Indiaâs economy strongâSenior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain also criticised the spread of misinformation and said there was no reason to misrepresent the governmentâs positionHe said âThere is no need for anyone to spread any kind of rumours The Prime Minister has already posted about this and clearly stated that there is no need to misrepresent things that the government has not doneâBihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary alleged that the Opposition was misleading the public for political reasonsHe said âWithout any basis the Opposition was claiming that the government is going to impose a tax on foreign travel just to mislead the citizens The Prime Minister himself has clarified the situation stating that the government has no such intention The real matter is that because they have been continuously out of power and have been repeatedly rejected by the public due to their own character the Opposition is in a state of despair and frustrationIn a rare rebuttal PM Modi has rubbished a media report which claimed the government is considering a cess or tax on foreign travelThe report by CNBCTV18 said a proposal to levy a cess tax or surcharge on foreign travel was being discussed at the highest levels of the governmentTaking to X on Friday PM Modi replied to the post by the media outlet and said there was not even an iota of truth to the reportThis is totally false Not an iota of truth in this There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel We remain committed to improving Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living for our people the Prime Minister wroteMinutes later CNBCTV18 issued an apology and said it was withdrawing the storyOur story on government considering taxcess on foreign travel is not accurate We withdraw the story and regret the error the outlet posted on XIn a graphic about the report that was shared on social media CNBCTV18 had said that the proposal on the tax was being discussed in the highest echelons of the government and was aimed at cushioning the fiscal impact from the US and Israels war against Iran The move it said would also mitigate higher crude and import costsThe report claimed the cess would go directly to the Centre and would be in place for a year It stated that the finance ministry had not responded to queries on the proposalOn Sunday PM Modi had urged citizens to help conserve petrol diesel and foreign exchange reserves by using public transport avoiding unnecessary foreign travel and refraining from nonessential gold purchases IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/bjp-urges-citizens-to-remain-cautious-as-pm-modi-dismisses-foreign-travel-levy-report-674090.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-police-raids-15-locations-in-sopore-linked-to-uapa-cases-674099.html Srinagar May 16 Police in JampKâs Sopore subdivision on Saturday carried out searches at 15 locations in connection with the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA cases linked to the banned JamaateIslami organisation Police said that in Sopore subdivision searches were carried out at over 15 locations across Bomai Warpora Sopore and Tarzoo in connection with a UAPA case linked to the banned JamaateIslami networkThe ban on the JamaateIslami party was extended by the government of India for another five years starting from February 2024 declaring it an unlawful association under the UAPAThe organisation is accused of encouraging terrorism and secessionism in JampK Jamaat was first banned in 2019 and the ban was extended in February 2024 for another five years due to continued activities against national securityAuthorities are actively seizing properties and schools linked to the organisation Till April 2026 the JampK administration has taken over dozens of schools associated with the FalaheAam Trust which is linked to the banPolice continue to conduct raids and search operations against networks linked to the banned organisation under the UAPA including recent operations in North Kashmir areas this monthDespite the ban members affiliated with the group have shown interest in participating in democratic processes and some formerly associated members contested the 2024 Assembly elections under new banners creating a split within the group with some members exploring new political paths while others maintain the original stanceThe Ministry of Home Affairs states that the Jamaat is involved in fomenting militancy supporting antiIndia propaganda and aiming to disrupt the unity and integrity of the countryThe organisation was originally formed to encourage Islamic revival in the region but was banned due to its role in supporting violent activities and separatismThe terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was formed by youth and senior Jamaat activists as the armed wing of the JamaatThe socalled supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Sallahuddin presently based in PakistanOccupiedKashmir PoK was a senior Jamaat leader and the party candidate in the 1987 Assembly electionsMost of the âeldersâ of the Hizbul Mujahideen were also senior cadre of the JamaateIslami IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/jampk-police-raids-15-locations-in-sopore-linked-to-uapa-cases-674099.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-moves-to-pacify-chennithala-as-talks-on-kerala-cabinet-heat-up-674110.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 Even before the new Congressled government in Kerala formally takes oath the party leadership has begun hectic efforts to prevent the first signs of internal discontent from surfacing At the centre of the delicate balancing act is senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala who is understood to be deeply disappointed over being overlooked for the Chief Ministerâs post despite his long administrative and organisational experienceWith V D Satheesan emerging as the surprise consensus choice for the top post the Congress high command is now focused on ensuring that Chennithala remains firmly within the power structure of the new governmentParty insiders say Satheesan himself took the first major step in that direction by making a courtesy visit to Chennithala on Friday signalling the leadershipâs intention to avoid any public impression of factional bitternessThe outreach is expected to continue on Saturday when AICC general secretary K C Venugopal another senior leader who too reportedly missed out in the chief ministerial race is likely to hold detailed discussions with ChennithalaThe meeting is being closely watched within Congress circles as the party attempts to strike a careful political balance ahead of Mondayâs swearingin ceremonyFor the Congress leadership the stakes are highChennithala remains one of the partyâs most experienced faces in Kerala politics with considerable influence across organisational and community networksMany within the party believe sidelining him at this juncture could send out the wrong political message especially at a time when the Congress is attempting to project unity after returning to power with a massive mandateThe biggest question now revolves around the cabinet and portfolio allocationDuring the Oommen Chandy government Chennithala had successfully secured the powerful home portfolio after waiting in the wings for a whileWhether he will once again be able to flex his political muscles and reclaim the same prized department remains one of the most discussed subjects within the partyNegotiations over cabinet positions influential portfolios and powersharing arrangements are expected to continue through the weekendCongress insiders admit that if Chennithalaâs name does not figure prominently in Mondayâs swearingin list it could become the very first flashpoint of dissatisfaction for the Satheesan government even before it fully settles into officeFor Satheesan therefore managing governance may begin only after managing the Congress itselfState party president Sunny Joseph emerging from a meeting with Venugopal said everything is going smoothly and all issues would be addressed and the end will be a smooth affair IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-moves-to-pacify-chennithala-as-talks-on-kerala-cabinet-heat-up-674110.html Sat, 16 May 2026 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-signals-a-new-political-culture-in-kerala-sans-arrogance-vip-extravagance-674126.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 As Kerala prepares to witness a change of guard after a decade Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan has already begun reshaping the tone and style of governance even before formally assuming office by opting for simplicity and mindful expenditure Through a series of bold administrative decisions and austerity measures announced within days of his elevation Satheesan has sent out a powerful message that the era of extravagance political arrogance and VIP excesses is coming to an endThe most striking among the early decisions is the scrapping of the massive VIP convoy culture that had long drawn public anger across the stateKeralaâs roads especially in Thiruvananthapuram would routinely come to a halt whenever Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan travelled with traffic signals switched off and ordinary commuters stranded for long periodsSatheesan has now decided that the Chief Minister will travel only with a pilot vehicle and a single escort car effectively dismantling the intimidating motorcade culture associated with powerThe move is being widely welcomed as a major relief for the publicOn Saturday morning Satheesan on his way to the capital city was seen stopping his vehicle and exchanging pleasantries with the man on the street leaving many with smiles on their faces as this was not what one saw in the past one decade when Pinarayi Vijayans convoy of cars used to speed along the roads raising dustIn another strong signal of financial discipline Satheesan has rejected the longstanding practice of purchasing brand new luxury vehicles for ministers whenever a new government assumes officeMinisters including the Chief Minister himself will continue using the vehicles allotted during the previous administrationAt a time when Kerala continues to grapple with an acute financial crisis the decision is being seen as an attempt to restore public confidence in governanceThe costly helicopter service hired by the previous government at a monthly expense running into lakhs will also be discontinued immediatelyThe helicopter is expected to be returned to the company saving the state exchequer crores annuallyEqually significant is the decision not to undertake expensive renovation works at Cliff House the Chief Ministerâs official residenceRenovations and lavish additions carried out during the previous regime had often triggered sharp criticism and public resentmentSatheesan has also reportedly directed authorities to dismantle the excessive security barricades and police outposts surrounding Cliff House a move that has brought relief to residents of Nanthancode who had lived under years of heavy restrictions and constant security inconvenienceA fivetime MLA from Paravur Satheesan rose steadily within the Congress through his sharp interventions in the Assembly meticulous preparation and aggressive attacks on the ruling front as Leader of the OppositionUnlike many leaders shaped by factional patronage his rise is widely viewed as being driven by political conviction consistency and hard workSatheesan took time from his busy schedule and met the leaders of the Asha Workers who were on a prolonged protest demanding a hike in salary Satheesan has promised that one of the first decisions when the Congressled UDF government assumes office will be a hike announcement in their salaryBy announcing sweeping corrective measures even before taking oath Satheesan has not merely promised a change in government but hinted at the emergence of an entirely new political culture in Kerala IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-signals-a-new-political-culture-in-kerala-sans-arrogance-vip-extravagance-674126.html Sat, 16 May 2026 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-on-may-22-high-level-political-and-industrial-outreach-planned-674137.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to embark on a significant visit to New Delhi on May 22 with a series of highprofile meetings being lined up as part of what is likely to be his first major engagement with the national leadership after assuming office earlier this month According to sources Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit The meeting is expected to focus on issues concerning Tamil Nadu including financial allocations infrastructure projects development initiatives and matters related to the Stateâs administrative priorities under the new governmentApart from the meeting with the Prime Minister discussions are also underway to finalise appointments with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala SitharamanPolitical observers view these interactions as significant as they could set the tone for the relationship between the newly elected Tamil Nadu government and the Centre in the coming monthsAs part of established protocol Vijay is also expected to make courtesy calls on President Droupadi Murmu and VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan during his stay in the national capitalThe meetings are expected to be largely ceremonial but carry political significance given Vijayâs recent rise to the Stateâs top post following the Assembly election victorySources indicate that the Chief Ministerâs Delhi itinerary may extend beyond official government meetingsInteractions with leading industrialists diplomats legal experts and representatives from various sectors are also likely to be scheduledPolitical leaders from different parties are also expected to seek meetings with Vijay during his visitWith the Tamil Nadu political landscape undergoing major changes after the recent Assembly elections the Chief Ministerâs engagements in Delhi are being viewed as an opportunity to build broader political and institutional networksThe visit assumes importance as the Vijayled government begins settling into office and prepares for key administrative decisions and policy initiatives in the coming weeksOfficials indicate that the discussions held in Delhi could shape several developmental and financial proposals that the state government intends to pursue during its early months in office IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-on-may-22-high-level-political-and-industrial-outreach-planned-674137.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/all-that-is-history-satheesan-venugopal-send-strong-cong-unity-signal-after-battle-for-cms-post-674140.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 Barely days after one of the fiercest leadership contests the Congress in Kerala has witnessed in recent years newlychosen Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal on Saturday publicly buried all signs of rivalry projecting an image of unity and organisational discipline as the UDF prepares to formally assume office in Kerala The much watched meeting between the two leaders was held at Venugopalâs residence on Saturday afternoon and carried enormous political significanceIt was their first facetoface interaction after the dramatic climax to the Congress leadership race in which Venugopal who is widely believed to have enjoyed the backing of a majority of newlyelected legislators lost out at the final moment as the party high command threw its weight behind SatheesanDespite the intense undercurrents of the past few days both leaders appeared determined to signal that the power struggle was firmly behind themâWe see each other every day but this is the first meeting after the Chief Ministerâs name was cleared Whatever happened a few days back is all history nowâ Venugopal told reporters after the meetingStressing that the party was now fully focussed on governance Venugopal said âThe people of Kerala are looking forward to Satheesanâs administration and so are we We have been friends and colleagues for a long time The party is the thread that binds all of us togetherâSatheesan meanwhile used the opportunity to firmly dismiss speculation about internal divisions and mounting tensions over Cabinet formationHitting out at sections of the media he accused them of attempting to manufacture discord within the Congress campâA section of the media tried its best to drive a wedge between leaders But decisions in the Congress are taken only after elaborate discussions at every levelâ Satheesan said âThere is nothing in our party that cannot be resolved We are capable of finding solutions in a flashâThe Chief Ministerdesignate also made it clear that the final list of ministers would be approved only after clearance from the Congress high commandSeeking to calm growing anxiety among aspirants and their supporters he assured that the process was nearing completion and hinted at a swift swearinginâDid anyone expect the entire Cabinet to be sworn in so quickly By Sunday afternoon the final list will be submitted and on Monday the full Cabinet will take oath Has this happened in the CPIM beforeâ Satheesan remarked while also strongly defending Venugopalâs role in the processâKC Venugopal has always remained impartialâ he said urging the media not to become âtenseâ over the Cabinet compositionWith both the senior leaders now publicly closing ranks the Congress leadership hopes the focus will rapidly shift from internal power equations to the challenge of governance after its emphatic return to power in Kerala IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/all-that-is-history-satheesan-venugopal-send-strong-cong-unity-signal-after-battle-for-cms-post-674140.