Naveen Patnaik deprived poor people in Odisha: JP Nadda on Ayushman Bharat implementation

The News Mill

Nadda urges voters in Odisha to remove BJD government for progress

Nadda urges voters in Odisha to remove BJD government for progress BJP president J P Nadda on Sunday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the culture, nature and definition of politics in India, as he exhorted the people of Odisha to unseat the BJD government to usher in development. Nadda, while addressing an election rally at Ambapua here, said the BJP has ensured prosperity on all fronts and in every aspect during its tenure at the Centre in the last 10 years. Earlier, politics was about caste and religion, but PM Modi made sure that it is based on development... Misrule has been prevailing under the BJD government in Odisha. It is establishing a 'babu raj' in the state, he alleged. Is there no son of the soil to run the government in Odisha that we have to import people from other states, Nadda said, in an apparent to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks close aide V K Pandian.

Vizag will be major industrial hub, capital city of AP: Y.V. Subba Reddy

Y.V Subba Reddy highlights Visakhapatnam's potential as a key investment destination, with plans to develop it into a major industrial and commercial hub

Luxury cruise ship The World makes its maiden visit to Visakhapatnam

You have eaten enough 'PANN', now time for Congress in Odisha: Rahul Gandhi

Wayanad MOdisha is being run by 'PANN' (Pandian, Amit Shah, PM Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik), said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, claiming that Bharatiya Janata Party and Biju Janata Dal have married each other in the state. Last October, former IAS officer and Odisha CM Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian was appointed Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) with the rank of cabinet minister.

HRF extends support to the striking workers of Adani Gangavaram Port in Visakhapatnam

Forum leaders appeal to the district officials to initiate action to settle the dispute

PM Modi runs govt for billionaires, CM Patnaik for few: Rahul Gandhi in Odisha poll rally

SALIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that while PM Narendra Modi runs a government for billionaires from Delhi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik leads a dispensation that works for select people in Odisha. Addressing an election rally in Cuttack's Salepur, Gandhi claimed that though the BJD and BJP were fighting the electoral battle against each other but in reality they were working together. Call it a partnership or marriage, both BJD and BJP are together, he claimed. Taking a dig at Patnaik, Gandhi said that though he was the chief minister, the BJD government in the state was being run by his aide VK Pandian. In an apparent reference to the PM, Gandhi said, Uncle-ji and Naveen-babu have given Odisha PAANN, meaning Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Naveen Patnaik. They have looted your wealth. Rs 9 lakh crore was looted through the mining scam. Rs 20,000 crore was looted through land grabs. The plantation scam was of 15,000 crore. As soon as the Congress government is formed here and in Delhi, we will start giving you back your money, he added. Gandhi claimed that similarly, the BRS in Telangana used to work with the BJP, and his party ousted it from power. While Naveen-babu has given you Pandian, I will tell you what Congress will give you. If we come to power at the Centre, we will do five revolutionary works. We will make a list of all the poor families, and one woman from a family will be selected and we will transfer Rs 1 lakh annually to her bank account. It is Rs 8,500 per month, he said. We will bring a scheme -- 'pehli naukri pakki'. All the unemployed youths with degrees and diplomas will get apprenticeships, we will give you the guarantee of your first job for a year. It will be in the public sector, private sector, government hospitals and offices, he added. Gandhi said that if Congress formed the government in Odisha, it would provide Rs 2,000 per month to women, Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youths, 200 units of free electricity and LPG at Rs 500 per cylinder. While uncle-ji has worked for 22 billionaires, we are going to create crores of lakhpatis, he said. He alleged that BJP refers to tribals as 'banabasi' or forest-dwellers instead of 'adibasi' or indigenous people. The tribals are not 'banabasi', they are the 'adibasi', meaning they have the first right to the land, forest and water. Modi has taken away tribal rights and given them to industries. Congress will give tribals their rights back, Gandhi said. He said that if Congress returns to power, it will waive off farm loans. Whenever there is a need, Congress will waive off crop loans, he said, adding that a legal framework for MSP for all crops will also be ensured. The salary of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will be doubled, while MGNREGA wage will be hiked to Rs 400 per day, he said. Odisha will vote in the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls simultaneously in four phases, starting on May 13. There are 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and a 147-member assembly.

Bangalore to Bhutan road trip with my wife on our V-strom 650

BHPian shyamg28 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Wife, Strom & I - Bengaluru -> Bhutan -> Bengaluru, 2023 Bengaluru -> Nellore -> Vishakhapatnam -> Bhubaneshwar -> Durgapur -> Phunsholing -> Thimphu -> Phobjika -> Punakha -> Paro -> Siliguri -> Patna -> Ambikapur -> Bhilai -> Hyderabad -> Bengaluru. Wife & I had been to Bhutan back in 2019. No SDF (Sustainable Development Fee), Green Tax, mandatory guide etc. We rented an extremely well maintained RE Thunderbird 350 back then. Did a similar route within Bhutan and returned home via flight. Once again, the itch to ride back to Bhutan on our own steed This time there had to be a plan. Bhutan policy for Indian tourists had changed. I do believe it was largely owed to a bunch of bikers who stood atop their stupas and danced to glory, while recording it for social media. This thread should act as a solid guide if you want to head to Bhutan on bike/car yourselves. The short of it is, the following charges are nearly non-negotiable -4500 per day green tax for your own vehicle (regargless of whether it's a car or bike).1200 per person per day SDF.Guide + car (yes, the guide needs a car even if you don't lol) - negotiable, can range between 3000-4500. If you have space in your car, the guide comes along and you save the cost of the rented car.Sounds expensive yes, but once we decided we wanted to go, we went. Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

PM Modi, CM Patnaiks partnership aims at benefiting a select few, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Mr. Gandhi reiterates partys commitment to implement different guarantees announced by Congress in the run up to election

