Nothing can stop me from contesting LS polls from Karakat: Pawan Singh

Patna: Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Pawan Singh said on Friday, May 3, that he is the son of Bihar and no one can stop him from contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Bihars Karakat as an independent candidate. After Pawan Singh had recently said that he would be contesting the polls from Karakat as an independent, Union Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

5000 km road trip in my Tata Altroz iTurbo: Mumbai to Kolkata and back

BHPian Mgdoodler recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Blue Rocket had plans for 2023, which 2023 decided were not to come to fruition. On charts was to travel to Khar Dung La and Kanyakumari sometime between June and Sept 2023 but due to some personal circumstances all long-distance plans were abandoned. Or so we thought. Thanks to my cousin, who was marrying the love of his life in her city in Dec 2023. Invitations were issued and the plan initially was to make a quick visit to Kolkata for a couple of days for the event itself which then turned into a week's solo drive to Kolkata and back and in the end, turned into a 15-day holiday with Blue Rocket travelling through 6 states and the rest of my family flew to Kolkata for wedding festivities. As per my usual practise Blue Rocket was serviced and a checkup done 15 days before my travel and I drove it for a couple of short excursions around Mumbai. Plan was to take the Mumbai - Nagpur - Sambhalpur - Keonjhar - Kolkata route through central India while going and return via Konark - Vishakhapatnam - Chhattisgarh - Hyderabad - Mumbai. This was my first time driving any of these routes and my first time meeting the Bay of Bengal. As with most of my long-distance drives, this was just Blue and me all the way. FYI Blue Rocket is a petrol, manual i-turbo Altroz.Day 1- 1/12/2023 FridayThis was a day I was looking forward to the most, the opportunity to drive on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. I have already driven on the Trans Haryana and enjoyed it and was looking forward to a similar experience. Left home at 6:45 am - much later than the planned 5:30 am, but I was ok with it as there was a mild fog and starting later allowed better visibility. Travelled across Mumbai via the SCLR and eastern express highway leaving the city behind at Thane, but not the traffic, roads were jammed due to diversions and the first couple of hours were tedious. First stop was to fill fuel at Padgha. Tank filled and the drive started towards Kasara ghat which I would be driving on for the first time and it was a good drive. Stopped for a quick breakfast at 10:30 at a restaurant after Ghoti Bhudruk at 150 kms from Mumbai and 7 kms before Bharvir entry into the Mahamarg. The mahamarg is wide, well planned and mostly a comfortable drive. Speed Limit for cars is 120 Kmph and it is possible to maintain the same comfortably. Heavy vehicles are few and keep to the middle and left lane. It was a pleasure to drive on this route. I stopped at approximately halfway at around 3 pm for a fuel refill and bio break. I also stopped at about 1.5hrs of driving on the mahamarg for a quick photo session with Blue being the model. As you can see the weather was lovely with blue skies and fluffy white clouds - a perfect winter day for a drive and the road is practically empty. Road surface could be better and more functional rest stops are required. Hopefully, these requirements will be fulfilled soon. It was later in the day after 4:30 pm and as we neared Nagpur, I encountered some truck traffic in the fast/overtake lane and middle lane at the same time blocking the road. But it was not for long. Crossed Waifal toll naka at 5:30 PM, having covered 600 kms in approx. 6 hours with a 20 min break. Winter and travel towards the east meant that the sun set earlier and it was already dark as we exited the Expressway and made our way to the night stay - Hotel Pride near the airport metro. Reached and checked in at 6:30 pm. Covering 814 kms in little less than 12 hours. The day had not ended though. After a quick catch-up with work, I headed towards the nearest Haldirams at Ajni Square. Travelled by metro for 4 stops and exited just outside Haldirams. My last meal had been a protein bar along with a yoghurt smoothie at 3 pm and now I feasted on Dahi Puri and hot Rajma Chawal. Dinner done I took the metro back to my hotel and turned in for an early night. Continue reading about Mgdoodler's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

BJD being run by bureaucrats, outsiders in CMs office trying to capture Odisha: Pradhan

Sambalpur: Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is facing public revolt for the first time and a caucus of outsiders in the chief ministers office wants to capture the state, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed. The Education Minister, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, also dismissed the speculation that []

Naveen Patnaik has concrete plan to take Odisha to top; BJD to sweep polls: Pandian

Bhubaneswar: Asserting that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has a concrete plan to take Odisha to the top in all fields, his close associate Kartik Pandian has said it is a matter of time for migration from the state to stop completely. In an exclusive video interview with PTI, Pandian also said the Biju Janata Dal []

Naveen Patnaik has concrete plan to take Odisha to top; BJD to sweep polls: V K Pandian

People are so much in love with him and they appreciate his work. They know the state is in safe hands and their progress is guaranteed with Naveen Babu at the helm of affairs, said Pandian, who served as the chief minister's private secretary before quitting his nearly 25-year-long bureaucratic career last year to join the BJD.

Naveen files nomination for Kantabanji assembly seat

Naveen Patnaik files nomination for Kantabanji assembly seat amidst extreme heat, accompanied by BJD leaders. Focuses on prosperity and growth for Odisha, aiming for success beyond traditional bastion.

Survey Finds Majority of Indians Are New to Podcasts

Survey Finds Majority of Indians Are New to Podcasts India has emerged as the third-largest market for podcast listeners globally even as around 78 per cent of people surveyed got to know about this media recently, a report said on Thursday. According to the report, around 82 per cent of respondents were initially unaware of podcasts, highlighting a significant opportunity for awareness-building efforts. ''78 per cent of consumers discovered podcasts less than a year ago, indicating a recent surge in interest,'' the report, The Podcast Pulse: Unveiling Indias Podcast Landscape, stated. India has surged to become the third-largest market for podcast listeners globally, yet only 12 per cent of Indians are currently engaged, leaving a vast untapped audience waiting to be explored, the report prepared by UNPAC Research (OPC) in support of Ideabrew Studios said. Authenticity and vulnerability in podcast conversations are highly valued by listeners, fostering a deeper connection with hosts and content, it said. The report is based on responses from 2,170 individuals across 10 cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, Patna, and Jaipur, the report gauged awareness and listenership statistics. Additionally, detailed interviews with 1,800 active listeners provided invaluable insights into their behaviour and preferences. Sheetal Choksi, Director, UNPAC Research said that the Podcast Pulse is a comprehensive report on podcast consumption in India. Regional podcasts are identified as a driving force in shaping the industry's future, offering audiences a more relatable and culturally resonant listening experience, he added. The Unpac Research (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. is a full service qualitative research agency. Ideabrew Studios is a podcast production and full-service content solutions company.

BJD being run by bureaucrats, outsiders in CM's office trying to capture Odisha: Pradhan

SAMBALPUR: Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is facing public revolt for the first time and a caucus of outsiders in the chief minister's office wants to capture the state, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed. The Education Minister, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, also dismissed the speculation that there were any attempts from BJP to enter into an alliance with the BJD. In an interview with PTI, Pradhan, who is returning to the electoral fray after 15 years, said, he Odia identity is under threat and this election is all about that identity. BJD is being run by a group of bureaucrats...the caucus in the chief minister's office which has few non-Oriya officers, they all came together and thought let's exploit the inability of the chief minister, let's create a vacuum from back door and their intention is to capture the state. This is a very dangerous trend and this is what public is angry about besides their inaction on the ground, Pradhan said in a veiled jibe at Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian. The minister said this is the first time the so far popular CM is facing the heat from the public. BJD is facing public revolt for the first time...we have been fighting with them for long, we fought elections together too in the past. But 2024 election is a new type of election for them ..it is the most difficult election they would be facing, he said. The Assembly and general elections are being held in Odisha simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik will become the longest serving chief minister of India if his party wins the upcoming Assembly polls. He is already the longest serving CM of Odisha. Pradhan, however, said Patnaik's more than two-decade rule has brought little to the people of the state in way of solid development. Since last 24 years, Patnaik has been the in-charge of the state as chief minister but on all the fronts, be it social structure, infrastructure, economy, employment generation this government has been an utter failure. The lack of basic facilities causing large scale migration from the state. They do not have any vision or political will power they do not have any commitment to society, there is a huge anger among youth, women, tribals, different sections of society.. this is going to reflect in voting behaviour, people will teach them a lesson, there will be befitting response, he said. When he was asked about how the BJD was able to secure a mandate for five consecutive terms if there are so many issues, Pradhan said, kabhi to sabr ka bandh tutata hai (the patience crosses its limit at one point). 2024 election will be a real test of his popularity...soon BJD will not be seen in the state even by using binoculars. Pradhan, 54, also denied any talks of an alliance between BJP and BJD ahead of elections. There was no 'buzz' for alliance from our side...we had no compulsions for an alliance with them...on several national issues various parties have supported us but it is not mandatory that we will fight elections with them together, he said. Asked whether he would be the BJP's CM face if the party comes to power in Odisha, Pradhan said, here has been no decision yet and it will be decided by the party later only about who will be given the responsibility but I am confident that the Chief Minister will be from BJP. The BJP leader filed his nomination from Sambalpur on Thursday. Polling in the state is scheduled in the sixth phase of the general election on May 25. The high-profile Sambalpur constituency, which is the epicentre of western Odisha, is gearing up for a heated contest between Congress's Nagendra Pradhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJD's Pranab Prakash Das. Nagendra Pradhan had won the constituency on a Biju Janata Dal ticket in 2014 polls. Dharmendra Pradhan is contesting an election after a gap of 15 years. He had last contested an election in 2009 after the end of BJP-BJD alliance. He lost the assembly poll that year. He was elected to the Odisha Assembly in 2000 and to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh seat in 2004. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2012 and again in 2018 from Madhya Pradesh. Asked about the opposition's allegations that BJP will change the Constitution if voted to power, Pradhan said, Congress is scared...their leadership has been re-launched and repackaged several times and they have faced defeat only. They are making all attempts now like using deepfake videos, misutilising AI, making such statements but public knows their deeds and Congress existence is in danger.

Chirag Paswan Declares Assets Worth Rs. 2.68 Crore: Details Revealed

Chirag Paswan Declares Assets Worth Rs. 2.68 Crore: Details Revealed Chirag Paswan, president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), who is contesting election from Hajipur Lok Sabha seat as NDA nominee, owns movable and immovable assets worth Rs 2.68 crore as per the affidavit filed by him. Chirag on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the Hajipur Lok Sabha seat. The 41-year-old leader in the affidavit filed before the Returning Officer along with the nomination papers, declared that he has movable assets worth Rs 1.66 crore and immovable assets owned by him are worth Rs 1.02 crore. According to the affidavit, he has Rs 42,000 cash in hand and has three bank accounts and gold jewellery worth Rs 14.40 lakh. As per the affidavit, Chirag's immovable asset includes a house worth Rs 1.02 crore in Patna. He does not own any other immovable asset. He is a director and shareholder in six private firms. The Hajipur Lok Sabha seat was earlier represented by his father, late Ram Vilas Paswan, nine times. Hajipur Lok Sabha seats will go for polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

BJD being run by bureaucrats, outsiders in CM's office trying to capture Odisha: Dharmendra Pradhan

Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is facing public revolt for the first time and a caucus of outsiders in the chief minister's office wants to capture the state, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed. The Education Minister, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, also dismissed the speculation that there were any attempts from BJP to enter into an alliance with the BJD.