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/xi-opposes-taiwan-independence-trump-674038.html Washington May 16 US President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly opposes any move toward Taiwan independence while also claiming the two leaders reached a âvery good understandingâ on Iran trade and artificial intelligence during talks in China Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Anchorage Alaska Trump described Xi as âan incredible guyâ and said the visit produced major commercial agreements including what he called a potentially record aircraft order involving Boeing and General ElectricâWe had a great stay It was an amazing period of timeâ Trump said âPresident Xi is an incredible guy Got along made a lot of great trade deals including over 200 planes from Boeing with a promise of 750 planesâTrump said Taiwan emerged as a major subject in his discussions with Xi According to Trump the Chinese leader warned against any push for independence on the selfruled islandâHe does not want to see a fight for independence because that would be a very strong confrontationâ Trump said âI heard him outâThe US President repeatedly declined to clarify whether Washington would militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a conflict with ChinaâI dont want to say thatâ Trump said when asked directly if the US would defend Taiwan âTheres only one person who knows that You know who it is meâTrump also indicated that his administration was reconsidering future arms sales to TaiwanâIll make a determination over the next fairly short period of timeâ he saidThe President said Xi had also expressed strong opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and favoured reopening the Strait of Hormuz a critical global oil shipping routeâHe feels strongly they cant have a nuclear weaponâ Trump said âHe wants them to open up the straitâTrump maintained that Iranâs military capabilities had been severely weakened following recent US operationsâWe had a total military victoryâ he said âWe knocked out their entire Navy We knocked out their entire Air ForceâHe also said the ceasefire was partly agreed to âas a favor to PakistanââWe did it as a favor to Pakistan who are terrific people the field marshal and the prime ministerâ Trump saidOn artificial intelligence Trump said Washington and Beijing discussed the possibility of working together on âguardrailsâ for emerging technologiesâAI is fantasticâ he said âBut its also got some drawbacksâTrump further claimed that Xi praised his handling of the American economy and criticised former President Joe BidenâHe said the US was declining for the last four yearsâ Trump said âWhat President Trump has done in the last 15 16 months has been virtually a miracleâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/xi-opposes-taiwan-independence-trump-674038.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-statehood-day-events-in-sikkim-today-674041.html New Delhi May 16 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will undertake his first visit to Sikkim on Saturday after assuming office During his visit the Vice President will attend the Statehood Day Celebrations in Gangtok according to official statementEarlier Sikkim was in the spotlight when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gangtok last month for a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkims statehoodHe also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth around Rs 4000 crore and enjoyed a football session with youngsters in GangtokSharing photos of his football session on X PM Modi wrote Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morningIn another post he said Clearly an energising football session with these youngstersPrime Minister Modi also held a twokilometrelong cultural roadshow with enthusiastic residents lining both sides of the road to welcome him waving the tricolour and dressed in traditional attireHe also had an enriching interaction with Padma awardees and several distinguished personalities from different fieldsSharing details of the meeting in a post on X the Prime Minister said it was wonderful discussing a wide range of issues with the attendees highlighting the importance of engaging with individuals who have made notable contributions in diverse sectorsAccording to officials the interaction brought together Padma awardees social workers artists academicians sportspersons and other achievers who have earned recognition for their service and excellence in their respective domainsThe Prime Ministers engagement with awardees and achievers is seen as part of his broader outreach to acknowledge grassroots contributors innovators and individuals who have played a significant role in nationbuildingAccording to sources the discussions covered a range of subjects including development culture innovation education social welfare and opportunities for youth The participants also shared their experiences and suggestions with the Prime Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-statehood-day-events-in-sikkim-today-674041.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-to-hold-statewide-protest-over-neet-row-in-mp-today-674044.html Bhopal May 16 The Indian National Congress in Madhya Pradesh will hold a statewide protest on Saturday over irregularities in the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET examination The announcement was made by Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari during a press conference at the state Congress office in Bhopal where Patwari strongly criticised the BJP over what he called repeated paper leaks and examination scams across the countryâThe Congress leader accused the BJPled Centre and state governments of failing to protect the future of nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the testâDescribing the NEETUG 2026 controversy as an issue tied to the âfuture and soul of the nationâ Patwari said recurring irregularities in nationallevel competitive examinations have severely damaged the trust of students and parents in the systemââNearly 24 lakh students appeared for the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test examination but once again allegations of paper leaks and manipulation have destroyed the hard work and aspirations of students and their familiesâ Patwari saidâHe added that similar complaints have emerged in previous years as wellâPatwari alleged that examination systems in BJPruled states and at the national level are becoming increasingly prone to corruption and political interferenceâHe cited the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh as an example saying frequent paper leaks and recruitment irregularities point to a deeper systemic failureââThe future of the youth is being compromised Parents spend years preparing their children for these examinations They take loans sell land and send them to coaching centres in Kota and other cities but one paper leak destroys years of sacrifice in a single dayâ he saidâThe Congress leader stated that when such scams surface accountability is fixed only on lowerlevel officials and employees while those with political connections escape actionâHe claimed that investigations into several examinationrelated scams have revealed the role of organised networks operating with political patronageâHe announced that the Congress will hold protests across Madhya Pradesh to take the issue to students and the publicâThe party will also hold another press conference on Saturday to present a detailed campaign on youth employment and educationââStudents have started losing faith in the examination system If the future of 24 lakh aspirants is not secure then the countryâs future is also not secureâ Patwari addedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-to-hold-statewide-protest-over-neet-row-in-mp-today-674044.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/remembering-the-legend-armed-forces-pay-tribute-to-field-marshal-km-cariappa-on-his-death-anniversary-673965.html New Delhi May 15 The Indian Armed Forces on Friday paid rich tributes to Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa on his death anniversary remembering his exemplary leadership discipline and foundational role in shaping a modern Indian Army The Indian Army posted on X âRemembering the LegendField Marshal KM Cariappa OBE the 1st Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army one of Indiaâs most distinguished military leadersâUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid tribute posting on X âRemembering first Indian commanderinchief of Indian Army Field Marshal Gen K M Cariappa ji on his death anniversaryâThe Indian Air Force also honoured the former Army chief stating on X âRemembering Field Marshal KM Cariappa the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army On his Death Anniversary the Indian Air Force pays tribute to one of Indiaâs finest military leaders whose vision leadership and devotion to the nation continue to inspire the Armed ForcesâUttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also paid homage writing âOn the death anniversary of Field Marshal K M Cariappa Ji the first CommanderinChief of the Indian Army and an embodiment of courage valor and heroism we pay humble tribute to him Through his disciplined leadership and visionary thinking he gave the Indian Army a new direction and a strong identityâField Marshal Cariappa remains one of the most respected figures in Indiaâs military history He was the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Army after independence taking charge in January 1949 succeeding British General Sir Roy Bucher and played a key role in transforming the colonialera force into a national institutionBorn on January 28 1899 in Shanivarsanthe in Kodagu district of presentday Karnataka Cariappa rose through the ranks to become one of Indiaâs most distinguished military leaders Following independence he was appointed the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army in 1949During his tenure he was instrumental in modernising the force and building its institutional identity He established key formations such as the Brigade of the Guards in 1949 and the Parachute Regiment in 1952 both notable for their inclusive recruitment across castes and classesIn recognition of his service and leadership he was awarded the US Legion of Merit by President Harry S Truman in 1949 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/remembering-the-legend-armed-forces-pay-tribute-to-field-marshal-km-cariappa-on-his-death-anniversary-673965.html Fri, 15 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-to-take-oath-in-grand-ceremony-on-monday-rahul-priyanka-to-attend-673966.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 After ten days of intense uncertainty backroom negotiations and dramatic twists in Delhi and Kerala the Congress high command finally cleared the way for VD Satheesan to take oath as Keralaâs next Chief Minister on Monday marking the Congress partyâs return to the top post in the state after a long gap The last Congress Chief Minister to assume office in Kerala was Oommen Chandy in 2011The swearingin ceremony is being planned as a massive political show of strength at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram where nearly one lakh people are expected to gatherSenior Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjuna Kharge are expected to attend the event along with the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and TelanganaThe entire cabinet is expected to be sworn in alongside SatheesanThe first session of the new Assembly is scheduled for Thursday when newly elected MLAs will take the oathIncluding Satheesan 21 MLAs will be sworn in to take over the state for the next five yearsThe United Democratic Front leadership is meeting here to finalise the composition of the cabinet with regard to the number of Ministers from each of the alliesThe decision in favour of Satheesan came only after hectic consultations at the highest level of the Congress leadershipThe crucial round of talks began early Thursday morning when KC Venugopal was called to Rahul Gandhiâs residence in DelhiDuring discussions that reportedly lasted nearly three hours Rahul Gandhi informed Venugopal that the leadership had decided to back Satheesan for the top postPriyanka Gandhi also joined efforts to ensure consensus within the partyRahul Gandhi later spoke to Ramesh Chennithala who is learnt to have expressed strong displeasure over the decisionMeanwhile senior leaders including Mukul Wasnik Ajay Maken Jairam Ramesh and Deepa Dasmunsi gathered at Khargeâs residence as the final contours of the announcement were worked outOnce Venugopal publicly declared his acceptance of the decision the remaining resistance before the high command melted away paving the way for Satheesanâs elevation to the stateâs highest office IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesan-to-take-oath-in-grand-ceremony-on-monday-rahul-priyanka-to-attend-673966.html Fri, 15 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesans-first-major-political-test-managing-veteran-chennithala-673978.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 Even before formally taking oath as Keralaâs Chief Minister VD Satheesan faces perhaps his toughest political assignment pacifying veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala a towering figure in Kerala politics whose long career has been marked more by resilience and success than by setbacks For Satheesan the challenge is not merely administrative or organisationalIt is deeply political and emotional within the Congress ecosystemChennithala who turns 70 later this month has spent over four decades at the centre of Kerala politics after first becoming a state minister four decades agoSince then he has held almost every major political position available to a Congress leader in the state Youth Congress leader state Congress president Opposition leader state Home Minister and senior strategist within the partyIn a career stretching across generations of Congress politics defeats have rarely come Chennithalaâs wayIn fact the lone major electoral setback he suffered was during the 2004 Lok Sabha election a rare blemish in an otherwise formidable political journeyThat long experience and organisational grip make him a leader impossible to ignore even for a newly anointed Chief Minister backed strongly by the high commandThe prolonged uncertainty over the Chief Ministerâs post had already exposed sharp undercurrents within the Congressled frontThough the high command finally settled on Satheesan after days of consultations and dramatic negotiations in Delhi it is no secret that sections within the party had rallied behind ChennithalaHis reported unhappiness over the final decision has therefore become the first major political hurdle before the incoming Chief MinisterHe missed the first meeting of the newly elected legislators held here on Thursday nightHe had left the state capital by noon and was spotted in the early hours on Friday at the famed Sree Krishna temple at GuruvayurâThe decision on who all should be in the cabinet is the prerogative of the CM I wish him all the best and thank the party high commandâ said ChennithalaOn Friday morning he returned home here and said he had nothing more to add to what he said in GuruvayurMeanwhile Satheesan is expected to arrive at Chennithalaâs residence and will invite him to take up a key portfolioDuring Oommen Chandyâs tenure 201116 he later joined as Home Minister after Chandy decided to hand it to himSatheesanâs immediate priority will now be to ensure that the transition does not leave behind bitterness capable of weakening the government before it even begins functioningMore than cabinet formation or portfolio allocation the real balancing act lies in keeping Chennithala politically engaged respected and visibly accommodated within the new power structureFor the Congress leadership the message is equally clear winning the election was only the first battle Preserving unity among ambitious senior leaders may prove to be the harder task in the days ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/satheesans-first-major-political-test-managing-veteran-chennithala-673978.html Fri, 15 May 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/no-panic-or-fear-our-economy-based-on-strong-fundamentals-gourav-vallabh--673986.html New Delhi May 15 Prof Gourav Vallabh