Rahul Gandhi slams Modi, Patnaik for allegedly favoring select few in Odisha

Rahul Gandhi slams Modi, Patnaik for allegedly favoring select few in Odisha Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that while PM Narendra Modi runs a government for billionaires from Delhi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik leads a dispensation that works for ''select people'' in Odisha. Addressing an election rally in Cuttack's Salepur, Gandhi claimed that though the BJD and BJP were fighting the electoral battle against each other, in reality, they were working together. ''Call it a partnership or marriage, both BJD and BJP are together,'' he claimed. Taking a dig at Patnaik, Gandhi said that though he was the chief minister, the BJD government in the state was being run by his aide VK Pandian. In an apparent reference to the PM, Gandhi said, ''Uncle-ji and Naveen-babu have given Odisha PAANN, meaning Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Naveen Patnaik. They have looted your wealth.'' ''Rs 9 lakh crore was looted through the mining scam. Rs 20,000 crore was looted through land grabs. The plantation scam was of 15,000 crore. As soon as the Congress government is formed here and in Delhi, we will start giving you back your money,'' he added. Gandhi claimed that in a similar way, the BRS in Telangana used to work with the BJP, and his party ousted it from power. ''While Naveen-babu has given you Pandian, I will tell you what Congress will give you. If we come to power at the Centre, we will do five revolutionary works. We will make a list of all the poor families, and one woman from a family will be selected and we will transfer Rs 1 lakh annually to her bank account. It is Rs 8,500 per month,'' he said. ''We will bring a scheme -- 'pehli naukri pakki'. All the unemployed youths with degrees and diplomas will get apprenticeships, we will give you the guarantee of your first job for a year. It will be in the public sector, private sector, government hospitals and offices,'' he added. Gandhi said that if Congress formed the government in Odisha, it would provide Rs 2,000 per month to women, Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youths, 200 units of free electricity and LPG at Rs 500 per cylinder. ''While uncle-ji has worked for 22 billionaires, we are going to create crores of lakhpatis,'' he said. He alleged that BJP refers to tribals as 'banabasi' or forest-dwellers instead of 'adibasi' or indigenous people. ''The tribals are not 'banabasi', they are the 'adibasi', meaning they have the first right to the land, forest and water. Modi has taken away tribal rights and given them to industries. Congress will give tribals their rights back,'' Gandhi said. He said that if Congress returns to power, it will waive off farm loans. ''Whenever there is a need, Congress will waive off crop loans,'' he said, adding that a legal framework for MSP for all crops will also be ensured. ''The salary of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will be doubled, while MGNREGA wage will be hiked to Rs 400 per day,'' he said. Odisha will vote in the Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls simultaneously in four phases, starting on May 13. There are 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state and a 147-member assembly.

Rabri Devi's Video Sparks Debate: Authentic Household Work or Pre-Election Strategy?

Patna: T he video of former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, accompanied by Rajshree Yadav, wife of Bihar's opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, is rapidly gaining traction on social media. The video, shared on Instagram by an account named rajshree.tejashwi, depicts Rabri and Rajshree grinding grains together in a mill. While the date of the video remains undisclosed, it has sparked discussions online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rajshree Yadav RJD (@rajshree.tejashwi) Captioned as Household work with mother, the video has gone viral, with people praising the teamwork of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo. However, amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, questions arise about the authenticity of the video. Is Rabri Devi, known for her affluent lifestyle, really grinding wheat and making flour with her own hands? Or is this video merely a strategic move to gain an advantage in the election environment? Currently, the Lok Sabha elections are in progress, with two phases of voting already completed. With a total of seven phases, all political parties, including RJD, are actively campaigning in Bihar. Rabri Devi has been participating in rallies alongside Lalu Yadav. The video portrays Rabri Devi balancing household chores with political engagements. However, this isn't the first time she has been seen doing domestic work; previously, she was spotted in the house garden and tending to the cows. Rajshree Yadav, her daughter-in-law, is also seen assisting in household tasks. Murder in Delhi: Javed Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Wife Afsana Islamist Protest for Caliphate in Germany: Hamburg Rally Many Samajwadi Party Leaders Join BJP amidst Lok Sabha Polls

In Odisha, Rahul Gandhi's 'Pandian' dig at CM Naveen Patnaik

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of favoring Delhi billionaires and alleged Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik serves only elites. At a rally in Kendrapara, he claimed BJP and BJD collaborate behind the scenes. Rahul hinted at Patnaik's aide VK Pandian's influence, accusing Modi and Patnaik of plundering Odisha's wealth, referencing PAANN - Pandian, Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, Naveen Patnaik.

5T Chairman Pandian Relishes Pakhala with Eminent Journalist Rahul Kanwal

Bhubaneswar: BJD leader and 5T Chairman Kartik Pandian had Pakhala with senior journalist Rahul Kanwal of India Today TV, who is in Odisha for election coverage. Kartik Pandian had relished the Odia cuisine in lunch during his marathon election campaign in Kalahandi district. It is well known that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has a [] The post 5T Chairman Pandian Relishes Pakhala with Eminent Journalist Rahul Kanwal appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Modi runs govt for billionaires, Naveen Patnaik for select few: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running a government for billionaires in Delhi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of leading a dispensation for select people in Odisha. He claimed that both the BJD and BJP were working together, and that Patnaik's aide VK Pandian was running the BJD government.

Odisha CM Naveen Pays Tribute to Madhusudan Das on His Birth Anniversary

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has paid humble tributes to Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das on his birth anniversary. On the occasion, the Chief Minister remembered the contribution of Madhusudan Das for Odisha. On his X handle, the CM mentioned that Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Dass invaluable contribution towards the creation of a separate Odisha [] The post Odisha CM Naveen Pays Tribute to Madhusudan Das on His Birth Anniversary appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Gandhi Slams Patnaik, Accuses Odisha Government of Being Controlled by Others

Gandhi Slams Patnaik, Accuses Odisha Government of Being Controlled by Others The government in Odisha is run by Pandian: Rahul Gandhi takes dig at CM Naveen Patnaik.

PM Modi's Delhi-centric govt supports millionaires; Odisha govt under Naveen Patnaik favors a select few: Rahul Gandhi

PM Modi's Delhi-centric govt supports millionaires; Odisha govt under Naveen Patnaik favors a select few: Rahul Gandhi While Modi runs govt for crorepatis from Delhi, Naveen Patnaik runs govt that works for select people in Odisha: Rahul Gandhi.

Only Naveen engine runs in Odisha: Pandian

NUAPADA/BHUBANESWAR: Neither double-engine nor single, only Naveen Patnaik engine runs in Odisha and it is the strongest, BJD leader and chairman of 5T initiatives VK Pandian said while campaigning for the party candidates in Nuapada on Saturday. If the double-engine is so good, then why do the people in neighbouring Chhattisgarh keep changing the engine again and again? he asked and asserted that the Naveen Patnaik model of governance is the best. Pandian targeted the Opposition leaders and said when election comes, they make promises, but after the polls, they are not seen in their constituencies. He said he will come to meet the people after elections to thank them for reposing their faith on BJD. What has Kalahandi MP done for your area in last five years? The condition of Nuapada-Bhawanipatna national highway shows his capability. The highway continues to be a two-lane one. The road condition is also very bad. Many panchayats in Nuapada do not have mobile networks. This is your MPs job. You can compare Naveen Babus Biju Expressway and the Centres national highway and you will know the difference. The open fields and unused land in Dharmagarh have turned into Biju Expressway and improved the communication, he said. Tribals, the 5T chairman said, have a special place in the heart of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He is happy with your happiness. He solved your problem by ordering cancellation of 50,000 police cases. Special development councils have been formed for the improvement of your language, culture, places of worship, he said. Giving an account of the development works, he said works worth Rs 131 crore is being carried out in Nuapada. While Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for the Yogeshwar temple, and Rs 2.6 crore for Sunadei temple, Rs 42 crore has been sanctioned for Konabira mega lift irrigation project, besides Rs 132 crore for five mega lift irrigation projects. Ghatipada to Sinapalli Biju Expressway has been constructed at a cost of Rs 208 crore, he said. Similarly, he said, Rs 110 crore work is under various stages of implementation in Dharmagarh constituency and work worth Rs 225 crore is being carried out in Junagarh. More than 2.7 lakh families in the three constituencies have been included under Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Pandian added. Pandian campaigned for BJD Lok Sabha candidate from Kalahandi Lambodar Nial and candidates for Nuapada, Dharmagarh and Junagarh Assembly constituencies Rajendra Dholakia, Puspendra Singh Deo and Dibya Shankar Mishra. He participated in a 12-km roadshow from Khariar road to Nuapada.