Odisha: Pranab Prakash Dass mom to fight from Korei as BJD candidate

BHUBANESWAR: Putting an end to speculations, BJD on Thursday announced Sandhyarani Das, mother of party organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das, as its candidate from Korei Assembly seat in Jajpur district. Sandhyarani replaces Ashok Kumar Bal, the partys sitting MLA from the constituency. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the list of candidates for the last three Assembly seats including much-awaited Korei. The party has changed the candidate for Deogarh Assembly seat by replacing Arundhati Devi, wife of Sambalpur MP Nitesh Ganga Deb of BJP, with Romancha Ranjan Biswal who had contested the 2019 elections unsuccessfully. The chief minister also announced Sabitri Pradhan as the partys candidate from Khandapada Assembly seat overlooking the claim of former MLA Anubhav Patnaik. Similarly, BJD has given ticket to Sukanta Nayak from Nilgiri Assembly seat. Nayak has consecutively won from the seat in 2014 and 2019 on BJD and BJP tickets respectively. Nayak had resigned from the BJP and rejoined BJD recently. The candidature of Sandhyarani from Korei is being seen as a back-up plan for Das who is BJDs candidate from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat where he is pitted against BJP heavyweight and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. If Das fails to win, he can always get himself elected from Korei. The seat in Jajpur district is a family stronghold of Das and represented by his father Ashok Das five times. BJDs Khandapada candidate Sabitri is the chairperson of Bhapur block. The regional party had to change its candidate from the seat as sitting MLA, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was expelled from the party. Meanwhile, announcement of candidates from Khandapada and Nilgiri has sparked resentment. Former MLA Anubhav Patnaik, a strong contender for a ticket this time from the seat, has resigned in protest. He is set to file his nomination as an Independent candidate on Friday. In his resignation letter to the chief minister, the former MLA said his father Arun Patnaik was with Biju Patnaik since 1985 and mother Bijaylaxmi Patnaik, a two-time MLA from the seat had worked to strengthen the partys organisation in the constituency. Patnaik said he had worked to strengthen organisation in the constituency. Santosh Khatua, the BJD candidate from Nilgiri in the 2019 also resigned from the party after his claim for a ticket was ignored.

Congress vows to remerge 5 villages near Bhadrachalam to Telangana from AP

Hyderabad: The Congress party in its special Lok Sabha poll manifesto for Telangana promised to remerge 5 villages near Bhadrachalam to Telangana from Andhra Pradesh if the party comes to power at the Centre. The villages are Yetapaka, Gundala, Purushottam Patnam, Kannegudam and Pichukalapadu and the residents of these five gram panchayats located on the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

BJD faces tough contest against BJPs Kulesika in Laxmipur Assembly seat

JEYPORE: The Laxmipur Assembly constituency appears poised for a fierce electoral battle, with the ruling Biju Janata Dal facing a challenge from former MLA and current BJP candidate, Kailash Kulesika. Kulesikas growing influence in the constituency has sent ripples of concern through the BJD camp. In the 2019 elections, Kulesika, then representing the Congress, secured 44,982 (33.85 pc) votes, narrowly losing to BJDs Prabhu Jani who got 45,211 (34.02 pc) votes. Despite financial constraints and a strong BJD presence in the state, Kulesikas organisational groundwork in Congress party strengthened his support base, particularly in the ST constituency. Seeking a brighter political future, Kulesika switched allegiance to the BJD in 2022, lured by the promise of a ticket for the 2024 elections. However, last-minute exclusion from the candidate list prompted his defection to the BJP, a move that has altered the electoral equations in the region. Kulesikas grassroots networks, particularly in Bandhugaon, Narayanpatana, Dasmantpur, and Laxmipur blocks, coupled with his experience and organisational prowess, have made him a strong candidate of the BJP. Moreover, there is palpable discontent among BJD supporters over the partys decision to overlook Kulesika, making it challenging for Prabhu Jani to secure their backing. The magnitude of Kulesikas influence was evident during his nomination filing roadshow in Koraput, where over 10,000 supporters from distant areas rallied in solidarity with the BJP candidate. Political analysts believe that countering Kulesikas momentum will be no easy task for the BJD, especially given his insider knowledge of the partys strategies for the constituency. BJD supporters, however, remain optimistic, citing the scheduled visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Rayagada on May 4 as a potential game-changer. They believe that the CMs presence will help mitigate Kulesikas influence and bolster support for Prabhu Janis candidacy.

Odisha: Will make paddy purchase clean & transparent says Manmohan Samal

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Thursday alleged irregularities of over Rs 1 lakh crore in paddy procurement in the state and assured transparency will be restored if his party came to power. Describing the BJD government in the state as anti-farmer, Samal said if BJP comes to power, all paddy grown by farmers will be procured. Asserting the BJP government will be farmer-friendly, Samal said the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy will be fixed at Rs 3,100 per quintal. There will be no delay in payment to farmers and they will get their money in their bank accounts in 48 hours, he said adding, there will be no katni and chhatni (reduction in weight of paddy per bag for payment). Alleging the state government has neglected the agriculture sector, Samal said Potato Mission and Onion Mission started by BJD has failed to yield any result. Samal said though the Centre asked the state government to provide financial assistance to 75 lakh farmers, only 44 lakh were given assistance under KALIA scheme. The state BJP president said because of the neglect of the government, all food procurement units are now closed. The state government has not taken any correctives measures though these issues have been flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) several times, he added. Stating Odisha witnessed a leadership crisis during BJD rule, Samal alleged while around 80 per cent people in the state depend on agriculture, the state government has failed to address the issues faced by the farmers. As a result, lakhs of youths are forced to move to other states as migrant workers, he added. Claiming the ruling BJD has done nothing to strengthen irrigation, he said farmers are facing problems as the state government failed to utilise funds provided by the Centre to boost irrigation. The Naveen Patnaik government also failed to set up cold storage and build seven barrages on Mahanadi river as it had promised. Meanwhile, dismissing the allegations as false and baseless, BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra alleged the saffron party is shedding crocodile tears over farmers issues. Whenever there are elections, BJP leaders talk about such things and then forget, he added. Accusing BJP of doing nothing to mitigate the plight of farmers, he said the Odisha Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution way back in 2017 for raising the MSP for paddy to Rs 2,930 per quintal. However, BJP leaders and the Centre failed to take any step in this regard in all these years as they are not worried about the problems faced by farmers, he added.

Gadkari promises prioritised development of infrastructure in Araku

VISAKHAPATNAM : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has assured the people of Araku Lok Sabha constituency of prioritised infrastructure development, encompassing roads, drinking water supply, electricity, communication and irrigation facilities. Addressing an election meeting at Venkampeta in Parvathipuram Manyam district on Thursday, he reiterated the BJP-led NDA governments commitment to the uplift of tribal communities, while seeking the peoples mandate for Araku Lok Sabha BJP candidate Kothapalli Geetha. He emphasised the Modi governments focus on various development initiatives, particularly in the realm of water conservation and supply. He underscored the significance of river-linking projects and urged concerted efforts towards water conservation. Expressing concern over rural depopulation due to migration to urban areas, he highlighted the decline in the number of cultivators in villages. Referring to water scarcity, Gadkari recalled his tenure as the Water Resources Minister, mentioning the sanctioning of the Polavaram project for Andhra Pradesh. However, he expressed disappointment over the projects delay, attributing it to political factors within the State. Gadkari stressed the potential for economic growth through water availability in rural, agricultural and tribal areas, citing a possible two-fold increase in the countrys growth rate. He lamented the current state of agriculture and allied industries, which contribute only 12% to the GDP, and attributed rural-to-urban migration to flawed economic policies. Under the leadership of Modi, Gadkari outlined plans to strengthen rural, agricultural and tribal economies. He pledged support for diversifying agriculture towards the energy and power sectors, citing ongoing road infrastructure projects such as the Visakhapatnam-Raipur connectivity (595 km) costing `35,000 crore and the Rajamahendravaram-Vizianagaram greenfield express highway costing `22,000 crore. Additionally, Gadkari mentioned the completion of the Saluru bypass on NH 43. He later took part in an Elite Meet in Anakapalle along with BJP Lok Sabha candidate CM Ramesh.

Aparajita, Manmath nominations raise Odisha poll heat

BHUBANESWAR: The intense heat did not deter thousands of BJP and BJD supporters from accompanying their candidates for filing of nominations for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency. Flanked by thousands of supporters who resorted to loud sloganeering, both BJPs Aparajita Sarangi and BJDs Manmath Routray reached the collectorate in style. However, police had to be present in large numbers as the scene remained charged with both the camps fervently rallying behind their nominees. Prior to filing her nomination papers, Sarangi organised multiple rallies on the Bhubaneswar-Khurda collectorate stretch. The BJP candidate was seen taking part in bike rallies of supporters at Baramunda field at around 7.30 am. After this, she prayed at Bhuasuni temple and moved in a bike and car rally. At around 10.30 am, Sarangi took out a padayatra from Gita Bhawan ground. She reached the collectorate at around 12.30 pm with BJPs MLA candidates in the constituency as well as leaders and supporters in thousands. The electrifying atmosphere itself speaks about the love and faith people of Bhubaneswar constituency have for me. As I had said earlier, people are fighting this election for me. They were donating me funds and are now joining me in thousands of number for my nomination filing. I am confident that people will remain undefeated in this elections, said Sarangi. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her the opportunity to contest from the seat for the second time. Bhubaneswar BJP MP candidate Aparajita Sarangi takes out a huge rally before filing her nomination | EXPRESS Not to be outdone, BJDs candidate Routray also made a grand entrance of his own, opting for a more traditional way of procession to reach the Khurda collectorate. Surrounded by a sea of supporters, the BJD candidate reached the collectorate on a bullock cart to make a grassroots appeal. Earlier in the morning, Routray jogged to Lingaraj temple in Old Town to seek blessing of the Lord. He continued to jog for miles till Khandagiri and was later seen dressed as a farmer, heading on a bullock cart, to file his nomination papers. Mayor Sulochana Das and all the Assembly candidates of BJD in Bhubaneswar LS seat were present with him. As Paikas, we protect our land and in the free time get involved in agricultural activities. This is our real culture. I am also fighting this election as a Paika son to bring back Odia Asmita (pride), Routray told mediapersons, on his way to the collectorate, while thanking Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for imposing trust on him and giving him the opportunity to contest from the constituency and serve its people. Apart from the two Lok Sabha candidates, BJP candidate for Khurda Prasanta Jagadev also filed his nomination papers on the day. BJP candidate for Bhubaneswar-Central Jagannath Pradhan, BJDs Bhubaneswar-north candidate Susanta Kumar Rout and Jatni candidate Bibhuti Balabantray had filed their nominations recently.