a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister EACPM on Friday criticised opposition leaders for trying to sow confusion about the Prime Ministers appeal for fuel conservation saying the measures must be seen in the context of ongoing global economic disruptions and geopolitical tensions Speaking to IANS Vallabh said âThere are three major geopolitical conflicts going on all over the world The first is the West Asia conflict The second is the RussiaUkraine war which has left a negative impact on European economies And the third is the commodity price conflict between the US and China Because of this the supply chain of goods across the world has been disrupted This disruption is affecting every country in the world The Prime Minister has called for postponing the purchase of gold for a year This is not a ban You can buy it but if possible postpone itâHe further said that shifting consumption patterns could strengthen the domestic economyâIf smart substitution of forexsensitive consumption is done through domestic production then there is no problem I am thinking 510 per cent if it becomes 1520 per cent then there is no problem at all So no panic no fear no misleading information No one should be misled by the misleading information given by some opposition leaders The economy is based on strong fundamentalsâ he saidHighlighting Indiaâs resilience in global trade Vallabh added âIndiaâs foreign policy and the strength of the âTirangaâ were evident when ships across the world were halted in the Strait of Hormuz but ships carrying the Indian flag continued transporting gas and crude oil to Indian ports Indiaâs economy is resilient and there is no issue of any kindâOn the Prime Ministerâs reported downsizing of his convoy Vallabh said PM Modi leads by example âWhatever the Prime Minister says he first applies it to himself First he applied the âsmart substitution of importsensitive consumptionâ to the things he uses If the Prime Minister can travel with two cars it becomes a benchmarkâ he saidHe also urged citizens and political leaders to adopt similar practices âI urge the opposition leader to travel in only one car Why go to Oman or Muscat when you can visit Jaisalmer or Barmer Why travel to Switzerland or Italy when you can go to Shillong or KeralamHe further stated âSome opposition leaders are trying to spread confusion For two months they have been claiming thereâs a shortage of petrol and diesel Did you face any inconvenience even once regarding petrol or diesel Did you face any inconvenience with LPG cylindersâOn PMâs call for workfromhome and public transport use Vallabh said âIf we all take a pledge to use public transport once a week work from home once a week and hold virtual meetings once a week we will not only strongly face the challenges brought upon the Indian economy due to these geopolitical conflicts but we will defeat them completely The Indian economy will not be affected by even one per centâCalling it a national interest issue he added âI believe this is not a political issue it is an issue of national interest It involves 140 crore people I urge all political parties Rahul Gandhi Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav to lead by example Use public transport use the metroâEarlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to citizens to conserve fuel use public transport revive work from home avoid nonessential goods purchases and postpone overseas vacations to save foreign exchange amid global uncertainty triggered by conflicts in West AsiaAddressing a public meeting organised by the BJP at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad the Prime Minister had called for collective participation to help India navigate global economic disruptions supply chain challenges and rising prices caused by international conflictsHe had emphasised that patriotism also means responsible consumption during difficult times stating that saving fuel directly helps conserve foreign exchange spent on imports of petrol and diesel reinforcing the need for collective national effort IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/no-panic-or-fear-our-economy-based-on-strong-fundamentals-gourav-vallabh--673986.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/high-court-stays-felling-of-trees-for-flyover-in-chandigarh-673988.html Chandigarh May 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday stayed the felling of trees for the Tribune Chowk flyover halting the proposed project A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Berry said the matter had already been heard and likely to be decided at an early dateAs such it would be appropriate that the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents be restrained from felling any mango tree or any other tree in the vicinity of Tribune Chowk the Bench observedHowever the Bench which on Wednesday reserved its judgment observed that âthe interim direction shall remain subject to the final outcome in the petitionâPetitioners comprising Jagwant Bath have raised environmental concerns and challenged the axing of trees They also termed Chandigarhâs move against the cityâs heritage characterThe petitioners have argued that Chandigarh Master Plan of 2031 notified under the Capital of Punjab Act 1952 and the Punjab New Capital Periphery Control Act 1952 is a statutory document and it does not recommend the construction of flyovers within the city and mandates that alternative traffic management measures be exploredThe petitioners also claim the Department of Urban Planning was initially opposed to the project and was of the view that the Master Plan does not allow itChandigarh has got the nod to construct the flyover from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MoRTH The flyover proposed to ease traffic congestion at Tribune Chowk has faced repeated procedural delays since it was first conceived causing its cost to spike up from Rs 137 crore in 2019 to Rs 200 crore now a 45 per cent increase in seven yearsThe project conceived in 2016 is to decongest the Tribune roundabout as most of the traffic coming to the city passes through itThe proposed 16km flyover will start after the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 roundabout and land ahead of the railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/high-court-stays-felling-of-trees-for-flyover-in-chandigarh-673988.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-price-rise-in-raj-petrol-up-over-rs-3-sri-ganganagar-tops-at-rs-10946-diesel-nears-rs-95-per-litre-673998.html Jaipur May 15 Petrol and diesel prices have been sharply increased by oil companies with the revised rates coming into effect from Friday night Following the hike petrol in Jaipur is now being sold at Rs 10797 per litre Meanwhile Sri Ganganagar has recorded the highest petrol price in Rajasthan with rates reaching Rs 10946 per litre Diesel prices in the district have also climbed to Rs 9474 per litre The increase is being linked to the continued rise in crude oil prices in the international market In Jaipur petrol prices have risen by nearly Rs 325 per litre while diesel has become costlier by Rs 302 per litreThe sudden spike has triggered concern among consumers transporters and businesses dependent on fuelFuel prices have risen sharply across Rajasthan with petrol becoming costlier by more than Rs 3 per litre in several districtsIn Ajmer petrol prices increased from Rs 10436 to Rs 10761 per litre while in Kota rates climbed from Rs 10426 to Rs 10751Chittorgarh witnessed a rise from Rs 10438 to Rs 10762 per litre Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest petrol price in the state jumping from Rs 10621 to Rs 10946 per litre In Udaipur petrol prices increased from Rs 10554 to Rs 10879 while Jaipur saw rates rise from Rs 10472 to Rs 10797 per litre Diesel prices have also registered a significant increase across the stateIn Ajmer diesel rates rose from Rs 8988 to Rs 9290 per litre while Kota witnessed an increase from Rs 8979 to Rs 9281 In Chittorgarh diesel prices climbed from Rs 8992 to Rs 9293 per litre Sri Ganganagar again recorded the highest diesel rate with prices rising from Rs 9172 to Rs 9474 per litreUdaipur saw diesel rates increase from Rs 9096 to Rs 9398 while in Jaipur prices went up from Rs 9021 to Rs 9323 per litreExperts believe that if tensions in West Asia continue fuel prices may witness further hikes in the coming daysPetrol and diesel prices across the country had remained unchanged since March 2024 Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections the government had reduced fuel prices by Rs 2 per litre offering relief to consumersMeanwhile the Rajasthan Petrol and Diesel Dealers Association has also raised objections over alleged pressure from petroleum companies regarding supply limitsThe Association claims that dealers are being instructed through messages and verbal directions to provide petrol and diesel to consumers only in restricted quantitiesRegarding the sale of petrol and diesel in Rajasthan the Pump Dealers Association has written a letter to Manoj Gupta the Executive Director and StateLevel Coordinator of Indian Oil Corporation The Association has stated that oil companies are supplying fuel to petrol pumps in limited quantities Dealers are being instructedâvia mobile messages and verbal directives to dispense petrol and diesel to consumers only in limited amounts IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-price-rise-in-raj-petrol-up-over-rs-3-sri-ganganagar-tops-at-rs-10946-diesel-nears-rs-95-per-litre-673998.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-price-hike-triggers-political-row-rohini-acharya-attacks-centre-674009.html Patna May 15 A fresh round of fuel price hikes has triggered a political row with RJD leader Rohini Acharya the daughter of Lalu Prasad attacking the Centre over the rising cost of living Taking to X Rohini Acharya criticised the government stating that the issue goes beyond the Rs 3 hike and reflects the broader pressure of sustained inflationIn her post she remarked that for the common people rising fuel prices have turned financial strain into a daily reality The question is not just about a 3rupee hike its about the burden of relentlessly rising inflation she said in the postShe further alleged that the burden of inflation falls disproportionately on daily wage earners and ordinary citizens while the government remains unresponsive to their hardshipsAcharya also targeted the governmentâs longstanding slogan of âAchhe Dinâ arguing that while public expenses continue to rise meaningful relief or explanations from the government remain absentWhen petrol and diesel prices rise the heaviest burden falls on those who earn and eat daily on the common people but the government which works at the behest of wealthy tycoons couldnt care less about the hardships of the common folk she added The rising inflation has delivered a multipronged blow to the general public across India triggering widespread concern over increasing household expenses Prices of several essential commodities have gone up in quick succession intensifying anxiety among citizensThe price surge began with an increase in import duties on gold and silver following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which led to a spike in bullion pricesThis was followed by a rise in milk prices and CNG rates Now fuel prices have also been increasedEffective Friday May 15 petrol and diesel prices across the country have gone up by more than Rs 3 per litre IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/fuel-price-hike-triggers-political-row-rohini-acharya-attacks-centre-674009.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/banners-proclaiming-shivakumar-as-next-karnataka-cm-surface-on-his-64th-birthday-674020.html Bengaluru May 15 Amid the leadership tussle in Karnataka banners declaring Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister surfaced in Belagavi and other places on Friday in the state during celebrations marking his 64th birthday The hoarding installed at Channamma Circle in Belagavi city in North Karnataka also conveyed birthday wishes to ShivakumarIt was reportedly put up by Congress leader and Minister for Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkarâs son Mrinal HebbalkarIt can be noted that Shivakumar is regarded as the godfather of Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar It can also be noted that Hebbalkars brother Channaraj Hattiholi is a Congress MLCThe banner prominently projected Shivakumar as the future Chief Minister of Karnataka despite the Deputy Chief Minister having earlier appealed to party workers and supporters not to put up banners or posters for his birthday celebrationsEven after his public warning and appeals by Shivakumar himself against such displays the âNext CMâ banner was installed triggering fresh political discussion and attracting public attention in the regionMeanwhile Vedic scholars and priests met DK Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru on Friday morning and extended birthday greetings by chanting Vedic hymnsMinister for Medical Education amp Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department Sharan Prakash Patil also met Shivakumar at his residence and extended birthday greetings to himSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru while commenting on his birthday celebrations Shivakumar said âCelebrations continued throughout the night My friends and supporters were waiting to see me What can I do Their love confidence and blessings are such I had instructed all my supporters not to erect banners on the occasion The authorities have already removed about 50 per cent of the bannersââHowever many people have put up banners out of affection I have instructed the civic agencies to remove those banners as well The Opposition BJP has also put up banners and those too should be removed This is not good and hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained in Bengaluru city The government has taken several measures to help the people of Bengaluru with property ownershiprelated documentsâ Shivakumar saidâAll these years such reforms had not been introducedâ he addedResponding to criticism from Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the BJP Shivakumar said âCriticism is natural They need to oppose our good work Even 20 years from now the people of Bengaluru will remember the good work I have doneâWhen asked whether he was expecting any good news from the party high command as the elections in five states were over Shivakumar declined to respond IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/banners-proclaiming-shivakumar-as-next-karnataka-cm-surface-on-his-64th-birthday-674020.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/diplomatic-outreach-satheesan-calls-on-vijayan-chats-over-a-cup-of-tea-674023.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 In one of the most politically symbolic moments in recent Kerala politics Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan on Friday drove to the residence of his predecessor and long time political adversary Pinarayi Vijayan marking a dramatic reversal of roles in the stateâs power corridors For nearly a decade Vijayan occupied the stateâs top office while Satheesan led the Opposition Benches through some of the fiercest political battles in the AssemblyNow with the Congressled UDF returning to power the equations have turned with Satheesan preparing to take charge as Chief Minister while Vijayan moves into the post of Leader of Opposition for the first time in his political careerThe meeting at Vijayanâs now rented residence naturally became the most watched political event of the daySatheesan was received by Vijayan his wife Kamala daughter Veena and family membersAfter exchanging pleasantries the two leaders sat down for a cup of green tea in what observers described as a relaxed and cordial interaction despite years of bitter political rivalryEmerging after the meeting Satheesan made it clear that the visit was both personal and politicalâI came to see him as he is the senior most Kerala politician and was Chief Minister for a decade and led his party for long years I came to seek support as we have to go together for developing Kerala Governments are a continuing affair and hence everything will be done seeking cooperation I also invited him for our swearinginâ Satheesan told reportersVijayan known for his guarded public demeanour did not elaborate before the mediaSmiling faintly he merely responded with an âokay okayâ while seeing the incoming Chief Minister offThe visit to Vijayans house formed the centerpiece of Satheesanâs packed day of political courtesy calls and outreach efforts ahead of the new government assuming officeEarlier he visited veteran Kerala Congress leader PJ Joseph who recently stepped aside to pave the way for his sonâs electoral entry from ThodupuzhaSatheesan also met the family of late Congress stalwart G Karthikeyan and held discussions with his wife and son a twotime former legislator KS Sabarinathan at their residenceHe later called on Congress MP and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash before heading to Vijayanâs houseThe day concluded with a visit to senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala another aspirant for the Chief Ministerâs post in a move seen as an effort to carry every faction along as the new administration prepares to take office on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/diplomatic-outreach-satheesan-calls-on-vijayan-chats-over-a-cup-of-tea-674023.