Septuagenarians ready for ballot battle in Andhra Pradesh

A cohort of septuagenarians are in the poll fray to continue the stranglehold on their respective Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh. With their rich political experience, these veterans are expected to be the guiding force for the young brigade in the development of AP on all fronts. A look at the veterans of ballot battles. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, 74 The TDP supremo is contesting for the record 10th time to the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly. The former Chief Minister ventured into politics during his college days and first contested as an MLA from Chandragiri in 1978 on Congress ticket and won. He lost the election in 1983. Later, he joined the TDP and contested the election from Kuppam Assembly constituency in 1989. Since then, he has remained undefeated. He served as Chief Minister of AP thrice. He is contesting from Kuppam constituency for the eighth consecutive time. Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, 71 The Energy Minister is also contesting for the record 10th time to the State Assembly. He first contested as an MLA from Piler on Janata Party ticket, but lost, In 1985, he contested the same seat on Congress ticket and lost. He entered the Assembly for the first time from Piler in 1989. In 2009, he won from Punganur. In 2014, he won from the same Assembly seat on YSRC ticket. He has remained undefeated since then, and is now contesting for the fourth consecutive time from Punganur. Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, 70 He entered politics at a very young age and won the elections in 1998, 2004 and 2009 from Ongole Lok Sabha seat on Congress ticket. In 2014, he contested as Ongole MP on TDP ticket and lost. He won the poll on YSRC ticket in 2019. In February, he rejoined the TDP. Now, he is in the poll fray from Ongole Lok Sabha seat. Simhadri Chandrasekhar Rao, 70 The renowned oncologist is making his electoral debut from Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency on YSRC ticket. Son of renowned lawyer and former MP Simhadri Satyanarayana, who held portfolios of Endowments and Commercial Taxes in the Cabinets of NT Rama Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu, he was initially made YSRC incharge of Avanigadda Assembly constituency. Later, the YSRC leadership had changed its decision and fielded him from Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seat. Adala Prabhakar Reddy, 75 In his 25 year political career, he won on TDP, Congress and YSRC tickets. After quitting the TDP, he joined Congress and won from Sarvepalle constituency in 2004 and 2009. Later, he joined the YSRC and won from Nellore Lok Sabha constituency. Now, he is contesting from Nellore Rural against K Sridhar Reddy of TDP. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, 71 He started his political career by contesting from Nellore Assembly seat in 1983 on TDP ticket, and became a minister in NTRs first cabinet. In 1985, he won from Rapur. In 1991, he joined the Congress. He served as a minister for four times. In 2018, he joined the YSRC and won from Venkatagiri. In 2023, he was suspended from the YSRC. The six-time MLA, is contesting for the 10th time on TDP ticket, from Atmakur. Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, 78 The veteran Telugu Desam leader won from Rajahmundry Assembly constituency for the first time in 1983. He lost in 1989, but won the subsequent two elections. However, he lost the next two Assembly elections. In 2014, he shifted to Rajahmundry Rural Assembly constituency and won. He has been the general secretary of the TDP. He served as the civil supplies minister in NT Rama Raos cabinet. He retained the Assembly seat in 2019. He is in the election fray for the 10th time, and contesting from Rajahmundry Rural segment. Velagapalli Varaprasad, 71 After taking voluntary retirement as an IAS officer, he joined Praja Rajyam Party and contested from Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency in the 2009 elections and lost. Later, he joined the YSRC and contested from Tirupati Lok Sabha seat and won. In the 2019 elections, he contested from Gudur Assembly constituency and won. He quit the YSRC on March 24, 2024 and joined the BJP. Now, he is in the fray from Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency on BJP ticket

CM Patnaik is on video, another man has remote: Union Minister Pradhan

ANGUL: Union Education minister and BJP LS candidate from Sambalpur Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday yet again targeted the ruling BJD and called upon people to dislodge the 25-year of its rule and help establish a BJP government in the state. The union minister was campaigning in Athamallick of Angul district on the day. Athamallick comes under Sambalpur Parliamentary constituency from where he is pitted against BJD candidate and the partys organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das. Pradhan held a massive road show at Antulia before attending a workers rally in the area. Launching a scathing attack on the BJD, Pradhan said there is no power on earth that can stop bringing about changes in the state and preventing Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister for the third time. He urged BJP workers to go door-to-door to inform people on how Modi is supplying them rice. The NDA government has given Rs 18 lakh crore to the state government out of which Rs 10,000 crore is allotted for drinking water. However despite the central grant, people of the state suffer from drinking water crisis, he stated. Pradhan further said apart from the lack of drinking water, there is no doctor in hospitals, no teacher in schools and everything is in a mess in the state. I appeal to all of you to preserve Odia language and culture which the chief minister has handed over to a man of another state. The CM is on a video and the remote of the video is in the hands of another man, the BJP leader said. Alleging that Odisha is in a pitiable condition, Pradhan further stressed preserving the self-prestige of the state. The Union minister is scheduled to file nomination papers at Sambalpur on May 2 after offering prayers at the Samalei Peetha. On the day, Sambalpur Assembly candidates Sanjeeb Sahoo, Pratap Behera and Agasti Behera were present.