YSRC, JSP diligent to bag votes in Kapu bastion

VIJAYAWADA : Part of the Diviseema region, a small deltaic island in Krishna district, Avanigadda is one of the seven Assembly constituencies under Machilipatnam parliament segment. The segment is well known as a bastion of Kapu leaders, where the electorate belonging to the community make up the largest proportion of more than 35 per cent, followed by fishermen at 13 per cent, Mala at 11 per cent, Madiga at 10 per cent, Shettibalija at 10 per cent, Kamma at 7 per cent, Yadava at 5 per cent, Vaishya at 3 per cent, Devangs at 2 per cent, and Muslims at 2 per cent. Considering these caste equations, the YSRC and JSP have fielded candidates hailing from Kapu community to contest the seat. While the YSRC has nominated sitting MLA Simhadri Ramesh Babu, Jana Sena has fielded Mandali Buddha Prasad, expecting to garner a significant share of Kapu votes. Nevertheless, the competition is poised to intensify, especially considering the substantial support among the lower and middle-class populace who have benefited from YSRCs welfare schemes, across other social groups. Enduring frequent cyclones, the constituency has been plagued with several problems for decades. Filled with potholes, the condition of the roads, especially on the Koduru-Avanigadda main road, in the Assembly segment is deplorable forcing the commuters to take lengthy detours spanning 13km. Though repairs have commenced, the overall road infrastructure remains a pressing concern for the constituency. In addition to this, most of the farmers are facing numerous challenges due to the lack of irrigation water. Although this issue affects all areas within the constituency, it is particularly acute in Nagayalanka and Koduru mandals. Moreover, the people are also facing problems due to a lack of drinking water in coastal villages such as Edurumondi, Kammalamula, Nali, Hamsala Deevi, Palakayathippa, Machavaram, and others. However, residents believe that despite the governments provision of water through tanks, it is insufficient to meet their needs. Parankusam Ravi, a resident of Avanigadda, expressed his concern over the authorities delay in desilting the main drains and agriculture drains, leading to the sinking of crop fields even with small rains. He mentioned that the outfall sluice, constructed during the British era, has been neglected over time. Even during the modernisation of the delta, necessary repairs were not carried out, resulting in the inundation of fields. Highlighting the delay in construction of Edurumondi-Etimoga bridge across Krishna river, which connects the main land with villages including Edurumondi, Etimoga, Elichetla Dibba, Nachu Gunta, and Gollamandala, D Govardhan, a resident of Yedurlanka village, said that with no other option, the residents are still risking their lives and relying on country boats to cross the river. Govardhan emphasised that this issue has persisted for a significant period, with both governments responsible for its resolution. He lamented the lack of effort to address it. Additionally, Govardhan mentioned the pressing need for the Yedurlanka Bridge, a problem raised during the YSRC tenure and not yet addressed. Avanigadda MLA and YSRC candidate Simhadri Ramesh expressed that it is encouraging to see the overwhelming support from underprivileged and middle-class people for CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and his schemes. Ramesh highlighted his efforts, including his opposition to GO 22A, which troubled farmers owning 17,840 acres of agricultural land in the constituency during Chandrababus tenure. He also mentioned his contribution for the establishment of a dialysis centre at Avanigadda Government Hospital. Regarding the construction of the Edurumondi Bridge, he acknowledged delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and alleged interference from Machilipatnam parliament member Balashowry Vallabbhaneni, resulting in a standstill despite the allocation of Rs 110 crore.

HMWSSB MD directs officials to finish ORR reservoir works by June

HYDERABAD : HMWSSB Managing Director C Sudarshan Reddy inspected the under-construction water reservoirs at Tukkuguda, Pahadishareef, Sultanpur, Kashangutta, Gurramguda, Kammaguda, Tirumala Nagar and Nandi Hills taken up under Package 1 of the ORR Project Phase-2. He directed the officials to complete the works by next month. Later, he visited the Saheb Nagar division office and reviewed the records of the tankers at the filling station. The MD said that under the current package, 33 water reservoirs are under construction. Works for 22 of them are already completed and they are now operational, he said, adding that the construction works of the remaining 11 reservoirs are 90% completed. Sudarshan directed officials to complete the works by June. Additionally, he highlighted the laying of a new pipeline covering 1522.27 km is nearing completion. The focus is given to inspecting inlet and outlet works and officials have been directed to expedite the works. ORR project phase-2 Phase-2 of the ORR project is progressing with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore. It includes the setting up of 73 new service reservoirs with a capacity of 138 million litres and the expansion of the pipeline network by 2,988 km. Upon completion, it is projected to benefit 3.6 lakh families and 25 lakh people. Seven municipal corporations, 18 municipalities and 24 gram panchayats are set to benefit from the initiative. Package-1 and 2 In this segment, 33 service reservoirs and 1,522 km of pipeline network are being constructed at a cost of `613 crore. It will cover seven mandals: Saroornagar, Maheshwaram, Shamshabad, Hayathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Ghatkesar and Keesara and is expected to benefit 4.36 lakh people. The second package covers the construction of 38 new service reservoirs and a pipeline network covering 1,270 km at a budget of `587 crore. This package covers five mandals Rajendranagar, Shamirpet, Medchal, Quthbullapur, Patancheru, RC Puram and Bollaram and is expected to benefit 1.96 lakh people.

13-year-old Secunderabad girl defies 45 fractures, fate to script dream TT tale

Vijaya Deepika Gangapatnam defies odds with Brittle Bone Disease to excel in para table tennis, winning medals. Home-schooled in Secunderabad, using wheelchairs due to frequent fractures, inspired by brother Vijaytej, introduced to TT after delivery fractures.

Debutants VS war horses in Bihar battle

PATNA: A keen contest between debutants and old warhorses is on the cards in Bihar as five of its seats go to the polls in the third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on May 7. Though there are 54 contestants in the fray, the fight is mainly between BJP-JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance, the latter being a part of Opposition INDIA bloc. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, all the five seatsMadhepura, Supaul, Khagaria, Araria and Jhanjharpurwere won by the NDA. The moot question for the ruling alliance both at the centre and in the state is to retain the seats that it had clinched in the previous general elections when candidates had emerged victorious driving on the Modi wave. The scene is a bit different now. It will not be a cake walk for the sitting MPs to retain their respective seats this time. For example, NDA has fielded the JD(U) sitting MP Dinesh Chandra Yadav from Madhepura. He is pitted against Kumar Chandradeep, an English teacher, who is contesting the polls for the first time. Similarly, in Supaul seat, JD(U) MP Dilkeshwar Kamait has been pitted against Chandrahas Chaupal, a debutant. While NDA candidate Kamait, a retired Railway officer, is seeking his reelection from the seat, the grand alliance has fielded Chaupal. Chaupal, an RJD MLA from Singheshwar Assembly constituency, is trying his luck for the first time to reach Parliament. In Khagaria, the NDA has nominated Rajesh Verma as its candidate while the CPM is fielding Sanjay Kumar. Both Verma and Kumar are trying their luck in in Lok Sabha polls for the first time. In Jhanjharpur also, the NDA has fielded JD(U) sitting MP Ramprit Mandal. He is pitted against Suman Mahaseth, a debutant in the general elections. A former MLC, Mahaseth is a nominee of Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) which is a part of opposition Grand Alliance. In Araria, BJP sitting MP Pradip Singh has been nominated as an NDA candidate while Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam is contesting as Grand Alliance candidate. Shahnawaz, an MLA from Jokihat, is fighting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time. Shahnawaz had won the 2020 Assembly election on the ticket of Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM but he later switched over to RJD. While JD(U) had won four seats, one had gone to BJPs kitty in 2019 Lok Sabha lections. Our top leaders are making all-out efforts to ensure victory of candidates on all the five seats in the third phase. We are convincing voters to vote in favour of NDA candidates to strengthen the hands of PM Narendra Modi, a BJP leader of Araria said. According to the state chief electoral officers office, JD(U) is contesting on three seats, BJP and LJP (Ram Vilas) on one seat each. On the other hand, the RJD is contesting three seats, CPM and VIP one seat each. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded five candidates. 19 Independent candidates are trying their luck.

It's Lalu's daughter vs Laloo Prasad Yadav in Bihar's Saran Lok Sabha seat

Rohini Acharya faces Laloo Prasad Yadav challenge in Saran Lok Sabha seat. Yadav, RJP candidate, determined despite financial disparity. Labels like 'dharti pakad' do not deter him.

13-year-old defies 45 fractures, fate to script dream TT tale

Even before she was born, scans revealed multiple bends in Vijaya Deepika Gangapatnam's bones. Her father says the 13-year-old is like fragile due to her rare Brittle Bone Disease, which resulted in 45 fractures. However, her life now appears to possess more strength than fragility as she defies fate to pursue a career as a para table tennis player.

If Pawan contestsagainst NDA nominee,BJP will take action

Will serve people as son of Hajipur

Nadda: Lalus RJD stands forRishwatkhor Jungleraj Daldal

353 city hotels, coaching centres found flouting fire safety norms

2 held for sand smuggling

Relief in sight as Met office predicts rain on May 5 & 6

Misa calls PM old, getsslammed by BJP, JD(U)

2 killed in firing over illegal sand mining

Its Yadav vs Yadav in Madhepura constituency again

Woman gang-raped,killed in Sheikhpura

Online form submission for BEd entrance test from today

Woman thrownoff 4th floor byhubby & in-lawsover dowry, dies

Campaigning gathers pacein Khagaria

Tejashwi accuses PM of skipping important issues

HC refuses to quashFIR against familycourt judge, wife

Satellite-based toll collection system to be introduced in Bihar in 1st phase

Rajnath: Religion-based quota wont be allowed

AP politics delayed Polavaram project: Gadkari

Visakhapatnam : Union minister for roads, Nitin Gadkari, has said politics in Andhra Pradesh delayed the prestigious Polavaram project that was sanctioned by him while he was minister for water resources. Addressing election meetings in Venkampeta as a part of his campaign for Araku Assembly candidate Kothapalli Geetha and Anakapalli LS candidate C.M. Ramesh in Vepagunta area on Thursday, Gadkari said the project cost of Polavaram was then estimated at Rs 60,000 crore. Gadkari said he visited the project site four times when Chandrababu Naidu was chief minister. It was the responsibility of the state government to complete the project, he stressed. When the new government came in 2019, it initiated several inquiries and the end result was the project was delayed, Gadkari said. He said originally three schemes were proposed when 1,300 tmc of water from Godavari was going into the sea as waste. The first scheme was to take water from Godavari to Krishna, Krishna river to Penna and Penna to Kaveri, and taking the tail end to Tamil Nadu. This could have solved the water problem of the entire South India, Gadkari said, blaming the previous governments for wrong policies that led to water disputes. He said as a corrective measure, the NDA government launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchay Yojana to focus on big and medium dams and water conservation measures that would bring socio-economic changes in the rural economy. Agriculture contributes 12 per cent to GDP, manufacturing 22-24 per cent and services 52 to 56 per cent. He said 90 per cent of the population lived in rural areas and later 30 per cent of the population migrated to bigger cities due to the wrong policies of the government that existed after the time of Independence, he said. Now we are focusing on diversion of agriculture to energy and power sector that would save the foreign exchange in importing crude oil and enrich the rural youth, Gadkari said. He said already trial runs were on to make bitumen from broken rice and bio-fuel and aviation fuel from sea molasses, bamboo, broken rice and corn. Very soon vehicles would run on ethanol. Speaking about his contributions to north Andhra as minister for roads, Gadkari said work on Visakhapatnam-Raipur express highway covering a distance on 595 kilometres worth Rs 35,000 crore was on and similarly the Rajamahendravaram-Vizianagaram green express highway covering a distance of 688km was nearing completion. This project costs Rs 22,000 crore. These two roads would be game changer as new developmental activities would be initiated providing employment to thousands of people, Gadkari said.

I will be heir, successor to all values of CM Naveen Patnaik: BJD leader VK Pandian

The News Mill

Modi to visit AP on May 6 and 8

Vijayawada : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit AP for election campaign on May 6 and 8. Based on a tentative schedule, PM Modi will address election rallies and meetings in Rajamahendravaram, Anakapalli, Rajampet and Vijayawada. The AP polls are slated for May 13. Sources say state BJP leaders are making efforts to get promises for AP from Modi on major issues like execution of Polavaram project by releasing funds, as also on the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, a railway zone, metro rail etc. The BJP is contesting in 10 Assembly and six Lok Sabha constituencies in alliance with TD and Jana Sena.