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html New Delhi May 15 The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case A Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi partly allowed the special leave petition SLP filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI against the Delhi High Court order granting conditional bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal against convictionThe apex court requested the Delhi High Court to make an endeavour to decide Sengarâs criminal appeal as expeditiously as possible preferably within three months âIn case the High Court finds that the appeal is not likely to be decided early it may pass a fresh order on the prayer for suspension of sentence after hearing all parties including counsel for the complainantâ the CJI Kantled Bench ordered clarifying that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter at this stageDuring the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the CBI submitted that the Delhi High Court had erred in adopting a narrow interpretation while considering whether an MLA would qualify as a âpublic servantâ under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO ActJustice Bagchi orally remarked that the apex court was ânot endorsing the hypertechnical approach taken by the High Courtâ SG Mehta argued that a legislator occupied a dominant position and could not be excluded from the ambit of aggravated penetrative sexual assault provisions under the POCSO Act merely on technical groundsSenior advocate N Hariharan appearing for Sengar contended that there was material to show that the prosecutrix was not a minor at the time of the incident and argued that the POCSO Act itself may not be attractedHariharan further submitted that Sengar had already spent more than 10 years in custody and said that the issue regarding whether an MLA could be treated as a public servant would also require considerationThe CJI Kantled Bench was hearing the CBIâs plea challenging the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court which had suspended Sengarâs life sentence and granted him conditional bail during the pendency of his appeal However in December last year itself the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Delhi High Courtâs order and clarified that Sengar would not be released pursuant to the impugned judgmentIn December 2019 a Delhi trial court had convicted Sengar of kidnapping and raping a minor girl and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life along with a fine of Rs 25 lakhThe Supreme Court had earlier transferred all cases related to the Unnao incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and directed that the trial be conducted on a daytoday basisSeparately in February this year the Supreme Court had declined to interfere with the Delhi High Courtâs refusal to suspend Sengarâs sentence in the custodial death case of the rape survivorâs fatherSengar was convicted by a Delhi court in March 2020 for conspiring in the custodial death of the survivorâs father and was sentenced to 10 yearsâ rigorous imprisonment IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-finally-decides-for-kerala-vd-satheesan-to-be-the-new-cm-673828.html New DelhiThiruvananthapuram May 14 After days of suspense endless speculation and highvoltage lobbying stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister marking what many within the party describe as the formal arrival of a new generation at the helm of Kerala politics The announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenThe decision delayed till the very edge of political exhaustion was conveyed with characteristic Congress dramaCongress General Secretary KC Venugopal who was in Delhi through the final rounds of consultations was summoned for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi before being informed of the leadership decisionSenior leader Ramesh Chennithala meanwhile received the message through a closeddoor telephone call from Rahul that the race was over and Satheesan had got the nodFor Satheesan the elevation caps a remarkable political rise that mirrors the Congress partyâs attempt to reinvent itself in Kerala after years of factional fatigue and electoral setbacksBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersArmed with statistics sarcasm and theatrical timing Satheesan became a familiar tormentor of the Left benches Ironically his biggest breakthrough came after one of the Congress partyâs darkest momentsFollowing the UDFâs crushing defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections Satheesan was unexpectedly chosen as Leader of the Opposition initially viewed by many as a compromise candidate amid bitter internal rivalriesInstead he transformed the role into a political launch padWhether it was the gold smuggling controversy the AI camera allegations or repeated attacks on the Vijayan government over law and order Satheesan steadily positioned himself as the most visible and aggressive face of antiLeft politics in KeralaUnlike many Congress veterans Satheesan was never seen as fully belonging to either the old âAâ or âIâ faction camps that dominated Congress politics in Kerala for decadesThat relative independence helped him attract younger legislators and grassroots workers hungry for generational changeHis critics within the party often accuse him of centralising decisionmaking and moving with political impatience Yet even detractors concede that among the Congress leadership Satheesan currently enjoys perhaps the strongest public connectSatheesan in the morning along with his immediate family members hit the road to the state capital and reached his official residence of the past five years as Leader of OppositionHe reached minutes before the AICC made the announcement and without saying a word he waded through the huge crowd that had gathered at his official residenceNow as he prepares to move from the Opposition benches to the Chief Ministerâs chair Satheesan carries expectations far larger than merely running a governmentHis ascent signals the Congress partyâs attempt to hand Keralaâs political steering wheel to a younger more combative and mediasavvy generation ready to take on the formidable legacy of outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/congress-finally-decides-for-kerala-vd-satheesan-to-be-the-new-cm-673828.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/party-above-all-says-venugopal-after-congress-names-satheesan-as-kerala-cm-673847.html New Delhi May 14 In a display of calculated restraint after one of the fiercest leadership contests the Congress party in Kerala has witnessed in recent years party General Secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday publicly accepted the high commandâs decision to appoint VD Satheesan as Keralaâs next Chief Minister even as more than 50 newly elected Congress MLAs were widely believed to have backed his candidature for the top post Speaking to reporters in Delhi shortly after the announcement Venugopal struck a tone that was part statesman part loyal organisational soldier and carefully avoided any trace of bitterness despite missing out in a race many insiders believed had gone down to the wireâSatheesan has been appointed as Chief Minister The CLP will meet and accept it It was a stunning victory for the Congressled UDF with 102 seatsâ he said congratulating Satheesan and stressing that the partyâs collective mandate remained bigger than individual ambitionsâAll along I was saying the decision of the high command will prevail and it is my responsibility to see that the high commandâs decision is respected and implementedâ Venugopal declared effectively drawing a line under days of feverish lobbying and speculationThe remark carried significance because Venugopal was not merely another aspirant Backed by a powerful organisational network and strong support among legislators he was seen by many as one of the most formidable contenders in the raceHis supporters had openly projected him as the natural administrative face of the new government Yet even in disappointment Venugopal remained firmly within the Congress culture of highcommand supremacyâParty is ultimate for me I will be pained if my party is painedâ he said while dismissing questions over cyber attacks and criticism from rival campsâI have been in politics for over 45 years Let the attacks continue My decision is very clear party leadership is the final wordâ he saidRejecting BJP allegations that the Congress leadership had succumbed to pressure from the IUML Venugopal termed the charge âbaselessâAnd when asked whether he would attend Satheesanâs swearingin ceremony the veteran leader responded âWhat a questionâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/party-above-all-says-venugopal-after-congress-names-satheesan-as-kerala-cm-673847.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/god-given-responsibility-cm-designate-satheesan-seeks-support-to-build-new-kerala-673850.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 Kerala Chief Ministerdesignate VD Satheesan on Thursday struck a careful balance between gratitude humility and political messaging in his first reaction after being chosen by the Congress high command as the 13th Chief Minister of the state declaring that the massive UDF victory belonged not to an individual leader but to âTeam UDFâ and lakhs of party workers Hours after the Congress leadership formally ended days of suspense over the top post Satheesan addressed the media and sought to immediately project unity within the party after the bruising internal contest that had kept Kerala politics on edgeâThe Congress has given me a huge responsibility and I am deeply thankful to Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge and Rahul Gandhiâ Satheesan saidIn a significant political gesture aimed at calming internal nerves Satheesan openly credited the partys General Secretary KC Venugopal and campaign committee chairman Ramesh Chennithala for the UDFâs landslide victory describing Chennithala as âmy leaderââThe main persons behind this victory are KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala I will work together with them and also with state Congress President Sunny Josephâ he said signalling that the incoming administration would attempt to carry along all major power centres within the CongressSatheesan repeatedly emphasised collective leadership and public participation asserting that âone person alone can do nothingâ and promising to build a broadbased team to govern KeralaâWe are facing huge challenges To build a new Kerala I want the help and support of the people We all will work towards itâ he said while promising that every major assurance given by the UDF during the election campaign would be implementedIn perhaps his most striking remark Satheesan declared that his government would ârewrite the new order in public lifeâ describing the Chief Ministerâs post as a âGodgiven responsibilityâSeeking to blunt criticism over the prolonged delay in announcing the Chief Ministerdesignate Satheesan insisted there was ânothing shamefulâ in the process pointing out that consultations were held with every legislator and senior leader before the final decision was madeOn the swearingin date and cabinet members Satheesan said cabinet composition decisions would be taken by the party leadership in consultation with allies and the swearingin with the Governor IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/god-given-responsibility-cm-designate-satheesan-seeks-support-to-build-new-kerala-673850.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-dedicate-my-chief-ministership-to-the-people-of-kerala-vd-satheesan-673869.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 After the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister he spoke exclusively to IANS and said he was dedicating his Chief Ministership to the people of the state Speaking to IANS Chief Ministerdesignate Satheesan said âI am very grateful to the AICC leaders for entrusting me with this big responsibility I dedicate my Chief Ministership to the people of Kerala We will build a strong team that will work for the future of KeralaâResponding to questions about the time taken by the Congress leadership to finalise the decision Satheesan said the process involved extensive consultations and should not be seen as a delayâI cannot say that this was a delay This is a process Earlier there was no such intense media and social media scrutiny Sometimes even fake news spreads The leadership discussed the matter with former PCC presidents working committee members MLAs and MPs before arriving at a decisionâ he saidSatheesan also highlighted the economic challenges facing the stateHe said We are going through a very vulnerable period because the fiscal situation in Kerala is very poor We have to make many changes We have studied a lot prepared documents and discussed with experts This is the first opposition in the history of India that two years before the election started our preparationEarlier in the day the announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenThe decision delayed till the very edge of political exhaustion was conveyed with characteristic Congress dramaCongress General Secretary KC Venugopal who was in Delhi through the final rounds of consultations was summoned for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi before being informed of the leadership decision Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala meanwhile received the message through a closeddoor telephone call from Rahul Gandhi that the race was over and Satheesan had got the nodFor Satheesan the elevation caps a remarkable political rise that mirrors the Congress partyâs attempt to reinvent itself in Kerala after years of factional fatigue and electoral setbacksBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersArmed with statistics sarcasm and theatrical timing Satheesan became a familiar tormentor of the Left benches Ironically his biggest breakthrough came after one of the Congress partyâs darkest momentsFollowing the UDFâs crushing defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections Satheesan was unexpectedly chosen as Leader of Opposition initially viewed by many as a compromise candidate amid bitter internal rivalriesInstead he transformed the role into a political launch padWhether it was the gold smuggling controversy the AI camera allegations or repeated attacks on the Vijayan government over law and order Satheesan steadily positioned himself as the most visible and aggressive face of antiLeft politics in Kerala Unlike many Congress veterans Satheesan was never seen as fully belonging to any faction in the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/i-dedicate-my-chief-ministership-to-the-people-of-kerala-vd-satheesan-673869.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-to-roll-out-special-intensive-revision-in-phased-manner-across-16-states-3-uts-673873.html New Delhi May 14 The Election Commission of India ECI on Thursday announced the launch of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in a phased manner across 16 States and three Union Territories It said this is going to be a major nationwide exercise aimed at strengthening the accuracy and transparency of voter lists According to the Commission the PhaseIII schedule of the SIR has been finalised while keeping in view the availability of the common field machinery currently engaged in the ongoing census houselisting operationsWith the commencement of Phase III the SIR exercise will effectively cover the entire country except for Himachal Pradesh Jammu amp Kashmir and LadakhThe Commission said the schedule for these three regions will be announced at a later stage after taking into account the completion of PhaseII of the census exercise as well as weatherrelated challenges in upper reaches and snowbound areasAs part of the largescale revision drive more than 394 lakh Booth Level Officers BLOs will conduct doortodoor verification of approximately 3673 crore electors during the Enumeration Phase The BLOs will be assisted by around 342 lakh Booth Level Agents BLAs nominated by various political partiesThe ECI described the SIR as a âparticipative and transparent exerciseâ involving electors political parties and election officials at multiple levelsStressing the importance of political participation the Commission urged all recognised political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents for every polling booth to ensure transparency inclusiveness and effective scrutiny during the revision processâI appeal to all electors to enthusiastically participate in Phase III of Special Intensive Revision SIR and fill their Enumeration Forms SIR is being conducted with the objective to ensure that Only Eligible voters to be included in the Electoral Roll and No Ineligible names to be includedâ said CEC Gyanesh Kumar on the launch of SIR Phase III in 16 States and 3 UTsThe Commission further said that the first two phases of the SIR exercise conducted across 13 States and Union Territories covered nearly 59 crore electors as on the date of issuance of the respective SIR ordersMore than 63 lakh BLOs and 92 lakh BLAs were engaged in various stages of the process during these phases it saidOfficials said the intensive revision exercise is aimed at ensuring errorfree electoral rolls by identifying duplicate shifted deceased or ineligible entries while facilitating the inclusion of all eligible voters IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/eci-to-roll-out-special-intensive-revision-in-phased-manner-across-16-states-3-uts-673873.