I have a vision document to develop Srikakulam, says YSRC's Perada Tilak

The YSRC has fielded Perada Tilak from Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency against two-time TDP MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. He is confident of demolishing the TDP bastion with the help of the initiatives of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the development of Uttarandhra, which include Uddanam Water Project, Kidney Research Centre at Palasa, Mulapeta Port and Vamsadhara Lift Irrigation Project. In an interview with Sreenu Babu Pativada, Perada Tilak explained his vision for the development of Srikakulam How did you feel on your selection as the YSRC candidate to take on sitting MP Ram Mohan Naidu? I came from a rural background with the local body-level politics. I have been serving the people for the past 25 years and loyal to the YSRC since its inception. I feel very happy for getting selected as a Lok Sabha candidate. It is a sign of my first win in the ballot battle. Ram Mohan Naidu is a corporate politician. He won the 2014 election with sympathy following the sudden demise of his father and former Union minister Yerranaidu. In the 2019 elections, he won with a slender margin of 6,000 votes. He has failed to develop the backward Srikakulam constituency despite being an MP for one decade. How do you face the TDP candidate who has got the support of BJP and JSP now as part of the tripartite alliance? Ram Mohan Naidu has betrayed the people of Srikakulam by ignoring their problems. He has failed to utilise his MPLADS funds effectively for infrastructure development in the constituency. He used to write letters on peoples issues to the Centre after knowing that it is going to resolve them to claim credit. We are going to expose the failures of Ram Mohan Naidu on all fronts during his tenure, besides highlighting the growth achieved by the YSRC government through Navaratnalu. The development achieved by Srikakulam due to Jagans initiatives is my strength. I am confident that people of Srikakulam will certainly give me a chance to represent them in Parliament. What are your plans to develop Srikakulam if elected? Migration of people due to lack of adequate employment opportunities in the district is a major issue. Small and marginal farmers and fishermen are also facing hardship due to lack of proper irrigation facilities and poor infrastructure. People of Uddanam region have been suffering from kidney diseases for the past five decades. I have a vision document to resolve all the issues, which will ensure the welfare of Uddanam people, Naupada salt farmers, Ponduru Khadi weavers, small and marginal ryots, and fisher folk. I will also focus on completion of fishing harbour at Budagatlapalem and the six-line coastal corridor. Priority will also be given to Vamsadhara-Mahendra Tanaya-Bahuda river linkage project to provide irrigation water to every acre of land in the district. I will lay emphasis on resolving the problems of granite industry in Tekkali. What is the peoples response to your election campaign? I have been receiving an overwhelming response from the people of Srikakulam during my election campaign. They have been welcoming me as their family member with love and affection. CM Jagan has a lot of credibility among all sections of society. It will help me achieve victory in the elections. I have been receiving good support from all the senior YSRC leaders, including Dharmana Prasada Rao. How do you overcome dissidence among second-rung leaders in Tekkali and Pathapatnam Assembly segments? The dissidence is like a cyclone in a teacup. Pathapatnam is one of the constituencies where more than 93% of its population is getting DBT and non-DBT schemes. Tekkali is my native constituency. Hence, I have got the support of all sections of people which ensures my victory in the election.

BJD announces candidates for 3 constituencies in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday declared the names of candidates for the three Assembly seats of Bhogarai, Khurda and Begunia. With this, the BJD has so far nominated candidates for 144 of the total 147 Assembly seats in the state. The remaining three constituencies are Korei, Khandapada and Nilagiri. Sitting MLA from Begunia Rajendra Sahoo will contest from Khurda while Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, who had quit Congress and joined BJD two-and-half years back, will be the party candidate from Begunia. Party spokesperson Goutam Buddha Das has got the nomination from Bhograi. The party dropped two senior sitting MLAs - Ananta Das from Bhogarai and Jyotirindra Nath Mitra from Khurda. Senior vice president of the party and district planning committee chairman of Balasore, Das was the minister of state for Higher Education and Industries during 2017-19 in the fourth term of the BJD government. While Rajendra had won from Khurda as an Independent candidate in 2009 and on BJD ticket in 2014, he replaced Prasanta Kumar Jagadev in Begunia in 2019 and emerged victorious. Jagadev was then fielded from Chilika.

Western Railway to run 4 pairs of summer special trains to various destinations

Western Railway introduces 4 summer special trains with special fares, covering routes like Mumbai Central-Patna-Surat, Bandra Terminus-Gorakhpur-Ujjain, Udhna-Jaynagar-Ujjain, and Udhna-Muzaffarpur. Specific departure and arrival timings provided for easy travel planning.

YSRCP Social Media Team's Diligently Connects with Voters in Andhra Pradesh

YSRCP Social Media Team's Diligently Connects with Voters in Andhra Pradesh Backed by a strong army of 4500 social media volunteers, the ruling YSR Congress party leaves no stone unturned in disseminating information regarding the state government's welfare programmes and swiftly issues fact-check messages to counter misinformation round the clock. The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party is keen on retaining power in the state and also put up a good show in the Lok Sabha polls. Parliamentary elections and Assembly polls are scheduled to be held simultaneously in the southern state on May 13. Sajjala Bhargav Reddy, the YSRCPs social media in-charge underscores the wing's mission--to ensure accurate information reaches every voter in the state while effectively thwarting the opposition's ''malicious'' campaigns across mainstream and social media platforms. Bhargav highlighted that in addition to the party's official social media channels across multiple platforms, individuals ranging from those with modest following to those commanding nearly a million followers actively participate in sharing information about the party's initiatives and offering insightful analyses of current events. ''We have a massive network of people who voluntarily work for the party. Starting at the district level, we have a social media committee and at the constituency level, there is one more social media committee and all the way to the mandal level. In all, it represents close to 4500 office bearers exclusively in social media,'' he told PTI. ''Our aim is to reach every single voter in the state and predominantly we keep our approach organic. The reach is so high that we don't have control where it goes or reaches,'' Bhargav further said. YSRCPs official account on microblogging platform 'X' has 8.86 lakh followers and its YouTube page channel has over five lakh subscribers. Its Instagram account has 1.72 lakh followers while Facebook page has a whooping 1.2 million admirers. Bhargav outlined that a significant portion of the YSRCP social media team's efforts is dedicated to fact-checking and presenting accurate information to counter the spread of misinformation by the opposition. He emphasized that the party's WhatsApp groups, spreading from local villages to international communities, boast active membership totaling over a million. Their primary objective is to ensure that chief minister Reddy's messages resonate across the globe while adeptly highlighting the shortcomings of the opposition. Hitting out at Telugu Desam Party's campaign on social media, the YSRCP leader said the opposition party's approach is completely negative when it comes to sending messages. He alleged the opposition focused more on disseminating misinformation and hurling insults at CM Jagan rather than articulating their own party's policies for the upcoming May 13 assembly elections. Jagan, recently in Visakhapatnam, addressed a gathering of the party's social media activists and explained the strategies to be followed while disseminating the information.

BJD names candidates for three segments, drops two sitting MLAs

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday declared the names of candidates for the three Assembly seats of Bhogarai, Khurda and Begunia. With this, the BJD has so far nominated candidates for 144 of the total 147 Assembly seats in the state. The remaining three constituencies are Korei, Khandapada and Nilagiri. Sitting MLA from Begunia Rajendra Sahoo will contest from Khurda while Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, who had quit Congress and joined BJD two-and-half years back, will be the party candidate from Begunia. Party spokesperson Goutam Buddha Das has got the nomination from Bhograi. The party dropped two senior sitting MLAs - Ananta Das from Bhogarai and Jyotirindra Nath Mitra from Khurda. Senior vice president of the party and district planning committee chairman of Balasore, Das was the minister of state for Higher Education and Industries during 2017-19 in the fourth term of the BJD government. The party left many surprised by changing the candidates in the two key Assembly constituencies in Khurda district. While Rajendra had won from Khurda as an Independent candidate in 2009 and on BJD ticket in 2014, he replaced Prasanta Kumar Jagadev in Begunia in 2019 and emerged victorious. Jagadev was then fielded from Chilika.