EC transfers IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan, wife of BJD leader Pandian, after BJP complaint

NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday ordered the transfer of commissioner-cum-secretary of Mission Shakti department Sujata Karthikeyan to a non-public dealing department with immediate effect. Sujata is the wife of 5T chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian , who is a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Sources in the ECI confirmed to The New Indian Express that the action was taken following a complaint regarding an alleged misuse of public office and authority by the officer. Earlier in the day, the BJP had moved the poll panel accusing Sujata of misusing her position to influence voters through the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme for electoral gains of BJD. In its complaint, the BJP alleged the Mission Shakti department was being misused by the ruling dispensation to influence voters to vote for BJD in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. As part of its charter of duty, the department promotes various women self-help groups (SHGs) and provides gainful activities to its members by providing credit, market linkage and other financial benefits, with a budget running into thousands of crores. The functionaries of the department have been compelling and coercing these SHGs with the threat of stopping the government's financial benefits, thus making them propagate and influence the voters. This is a brazen violation of the model code of conduct under the garb of SVEEP for reaching out to a wider population with its messages of voter awareness and education, the complaint read. It would have been fair and proper for her to understand the implications of her being the wife of Pandian and she should have proceeded on leave and disassociated herself from the public dealing duty during the elections. However, she is actively participating in the elections as a front person of the BJD in a manner which has been unheard of earlier, the complaint from the BJP read. A delegation led by Union Minister Rajeev Chandershekhar, Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi and senior party leader Om Pathak met the poll panel, demanding immediate action to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. Sujata could not be contacted for a comment. For Pandian, by Pandian, against Pandian is the story of 2024 Odisha polls

Sanjeev Ahluwalia | Will Robin Hood taxes be the answer for India?

India's net direct tax collection surged over 19 per cent to Rs 14.71 lakh crore till January 11, reaching about 81 per cent of the full-year target. (Representational Image) India's net direct tax collection surged over 19 per cent to Rs 14.71 lakh crore till January 11, reaching about 81 per cent of the full-year target. (Representational Image) Behind the din of whether the Congress Party is likely, as alleged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to tax wealth and inheritance if it comes to power, lies the stratagem of signalling to the top 10 per cent of Indians, whose share in the national income surged from 45 per cent in 1981 to 64.6 per cent by 2023, that only the BJP lies between them and the deep sea of marauding socialists and other opportunists. It proved effective too by provoking the Congress, now lulled into a habitually reactive mode, to go all out to deny the allegation. The question is -- why did they bother? The share of Congress voters in the top 10 per cent by wealth is likely to be negligible. The BJP has been good for urban business, professionals and government servants who are the majority in this population segment. The Congress best shot at power, as of all other Opposition parties, is to tap the seething resentment amongst the have-nots. Farmers, workers and the minorities together are more than one half of the voters. The neatly devised Mahalakshmi scheme of the Congress manifesto targets 220 million poor via an assured direct transfer of Rs 0.1 million per year payable to the oldest woman in a poor family. This should cost around Rs 4.4 trillion (for 44 million poor families), or about 1.4 per cent of the GDP this year. At present this promise hangs in the air with no identified source of finance. Will this come at the expense of the Garib Kalyan Yojna, which now provides free food to 110 million people, which costs about Rs 2.05 trillion, and the end of cheap fertiliser costing another Rs 1.64 trillion? The alternative is to pancake it onto the existing welfare schemes, that will enhance the fiscal deficit from a projected, already high 5.1 per cent to an even more unsustainable 6.5 per cent. Are the BJPs dreams being countered with even bigger Congress dreams? Had the Congress acted true to its voter base, it could have proposed a new tax on wealth and inheritance. The share in wealth of the top one per cent (10 million) individuals increased from 12.5 in 1981 to 39.5 per cent in 2023 as per Bharti, Chancel, Piketty and Somanchi (2024). Marxist writers Patnaik and Ghosh assess the potential of a 2 per cent wealth tax and 33 per cent inheritance tax levied on this set at Rs 12.1 trillion in 2018. That the Congress shunned this bold approach reflects the dilemma of all middle-of-the-road parties. Politics and not economic theory drives tax policy in India. The politically docile, urban middle class is the only cash cow now available which spends more than one half its income on Union, state, or municipal tax compliance. Liberal capitalistic economic opinion warns that resurrecting wealth and inheritance tax is a distraction. India should instead focus on accelerating growth with fiscal stability, the benefits from which overshadow a tax funded redistributive tax policy. Far better, they say, to incentivise earning Rs 100 than to give the same as a tax-funded dole. Far better to incentivise new private sector jobs than to increase tax-funded expensive government jobs. There is merit in this argument. Sadly, the external conditions are not supportive. Global growth is low, which is sinking all boats. Automation, robotics, and AI are likely to squeeze human employment. Tax policy traditionally favours capital investment via tax rebates, rather than human capital development -- the key resource in a service-led economy. The wealth of an economy is the competitiveness of its workforce and the efficacy and resilience of its institutions, not the volume of land or physical and financial capital alone. An additional 300 million Indians will boost the population by 2060. Enhancing public expenditure for education and healthcare are, consequently, the surest way to dilute constraints on economic growth, with lightly regulated private industry and services generating new jobs. Memories are short in the social media age. India has a history of wealth appropriation. Ceilings on the ownership of land were imposed in the 1970s through state government-level legislation and surplus land was redistributed. In 1971, the privy purses -- guaranteed amounts under the Constitution, paid annually to the erstwhile hereditary rulers of colonial India in exchange for their voluntarily merging with India -- were terminated and judicial scrutiny of the Constitution-amending act barred under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Large-scale nationalisation of industry followed. No government since has implemented privatisation of Indias mammoth public sector, after Atal Behari Vajpayees 2000-2003 push floundered. In 1978, Prime Minister Morarji Desai of the Janata Party diluted the fundamental right to property, making it subject to legislated constraints. In 1985, the Estates Duty Act 1953, a quasi-inheritance tax, was abolished by Rajiv Gandhis Congress government. In 2015, the wealth tax of 1955 was abolished by Narendra Modis first government, citing low revenue performance. So, are new taxes on wealth and inheritance the answer to the twin problems of unfunded welfare and infrastructure needs -- the latter increased by the investment demands of the energy transition and low revenue collections of around 19 per cent of current GDP for Union and state government combined? This is a chicken and egg question. The generation of private, domestic wealth is a choice to defer present consumption for future gains via investment -- a significant input into economic growth. Bleeding the rich and the near-rich can reduce the incentive for savings-led investment in India. The establishment of the Gift City in Gujarat as an international financial hub insulated from the domestic economy only serves to preserve a part of the resultant value addition from international financial transactions, as do Singapore, London, or New York. The outward flow of domestic capital is still regulated. The INR is still a managed currency. Taxing wealth or inheritance can aggravate the undesirable, financial sub-culture of undercover operations, to stash wealth overseas in tax havens. Far better to make India a competitive and efficient economy first, which attracts more capital than it exports -- like the United States. Once this is achieved, imposing a wealth and/or inheritance tax to generate public resources and level the playing field across individuals becomes an option. More likely though, the process of making the economy competitive would automatically build human capital and create enough merit-based opportunities, making family wealth only a residual input into the future value of an individual. Social divisions like caste might also matter less. Till we get to Ram Rajya (good governance), populist, Robin Hood-style quick fixes can only score a self-goal.

Undefeated Kapu leaders to clash for Bheeminupatnam MLA seat

Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao from YSRCP and Ganta Srinivasa Rao from TDP, who have not lost an election in 20 years, are vying for one of the biggest Assembly constituencies in North Andhra districts

Malkajgiri development proposals submitted to CM, to get approvals after polls: Sunitha Mahender Reddy

Hyderabad: Congress candidate for Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency, Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy, said that she had submitted several proposals for the development of Malkajgiri constituency to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy who had promised to approve them and sanction funds soon after election code ends in June. She appealed to the voters to give her an opportunity to serve them and work for the overall development of the constituency in the next five years with the support of Revanth Reddy, the former Malkajgiri MP. Sunitha Reddy on Thursday took part in road show in Qutbullapur. Addressing the meeting, She said the Congress has given an opportunity for a woman to contest from Malkajgiri this time for the first time and appealed to women voters to support her and ensure victory of a woman. She said the Revanth Reddy government implemented Mahalakshmi and Gruha Jyothi schemes for the welfare of women within 100 days of coming to power and had promised to implement another guarantee of `2,500 per month to women after election code ended in June. Sunitha Reddy said the constituency has several slums which lacked basic facilities due to which residents were facing severe hardships. She promised to improve facilities in slums if she was elected.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submit nominations for Rajya Sabha polls

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan submit nominations for Rajya Sabha polls BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former central minister Jual Oram and several other leaders of Odisha on Thursday filed nomination papers for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Patnaik filed his nomination papers from the Kantabanji assembly segment under the Bolangir parliamentary constituency in the state's western region, two days after he filed his papers from his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district. Patnaik chose Kantabanji as the second seat as it is strategically located and connected to three Lok Sabha seats such as Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Bargarh. These three LS seats were won by the opposition BJP in the 2019 elections. Patnaik in 2019 had also contested from two seats - Bijepur and Hinjili - and had won in both. He retained the Hinjili seat while resigning from the Bijepur assembly segment. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is set to contest the Lok Sabha elections after a gap of 15 years, also filed his nomination paper from the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat. Pradhan held a massive roadshow in Sambalpur city after offering prayers at Samaleswari temple. The blessings of Maa Samaleswari are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP will win 21 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, he told reporters. Five-time BJP MP Jual Oram, who is also a former Union minister, also during the day filed his nomination paper for the Sundergarh Lok Sabha seat after offering prayers at his village and tribal god. He is seeking re-election from the Sundargarh LS seat and is pitted against BJDs Dilip Tirkey, who submitted his nomination papers on April 30. Meanwhile, the Khurda collectorate witnessed a noisy scene when the supporters of BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi and BJD MP candidate Manmath Routray shouted slogans during the filing of nomination. After offering prayers at the Maa Bhuasuni temple at Jalna, Sarangi along with her supporters reached Khurda collectorate to file the nomination. Women supporters also took out a scooter rally from Baramunda ground to Khurda. With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Lord Lingaraj, I am again seeking election from the Bhubaneswar LSD seat. This is a fight of the people of the constituency, she said. Manmath Routray, son of Congress MLA Suresh Routray, also arrived at the Khurda collectorate riding a bullock cart and blowing conches. I am a son of Paika (peasant soldier) and the bullock cart is its symbol. I am overwhelmed to see the crowd accompanying me to the collectorate. I am confident of a landmark victory in the elections, he told reporters. His father and Jatani MLA Suresh Routray, who has been expelled from Congress for supporting his BJD candidate son, was seen performing a traditional sword dance in the procession. While Sundargarh will vote on May 20, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar will go to polls on May 25.

Bihar Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Sand Mining, Issues Directives to Officials

Bihar Govt Cracks Down on Illegal Sand Mining, Issues Directives to Officials In a bid to check illegal sand mining in the state, the Bihar government on Thursday directed officers concerned in all districts to inspect sand ghats in their respective areas and send reports to the headquarters daily. The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting attended by senior officials of the Mines and Geology department and other related departments. According to a statement issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, the district mining officers across the state have been ''directed to inspect sand ghats in their respective areas and send reports to the headquarters on a daily basis''. Directions have been issued to erect display boards at all auctioned sand ghats and also install National Informatics Centre (NIC) integrated weighing machine to check overloading and illegal transportation of sand,'' it said. Officials have been asked to ''keep a tab on the entire sand quarry activity and track trucks carrying sand from the quarry to depots and other designated destinations in the state, the statement said. Instructions have also been issued to erect display boards at sand ghats which have not been auctioned. Any sand mining activities on ghats which are not auctioned can be easily checked and strict action will be taken against violators,'' the statement said. The state has been witnessing incidents of violent attacks by the sand mafia on policemen and senior officers of the department. Such incidents are mainly reported from Patna, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Saran and Vaishali districts. The sand ghats along the Sone river in Rohtas, Bhojpur and Aurangabad districts of Bihar and adjacent Garhwa and Palamu of Jharkhand are known for good quality.