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-criticises-dmk-tvk-over-remarks-on-sanatana-dharma-673874.html Chennai May 14 BJP leader K Annamalai on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the DMK and the TVK over remarks made against Sanatana Dharma accusing both parties of harbouring hatred towards Hindu beliefs and traditions The BJP leaderâs criticism after DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his controversial remarks on âSanathanamâ on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Legislative AssemblyTVK MLA VMS Mustafa later backed Udhayanidhiâs comments triggering a fresh political controversy in the stateIn a stronglyworded post on social media platform X Annamalai said the remarks made by leaders of the DMK and TVK reflected their âhatredâ towards Sanatana DharmaâDMK and TVK in their very short history have proven to the people that they are two sides of the same coinâ Annamalai saidHe further alleged that both parties had concealed their ideological stand during the election campaign and only revealed their âtrue intentionsâ after securing votesâIf either DMK or TVK had the courage of conviction they should have openly declared during their election campaigns that targeting Sanatana Dharma would be central to their politicsâ he claimedAnnamalai accused the two parties of âhiding behind secularism and theatricsâ during the polls and later insulting the faith of millions of people The BJP leader also warned that people would not remain silent over repeated attacks on Hindu beliefsâSanatana Dharma is not your punching bagâ he said adding that he hoped the remarks would not go âunpunished by the peopleâThe controversy surrounding Udhayanidhi Stalinâs comments on Sanatan Dharma has remained a major political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu over the past two years with the BJP repeatedly accusing the DMK of hurting Hindu sentimentsThe latest intervention by TVK MLA Mustafa has further intensified the debate with the BJP attempting to portray both the ruling DMK and Vijayled TVK as parties sharing a common ideological stand against Hindu traditionsThe DMK however has maintained that its criticism is directed at caste discrimination and social inequality associated with certain interpretations of Sanatan practices and not against individual religious beliefs IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/annamalai-criticises-dmk-tvk-over-remarks-on-sanatana-dharma-673874.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/latvian-prime-minister-evika-silina-resigns-673886.html Riga May 14 Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina on Thursday announced her resignation and termed it the right decision in this situation The government will continue to perform its duties until new cabinet ministers are approved local media reported on Thursday Latvia President has received Silinas resignation and a decision regarding formation of the new government will be made during consultations with representatives of the Saeima factions at Riga Castle on Friday Latviabased LSM reportedSilinas resignation implies collapse of the Latvian government which already fell on Wednesday when the coalition party Progressives announced withdrawal of the support from the governmentSilina said At this moment political jealousy and narrow party interests have taken precedence over responsibility Seeing a strong candidate for the post of defence minister Colonel Raivis Melnis whom SiliÅa nominated to replace the resigned Progressives minister Andris Spruds political windbags have chosen a crisis â a government crisis That is why I am announcing my resignation This is not an easy decision but it is the right decision in this situationEarlier on Wednesday Latvias Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis New Unity had said that SiliÅa does not plan to resign However leader of the Progressives parliamentary faction Andris Suvajevs said on Thursday that the government would collapse if a vote of no confidence against SiliÅa takes place in the Saeima Latvian parliament today LSM reportedLast week Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds stepped down after Ukrainian drones entered the countrys airspace from Russia and hit an oil storage facility Politico reportedOn May 10 Latvian PM Evika Silina said she asked Spruds to resign as it demonstrated that the political leadership of the defence sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our countryDefence Minister Andris Spruds has lost my trust and that of the public I have made the decision to demand the resignation of Defense Minister Andris SprÅds The defense sector must henceforth be led by a professional Today I have informed the minister and coalition partners of this decision The drone incident that occurred this week clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country The public has entrusted the sector with the historically largest fundingânearly 5 per cent of GDP That is an enormous responsibility that demands clear results Silina posted on XI believe the sector requires a new professional approach I have invited Colonel Raivis Melnis to take the position of defense minister and he has agreed His previous experience in the National Armed Forces military education in London and current work in Ukraine provide confidence that the countrys defense will be led competently purposefully and beyond election rhetoric The safety of our country and its people stands above politics she added IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/latvian-prime-minister-evika-silina-resigns-673886.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-govt-announces-2-pc-da-hike-for-employees-pensioners-673890.html Chennai May 14 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced a two per cent increase in Dearness Allowance DA for state government employees teachers pensioners and family pensioners raising it from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with retrospective effect from January 1 2026 The announcement was made through an official government press release issued by the Department of Information and Public RelationsThe move is expected to benefit nearly 16 lakh government employees teachers pensioners and family pensioners across the stateAccording to the statement the decision was taken after the Union government enhanced the Dearness Allowance for Central government employees from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with effect from January 1 2026The Tamil Nadu government has now extended the same benefit to state government staff and pensionersThe state government said the hike reflects its commitment towards the welfare of its employees and teachers who play a crucial role in implementing welfare schemes and public service initiatives across the stateThe press release noted that the administration led by Chief Minister Vijay has been focused on introducing and effectively implementing several peoplecentric welfare measuresOfficials said the increase in DA would result in an additional annual expenditure of approximately Rs 1230 crore for the state exchequer Despite the financial burden the government has decided to allocate the necessary additional funds keeping in mind the welfare of employees teachers pensioners and family pensionersThe announcement comes at a time when the newly elected Tamil Nadu government is rolling out a series of administrative and welfarerelated measures following the 2026 Assembly electionsEmployee unions and pensionersâ associations have welcomed the move stating that the hike would provide relief amid rising living costs and inflationary pressuresThe revised Dearness Allowance will be implemented retrospectively from January 1 2026 and the government is expected to issue detailed orders regarding disbursement and arrears soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/vijay-govt-announces-2-pc-da-hike-for-employees-pensioners-673890.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-leadership-decision-after-the-call-from-delhi-chennithala-retreats-into-silence-673891.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 As celebrations erupted in Congress circles following the announcement of V D Satheesan as Keralaâs next Chief Minister an air of silence and disappointment descended over the residence of veteran party leader Ramesh Chennithala where hopes had remained very much alive until the very last moment For Chennithala one of the seniormost leaders in the Congress and among the principal contenders for the top post Thursdayâs decision was perhaps the closing of a political chapter he had long hoped would end at Cliff House the official residence of Kerala Chief MinisterA loyal organisational soldier for decades Chennithala had risen through the ranks of the Congress at a remarkably young age becoming a minister at just 27 in the cabinet led by then Chief Minister K KarunakaranEven at 70 party insiders say he believed seniority experience and years of service to the Congress might finally tilt the balance in his favourTill Thursday morning optimism reportedly lingered within his campBut around 10 am according to sources close to the leader a crucial telephone call came from senior party leader Rahul Gandhi in DelhiSoon after receiving the message Chennithala quietly withdrew to his bedroomFor nearly half an hour the veteran leader remained inside even as close associates and legislators waited outside anxiouslyWhen he finally emerged it had become clear that the Congress high command had settled on SatheesanWhat followed was a political disappearance of sortsThree of Chennithalaâs closest confidants all newly elected MLAs were closeted with him briefly before the veteran leader quietly slipped out through the rear entrance of the residence avoiding the growing media presence outside his homeAs television crews and reporters waited for a reaction after Satheesanâs formal announcement aides simply maintained that âChennithala is not at homeâSources later indicated that the senior Congress leader had begun travelling towards his hometown Haripad in Alappuzha district and was expected to proceed from there to the famed Guruvayur Temple for the earlymorning darshan on FridayHis absence is likely to be politically noticed because it means Chennithala may skip the customary Congress Legislative Party meeting later in the day where Satheesan will formally be elected CLP leader a moment that will officially seal the Congressâ generational transition IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kerala-leadership-decision-after-the-call-from-delhi-chennithala-retreats-into-silence-673891.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/kolkata-police-deputy-commissioner-biswas-finally-appears-before-ed-in-criminal-linked-syndicate-case-673897.html Kolkata May 14 Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas appeared at the Enforcement Directorate ED office here on Thursday for questioning in a criminallinked syndicate case The development comes two days after the ED wrote a letter to the Directorate of Security asking to know the status of Biswas and whether he was serving any duty This was done to make the police officer who had skipped multiple summons of the agency appear before the ED officersThe central investigation agency had summoned him several times before including on April 28 the day before the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly election However Biswas did not turn up Fearing that Biswas might leave the country the ED finally issued a lookout notice against himThe Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police was asked to appear at the CGO Complex as part of the EDs investigation into a money laundering case against an alleged criminallinked syndicate run by Sona Pappu alias Biswajit PoddarSona Pappu a resident of Ballygunge in south Kolkata faces various charges including land grabbing and extortion There is also a case against him under the Arms Act The ED has started an investigation in the wake of several such allegations and has already arrested businessman Joy Kamdar in that caseBased on the information in this case the ED raided Biswass house on Fern Road last month and the official was not seen in public subsequently The day after the search the ED summoned Biswas and his two sons Sayantan and Manish to the CGO complex in the Sona Pappu case However none of them went to the ED office that dayEarlier the ED had summoned Biswas who is also a former OfficerinCharge of Kalighat police station in Bhabanipur for the investigation into the sand smuggling case However he did not appear before the ED officers Instead his lawyer went to the ED office According to sources Biwas sought time from the central investigation agency due to his busy schedule The ED is investigating allegations of financial misappropriation in a case related to sand smuggling and its officials wanted to question him in connection with that case also IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/kolkata-police-deputy-commissioner-biswas-finally-appears-before-ed-in-criminal-linked-syndicate-case-673897.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/right-choice-digvijaya-singh-endorses-satheesan-as-kerala-legislative-party-leader-673899.html New Delhi May 14 Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh has extended his warm congratulations to VD Satheesan following his appointment as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and the next Chief Minister of Kerala Singh shared his thoughts and a photograph of Shatheesan with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on his X handleIn his message Singh emphasised that the selection of Satheesan marks a significant and positive step for the party leadershipSingh described Satheesan as a grassroots leader highlighting his deep connection with the fundamental levels of the political organisation and the general publicSingh said Satheesan possesses a strong base of support among specific demographics particularly noting that he enjoys the confidence and backing of the weaker sections of society and minority communitiesHe is a grassroot leader who enjoys the support of the Weaker Sections and Minorities Thank you âkhargeâ ji and Rahul ji for the Right Choice Singh wrote on X After days of speculations and highvoltage lobbying from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister on Thursday The announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersSatheesan after he was chosen for the top job in Kerala addressed the media and sought to project unity within the party âThe Congress has given me a huge responsibility and I am deeply thankful to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhiâ Satheesan said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/right-choice-digvijaya-singh-endorses-satheesan-as-kerala-legislative-party-leader-673899.