Karnataka: Leaders try to predict results on poll turnout

BENGALURU : Soon after polling for 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state on Friday, debates over the likely outcomes based on the urban-rural voting pattern has begun. The most talked about is Bengaluru Rural, where the stakes are high. Whether the low voter turnout in urban spaces benefit Congress or BJP is also the talking point. In the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituencies, Assembly segments of Bengaluru South and RR Nagar registered 56.08%and 56.06% turnout, in semiurban Anekal it was 60.69%, in Kanakapura 84.77%, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumars home constituency Channapatna registered 84.61%, Magadi 84.96%, Ramanagara 84.56% and Kunigal 85.26%. But the average for the entire constituency is 68.30%. Women at 69.03% fared better than men at 67.60%. Both BJP and Congress threw accusations at each other about distribution of big inducements to voters. On the polling trend and low voter turnout in some areas, Shivakumar said, I would like to thank all the voters for peaceful polling. Our (Congress) tally will reach double digits in the first phase itself. Wins in Bengaluru Congress leaders felt that their candidate DK Suresh has an edge over BJPs Dr CN Manjunath. But BJP-JDS leaders claimed that the good polling percentage in Assembly constituencies that have big rural voters is because the alliance has worked. The difference in polling percentage in rural and urban spaces will have no bearing on the results. We will win eight seats out of 14, including Bengaluru, because of the five guarantees and women voters tilted in our favour, claimed Ramesh Babu, KPCC media and communication chief. Ramesh Babu blamed the ECI for low polling percentage as it failed to keep the electoral list in Bengaluru in good health with some names being deleted in areas like Gandhinagar. Rajajinagar BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar attributed the low voting percentage in his constituency to some voters having their right to vote in multiple places.When a voter was requested to vote, he replied that his name is in three different constituencies and will vote in Bengaluru Rural as he liked the candidate, Dr CN Manjunath, he said. Rajajinagar registered 51.1% polling. Suresh Kumar claimed that PC Mohan, the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bengaluru Central, will get over a 40,000-vote lead from Rajajinagar. Congress leaders, however, are hoping for a photo finish as its candidate Mansoor Ali Khan campaigned aggressively. Similar predictions have been made in Bengaluru North (54.45% polling), where Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is contesting against former RS member Prof MV Rajeev Gowda and Bengaluru South (53.17%), where BJP Yuva Morcha national president Tejasvi Surya faces a stiff challenge from Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddys daughter Sowmya Reddy.

Tejashwi says BJP leaders in depression, stokes row

PATNA : The ongoing war of words between the BJP and RJD heated up on Saturday when Bihars former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad said that BJP leaders were in a state of depression after the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modis two back-to-back rallies in Bihar on Friday, Tejashwi told the media that farmers, youth, women, students, businessmen and employees had come to know that it was difficult to get jobs and the problem of unemployment would not be solved if Modi was at the helm. He also said that prices of various commodities would not be checked and peoples issues would not be discussed if Modi continued to hold the PM post. The RJD leader said there would also be difficulty in discussing issues such as the availability of schools and hospitals, and that farmers income would also not double till Modi remained in power. He said that PM Modi did not discuss the achievements made by his government and also the work done by 39 NDA Lok Sabha members from Bihar in the last 10 years. What will he discuss -- he has no achievement, he contended. RJD leader alleged that Modi had misled people so much that now Modi ji has spoken so many lies that now he has nothing left to speak about. The PM is running away from issues, he said. Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha targeted Tejashwi for his comment against the PM by calling him Shehzada of Bihar. The senior BJP leader also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by calling him Shehzada of the country. Both leaders only read scripts written by others who charge crores of rupees from them, Sinha said. Sharpening his attack on Tejashwi, he said the RJD leader was only following scripts given to him as he did not speak or think beyond what was written in them. The People of Bihar have seen how far Tejashwi could go in misleading them through his big talk. Now, they want to get rid of him, he added.Recently, Bihar witnessed the second phase of polling on Friday where five constituencies go to the polls.

YSRCs Navaratnalu Plus focuses on welfare & growth

VIJAYAWADA: Enhanced aid under Amma Vodi, Rythu Bharosa and social security pensions are some of the key promises in YSRCs manifesto Jagananna Navaratnalu Plus. Additionally, the party has also promised to set up a Skill University in Tirupati, skill colleges in 26 districts, and integrated skill hubs in 175 constituencies. YSRC president and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released the manifesto on Saturday and reiterated that his assurances will be practical. Speaking to reporters at the CMs camp office, Jagan said, I dont want to compete with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in spewing lies. I will only make promises that can be kept. In 2019, we introduced various schemes as part of Navaratanalu and implemented 99.4% of them. Elaborating on the initiatives taken by his government in the last 58 months, he pointed out, Weve deposited Rs 2.68 lakh crore directly into beneficiaries accounts through DBT (direct benefit transfer) and Rs 1.78 lakh crore through non-DBT methods. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and revenue losses that happened thereafter, we never made any excuses and meticulously executed our manifesto with a smile. Drawing a comparison between the current government and the previous TDP regime, the YSRC chief said facts and figures speak for themselves, as to who was sincere in fulfilling the promises. He announced key assurances under each of the nine categories: social security, development, education, health, agriculture, higher education, Nadu-Nedu, housing for the poor, and women empowerment. Terming Amma Vodi his pet project, Jagan announced that mothers of school-going children will receive Rs 17,000, up from Rs 15,000 previously. The revised amount will also include Rs 2,000 school and toilet maintenance fund. Social security pensions will be hiked to Rs 3,500 from the current Rs 3,000. As it would take time for the financial situation to stabilise and to ensure growth, pensions will initially be enhanced to Rs 3,250 in 2028 and to Rs 3,500 in 2029, he explained. Emphasising that his government has spent Rs 88,650 crore in the past five years towards social security pensions with an average annual expenditure of Rs 24,000 crore, he pointed out that no other State government has given such a high amount of pension to such a large number of beneficiaries. Noting that agriculture is the mainstay of the States economy and that his government has always been committed to the welfare of farmers, agriculture and allied sectors, Jagan announced that aid under Rythu Bharosa will be enhanced to Rs 16,000 from Rs 13,500 per annum. In the 2019 manifesto, we promised to give Rs 50,000 to the farmers over a period of five years, but extended Rs 67,500 (Rs 13,500 per year). In the next five years, we will disburse Rs 80,000, he said. The amount will be paid in three installments Rs 8,000 at the time of Kharif crop commencement, Rs 4,000 during harvesting, and Rs 4,000 during Pongal. Further, he said Vahana Mitra scheme will be extended to those who own and operate trucks and tippers. He added those who take bank loans to purchase auto, taxi, and lorry will only have to pay 6% interest for up to Rs 3 lakh and the remaining interest will be borne by the government. Additionally, he announced that outsourced, Anganwadi and Asha workers, who earn up to Rs 25,000 per month, will be eligible for all Navaratnalu schemes related to health, education, and housing. Jagan said hamlets with 50% SC population and having more than 500 houses, belonging to SCs, will be made special village panchayats. He assured that the construction of the Polavaram irrigation project, 17 medical colleges, four ports, 10 fishing harbours, six fish landing centres and Bhogapuram International Airport will be completed in the next five years. On the issue of the capital city, Jagan made it clear that once he forms government after the elections, Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital and the State will be administered from there. Visakhapatnam will be developed as a growth engine. Amaravati will be developed as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judiciary capital, he asserted. The YSRC chief also announced that key welfare schemes such as YSR Cheyutha, Kapu Nestam, EBC Nestam, Aasara, Zero Interest Loans to self-help groups, Kalyanamastu, Shaadi Tohfa, Matsyakara Bharosa, Law Nestham, Nethanna Nestam, Naadu Nedu in education and health sector will be implemented the way they have been for the last five years. Welfare Amma Vodi hiked to Rs 17,000 from Rs 15,000 Rythu Bharosa increased to Rs 16,000 from Rs 13,500/ year Pension Kanuka hiked to Rs 3,500 from Rs 3,000 per month Loan limit under Jagananna Thodu increased to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000 Rs 5 lakh insurance for families of gig workers in event of accidental death Infrastructure Industrial Park to be established in each district via PPP model World-class sports stadium to be set up in Visakhapatnam Bhogapuram Intl Airport to be completed with outlay of Rs 4,592 cr Rs 2,000 cr initial investment to transform headquarter in each district as a modern Smart City MIG layouts to be built in urban areas with initial corpus of Rs 2k cr Vizag to be elevated into a world-class mega city, positioning it as a premier finance & fintech hub of India & the world