Poll manifesto is like tissue paper for TDP chief Chandrababu: YSRCP candidate from Visakhapatnam South

The News Mill

Naveen, Dharmendra, Jual file nominations

Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former central minister Jual Oram and several other leaders of Odisha Thursday filed nomination papers for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Patnaik filed his nomination papers from the Kantabanji assembly segment under the Bolangir parliamentary constituency in the states western region, []

Naveen Patnaik, Dharmendra Pradhan file their nomination in Odisha

The BJD supremo has chosen as his second constituency the Kantabanji Assembly seat to bolster his partys prospects in western Odisha, a BJP stronghold

EC orders transfer of senior Odisha bureaucrat Sujata Karthikeyan

New Delhi: The Election Commission Thursday ordered the immediate transfer of senior Odisha bureaucrat Sujata R Karthikeyan to a non-public dealing department following complaints of alleged misuse of public office, sources said. She is the wife of BJD leader Kartik Pandian, a close associate of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Karthikeyan was holding the post []

Congress to Deploy National Leaders in Telangana for Election Push

Hyderabad: The Congress will step up campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana in the last leg by deploying national leaders like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar between May 5 and 11. Their campaign will begin after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had campaigned extensively during the Telangana state Assembly elections in November 2023. The party leadership has also decided to rope in leaders from Karnataka and Maharashtra for campaigning in the bordering areas of Telangana state. Besides, Congress leaders from Bihar, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala etc will meet voters hailing from their states Chevella, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad and Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituencies. Rahul Gandhi: May 5: Rallies in Nirmal and Gadwal for Adilabad (Atram Suguna) and Mahbubnagar (Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy); May 9: Karimnagar and Saroornagar, for V. Rajender Rao (Karimnagar) and G. Ranjith Redddy (Chevella). Priyanka Gandhi: May 6, election rallies in Yellareddy, Tandur in support of T. Jeevan Reddy (Nizamabad), G. Ranjith Reddy (Chevella) and Secunderabad (Danam Nagender); May 7: Narsapur and Kukatpally for Neelam Madhu Mudiraj (Medak) and Patnam Sunitha Mahendar Reddy (Maljakgiri).

2kmp4/Heat waves continue to sweep AP, Nandyal at 46.2 C

Visakhapatnam : Heat wave continued to boil parts of Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day on Thursday with mercury touching 46.2 degree Celsius in Nandyal on Thursday. The mercury touched 45.3 degree Celsius in Kurnool, followed by 44.8C at Kadapa and Jangamaheswarapuram. Tirupati recorded 44.1C and the remaining parts of the state recorded the maximum temperatures between 39C and 43 C on the day. Nandyal, Kurnool, Arogyavaram (42.5C), and Kavali (43.1C) experienced heat wave conditions on Thursday while hot, humid and most uncomfortable weather prevailed in many parts of the state, Dr S Karuna Sagar of IMD, Amaravathi. The heat wave conditions will prevail at isolated places over Rayalaseema districts as well as coastal Andhra Pradesh region and Yanam from May 3 to May 5 while the remaining parts of the state will experience hot and humid weather conditions. Adding woes to the heat waves, parts of Rayalaseema region will experience warmer nights during the period, Karuna Sagar added. The people in tribal pockets of Alluri Sitharama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam districts said that they have been experiencing hot and humid weather conditions for the past few days forcing them to stay indoors. Few parts in ASR district on Thursday recorded thunderstorms in the evening hours, however the spell of showers failed to bring much respite from hot weather conditions.

Odisha's Central Ministers Silent on Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik, Says V K Pandian

Odisha's Central Ministers Silent on Bharat Ratna for Biju Patnaik, Says V K Pandian Central ministers from Odisha never talk about Bharat Ratna for freedom fighter and every Odiya's inspiration Biju Patnaik: V K Pandian.

Naveen Patnaik will never accept Bharat Ratna for father in return for alliance: V K Pandian

V K Pandian, close associate of Naveen Patnaik, revealed the CM's stance on awards. Biju Patnaik's contribution highlighted as overlooked. Naveen Patnaik's actions reflect strong commitment to Odisha's culture and heritage.

I'm natural successor to Naveen Patnaik's great values, only BJP calls me 'outsider': Pandian

Mr. Pandian was born in Tamil Nadu, studied in Delhi and started his career as a Punjab cadre IAS officer, but shifted to Odisha cadre after marrying an Odiya.

1,404 voters will go for Vote from Home in Visakhapatnam on May 7 and 8

Misa Bharti calls PM Modi 'old', gets slammed by BJP, JD(U)

In the final phase of Patna's voting, Misa Bharti confronts Ram Kripal Yadav in a straight contest. Bharti's criticism of PM Modi's age is countered by BJP. JD(U) questions her attitude towards Lalu Prasad.

BJP Releases Candidates for Six Additional Assembly Seats in Odisha

BJP Releases Candidates for Six Additional Assembly Seats in Odisha The BJP on Thursday announced candidates for six more assembly seats in Odisha, including its state unit vice president Dr Purnachandra Mohapatra. Mohapatra, a doctor by profession, has been nominated from the Barabati-Cuttack assembly segment where Kendrapara MP and actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty, who defected from BJD, was also in the race for the BJP ticket, party sources said. Mohapatra's name was also in the discussion for BJP nominee for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat. With the sixth list of candidates, the party announced its nominees for 146 seats for elections to the 147-member assembly in the state. The party is yet to announce its nominee for Nilagiri in Balasore district. Prakash Ranabijuli has been named as the BJP candidate from the Begunia assembly segment and Umesh C Jena from the Bari assembly seat. Former BJD MLA and ex-minister Debasish Nayak, who was once close to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and joined the BJP after being denied a ticket in two previous elections, was in the race for a saffron camp ticket in Bari, the sources said. The BJP fielded Sudhanshu Nayak from the Bhandaripokhari seat, while Ashish Patra and Dr Sambhunath Rout will contest from Bhogarai and Ghasipura assembly segments respectively, an official release issued by the party said.

Misa slams PM Modi with ageist remark, BJP and JD(U) hit back

Misa slams PM Modi with ageist remark, BJP and JD(U) hit back RJD president Lalu Prasads eldest daughter Misa Bharti on Thursday drew flak from the BJP-led NDA in Bihar for an uncharitable reference to the ''old'' age of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bharti, who is the RJD candidate from Patliputra, made the remarks while canvassing in the constituency where she attacked the NDA government at the Centre for bringing in the Agniveer scheme of recruitment in armed services. In a video clip, purportedly of Wednesday, now viral on social media, the Rajya Sabha MP can be heard as saying: ''What did this government do in 10 years? It brought in Agniveer. Young people fighting for the country will be retired at the age of 22. On the other hand, we have an old Prime Minister who at the age of 75 wants a third consecutive term''. Predictably, the BJP flew in rage and sought to remind the RJD leader that her father, too, was at a ripe age. ''PM Modi is much younger than Lalu Prasad. Misa Bharti should keep this in mind and think before heaping insults in this manner,'' said BJP national spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain. JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, whose party is headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and is an NDA partner, asked, ''Does Misa Bharti speak of her father in a similar tone?''. Referring to Bharti's rival in Pataliputra, the JD(U) leader added: ''She will learn her lessons. The blessings of Ram are with Ram Kripal''. Ram Kripal Yadav, a former close aide of the RJD supremo, had joined the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2014 when he defeated Bharti and was rewarded with a berth in the Union council of ministers. Five years later, Bharti suffered defeat at the hands of her father's disgruntled close aide for a second time. Covering areas of rural Patna, Patliputra, where voting is scheduled in the final phase, is set to witness yet another straight contest between Bharti and Yadav.

Andhra Pradesh's Electoral Roll for 2023 Finalized with Over 4.14 Crore Eligible Voters

Andhra Pradesh's Electoral Roll for 2023 Finalized with Over 4.14 Crore Eligible Voters Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Thursday published the final electoral roll of the state in the run-up to the forthcoming polls, pegging the total number of voters over 4.14 crore, which rose by nearly six lakh from January 1. In exact figures, the total number of voters in the southern state are 4,14,01,887, who include 2.02 crore male voters, 2.1 crore female voters, 3,421 third gender voters and 68,185 service electors. ''Voter list has been finalised and frozen. On the day of freezing the list, April 25, including all categories of voters, service voters, male, female and third gender voters, there are 4,14,01,887 voters,'' said Meena, addressing a press conference at the secretariat here. The CEO noted that the electoral rolls witnessed an increase by 5,94,631 voters between January 1, 2024 and April 1. The voter list was updated until the last day of receiving the nominations, April 25. Meena called on the electorate to check their names and polling stations at https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/ and on the voter helpline app. Though more than 7.2 lakh voters are eligible for home voting under the categories of voters above 85 years of age and specially-abled, Meena said only 28,591 such voters availed this facility. Further, he said that the number of polling stations rose from 46,165 to 46,389, after factoring in the requirement of 224 auxiliary polling stations which were supplemented to regular polling stations where the upper limit of 1,500 electors has been breached. The highest number of auxiliary polling stations (50) have been added in Visakhapatnam district. Meanwhile, the CEO noted that 12,438 polling stations out of the total have been identified as critical while webcasting has been proposed for 29,897 or 64 percent of the polling stations. Until Thursday, as part of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Meena observed that two deaths, 156 injuries and 13.4 lakh properties were involved in cases of electoral violence. Besides binding over 72,416 persons, the Election Commission has also registered 9,337 seizure FIRs and 864 FIRs related to enforcement such as loudspeaker violations, irregular meetings and others. Likewise, the poll body seized liquor, cash, drugs, precious metals, freebies and other inducements worth Rs 204 crore from March 16 to May 2. Further, Meena observed that safety measures would be put in place at polling stations prone to heat waves, such as setting up tents, canopies, umbrellas and shade structures, along with providing chairs. Likewise, cooling devices such as fans will be arranged at necessary polling stations for maintaining comfortable temperature for voters and polling personnel, including drinking water facilities at all the polling stations. Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4.

BJD finalises candidates list for Odisha assembly polls

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik names three more candidates and changes the nominee in one Vidhan Sabha seat

Visited the new Payana Vintage Car Museum on the outskirts of Mysuru

BHPian vsrivatsa recently shared this with other enthusiasts.Payana - The Vintage Car MuseumA new Vintage Car Museum opened on the outskirts of Mysuru last week and I had the opportunity to visit this museum along with the family on the way to Mysuru today. This museum has been established by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade and is now open to the public. The structure itself resembles the silhouette of a tyre! Payana - The Vintage Car Museum A zoomed-out view of the Car Museum Intro Flag The museum hosts a huge set of vintage cars on display from brands such as Fiat, Morris, Austin, Mercedes Benz, Willys, Toyota, Citroen and Hindustan Motors. The timings for the museum are from morning 9-00 AM until 8-00 PM in the evening and there is an entry charge of 50 per head for adults and it's free for children up to the age of 12 years. Guidelines The Ticket Counter The Ticket Right at the entrance is placed a car which was used by Dr Veerendra Hegde himself - the Standard Herald: Standard Herald used by Dr Veerendra Hegde during his College Days At the entrance - Evolution of Wheels The most Rudimentary Wheels Spacious Hall Spacious Hall - Additional View Spacious Hall - Additional View Walk away towards the Lower Level Mysuru Maharaja's car - Daimler DE 36 C V Raman's Car - Studebaker ChampionLocation:Payana is located in Brahmaputra which is about 6.5 kms from Srirangapatna Town. If you are coming from Mysuru, then it's about 14 kms from the Mysuru Palace. Continue reading about vsrivatsa's visit to the museum for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Im natural successor to Naveen Patnaiks great values, only BJP calls me outsider: Pandian

Bhubaneswar: Unfazed by the outsider barb of his opponents, Naveen Patnaiks closest associate Kartik Pandian has said he is a natural successor to all the great values of the Odisha Chief Minister and he will do everything under the sun to help his guru serve the people of the state. In a no-holds-barred attack on []

Naveen Patnaik changes Deogarh assembly candidates as BJD re-strategizes Sambalpur battle

BJD makes strategic candidate changes to strengthen its positions in various constituencies, including replacing Arundhati Devi with Romancha Ranjan Biswal. Contest heats up in Sambalpur LS seat between key players from BJP and BJD.