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/responding-to-pm-modis-call-residents-of-jammu-border-village-bring-back-traditional-stoves-673907.html Jammu May 14 Declaring their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to save fuel around 40 families from a border village in Jammu pledged to cook food on traditional stoves The women made chapattis and vegetables on stoves using wood and cow dung PM Modis appeal to save petrol diesel LPG and oil and not to buy jewellery for a year came in view of the ongoing West Asia conflict and the resultant global hike in crude oil pricesSpeaking to IANS a woman from Gajansu village located near the International Border in Jammu appealed to people across the nation to follow the same practiceShe said Now is the time to rise when the country is facing difficulties Everybody should shift to stoves to cook food to save cooking gas and oilReferring to the lockdown during the Covid pandemic she said At that time too people had followed PM Modis directiveAnother woman added Given the current situation we should go back to earlier times when we used to cook food on stoves using wood and cow dungThere are 40 to 50 families in our village Even during Covid all of us followed the lockdown guidelines this time too we are adhering to his appeal she mentionedFurther she described the advantages of cooking food on stovesShe said Food that is cooked on traditional stoves is better than what is cooked on gas This food is good for health Even the ash which is left after cooking on the stove is useful for washing utensils Also one can sit comfortably and cook on the stove rather than standing for an extended period while cooking on gas she addedMoreover the women highlighted that consuming food cooked on stoves can contribute towards a healthy lifestyle since one can avoid using oilAshwani who is also a resident of the village asserted that during the Covid pandemic other countries learned from India about how PM Modi runs the countryHe said Even during Operation Sindoor the majority of residents in border areas did not leave their houses despite shelling from Pakistan and stood by the nationPraising PM Modis appeal he urged citizens to follow the directiveAll the 40 families here have turned to stoves to save LPG I hope this initiative will inspire others too to save fuel he mentionedMoreover Ashwani urged people to carpool to save petrol and diesel There is nothing to be scared of our country is independent enough he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/responding-to-pm-modis-call-residents-of-jammu-border-village-bring-back-traditional-stoves-673907.html Thu, 14 May 2026 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-begins-voter-roll-revision-986-crore-voters-to-be-verified-673921.html Mumbai May 14 In a massive effort to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls the Election Commission of India has announced the third phase of the âSpecial Intensive Revisionâ campaign across 16 states and three Union Territories from June 30 to July 29 The final electoral roll will be released on October 7â Maharashtra is a key participant in this phase with the electoral machinery set to verify the records of approximately 986 crore voters through doortodoor visitsâBooth Level Officers will personally visit every household to verify the details of 98644413 registered voters in the state To maintain transparency the Election Commission of India has encouraged political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents to assist and supervise the process alongside the Booth Level Officers the government release saidâThe schedule has been strategically aligned with ongoing Census activities to optimise the use of field machinery and personnel The revision process is slated to begin in June and will conclude with the publication of the final list in October 2026ââThe schedule for the third phase has been fixed keeping in mind ongoing Census work involving field staff In Maharashtra the drive will begin in June 2026 and conclude in October 2026ââFrom June 20 to 29 2026 training and preparation for Booth Level Officers will take place from June 30 to July 29 2026 doortodoor visits to voters will be conducted on August 5 2026 the draft electoral roll will be published from August 5 to September 4 2026 there will be a window for filing claims and objections and on October 7 2026 the final electoral roll will be publishedâ said the releaseâThe primary goal of this intensive drive is to create a âzeroerrorâ voter listâBy visiting households officials aim to identify and remove voters registered in multiple constituencies strike the names of individuals who have passed away from the register to prevent fraudulent voting and ensure that every eligible citizen who has recently turned 18 or changed residence is includedâThe Election Commission has issued a special appeal to all political parties to ensure their agents are present at every polling station emphasising that their cooperation is vital for a fair and democratic revision processâTypically voter list updates are âsummary revisionsâ where the onus is often on citizens to file forms for changes However an Intensive Revision as the one announced for 2026 involves the administration proactively reaching out to every citizenâThis move is particularly significant in Maharashtra a state with high internal migration and rapid urbanisation which often leads to discrepancies in residential addresses and voter dataâBy syncing this with the Census infrastructure the government aims to achieve a level of data integrity that annual updates cannot provide according to government sources IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/maha-begins-voter-roll-revision-986-crore-voters-to-be-verified-673921.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/rjd-wins-bhojpurbuxar-mlc-bypoll-nda-faces-first-electoral-setback-under-cm-choudhary--673922.html Patna May 14 In a significant political development in Bihar the NDA has suffered its first electoral defeat since Samrat Choudhary assumed office as Chief Minister The Rashtriya Janata Dal RJDbacked Mahagathbandhan candidate Sonu Kumar Rai won the Legislative Council byeelection for the BhojpurâBuxar Local Authorities constituency defeating Janata Dal United nominee Kanhaiya Prasad by 340 votesVoting for the byeelection was held on May 12 with counting beginning at 800 AM on ThursdayOut of a total of 5956 votes cast Sonu Kumar Rai secured 2486 votes while Kanhaiya Prasad received 2146 votes Manoj Upadhyay got 636 votes and as many as 621 votes were declared invalidThe counting process was conducted across 13 tables in two roundsSonu Kumar Rai maintained a consistent lead from the initial rounds of countingAs the trend became clear enthusiasm grew among RJD workers and supportersFollowing the official declaration of results celebrations erupted with party workers distributing sweetsThe victory is being seen as a major boost for the Mahagathbandhan and a morale setback for the NDA government in the stateThe seat had fallen vacant after Radhacharan Seth resigned upon being elected as an MLASonu Kumar Rai son of former MLC Laldas Rai has long been associated with the RJD and its leadership under Tejashwi YadavRJD Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav hailed the victory stating âWherever elections are conducted through ballot papers we will winâHe further alleged irregularities in elections conducted via Electronic Voting Machines EVMs a claim often raised in political debates though denied by the Election Commission of IndiaEjaz Ahmed spokesperson for the Bihar State RJD stated that this victory serves as a clear affirmation â stamped by the people of Bhojpur and Buxar â of the publics enduring trust and support for the RJDKanhaiya Prasad son of Radhacharan Seth was fielded by the JDU with backing from the NDADespite the partyâs efforts he fell short in the closelycontested election IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/rjd-wins-bhojpurbuxar-mlc-bypoll-nda-faces-first-electoral-setback-under-cm-choudhary--673922.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/education-key-to-nation-building-in-ai-era-delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-673932.html New Delhi May 14 Delhi Lieutenant Governor LG TS Sandhu said on Thursday that education remains the strongest foundation for nationbuilding in this era of rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence and technology Addressing the graduating students at the Convocation of BR Ambedkar University LG Sandhu encouraged the youth to move beyond college degrees and embrace continuous learning innovation and leadershipFor the graduating students present here today this occasion is therefore not merely the conclusion of your academic journey It is the beginning of a larger responsibility The knowledge and values you have acquired here must ultimately contribute to society and to the nation in meaningful ways he saidI would also urge you to remain deeply connected to the society around you Education acquires its true meaning when it uplifts not only individual lives but also the communities and institutions around us the LG addedWhether you choose careers in public policy academia law media entrepreneurship social work or the arts carry with you a strong sense of integrity empathy and public purpose he saidLG Sandhu said that Delhi itself stands as a powerful reminder of this shared responsibility This city represents both history and aspiration the LG addedIt is shaped by diversity strength and ambition Its future will depend significantly on the contributions of young people like you individuals capable of combining professional excellence with social awareness and national commitment he saidUrging students to contribute meaningfully toward building a futureready city the LG added It is heartening to see the University emerge as a preferred institution through Common University Entrance Test CUET rooted in the values of inclusion academic excellence and critical thinkingIn a message on social media platform X LG Sandhu said I encouraged the graduates to move beyond college degrees and embrace continuous learning innovation and leadership As they step into the professional world I urged them to uphold the values of integrity and public purpose and contribute meaningfully toward building a futureready ViksitDilli and ViksitBharat IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/education-key-to-nation-building-in-ai-era-delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-673932.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/political-parties-welcome-bengal-govts-move-on-compulsory-vande-mataram-in-schools-673933.html Kolkata May 14 Political parties in West Bengal welcomed the state governmentâs decision to make the singing of âVande Mataramâ compulsory in staterun schools At the same time Opposition parties in the state said that the national anthem âJana Gana Manaâ must not be compromised in any wayâ Speaking to IANS Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatorupa said that singing Vande Mataram in schools would instil a sense of national pride and patriotism among studentsââThe entire country has been singing Vande Mataram The previous Trinamool Congress government had stopped it in West Bengal Now the Bharatiya Janata Party government has implemented it once more We welcome the decision This will help instil a sense of patriotism among studentsâ said the Bharatiya Janata Party leaderâThe Trinamool Congress on the other hand said that it had no issue with the song being sung in schools as it was penned by a BengaliââThe song was written by a Bengali It helps take Bengalâs traditions and cultural values forward We have no objection to it But it must be ensured that the message of secularism brotherhood and amity is not overshadowed by thisâ said Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup ChakrabortyâThe Congress also welcomed the state governmentâs moveâSpeaking to IANS Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee said âNo one should have any objection or reservation to this We welcome the decision to sing Vande Mataram in schools But we must not oppose Rabindranath Tagore and his songs in any wayââThe Communist Party of India Marxist also echoed the same sentimentâSpeaking to IANS party leader Kaustav Chatterjee said âThere is no objection to singing Vande Mataram But the national anthem must not be compromised We have to protect the Constitution and secularism That aspect must not be overlookedââThe West Bengal government on Tuesday instructed all staterun and aided schools to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory during morning assemblies with immediate effectâThe directive states that every student must sing the national song at the start of the school day Heads of institutions have been instructed to ensure strict complianceââThe singing of Vande Mataram during morning assembly prayers prior to the start of classes should be made mandatory so that Vande Mataram is sung by all students in all schools in the state with immediate effectâ the Director of Education specified in a communication to staterun and stateaided school heads on May 13âThe move comes shortly after the Union government initiated steps to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols including a proposed amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 that would make obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offenceâEarlier schools in the state traditionally sang only the national anthem Jana Gana Mana composed by Rabindranath TagoreâIn recent years the previous Trinamool Congress government had introduced âBanglar Mati Banglar Jolâ also penned by Tagore in 1905 during protests against the partition of Bengal as the state songâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/political-parties-welcome-bengal-govts-move-on-compulsory-vande-mataram-in-schools-673933.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/ayushman-bharat-resulting-in-transformative-impact-health-secy-673935.html Puducherry May 14 Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava addressed the 12th Convocation of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research JIPMER highlighting the transformative impact of Ayushman Bharat and the 118 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs an official said on Thursday Conferring college degrees on 320 students across Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at JIPMER Srivastava elaborated on the four foundational pillars of Ayushman Bharat which represent a paradigm shift from a primary focus on reproductive and child health to a broader emphasis on screening early detection and management of noncommunicable diseases NCDsEmphasising quality in healthcare delivery she spoke about the importance of Indian Public Health Standards IPHS and the National Quality Assurance Standards NQAS an official statement saidShe noted that more than two lakh public health facilities including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Community Health Centres and District Hospitals are being assessed for infrastructure and service gapsShe told that about 64000 public health facilities have already achieved NQAS certification and encouraged the graduates to actively contribute towards quality improvement in the institutions they joinShe outlined the remaining pillars of Ayushman Bharat including Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana AB PMJAY which provides financial protection and health assurance to beneficiaries the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM which enables creation of ABHA accounts for seamless digital health records and datadriven healthcare and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM which is strengthening health infrastructure through initiatives such as critical care blocks and expansion of the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories VRDL networkThe Union Health Secretary described the convocation as a defining milestone in the lives of the graduating students She urged the graduating students to dedicate their professional journey to service compassion and nationbuilding noting that their contributions would significantly shape the future of the countrys healthcare systemShe emphasised that as graduates of the prestigious JIPMER they carry forward a legacy of commitment competence and ethical service which must be upheld in their professional livesSrivastava said that nursing and allied healthcare professionals form the backbone of Indias healthcare system playing a crucial role in both public health and clinical care deliveryShe highlighted key legislative reforms including the enactment of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act aimed at strengthening education regulation and professional standards in these sectorsSrivastava also pointed to significant capacitybuilding initiatives including the establishment of 157 nursing colleges colocated with medical colleges and the Union governments commitment to nurture one lakh healthcare professionals over the next five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/ayushman-bharat-resulting-in-transformative-impact-health-secy-673935.