Shiekhpura sizzles at 44.4C, no relief in sight

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Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Several Leaders, Workers From Naveen Patnaik's Party Join BJP In Odisha

Several leaders and workers of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan.

Three electrocuted in Nalanda district

Andhra Pradesh Sizzles As Temperatures Spike

There is a severe water crisis. She had gone to fetch water, where she felt giddy and collapsed, said the deceased's uncle, as quoted in a report. (Representational image) There is a severe water crisis. She had gone to fetch water, where she felt giddy and collapsed, said the deceased's uncle, as quoted in a report. (Representational image) Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh witnessed a scorching Saturday as Nandyal became the first location in the state to record a scorching 45C. This intense heat forced many residents across the state to seek refuge indoors.The India Meteorological Departments (IMD) Amaravati branch reported that other cities and towns were not far behind, with Kurnool reaching 44.5C, Anantapur at 43.7C, Kadapa at 43.4C, Jangamaheswarapuram at 43.2C, and Tirupati at 42.9C. The rest of the state experienced highs ranging from 39C to 41C. Theres a possibility of mercury levels exceeding 45C in many Rayalaseema areas and some coastal Andhra Pradesh (CAP) locations during the first week of May, warned Dr S. Karuna Sagar, a scientist at IMD-Amaravati. More locations in Rayalaseema and CAP are expected to be gripped by heat waves starting today due to persistent dry winds, Karunasagar added. The intense heat and humidity resulted in deserted streets in several parts of Rayalaseema and CAP, particularly in Nandyal, Kurnool, and a few other Rayalaseema towns.The IMD forecasts a continuation of heat wave conditions in Rayalaseema from April 28th to May 1st. Meanwhile, CAP can expect hot and humid weather with a slight chance of evening thunderstorms during the same period. With scorching temperatures and high humidity prevailing across most of the state, the IMD advises residents to avoid venturing outdoors between 11 am and 3 pm.

Jagans Navaratnalu Plus Manifesto Ups Sops Under Many Schemes

Vijayawada : Chief Minister and YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has unveiled the highly anticipated YSRC Manifesto 2024 Navaratnalu Plus on Saturday, promising to increase Amma Vodi amount from 15,000 to 17,000 per year, at his Camp Office in Tadepalli. He has continued with enhanced allotments or increased sops schemes like Kapu Nestham, zero interest loans, social security pensions, Rythu Bharosa, YSR Cheyutha, YSR Kapu Nestham, Shadi Tohfa, Housing Scheme and Aarogyasri. Interestingly, to attract Kapu and BC women, Jagan Mohan Reddy announced that 60,000 will be given in eight instalments under Kapu Nestham. He hiked Jagananna Amma Vodi to 85,000 over the next five years under which every mother from an underprivileged background who ensures that her children are attending school will now receive 17,000 per annum, unlike 15,000 per annum previously. Further, the Chief Minister has increased the flagship YSR Pension Kanuka from 3,000 to 3,500 per month, which will be delivered to the doorstep of all elderly, widows and disabled every month. Guaranteed income support of 80,000 will be provided to every farmers family for five years under YSR Rythu Bharosa at the rate of 16,000 per year, up from the previous 13,500. Under YSR Cheyutha, 4560-year-old BCs, SCs, STs and minority elder sisters will be given 75,000 in four instalments over the next five years. Under YSR EBC Nestam, 4560-year-old elder sisters belonging to economically backward classes will be given 60,000 in four instalments over the next five years. YSR Sunna Vaddi, YSR Kalyanamasthu and YSR Shaadi Tohfa schemes will continue as is for the next five years. YSR Free Crop Insurance, Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu, Input Subsidy, and nine hours of free power supply per day will continue. Construction of food processing units will continue in all 26 districts, along with godowns and cold storages at the assembly constituency-level as per need. Aqua farmers with less than 10 acres land in the aqua zone will continue to avail power at only 1.5 per unit. The financial assistance under Jagananna Chedodu will continue to be 50,000. For employment and skill development of youth in AP, there will be a state-of-the-art Skill University in Tirupati, skill colleges in all 26 districts, and integrated skill hubs in all 175 constituencies to make youth job-ready. There will be a monthly internship of 2,500 for boys and 3,000 for girls while they undergo skill training in the skill institutions mentioned. A Startup Hub and an International VC Mentorship Cell will be set up in Visakhapatnam to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the states youth. Notifications for competitive exams like Group 1 and Group 2 will be announced on a regular basis, with the exam being conducted according to a schedule similar to that of the UPSC. Families of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and outsourced employees, who earn up to 25,000, will now be eligible to avail benefits of housing, healthcare and education under the Navaratnalu schemes. Revolutionary schemes like Jagananna Vidya Deevena, Vasati Deevena, Videsi Vidya Deevena, Vidya Kanuka, Jagananna Gorumudda, and measures such as tab distribution, IB curriculum and TOEFL, digital classrooms, and English-medium curriculum will continue. Further, upgradation of school infrastructure will go on through Mana Badi Nadu Nedu programme. Welfare hostels will continue to be constructed, ensuring top-notch infrastructure for students.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Pension Hike, Vizag As Executive Capital Among YSR Congress' Poll Promises

YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday released his party's manifesto for the upcoming elections and promised to gradually hike welfare pensions from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per month and govern the state from Visakhapatnam.