BJD's Pandian: I Strive to Continue Naveen Patnaik's Legacy of Good Governance and Urge Others to Do the Same

BJD's Pandian: I Strive to Continue Naveen Patnaik's Legacy of Good Governance and Urge Others to Do the Same I'm natural successor to all great values of Naveen Patnaik; I try to emulate his good work and all should do that: BJD's V K Pandian to PTI.

BJD announces ninth list of candidates for Odisha Assembly polls; Arundhati Devi replaced by Romancha Biswal in Deogarh

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday announced the names of three candidates for the Assembly elections, declaring candidates for all 147 Assembly seats in the state. With the announcement of the ninth list of candidates, the BJD has changed its Deogarh Assembly candidate by replacing Arundhati Kumari Devi with []

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Files Nomination from Kantabanji Assembly Seat

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik filed his nomination paper from theKantabanji assembly seat on Thursday. CM Patnaik is contesting the Assembly elections from Kantabanji and Hinjili Assembly seats. The Chief Minister kicked off the election campaign from Hinjili constituency on April 24.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik files nomination from Odishas Kantabanji assembly seat

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VIDEO: Hailstorm cracks windshield, Bhubaneswar-Delhi Vistara flight makes emergency landing

The Bhubaneswar-Delhi Vistara flight made an emergency landing, ten minutes after takeoff from the Biju Patnaik International Airport(BPIA) on Wednesday, after it was hit by a hailstorm.

It's Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya vs namesake 'Laloo Prasad Yadav' in Bihar's Saran LS seat

PATNA: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya's bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by the socialist leader, for the party is being challenged by a namesake of her father. Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar's Saran district, the 'karmabhoomi' of his famous namesake, has a penchant for contesting elections. This time, he filed his nomination papers as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for Saran Lok Sabha seat on April 26. Earlier, Laloo Prasad Yadav had filed his nominations for 2022 Presidential polls as well. He had also filed his nomination papers for the 2017 Presidential polls, which was a contest between the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, who went on to win, and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who was a native of the soil. However, his papers got rejected in the 2017 Presidential polls since those were not endorsed by an adequate number of proposers. I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya, Laloo Prasad Yadav told PTI over the phone. He also exuded of winning the election by a comfortable margin. I engage in agriculture for a living and also do social work. I keep trying my luck, from panchayat to Presidential polls. I am leaving no stone unturned to win this election people of Saran are with me, Yadav said. When asked about his opponents calling him 'dharti pakad' (one who clings on to the earth), a term associated with those who like to contest polls for the sake of thrill and publicity, and 'vote katwa' (one who divides votes), Yadav said, I don't care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran. According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Yadav has Rs 5 lakh cash in hand whereas his wife has 2 lakh cash. He owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh and his wife owns movable assets worth Rs 5.20 lakh.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik files nomination for Kantabanji Assembly Seat

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik officially entered the electoral fray by filing his nomination papers from the Kantabanji Assembly constituency. The filing took place at the Sub-Collector office in Titlagarh. Patnaik commenced his journey for the nomination process by arriving at the Tushra Aerodrome at 10:25 am. Subsequently, he made a visit to [] The post Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik files nomination for Kantabanji Assembly Seat appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

It's TMC's 'Bihari Babu' vs BJP's 'Sardarji' in West Bengal's Asansol

ASANOL: Reopening factories closed for years, addressing drinking water scarcity in rural pockets and reining in the illegal mining menace in abandoned collieries are the primary issues for the people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The region cradles the mining and industrial belt of the state, with Raniganj, Pandaveswar and Jamuria assembly segments housing coal mines and Kulti serving as the home to some of the bigger factories. Asansol, which borders Jharkhand, has a significant percentage of the Hindi-speaking population, mostly migrant workers from Bihar and UP employed in the mines and factories. While the TMC has repeated Bollywood superstar Shatrughan Sinha aka 'Bihari Babu' as its candidate for this seat, the BJP settled for its veteran leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia who was born and raised in the city. The CPI(M) has fielded Jahanara Khan, a debutant in Lok Sabha polls, in the seat that is also home to a fair number of tribals. Sinha won the 2022 by-elections here by over 3 lakh votes after BJP MP Babul Supriyo vacated the seat, which he secured in 2014 and 2019, and switched over to the TMC. Sinha expressed confidence about retaining the seat by a greater margin this time. I will win more support from people in the constituency this election, he told PTI. Left nominee Khan, a two-time MLA from Jamuria, alleged that neither Sinha nor Supriyo had done much to alleviate the problems of the locals. The poorer tribals and minorities in the rural areas are suffering from tremendous drinking water scarcity, but little has been done so far to solve that crisis, she said. Alleging that illegal mining from the abandoned collieries in the region is rampant, she said the menace must be stopped to prevent land subsidence and mudslides which claim lives almost every year. Acknowledging the rural water crisis, TMC's Pandaveswar MLA Narendranath Chakraborty said water level depletes in the summer months in the mine region which, he maintained, was a atural occurrence. We are working towards providing water connection to homes, and reservoirs are being built in every block, he said, adding that water gets supplied through tankers in many places as a stop-gap measure. Sambhu Majhi, a resident of Kulti, said that he wanted factories, which have been closed for years over issues ranging from militant trade unionism to lack of timely modernisation, reopened. If the factories are back in operation, our children will not have to migrate in search of livelihood, he said. Several well-known factories like those of Sen-Raleigh and Asansol Glass have downed their shutters over the years. According to Ajay Ghosh of Dishergarh, illegal sand mining from Damodar is also on the rise and needs to be stopped. The BJP took a while to officially name Ahluwalia, fondly called 'Sardarji' by many, for the Asansol seat after Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh stepped aside from the contest. In the 2019 elections, Ahluwalia won the neighbouring Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, where the BJP has fielded its former state president Dilip Ghosh this time. Ahluwalia, also a former Rajya Sabha MP, had won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in northern West Bengal in 2014. He won the 2019 elections by a slender margin of 18,540 votes and managed to deliver for his party only one out of the seven assembly seats in Bardhaman-Durgapur during the 2021 state polls. Ahluwalia faces the litmus test of obfuscating TMC's gains in Asansol, where five out of seven assembly segments went to the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2021. During a recent election rally in Kulti, Banerjee took a dig at Ahluwalia and accused him of playing the vanishing act from Bardhaman-Durgapur during the last five years. He could manage to get a ticket for this seat after putting in much effort, the TMC supremo claimed. Local BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari claimed that having an experienced campaigner like Ahluwalia in Asansol has boosted the morale of his party's workers to reclaim the seat. Brushing aside the TMC allegation of Ahluwalia's absenteeism, Tiwari asked, That way, how many times did we see Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol in the last two years? A two-term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, Sinha had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and switched over to the TMC in 2022. Among his many films, Sinha had co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan in 'Kaala Patthar', a 1979 Bollywood hit based on the Chasnala coal mine tragedy in neighbouring Dhanbad. Calling Sinha an acting legend, the Pandaveswar MLA said the star of yesteryears still commands a crazy fan following. As an MP, he worked for Asansol and MPLAD funds were properly utilised for the welfare of people, he said. Confident about a formidable margin, Chakraborty said the leader meant business when it came to development and maintained a polite demeanor with people. Local CPI(M) leader Partha Mukherjee claimed that people would vote against the ideological bankruptcy of TMC and BJP. All anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces will come together to defeat them and we are sure that Jahanara Khan will win Asansol, he said. Asansol goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.

Woman Killed As Truck Hits Scooter In Cuttack, Driver Detained

Cuttack: A woman was killed as a truck hit the scooter she was travelling near the Durga Mandap at Chauliaganj in Cuttack district on Thursday. As per reports, the mishap occurred while the woman along with her husband was going to Cuttack in a scooter. The couple hails from the Gatiroutpatna area. A truck hit [] The post Woman Killed As Truck Hits Scooter In Cuttack, Driver Detained appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Odisha CM arrives in Kantabanji to file nomination papers

Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is contesting from Hinjili assembly constituency in Ganjam district, arrived in Kantabanji to file for his second nomination. Accompanied by his trusted aide, V K Pandian, he will formally submit the papers at the Deputy District Collectors office in Titlagarh. Patnaiks schedule includes arriving at Tusura Airstrip [] The post Odisha CM arrives in Kantabanji to file nomination papers appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Asansol Lok Sabha Bypoll: 'Bihari Babu' of TMC and 'Sardarji' of BJP Face Off

Asansol Lok Sabha Bypoll: 'Bihari Babu' of TMC and 'Sardarji' of BJP Face Off Reopening factories closed for years, addressing drinking water scarcity in rural pockets and reining in the illegal mining menace in abandoned collieries are the primary issues for the people of Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The region cradles the mining and industrial belt of the state, with Raniganj, Pandaveswar and Jamuria assembly segments housing coal mines and Kulti serving as the home to some of the bigger factories. Asansol, which borders Jharkhand, has a significant percentage of the Hindi-speaking population, mostly migrant workers from Bihar and UP employed in the mines and factories. While the TMC has repeated Bollywood superstar Shatrughan Sinha aka 'Bihari Babu' as its candidate for this seat, the BJP settled for its veteran leader Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia who was born and raised in the city. The CPI(M) has fielded Jahanara Khan, a debutant in Lok Sabha polls, in the seat that is also home to a fair number of tribals. Sinha won the 2022 by-elections here by over 3 lakh votes after BJP MP Babul Supriyo vacated the seat, which he secured in 2014 and 2019, and switched over to the TMC. Sinha expressed confidence about retaining the seat by a greater margin this time. ''I will win more support from people in the constituency this election,'' he told PTI. Left nominee Khan, a two-time MLA from Jamuria, alleged that neither Sinha nor Supriyo had done much to alleviate the problems of the locals. ''The poorer tribals and minorities in the rural areas are suffering from tremendous drinking water scarcity, but little has been done so far to solve that crisis,'' she said. Alleging that illegal mining from the abandoned collieries in the region is rampant, she said the menace must be stopped to prevent land subsidence and mudslides which claim lives almost every year. Acknowledging the rural water crisis, TMC's Pandaveswar MLA Narendranath Chakraborty said water level depletes in the summer months in the mine region which, he maintained, was a ''natural occurrence''. ''We are working towards providing water connection to homes, and reservoirs are being built in every block,'' he said, adding that water gets supplied through tankers in many places as a stop-gap measure. Sambhu Majhi, a resident of Kulti, said that he wanted factories, which have been closed for years over issues ranging from ''militant trade unionism'' to lack of timely modernisation, reopened. ''If the factories are back in operation, our children will not have to migrate in search of livelihood,'' he said. Several well-known factories like those of Sen-Raleigh and Asansol Glass have downed their shutters over the years. According to Ajay Ghosh of Dishergarh, illegal sand mining from Damodar is also on the rise and needs to be stopped. The BJP took a while to officially name Ahluwalia, fondly called 'Sardarji' by many, for the Asansol seat after Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh stepped aside from the contest. In the 2019 elections, Ahluwalia won the neighbouring Bardhaman-Durgapur seat, where the BJP has fielded its former state president Dilip Ghosh this time. Ahluwalia, also a former Rajya Sabha MP, had won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in northern West Bengal in 2014. He won the 2019 elections by a slender margin of 18,540 votes and managed to deliver for his party only one out of the seven assembly seats in Bardhaman-Durgapur during the 2021 state polls. Ahluwalia faces the litmus test of obfuscating TMC's gains in Asansol, where five out of seven assembly segments went to the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2021. During a recent election rally in Kulti, Banerjee took a dig at Ahluwalia and accused him of playing the vanishing act from Bardhaman-Durgapur during the last five years. ''He could manage to get a ticket for this seat after putting in much effort,'' the TMC supremo claimed. Local BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari claimed that having an experienced campaigner like Ahluwalia in Asansol has boosted the morale of his party's workers to reclaim the seat. Brushing aside the TMC allegation of Ahluwalia's absenteeism, Tiwari asked, ''That way, how many times did we see Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol in the last two years?'' A two-term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, Sinha had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and switched over to the TMC in 2022. Among his many films, Sinha had co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan in 'Kaala Patthar', a 1979 Bollywood hit based on the Chasnala coal mine tragedy in neighbouring Dhanbad. Calling Sinha an ''acting legend'', the Pandaveswar MLA said the star of yesteryears still commands a crazy fan following. ''As an MP, he worked for Asansol and MPLAD funds were properly utilised for the welfare of people,'' he said. Confident about a formidable margin, Chakraborty said the leader meant business when it came to development and maintained a polite demeanor with people. Local CPI(M) leader Partha Mukherjee claimed that people would vote against the ''ideological bankruptcy of TMC and BJP''. ''All anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces will come together to defeat them and we are sure that Jahanara Khan will win Asansol,'' he said. Asansol goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.