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjab-fully-prepared-for-statewide-electoral-roll-revision-exercise-ceo-mitra-673936.html DW Bureau Chandigarh May142026nbspnbspPunjab Chief Electoral Officer CEO Mrs Anindita Mitra on Thursday said the Election Commission of India ECI will undertake a Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls across Punjab to ensure that the voter database remains accurate inclusive and free from discrepanciesnbspAddressing a press conference at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer here Mrs Mitra said the largescale revision exercise will commence across the state from June 15 2026 As part of the programme Booth Level Officers BLOs will carry out extensive doortodoor verification to identify newly eligible voters shifted voters absent electors and duplicate entries in the electoral rollsShe said the primary objective of the exercise is to include every eligible citizen in the voter list while removing ineligible or duplicate entries in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and guidelines issued by the Election Commission of IndianbspMrs Mitra informed that Punjab has completed most preparatory arrangements for the smooth implementation of the revision process Around 24453 BLOs 2476 Supervisors 117 Electoral Registration Officers EROs and 234 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers AEROs will be deployed across the state for the exerciseShe said each BLO has been assigned approximately 300 households and nearly 1200 voters to ensure effective fieldlevel verification and timely completion of the process Training programmes for BLOs and supervisory staff will be conducted from June 15 to June 24 2026The CEO said voter verification forms will be collected during the housetohouse campaign and BLOs will make up to three visits to households to ensure maximum voter coverage and retrieval of formsnbspMrs Mitra informed that under the PreSIR mapping exercise conducted by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab mapping of over 179 crore voters has already been completed out of the total electorate of 214 crore voters in the state accounting for nearly 8369 percent coverage Rural areas have recorded around 8958 percent mapping while urban areas have achieved nearly 73 percent coverage so farShe further informed that the draft electoral rolls will be prepared and published on July 31 2026 after completion of rationalisation of polling stations by July 24 Following publication of the draft rolls citizens will be able to file claims and objections regarding inclusion deletion correction or shifting of voter details from July 31 to August 30 2026During the revision period Electoral Registration Officers EROs will issue notices conduct hearings and pass speaking orders on all claims and objections received The disposal process will continue till September 28 2026 while the final electoral rolls will be published on October 1 2026nbspProviding details about voterrelated forms Mrs Mitra said Form 6 will be used for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls while Form 8 can be used for correction updating and transfer of voter details Objections regarding duplicate or incorrect entries will also be entertained during the prescribed claims and objections periodnbspThe CEO clarified that Aadhaar Card will be accepted only as a means of identification and not as proof of citizenship during the revision exercise However in cases where voter details are successfully matched with previous electoral roll records additional supporting documents may not be requiredIn cases involving discrepancies or mismatch of records voters may be asked to provide supporting documents such as Aadhaar Card PAN Card Birth Certificate Passport educational certificates or other residence and identityrelated documents for verification purposesnbspMrs Mitra appealed to voters across Punjab to cooperate fully with BLOs during the housetohouse verification drive and ensure that their electoral details are accurate and updated She also urged political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents BLAs for smooth conduct and greater transparency in the revision processnbspShe added that the Election Commission is committed to conducting the Special Intensive Revision in a fully transparent participative and errorfree manner to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in Punjab https://dailyworld.in/politics/punjab-fully-prepared-for-statewide-electoral-roll-revision-exercise-ceo-mitra-673936.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-nitin-gadkari-pay-tributes-to-sambhaji-maharaj-call-him-symbol-of-valour-673764.html New Delhi May 14 Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday paid homage to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary praising the Maratha ruler for freeing strategic areas from Mughal control and defeating their armies in numerous battles In a post on X both in Hindi and Marathi Shah hailed Sambhajis early embrace of patriotism and dharma his lifelong opposition to religious conversions and his ultimate sacrifice for swadharma swabhasha and swarajHaving imbibed the values ââof patriotism the defence of Dharma and the ideals of Hindavi Swaraj since his very childhood Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj liberated numerous strategic territories from Mughal occupation and defeated the Mughal army in countless battles the Home Minister said Resolute throughout his life in his commitment to preventing religious conversions Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj never allowed the torch of swadharma swabhasha and swaraj to be extinguished ultimately sacrificing his very life for these noble causes he added offering his countless salutations to the valiant defender of Dharma Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also took to social media and paid tributes to the Maratha ruler Symbol of valour and bravery On the birth anniversary of Swarajya Rakshak Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Shri Sambhaji Maharaj offering respectful salutations to him Gadkari posted on XSambhaji Maharaj the eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj continued and adapted his fathers military legacy while facing intense multifront pressures from the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb the Siddis of Janjira the Portuguese and other regional powers Sambhaji born on May 14 1657 ruled from 1681 to 1689 as the second king of the Maratha Empire IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/amit-shah-nitin-gadkari-pay-tributes-to-sambhaji-maharaj-call-him-symbol-of-valour-673764.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-10-day-suspense-congress-to-announce-new-kerala-cm-today-673767.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 Ten days after the results of the Assembly elections were announced Congress is set to announce the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday The Congress high command on Wednesday night finally signalled that the wait for the southern stateâs next Chief Minister was nearing an endThe breakthrough indication came when Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stepped out of Congress President Mallikarjuna Khargeâs residence in Delhi and announced that discussions authorised by the Congress Legislative Party had been completed and the new Chief Minister of Kerala would be declared on ThursdayThe statement though brief immediately sent waves across Kerala where political uncertainty has steadily snowballed ever since the Congressled UDF registered its emphatic victory by overthrowing the decadeold Left government led by Pinarayi VijayanBehind the scenes Wednesday witnessed hectic consultations involving Rahul Gandhi Kharge and veteran Congress strategist A K Antony as the leadership weighed the claims of the three principal contenders V D Satheesan Ramesh Chennithala and K C VenugopalAs Delhi deliberated Kerala simmeredThe most politically charged location in the state on Wednesday was Satheesanâs residence at Aluva where hundreds of supporters gathered from early morning and remained camped outside through the day closely following every development from the national capitalTelevision crews sloganshouting workers and constant speculation transformed the otherwise calm neighbourhood into a highvoltage political nerve centreAt Chennithalaâs residence in the state capital too supporters anxiously waited for the final word convinced that the veteran leaderâs experience and organisational acceptability still kept him firmly in contentionYet perhaps the most intriguing silence through the day surrounded VenugopalThe Congress General Secretary Organisation whose sudden emergence as a serious contender dramatically altered Keralaâs political equations and significantly prolonged the decisionmaking process was conspicuously absent from the highprofile consultations involving Rahul Gandhi and KhargeWhile the rival camps remained visibly active Venugopal stayed put at his Delhi residence fuelling intense speculation over quiet backchannel discussionsMeanwhile another lateevening political development triggered fresh curiosity in Kerala Senior Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was spotted visiting Antonyâs residence in Thiruvananthapuram setting off another round of whispers over possible lastminute interventionsNow after ten days of extraordinary suspense Kerala waits for the Congress high command to finally unveil the man who will become the stateâs 13th Chief Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/after-10-day-suspense-congress-to-announce-new-kerala-cm-today-673767.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/mk-stalin-expresses-gratitude-to-dmk-partners-but-omits-cong-pledges-secular-fronts-battle-for-tn-673782.html Chennai May 14 Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin expressed gratitude to all alliance partners party workers and leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance SPA asserting that the coalition would continue its ideological and political journey despite failing to secure power in the 2026 Assembly elections In a detailed statement Stalin said the alliance remained committed to protecting Tamil Naduâs rights and welfare and would continue to stand united against attempts to weaken the stateâs federal powers and social justice frameworkThanking leaders and cadres of the DMKled alliance Stalin said the coalition had collectively faced several electoral battles since 2019 including two Lok Sabha elections two Assembly elections local body polls and multiple byelections He noted that several new parties had joined the alliance during the 2026 Assembly election campaign strengthening what he described as a broad secular and democratic platform in Tamil NaduStalin said he would never forget the trust reposed in him by alliance partners and political movements that stood with the DMK during the election campaignHe thanked Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai MDMK General Secretary Vaiko DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth and VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan CPI state secretary M Veerapandian CPIM leader P Shanmugam IUML leader KM Kader Mohideen Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president MH Jawahirullah Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi leader ER Eswaran and several other alliance leaders for their cooperation during the campaignThe DMK president also acknowledged the support extended by leaders and organisations that were not directly part of electoral politics but campaigned for the allianceHe made special mention of Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani who campaigned extensively across Tamil Nadu despite being 93 years old and actorpolitician Kamal Haasan who had publicly stated that defeating ideological opponents was more important than seeking constituencies for electoral gainStalin said that as leader of the alliance he took full responsibility for all decisions related to seatsharing talks campaign coordination and political negotiations He also expressed regret if any alliance leaders or cadres had faced inconvenience during the electoral process because of his political decisionsReferring to the election outcome Stalin said the alliance may not have achieved a complete victory but securing over 154 crore votes and winning 72 Assembly seats reflected the enduring faith that the people of Tamil Nadu continued to place in the DMKled frontHe further stated that several alliance partners had already declared that they would continue their association with the DMK even after the election results which according to him demonstrated the ideological strength and unity of the coalitionâAs principled political parties we will remain united and continue our journey for the welfare of the people and the rights of Tamil Nadu We possess the strength and fighting spirit to protect Tamil Naduâ Stalin said IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/mk-stalin-expresses-gratitude-to-dmk-partners-but-omits-cong-pledges-secular-fronts-battle-for-tn-673782.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html New Delhi May 13 The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Courtâs interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his onevote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency According to the details available on the official website of the apex court a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Sethupathi was registered earlier on Tuesday and is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on WednesdayThe plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier on Tuesday following which the apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on WednesdaySethupathi has moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test including confidence motion noconfidence motion trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested until further ordersA bench of Justices L Victoria Gowri and N Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KR Periakaruppan who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one voteAccording to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India ECI Sethupathi secured 83365 votes while Periakaruppan polled 83364 votesPeriakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituencyIn its order the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a peculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected thereThe order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter but arose from an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itselfIt further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote every vote is not merely relevant it is potentially determinativeReferring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold particularly in view of the razorthin margin of victoryIt had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process including postal ballot records rejected postal ballot covers EVM vote account records videographic footage of counting and all related materialsAt the same time the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathiâs election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared electedDuring the hearing before the High Court the Election Commission of India ECI had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act 1951 IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/1998-pokhran-tests-demonstrated-indias-unwavering-resolve-to-world-pm-modi-673638.html New Delhi May 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998 demonstrated Indias unwavering resolve to the world and showcased that no power can bend the nation In a post on X PM Modi said On this very day in 1998 the nuclear tests conducted by India demonstrated to the world just how unwavering our nations resolve is After the May 11 tests the entire world brought pressure to bear on India but we demonstrated that no power can bend IndiaPokhranII or Operation Shakti was a series of five underground nuclear tests conducted by India in May 1998 at the Indian Armys Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan The tests occurred over two days May 11 three tests and May 13 two testsPrime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee authorised the tests with key scientific leadership from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and the Atomic Energy Commission These tests established India as a nucleararmed state officially declared on May 11 now celebrated annually as National Technology Day Earlier on May 11 during the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations PM Modi recalled the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran on May 11 1998 highlighting Indias firm and resolute resolve to take forward its nuclear ambitions despite immense pressure from world powersHe said that India conducted two nuclear tests in 1998 first on May 11 and then on May 13 and asserted that no power in the world could make the country and its citizens bow before external forcesinvoked the 1998 nuclear tests one of the defining moments in the countrys history to highlight Indias rise as a global power under the leadership of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari VajpayeeOn May 11 India conducted three nuclear tests in Pokhran Our scientists showcased the countrys might and prowess before the world This sent shockwaves across the world he said addressing the gathering after Kumbhabhishek at the Somnath templeHe stated that the global powers took a grim view of our nuclear prowess and imposed a lot of economic sanctions and restraintsAnybody would have been shaken by this when global powers gang up against you But we are made of different soil After May 11 the world powers stepped up their vigil but our scientists had done the job Again on May 13 two more nuclear tests were conducted That day the world will come to know the atal resolute will of Indias political leadership PM Modi saidHe said that there was immense pressure on the country but under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee the BJP government had shown that the national interests reign supreme for us and no power in the world could force us to bow downThe Prime Minister also elucidated on the naming of the nuclear mission as Operation Shakti stating