Jagan Picks Holes in Impossible Super Six Promises

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Twitter) Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Twitter) Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday said the YSRC will adhere to its Three Capitals decision. Administration of the state will start from Visakhapatnam after winning the elections, he declared. He reiterated that Vizag will be the Executive Capital, Legislative Capital will continue to be in Amaravati and the Judicial Capital will come up in Kurnool. The CM described claims of Naidu to create wealth as false . Rs 1,50,718 crore are required to fulfil Super Six promises of Telugu Desam. It is just impossible, he underlined. Highlighting the statistical reality, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, (TD chief) Chandrababu Naidu frequently touts himself as a visionary leader capable of bolstering government revenues through economic policies. However, historical data paints a starkly different picture. The TD regimes from 1995 to 2004 and from 2014 to 2019 resorted to borrowing to meet revenue expenditure, he stated. The Chief Minister asserted that contrary to Chandrababu's propaganda, APs performance has improved, despite challenges like COVID. During his (Naidus) tenure, GSDP grew at a rate of 4.47 per cent, whereas under our leadership, it reached 4.83 per cent, he pointed out The YSRC chief refuted opposition parties charge that the state government has burdened people with excessive taxes. He explained: During 201419, the tax to GSDP ratio was 6.57 per cent. During 201924, it is 6.35 per cent. In other words, the tax burden on an individual is relatively lower compared to the individual's income during the present governments tenure. Jagan Mohan Reddy swore by the YSRC manifesto. It holds the same sacred value for me as the Holy Bible, Quran and Bhagavad Gita, he declared. He vowed to uphold every aspect of the manifesto with unwavering dedication. This is like the 2019 manifesto of which he has fulfilled 99.4 per cent of the promises. My principle is to only make commitments that I can fulfil. I will only say what I can do. I dont want to go down in history as someone who lied. I want to be a hero by keeping my word, he said. The CM said over the past 58 months, they have allocated total Rs 3.56 lakh crore to beneficiaries through DBT and non-DBT, maintaining complete transparency. How we have honoured our promises in the last 58 months will undoubtedly be remembered in history, he underlined.

BJD Declares 3 More Seats for Assembly Polls in Odisha, 2 Sitting MLAs Tickets Axed

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday evening announced its eighth list of Assembly candidates. In the eighth list, the party announced candidates for 3 seats Bhograi, Begunia, and Khurda. Below is BJD's 8th list of Assembly candidates: Bhograi: Goutam Buddha Das Begunia: Pradeep Kumar Sahu Khordha: Rajendra Kumar Sahu In the eighth phase, the ruling party has axed tickets of two sitting MLAs Bhograi MLA Ananta Das and Khurda MLA Jyotindranath Mitra. Ananta Das had been lobbying for a ticket for his son, as he was ailing. However, he has been replaced with Goutam Buddha Das this time. Khurda MLA Jyotindranath Mitra was replaced by Rajendra Kumar Sahu. The BJD has so far declared candidates for 144 seats. It is yet to announce candidates for Khandapada, Nilagiri and Korei seats where infighting is reportedly been acute over ticket aspirations.

Wife, Boyfriend Held for Electricians Murder

Police also recovered a dagger and cricket bats used to murder the two brothers Badri Pawan Kalyan Yadav and Badri Narsing Yadav on Saturday. Police also recovered a dagger and cricket bats used to murder the two brothers Badri Pawan Kalyan Yadav and Badri Narsing Yadav on Saturday. Visakhapatnam : Police have arrested a woman, her boyfriend, and another person in connection with the murder of her husband in Sabbavaram mandal on Saturday. The deceased, identified as 32-year-old Srinivasa Rao, worked as an electrician at a private university. According to the police, Srinivasa Rao was married to Bhagyalakshmi of Mangala Palem in Duvvada seven years ago. The couple had two children. According to police officials Bhagyalakshmi allegedly was involved in an extramarital affair with 24-year-old Galla Ravi, a resident of her village. On Friday night, in Salapuvani Palem village of Gotivada panchayat, Srinivasa Rao was beaten to death by Bhagyalakshmi, Ravi, and another unidentified person. The Sabbavaram police received information about the incident and shifted Srinivasa Rao's body to Anakapalli government hospital for autopsy. Police have arrested Bhagyalakshmi, Galla Ravi, and the third accomplice and an investigation is underway for the motive behind the murder.

BJD Drops Two Sitting MLAs In 8th List For Odisha Assembly Polls

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik Saturday announced candidates for three Assembly seats in the eighth list, denying party tickets to two sitting BJD MLAs. BJDs 8th list for Odisha assembly polls featured the candidature of Gautam Buddha Das from Bhograi, Pradeep Sahu from Begunia and Rajendra Kumar Sahu from Khurda. With this [] The post BJD Drops Two Sitting MLAs In 8th List For Odisha Assembly Polls appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

HPCL, Visakhapatnam Bags Best HR Practices Award

Visakhapatnam: HPCL, Visakhapatnam walked away with the top honours in the first CII Visakhapatnams best HR practices competition held here on Saturday in which more than 15 organizations took part. The participants presented their success stories demonstrating how their HR practices have significantly impacted business performance. These included aligning HR strategies with business goals, fostering employee engagement, implementing technological advancements in HR systems, and developing effective training and skill development programmmes. SNF India and Coromandel International Ltd. claimed second and third positions, respectively while Patra Corp. and Eisai Pharmaceuticals India received consolation prizes. G. Sambasiva Rao, ex-chairman of CII Visakhapatnam, distributed the prizes to the winners. He emphasized the evolving role of HR in businesses, transitioning from administrative tasks to driving strategic initiatives that enhance employee engagement, talent acquisition, and retention. The judges for the event were Suresh Narra (Infosys), P.S. Tagore (Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services India), and Prabhath Mohan (Sarda Metals & Alloys).