Its Laloo Prasad Yadav vs Rohini Acharya in Bihars Saran LS seat

Patna: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadavs daughter Rohini Acharyas bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once represented by the socialist leader, for the party is being challenged by a namesake of her father. Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihars Saran district, the karmabhoomi of his famous namesake, has a penchant Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Hena Shahab targets RJD leaders for ignoring Shahabuddin family

Hena Shahab targets RJD leaders for ignoring Shahabuddin family Patna: Hena Shahab, the wife of late Siwan MP Mohammad Shahabuddin and an Independent candidate from Siwan Lok Sabha seat, criticised the RJD for ignoring his family, saying that if the party leaders could not respect her, then how would they respect anyone else? Her [] The post Hena Shahab targets RJD leaders for ignoring Shahabuddin family appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Celebration of diversity on canvas

HYDERABAD : A rare portrayal of Brihannala, embodying Arjuna, the third Pandava, in the form of a eunuch during the incognito exile period in the Mahabharata, was captured in acrylic paints with intricate detailing. This distinctive artwork took centre stage at the 4th Womens Art Exhibition hosted by M Eshwaraiah Art Gallery. The exhibition aimed to champion women artists from diverse professional backgrounds, fostering their artistic excellence. The showcase featured a rich tapestry of artworks, ranging from poignant portraits of Mother Teresa and Rabindranath Tagore to vibrant depictions of Maa Durga and various landscapes, including tranquil forest scenes and chilling mountain vistas. Each artwork conveyed profound meanings and experiences, shaped by the artists surroundings or personal journeys. The exhibiting artists, aged between 18 to 60 years old, hailed from various professional domains such as IT, education, and healthcare. While not all possessed formal art education, their passion and unique perspectives transcended mere technical skills. Among the standout pieces was Save Rocks, a mixed-media creation by Kavita Kulkarni, highlighting the imperative to conserve natural rock formations. Dr Ina Jains pencil sketches and charcoal renditions of Mother Teresa and Rabindranath Tagore exemplified meticulous craftsmanship, reflecting the artists keen attention to detail. Another remarkable artwork by Laboni Chatterjee depicted Maa Durga, celebrating female empowerment and challenging societal norms. Inspired by Chinese wall art plates, Jhansi Ranis Lithos Pillar and Shivoham on porcelain captivated viewers with their intricate designs. Lakshmi Samavedams painting portrayed Khajuraho sculptures, while artists like C Jagadamba, Chaitanya Latha S, and Jhansi Narsingam explored diverse perspectives of nature in their creations. Puli Vijaya Kishores artwork delved into the culture and lifestyle of Banjara tribes near Warangal, offering insights into his personal heritage. Contemporary pieces by Chaitali Maji offered a fresh take on freedom with her painting Captivity, while Lalitha Kalipatnapus Sundari series seamlessly intertwined nature and women with a vibrant colour palette. Praveenas works, Beyond the Binding and Lullaby for a Dream Deferred, stood out for their exceptional storytelling. Expressing their gratitude, the artists remarked, This has been a wonderful experience for all of us present here because, for any artist, encouragement and the opportunity to exhibit their art are of utmost importance. We are truly thankful to Sanjay Kumar for providing us with this platform and for nurturing upcoming talent. Artwork by Dr Ina Jain Curated by M Sanjay Kumar, the director of M Eshwaraiah Art Gallery, the exhibition served as a wellspring of inspiration for budding artists, offering invaluable guidance within the art community.

Ex-CBI Officer Enters Andhra Pradesh Election Race, Criticizes YSRCP and TDP Dynastic Politics

Ex-CBI Officer Enters Andhra Pradesh Election Race, Criticizes YSRCP and TDP Dynastic Politics VV Lakshmi Narayana, the former IPS officer who shot into fame after he supervised the ''quid-pro-quo'' case and arrest of YSR Congress chief and incumbent CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2012 , has floated a political party and is now contesting assembly polls from Visakhapatnam (North). The Ex CBI Joint Director's Jai Bharat National Party is contesting 15 Lok Sabha seats (10 in AP and 5 in neighbouring Telangana) and 76 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. The retired additional DG rank officer says the agenda of his party is to provide a platform for the peoples voices and provide good governance, if picked by the people, as the the main political parties in the state, the ruling YSR Congress and TDP are family-run parties. Speaking to PTI here he said his party if voted to power, will cater to the needs of all the people with a focused approach on wealth creation, employment generation and welfare with minimum freebies. ''The agenda is to provide good governance, and a platform to the people. Because now if you see the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, you have one Alliance (NDA) and one party (YSRCP). We need to provide another alternative to the people. Because people have already seen what has happened in the previous five years, he said. Hitting out at the major political parties in the state, the former IPS officer alleged the law and order situation in the state is in very bad condition and it should be improved for attracting investments through which youth get jobs. Outlining his vision for development, Lakshminarayana said there is a lot of potential in AP for the tourism industry and food processing industry can be amplified as the state has an agri-based economy. ''We have 974 km of coastline. What are we doing with that? Have you developed any tourism here? A small state like Goa is thriving in tourism. We have so much coastline , why can't we? That is how we want to do it,'' he explained. Asked on national politics, he said NDA's ambitious target of getting more than 400 seats may not be possible. Drawing parallels, he said the earlier government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also undertook ''India Shining'' campaign before polls in 2004 and the result was different. He opined that it is spiritually good that Ram Mandir was constructed after battling 500 years, and that the country should also aim for having ''Ram Rajya'' for good governance. Replying to a query on the recent arrests of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BRS supremo K Chandrsasekhar Rao's daughter in money laundering cases, the retired police official said agencies like ED and CBI should be brought under the purview of Lok Pal, not under ministries in the government. He said, if elected, his priority is to to see that AP gets the special category status, Steel Plant privatization is stopped and getting a railway zone to Visakhapatnam besides getting all the bifurcation issues resolved. Narayana unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls on Janasena platform from Visakhapatnam in 2019. Later he quit the party. Elections to 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state will be held on May 13.

Former CBI Officer Enters Andhra Election Race, Accuses Both YSRCP and TDP of Being Family-Run

Former CBI Officer Enters Andhra Election Race, Accuses Both YSRCP and TDP of Being Family-Run VV Lakshmi Narayana, the former IPS officer who shot into fame after he supervised the ''quid-pro-quo'' case and arrest of YSR Congress chief and incumbent CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2012 , has floated a political party and is now contesting assembly polls from Visakhapatnam (North). The retired additional DG rank officer says the agenda of his Jai Bharat National Party, is to provide a platform for the peoples voices and provide good governance, if picked by the people, as the the main political parties in the state, the ruling YSR Congress and TDP are family-run parties. Speaking to PTI here he said his party if voted to power, will cater to the needs of all the people with a focused approach on wealth creation, employment generation and welfare with minimum freebies. ''The agenda is to provide good governance, and a platform to the people. Because now if you see the entire state of Andhra Pradesh, you have one Alliance (NDA) and one party (YSRCP). We need to provide another alternative to the people. Because people have already seen what has happened in the previous five years, he said. Hitting out at the major political parties in the state, the former IPS officer alleged the law and order situation in the state is in very bad condition and it should be improved for attracting investments through which youth get jobs. Outlining his vision for development, Lakshminarayana said there is a lot of potential in AP for the tourism industry and food processing industry can be amplified as the state has an agri-based economy. ''We have 974 km of coastline. What are we doing with that? Have you developed any tourism here? A small state like Goa is thriving in tourism. We have so much coastline , why can't we? That is how we want to do it,'' he explained. Asked on national politics, he said NDA's ambitious target of getting more than 400 seats may not be possible. Drawing parallels, he said the earlier government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also undertook ''India Shining'' campaign before polls in 2004 and the result was different. He opined that it is spiritually good that Ram Mandir was constructed after battling 500 years, and that the country should also aim for having ''Ram Rajya'' for good governance. Replying to a query on the recent arrests of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BRS supremo K Chandrsasekhar Rao's daughter in money laundering cases, the retired police official said agencies like ED and CBI should be brought under the purview of Lok Pal, not under ministries in the government. He said, if elected, his priority is to to see that AP gets the special category status, Steel Plant privatization is stopped and getting a railway zone to Visakhapatnam besides getting all the bifurcation issues resolved. The Ex CBI Joint Director's party is contesting 15 Lok Sabha seats (10 in AP and 5 in neighbouring Telangana) and 76 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. Narayana unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha polls on Janasena platform from Visakhapatnam in 2019. Later he quit the party. Elections to 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha segments in the state will be held on May 13.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Declares Assets Worth Rs 71 Crore

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared assets valued at Rs 71.07 crore, up by over Rs 7 crore in the last five years, as mentioned in an affidavit filed by him in the Election Commission.

Andhra Pradesh: Panchagramalu issue vital in Bheemili election outcome

VISAKHAPATNAM: From housing problems in Simhachalams Panchagramalu to the perennial challenge of ensuring access to clean drinking water, the Bheemili Assembly constituency navigates a complex terrain of civic concerns. Promising to address these myriads of pressing issues in the constituency, former minister and TDP MLA candidate Ganta Srinivasa Rao and incumbent MLA Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao representing YSRC are gearing up for the fierce ballot battle. Even after more than two decades, the land issue of PanchagramaluVenkatapuram, Purushothapuram, Vepagunta, Adavivaram and Cheemalapallipersisted upturning the lives of residents. Despite being spread across various constituencies, including Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam West, Visakhapatnam North, and Pendurthi, the problem remains unresolved. The TDP government, during its tenure from 2004 to 2009, took steps to address the issue by releasing GO no 578 to regularise the lands, but uptake was limited. The GO declared that the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Simhachalam was the true owner of a 9,069 acres. Subsequently, the Congress government, which assumed power in 2009, withheld the GO. Ahead of the 2019 polls, YSRC made promises to resolve the Panchagramalu issue. After coming into power, the ruling government formed a committee led by the endowments minister to tackle the matter, but in vain. On the other hand, residents of Madhurawada, Kommadi, and nearby areas voiced grievances regarding the proliferation of stray pigs and dogs, which pose both sanitation and safety concerns. Moreover, the absence of adequate street lighting exacerbates security challenges, particularly at night. Madhurwada and nearby areas are developing quickly, but theres a lack of basic facilities. Streetlights are scarce, making it unsafe to travel after dark. Stray dogs and pigs add to the problem, making commuting risky, residents of the region said. The constituencys valuable geo-heritage, like Erra Matti Dibbalu, remains overlooked amidst pressing concerns. Additionally, pollution marred the beauty of renowned beaches like Rushikonda Beach. The controversial construction on Rushikonda Hill has stirred debate, with residents questioning the authorities priorities. Despite Rushikonda Beachs blue-flag status, pollution persists without adequate action. Similarly, development initiatives, apart from minor touch-ups during events like the G-20 Summit, seem scarce, prompting concerns about fulfilling residents needs over official requirements. The construction on Rushikonda Hill, initially touted as a tourism project, is now speculated to be intended as the Chief Ministers residence, reflecting a disconnect between promises and outcomes, the public opined. In the 2019 elections, Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, popularly known as Avanthi Srinivas, of the YSRC, emerged victorious, defeating Sabbam Hari of the Telugu Desam party by a margin of 9,712 votes. In contrast, in 2014, Ganta Srinivas Rao of the TDP secured the seat with 1,18,020 votes, maintaining a lead over Karri Sita Ramu of the YSRC. As the 2014 winner prepares to contest against the 2019 winner in the upcoming elections, the constituency awaits to see who will come to power and what issues will be addressed under their leadership.