that it marked Indias growing selfbelief and strategic positioning despite hurdles IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/1998-pokhran-tests-demonstrated-indias-unwavering-resolve-to-world-pm-modi-673638.html Wed, 13 May 2026 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-seeks-trust-vote-in-tn-assembly-congress-left-vck-extend-support-673662.html Chennai May 13 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday moved the confidence motion in the state Assembly seeking to prove the majority of his newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKled government amid dramatic political developments and growing divisions within the AIADMK Soon after the motion was introduced on the floor of the House MLAs belonging to the Congress Legislature Party and the CPI CPIM formally extended their support to the Vijayled administration strengthening the ruling allianceâs position during the crucial floor test Members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK also backed the confidence motion indicating broad support for the new government from its alliance partnersIn a significant political development a section of rebel AIADMK legislators led by senior leaders CVe Shanmugham and SP Velumani also extended support to the Vijay government during the trust vote proceedings The move further deepened the internal crisis within the AIADMK which has been witnessing an intense leadership tussle following the Assembly election defeatThe confidence vote assumes significance as the TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections but fell short of the majority mark in the 234member Assembly The party subsequently formed the government with the backing of Congress CPIM CPI and VCKParticipating in the debate on the confidence motion VCK MLA Vanni Arasu raised several policy demands and urged the new administration to adopt progressive reforms and continue welfareoriented governanceAddressing the Assembly Arasu called for the enactment of a stringent law against superstitious practices including astrology arguing that scientific temper and rational thinking should be promoted across society His remarks drew attention in the House as the issue has long remained part of Tamil Naduâs rationalist political discourseThe VCK legislator also urged the government to take immediate diplomatic and administrative steps to resolve the recurring issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line He stressed that protecting the livelihoods and safety of fishermen from coastal districts must remain a priority for the new administrationIn addition Arasu appealed to the Vijay government to continue key welfare initiatives introduced by the previous DMK administration including the Breakfast Scheme for school studentsThe Assembly proceedings continued amid intense political interest with the ruling alliance appearing comfortably placed to secure the numbers required to win the trust vote IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/cm-vijay-seeks-trust-vote-in-tn-assembly-congress-left-vck-extend-support-673662.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/major-bureaucratic-reshuffle-in-gujarat-72-ias-officers-transferred-673668.html Gandhinagar May 13 In a major administrative exercise the Gujarat government on Wednesday effected a largescale reshuffle involving 72 IAS officers transferring and reassigning senior officials across district administrations municipal corporations and key state departments The reshuffle includes changes at collectorates across several districts such as Ahmedabad Surat Bharuch Navsari Morbi Dahod Junagadh Valsad KutchBhuj Arvalli Botad Tapi Narmada and Kheda alongside postings in Gandhinagar and multiple urban development bodiesAmong the prominent changes Ahmedabad Collector Sujeet Kumar has been appointed Special Commissioner of State Tax Bhavya Verma previously Collector of Valsad has been named the new Collector of AhmedabadSurat Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi has been transferred as Director of Civil Supplies in Gandhinagar while Tejas Parmar earlier Municipal Commissioner of Junagadh has been appointed Collector of SuratIn other key movements DN Modi has been posted as Development Commissioner in Gandhinagar after serving in the Jamnagar Municipal CorporationAnand Patel formerly Collector of KutchBhuj has been appointed Commissioner of Schools in Gandhinagar and will also hold additional responsibilities relating to PMPOSHAN and the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and TrainingAjay Prakash has been moved from Gujarat Energy Development Agency to Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited as Managing Director while Gaurang Makwana has been transferred from Bharuch Collectorate to the Climate Change Department with additional charge of state power sector entities including Gujarat Power Corporation Limited and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company LimitedAt the district and municipal level several officers have been interchanged between collectorates and civic bodiesTransfers include postings involving Junagadh Morbi Navsari Vapi Mehsana Surendranagar and Gandhidham with multiple municipal commissioners shifted into district administration roles and vice versaIn Gandhinagar a significant administrative reshuffle has been carried out across departments including industries urban development tribal development civil supplies and energyOfficers have also been assigned additional charges in institutions such as Gujarat Informatics Limited Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Limited Gujarat Urban Development authorities and Swachh Bharat Mission UrbanThe notification further includes extensive reshuffling of district development officers and assistant collectors many of whom have been posted as project administrators in Tribal Area Sub Plan regions or reassigned to urban local bodies including the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Vadodara Municipal Corporation and other civic agenciesOfficials said the 72post reshuffle covers a wide spectrum of governance functions spanning revenue administration infrastructure development urban management and welfare delivery marking one of the most extensive administrative reallocations in the state in recent times IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/major-bureaucratic-reshuffle-in-gujarat-72-ias-officers-transferred-673668.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/people-fear-the-system-more-than-criminals-bjp-attacks-ktaka-govt-673672.html Bengaluru May 13 Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka on Wednesday alleged that law and order has completely collapsed in Karnataka and questioned whether those entrusted with protecting the public had themselves become predators under the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah People fear the system more than criminals he stated with concern In a strongly worded statement Ashoka claimed that people in Karnataka were now more afraid of the law enforcement system than of criminals themselves Referring to recent reports on the police department he said the figures exposed an alarming picture of the stateâs law and order situationHe alleged that under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka the police department has lost discipline ethics and public trust and has sunk into corruptionCiting statistics Ashoka said 713 police officers have been suspended in the last two years which according to him reflected not isolated misconduct but a systemic collapse within the departmentHe further alleged that criminal cases have been registered against 95 police personnel and questioned how citizens could trust the very people responsible for ensuring public safety if they themselves were involved in serious crimesAshoka also claimed that the names of police personnel had surfaced in cases related to robbery theft and murder âIf those responsible for enforcing the law begin violating it without fear how can justice survive in the stateâ he askedExpressing concern over Bengaluruâs image the BJP leader alleged that a majority of the suspended officers were from the city He warned that if law and order deteriorated to such an extent in Indiaâs technology capital it would damage Bengaluruâs brand value and reputationAshoka further claimed that more than 400 police officials have been found guilty in departmental inquiries and questioned what stringent action the government had taken against themAccording to him there was growing public fear that individuals allegedly collaborating with rowdysheeters running fake document networks and harassing innocent people were operating without fear of the lawCalling it not merely a failure of the police department but the âcomplete bankruptcyâ of the Home Department Ashoka asked who would guarantee the protection of peopleâs lives property and dignity under the Congress governmentâs guarantee schemesHe also questioned whether the government was controlling criminals or extending political protection to them Ashoka urged the government to immediately cleanse the system and restore public faith in the police department warning that public anger could eventually unseat the government from powerAshoka further accused the Karnataka government of neglecting the public education system and questioned whether there was a deliberate attempt to shut down government schools in the stateThe BJP leader alleged that the large number of vacant teaching posts in government schools reflected not merely an administrative failure but a âcruel negligenceâ that was allowing the public education system to slowly collapseHe claimed that 38163 teacher posts were currently vacant in government schools across Karnataka and said that nearly 22 per cent of teaching positions remained unfilled âIf one out of every five teaching posts is vacant how are schools expected to functionâ he askedAshoka also questioned whether the governmentâs flagship guarantee schemes could replace teachers in classrooms He said that if there were no teachers in schools poor children would be deprived of the basic education and guidance needed to build their futureThe BJP leader further criticised the Congress government for allegedly failing to fulfil its promise of recruiting 15000 teachers He accused the government of remaining silent on the issue after making public commitments regarding teacher recruitmentâDisplaying concern for education in advertisements while leaving schools without teachers in reality cannot be called social justiceâ Ashoka saidHe questioned whether the delay in recruitment was due to a lack of funds or a lack of political will Ashoka alleged that the government had sufficient funds for guarantee implementation committees luxury events and minority welfare programmes but claimed there was no money available for recruiting teachers for government schoolsâThis is not a financial problem it is a lack of willpowerâ he saidAshoka stated that a school without teachers was nothing more than an empty building and warned that education the future of poor children and social equality would all suffer if the situation continuedHe further alleged that the weakening of government schools could eventually be used as a reason to shut them down on the grounds of low student attendanceDemanding immediate action Ashoka urged the Karnataka government to begin a fullscale teacher recruitment process without delay and stop what he described as a systematic attempt to weaken and close government schools in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/people-fear-the-system-more-than-criminals-bjp-attacks-ktaka-govt-673672.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-assembly-vijay-wins-trust-vote-with-144-in-favour-amid-aiadmk-rift-dmk-walkout-673685.html Chennai May 13 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay successfully cleared the first major test for his newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKled government on Wednesday after winning the confidence motion in the Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favournbspnbspWhile 22 MLAs voted against the motion five members abstainedFollowing the completion of the trust vote the Assembly was adjourned sine dieThe floor test witnessed dramatic scenes including a walkout by the DMK open divisions within the AIADMK and heated exchanges between rival camps in the HouseAhead of the voting Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin led all DMK MLAs out of the Assembly after sharply criticising the Vijayled government during the debate on the confidence motionHe accused the Chief Minister of encouraging political defections by meeting rebel AIADMK legislators earlier in the dayQuestioning the political developments surrounding the trust vote Stalin asked whether Tamil Nadu was witnessing change or exchange in politics He also alleged that the TVK government lacked a stable independent majority and was surviving through external support and defectionsThe situation inside the Assembly turned tense when AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that all 47 MLAs belonging to his faction would oppose the confidence motionPalaniswami also objected to Vijays reported meeting with rebel AIADMK leaders and questioned the legitimacy of their support for the governmentHowever commotion erupted after Speaker JCD Prabhakar invited rebel AIADMK leader SP Velumani to participate in the debate on the trust motionAIADMK members loyal to Palaniswami strongly protested the move but the Speaker maintained that he had the authority to permit any member to speak in the HouseAmid loud protests from the AIADMK benches Velumani addressed the Assembly and subsequently led the rebel MLAs in voting in favour of the TVK government further exposing the deepening split within the opposition partyReplying to the debate before the vote Chief Minister Vijay asserted that his administration would remain firmly secular and committed to governance This government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse trading Vijay said in a sharp political remark directed at the oppositionHe also assured the House that all major welfare schemes implemented by previous governments would continue under the TVK administrationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-assembly-vijay-wins-trust-vote-with-144-in-favour-amid-aiadmk-rift-dmk-walkout-673685.html Wed, 13 May 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-assembly-vijay-wins-trust-vote-with-144-votes-in-favour-673686.html Chennai May 13 IANS Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay successfully cleared the first major test for his newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKled government on Wednesday after winning the confidence motion in the Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favournbspnbspWhile 22 MLAs voted against the motion five members abstainedFollowing the completion of the trust vote the Assembly was adjourned sine dieThe floor test witnessed dramatic scenes including a walkout by the DMK open divisions within the AIADMK and heated exchanges between rival camps in the HouseAhead of the voting Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin led all DMK MLAs out of the Assembly after sharply criticising the Vijayled government during the debate on the confidence motionHe accused the Chief Minister of encouraging political defections by meeting rebel AIADMK legislators earlier in the dayQuestioning the political developments surrounding the trust vote Stalin asked whether Tamil Nadu was witnessing change or exchange in politics He also alleged that the TVK government lacked a stable independent majority and was surviving through external support and defectionsThe situation inside the Assembly turned tense when AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that all 47 MLAs belonging to his faction would oppose the confidence motionPalaniswami also objected to Vijays reported meeting with rebel AIADMK leaders and questioned the legitimacy of their support for the governmentHowever commotion erupted after Speaker JCD Prabhakar invited rebel AIADMK leader SP Velumani to participate in the debate on the trust motionAIADMK members loyal to Palaniswami strongly protested the move but the Speaker maintained that he had the authority to permit any member to speak in the HouseAmid loud protests from the AIADMK benches Velumani addressed the Assembly and subsequently led the rebel MLAs in voting in favour of the TVK government further exposing the deepening split within the opposition partyReplying to the debate before the vote Chief Minister Vijay asserted that his administration would remain firmly secular and committed to governance This government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse trading Vijay said in a sharp political remark directed at the oppositionHe also assured the House that all major welfare schemes implemented by previous governments would continue under the TVK administrationIANS https://dailyworld.in/politics/tn-assembly-vijay-wins-trust-vote-with-144-votes-in-favour-673686.html Wed, 13 May 2026 12:35:00 +0530