Andhra Pradesh: Glass Tumbler in certain MP, MLA segments frozen by ECI

VIJAYAWADA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has frozen the Glass Tumbler symbol in certain Assembly and parliamentary constituencies to candidates other than the Jana Sena Party (JSP) nominees. Accordingly, independents or Registered Unrecognised Political Party (RUPP) candidates other than the JSP would not be allotted the symbol with the decision of the Election Commission. Hearing petitions filed before it seeking directions to the ECI to freeze the Glass Tumbler symbol to the JSP and not to allot the symbol to independents as it would hamper the prospects of the tripartite alliance candidates, the court on Tuesday directed the ECI to pass orders within 24 hours on the issue. Following the court directions, the ECI has issued orders freezing the symbol in all such Assembly constituencies, which fall under the parliamentary constituencies where the JSP has put up its candidates, and in all such parliamentary constituencies consisting of the Assembly constituencies where the JSP has put up its candidates, for all other independent or RUPP candidates other than JSP. The JSP is contesting 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats. With the orders, no independent or RUPP candidate contesting in any of the Assembly seats in Kakinada and Machilipatnam Lok Sabha segments would be allotted the Glass Tumbler symbol. TDP files plea on common symbol in HC Similarly, no independent or RUPP candidate contesting as an MP under the Assembly constituencies being fought by the JSP would be allotted the Glass Tumbler symbol. The 21 Assembly segments, where the JSP is in fray fall in 13 parliamentary constituencies, which include Kakinada, Tirupati, Guntur, Vizianagaram, Anakapalle, Rajahmundry, Amalapuram, Narasapuram, Eluru, Rajampet, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam and Araku. The ECI asked the officials to revise the allotment of symbols to the contenders. When the petition came up for hearing on Wednesday, JSPs counsel YV Raviprasad expressed satisfaction over the ECI orders, following which the HC disposed of the petition. Meanwhile, the TDP filed a petition in the court on Wednesday, seeking directions to the ECI not to allot the Glass Tumbler symbol to any independent of RUPP candidates in any of the Assembly or parliamentary constituencies in the State. It maintained that the TDP, BJP and JSP are contesting as an alliance, and the allotment of the Glass Tumbler symbol to independents would affect their prospects. The petition will come up for hearing on Thursday.

YSRCs Reddy Shanti Confident of Retaining Pathapatnam

Visakhapatnam : Sitting MLA and ruling party leader Reddy Shanti is confident of humbling the alliance nominee and first-timer Mamidi Givinda Rao in the Pathapatnam constituency. Daughter of veteran Congress leader Palavalasa Rajasekhar, Reddy Shanti defeated Kalamata Venkata Ramana Murthy in the 2019 elections. Ramana Murthy is son of another veteran TD leader Kalamata Mohan Rao who laid a strong foundation for the party from its inception. This election made Ramana Murthy a fall guy as he failed to get the ticket and he is now campaigning for Govinda Rao. He wanted to file nominations as an independent candidate but party chief Chandrababu Naidu made him president of the Srikakulam district party unit and promised to make him an MLC after TD wins power. Kalamata Mohan Rao won the seat in 1989, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004. His election in 1996 was nullified, this resulting in a bye-election. Laxmi Parvathi, wife of NT Rama Rao, won the election defeating Venamma Kalamata, wife of Mohan Rao. Mohan Rao joined the Praja Rajyam Party in 2009 but his son Ramana Murthy continued in the TDP. But, before the 2014 elections, he joined the YSRC and defeated Shatrucharla Vijayaramaraju of TD. Local leaders said Ramana Murthy made a mistake of joining back the TD in 2017 and still continuing in it. This development gave a chance to Reddy Shanti and she became the candidate for 2019 elections. She defeated Ramana Murthy by a margin of over 15,000 votes. Local sources said Reddy Shanti turned complacent after winning the elections. Unlike her father, she failed to nurse the constituency, particularly the remote areas that are mostly inhabited by Adivasis. Shanti told the media that she would be taking up drinking water supply projects and laying roads in tribal hamlets of Meliaputti and Kotthuru mandals after these elections and before the onset of the southwest monsoon season. - Total Voters-2,24,801 - Male-1,12,097 - Female-1,12,696 - Third gender 10

AP Records Highest Temperature of 46.2 C

Visakhapatnam : in Palnadu district and Rentachintala in Guntur district became hottest places in the country by registering a temperature of 46.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. This was 4.5 notches above the maximum normal temperature. According to an IMD report, the maximum temperature has breached 46 degree Celsius for the first time in AP on Wednesday. The report said Tirupati recorded the second hottest temperature in the state at 45.6C (5.2 notches above normal), followed by Nandyal 45.4C, Nandigama 44.6C, Kurnool 44.5C, Kadapa 44.2C, Anantapur 43.4C, Amaravati 43.2C, Kavali 43.1C and Tuni 41.4C. The minimum temperature also hovered around 28 degrees in many parts of the state, intensifying the heat conditions. Lowest temperatures of 34.4 degrees Celsius and 34.9 Degrees Celsius were recorded in Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district and Visakhapatnam. Weathermen said Tirupati, Jangamaheswarapuram, Kavali, Tuni, Nandyal and Argoyavaram experienced heatwave conditions on Wednesday while the remaining parts of the state experienced hot and humid weather conditions. Severe heatwaves will sweep across Rayalaseema till May 5 while the remaining parts of the state will experience heatwave conditions till May 5. Referring to the current extreme heatwave conditions in the state, IMD Amaravati scientist Karuna Sagar attributed the extreme heat to a combination of weather patterns that included a lack of low pressure in April and an anticyclonic flow. The absence of sea breeze entering eastern and peninsular India due to anticyclonic flow is the major reason for the heatwave conditions, he added. Tuni town in Kakinada district recorded the highest temperature of 46.4C on June 17, 2023 and Vijayawada recorded the highest temperature of 46C on May 22, 2020 as per the IMD data between 2018 and 2024 (April).

Chandrababus Manifesto Deceitful, Hollow: Dharmana

Visakhapatnam: Revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao has ridiculed Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidus 2024 manifesto as deceitful and hollow. Addressing an election meeting in Fazulbaghpet in Srikakulam town on Wednesday, the minister noted that Chandrababu made a slew of promises in his 2014 manifesto, which included promises for waiver of DWCRA and farm loans. But Naidu never fulfilled them, rather threw the manifesto in the garbage bin and later removed it from the party's website. Now, again, he is coming up with a pack of lies. In 2014, he promised to provide 20 lakh jobs but he could not provide even 200 jobs during his five-year term. Today he is offering `3,000 as unemployment stipend, Dharmana said. He said the people in AP were happy because of the social welfare schemes launched by the Jagan-government. Peoples representatives knocked on the doors and explained to them about the schemes. They also tried to streamline the process, in places where technical problems deprived the beneficiaries of the schemes. He appealed to the people that if they were satisfied with the schemes and the YSRCs governance, they should give one more opportunity to the YSRC government to continue with these schemes. Explaining the measures to improve school education, the minister said the government recruited the faculty, provided books, uniforms and 19 other items to the children. An amount of `750 crore was spent on this annually. The YSRC government also provided nutritious mid-day meal, and deposited Rs 15,000 as Amma Vodi in the accounts of the mothers of the students. The Amma Vodi scheme has been implemented to provide financial support to mothers so that they do not send their children to work due to poverty. Now we are increasing this scheme payment to Rs 17,000. We have implemented all these programmes thinking that all the poor children should be educated so that the rich-poor gaps in this society will be reduced, Prasada Rao said. He said while Jagan Mohan Reddy mooted decentralization and proposed the capital at Visakhapatnam, Chandrababu Naidu aimed to do real estate business in Amaravati by stating that he made an agreement with the Singapore government to build the capital. In reality, he brought all the thieves, grabbed the farmers' lands and built a capital that had nothing to do with the people, to loot money.

Pawan Kalyan promises price stabilisation fund for farmers

Kakinada/Visakhapatnam: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has assured people that the three-party alliance would set up price stabilisation funds for the farmers, if elected to power in the present polls. Addressing an election meeting in Mandapeta on Wednesday, Pawan Kalyan said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy promised in the 2019 elections to set up a price stabilisation fund for farmers but he went back on his word. But the alliance would set up such a fund to help the farmers, Pawan Kalyan said. He said the YSRC leaders were rolling in wealth while the farmers were pushed into poverty. The YSRC government focused more on ganja harvesting than the farmers in the state, Pawan Kalyan said. Pawan said that he could stage a comeback with the help and love of the people though he was defeated from the two constituencies- Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka in the 2019 elections. Hitting out at Mandapeta YSRC candidate Thota Trimurthulu and Rajya Sabha member Pill Subhash Chandra Bose, Pawan Kalyan said both were political rivals but joined hands to promote their selfish interests at the cost of public welfare and development. He said that both the leaders were not bothered about the development of Godavari bund road from Yanam to Ravulapalem or any other development. Slamming Thota Trimurthulu, the Jana Sena chief said Trimurthulu purchased endowments land for a low price promising construction of a Kalyana Mandapam but till now he did not do this. Taking a dig at Kakinada MLA Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy, Pawan said Reddy did not confine himself to Kakinada but crossed beyond, looting hundreds of crores of rupees. When youngsters burst into applause, Pawan told them he doesnt want their claps but their votes. I am even struggling to get a proper election symbol. Your claps should convert into votes for the alliance candidates on May 13, he told the people. In the Pendurthi constituency, Pawan Kalyan assured the people that he would take up the issue of pollution in Tadi village with the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City industrial park. He promised to relocate Tadi village once the alliance came to power. Giving a break to his speech, Pawan sang a few of his film songs, recited the works of poet Guntur Sesendra Sharma, Vangapandu Prasada Rao and Gaddar. He also delivered a few of his film dialogues.

No backing from Modi, Purandeswari to TD-JS manifesto: YSRC MLC Kalyani

Visakhapatnam: State working president of the womens wing of YSRC and MLC Varudu Kalayani has said there is no guarantee/backing from state BJP president D Purandeswari to the manifesto released by the TD-JS alliance in AP. Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam, Kalyani said six crore people were surprised after reading the new manifesto launched by the alliance partners. She said the partners reduced the manifesto items to 177 from 600 in the 2014 election as they thought people would not believe in their promises. Neither Narendra Modi nor Purendeswari endorsed the manifesto, Kalyani said. Questioning the feasibility of the manifesto, she said Chandrababu should tell the people of Andhra Pradesh where would money come from, to implement these promises in the manifesto. She said Naidu promised to waive `87,600 crore in farm loans but he went back on his word by calling agriculture a wasteful exercise. He also cheated the women by promising waiver of DWCRA loans and jobs. She said while Jagan Mohan Reddy launched several welfare schemes to cater to the interests of all categories of people, Chandrababu Naidu failed to launch a single scheme that could be remembered by the people.