AP NDA Leaders say YSRC Pushed Power Sector into Crisis

Visakhapatnam: Leaders of the NDA alliance in AP have accused YSRC government of pushing the power sector in state into a crisis. Leaders of YSRC resorted to massive corruption while purchasing solar power for the state. Prominent ruling party leaders have collected hundreds of crores in commissions, charged TD national representative G.V. Reddy, Jana Sena general secretary Dr. P. Vijay Kumar, and BJP Minority Morcha state president Sheikh Baji addressing a joint press conference at the JS headquarters in Mangalagiri on Saturday. G.V. Reddy alleged poor people have been greatly impacted, as the YSRC government increased electricity charges nine times in the name of true-up, fixed and additional charges. The TD leader said despite the availability of low-priced electricity with DISCOMs, state government bought power in the open market by spending an extra Rs 2 per unit. The alliance leaders said Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy preferred to buy power from private power producers, instead of purchasing power from central government stock points, thereby diverting public money running into thousands of crores in quid pro quo deals.

Vizag Zoo welcomes new inmates from Alipore

Visakhapatnam: Under an exchange programme, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam has received from Kolkatas Alipore Zoo a male and female pair of northern giraffes, four water monitor lizards, and two scarlet macaws. In return, IGZP has given Alipore Zoo a white tiger, two Indian grey wolves, five Indian wild dogs, a ring-tailed lemur, two black swans, four hog deer, and two striped hyenas. The exchanges are aimed to improve the welfare of animals under care and contribute significantly to the preservation of endangered species. Vizag Zoos Dr. Navin Kumar, Dr. Phaneendra, Dr. Purushotham and other zoo staff surveyed national highway 16 to plan safe transportation of giraffes from Alipore to Visakhapatnam. On April 25, the animals travelled 856 kilometres and reached the Vizag Zoo safely. A veterinary team and animal keepers worked together to ensure their safety throughout the journey. IGZP curator Nandini Salaria thanked senior officers of the AP forest department, police, National Highways Authority of India and Alipore Zoo for their support in the animal exchange programme.

CII Visakhapatnam zone conducts competitions on HR Best Practices

FMCG companies: Buyers aware, sellers beware

FMCG companies face quality issues and regulatory actions, risking consumer trust. Nestle India, Patnajali, Bournvita controversy, and Hindustan Unilever rebrand amidst inflation challenges and omni-channel adoption. While stock meltdown and regulatory action are short-term risks, losing consumer trust is a long-term and bigger risk for an FMCG company.

Odisha: BJD announces candidates for three more Assembly seats, drops two MLAs

Bhubaneswar: BJD Saturday announced candidates for three more Assembly segments in Odisha, dropping two incumbent MLAs. Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik nominated Begunia MLA Rajendra Kumar Sahoo from the Khurda Assembly seat which is now represented by Jyotirindra Nath Mitra. The party also fielded debutant Goutam Buddha Das from the Bhograi Assembly segment, []

Lok Sabha polls | A feisty electoral battle on the anvil in Odisha CMs home district

In Berhampur, both the BJP and BJD candidates have switched loyalties and are fighting against their former parties; BJD hopes to hold on to Patnaik bastion while BJP is counting on Mr. Modis popularity

Visakhapatnam and Kolkata zoos exchange animals

Giraffes, water monitor lizards and scarlet macaw have been received from the Alipore zoo, says Vizag zoo Curator

Lalu Yadav from Saran against Rohini Acharya: A Namesake in the Election Fray

Patna: In Saran, Bihar, a new contender has emerged in the electoral battlefield, grabbing headlines for an unexpected reason. None other than Lalu Yadav himself has stepped into the election arena against Rohini Acharya. Yes, you heard it right. This Lalu Yadav, known for contesting elections from ward councilor to the President's post, has decided to re-enter the political arena. However, this Lalu Yadav is not Rohini's father; he is another individual with the same name. Meet Lalu Prasad Yadav, a resident of the Marhaura assembly constituency in the Saran Lok Sabha constituency. He is best known for sharing his name with the prominent political figure Lalu Prasad Yadav. Since 2001, he has been contesting elections, ranging from village ward to MLA, MLC, and MP. He has even attempted to file his nomination for the Presidential elections twice. While he has previously contested elections as an independent candidate, this time, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he has filed his nomination under the banner of the Rashtriya Jan Sambhavana Party (RJP). Despite his repeated attempts, Lalu Prasad Yadav has not tasted electoral success so far. Despite facing defeat every time, he continues to stand for elections, driven by his unwavering courage. Entering every election with doubled enthusiasm, Lalu Prasad Yadav remains undeterred by past failures. He firmly believes that this time, victory is within his grasp. He is confident that people, having witnessed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and the current MP for the past decade, will choose him this time. Comparing himself to Lalu Yadav, the RJD supremo, who has 7 daughters and 2 sons, Lalu Prasad Yadav has 5 sons and 2 daughters, making him only two children less than his namesake. He intends to continue contesting elections until the public crowns him victorious. In the Lok Sabha elections, voting for the Saran Lok Sabha seat is scheduled for the sixth phase, which falls on May 20th. Nominations in Saran commenced on April 26th. RJD candidate Rohini Acharya will file her nomination from this seat on April 29th. Allahabad High Court Grants Bail to Former MP Dhananjay Singh in Kidnapping Case Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Three Indian Women in the United States Suvendu Adhikari Demands TMC Declared 'Terrorist Outfit' After Arms Recovery

Speeding Vehicle Kills Two Friends Riding a Motorcycle in Begusarai, Bihar

Patna: A tragic accident occurred in Begusarai, Bihar, as a speeding unknown vehicle crushed two friends riding a motorcycle, resulting in their deaths. The incident took place near Pakdi village of Veerpur Sanjat Path in the Veerpur police station area. The victims, identified as 26-year-old Irshad and 23-year-old Mohammad Ali, residents of Bhavanandpur Panchayat, were returning home after filling petrol in their bike when the accident happened.According to the police, both youths were riding the motorcycle when a speeding unknown vehicle collided with them. The impact was severe, and both friends were thrown off the bike. Despite efforts by onlookers to save them, it was too late. Both Irshad and Mohammad Ali succumbed to their injuries on the spot. The police were informed immediately, and they reached the accident site. The bodies were taken into custody and sent to Begusarai Hospital for post-mortem. The families of the deceased were also notified.The families of the victims were devastated upon hearing the tragic news. Both families were inconsolable, and tears flowed freely. They reached Begusarai Hospital, where they saw the bodies of their sons after the post-mortem. Expressing their grief, the family members mentioned that Irshad and Mohammad Ali were childhood friends and had gone out to fill petrol. Little did they know that it would be their last journey. They demanded the harshest punishment for the accused.The police assured that they are investigating the case rigorously. They are scanning the CCTV footage from the area to identify and apprehend the unknown driver responsible for the accident. Strict action will be taken against the culprit once found. Tragic Incident in Dhiraimajuli: Wild Elephant Attack Claims Four Lives Lalu Yadav from Saran against Rohini Acharya: A Namesake in the Election Fray Supreme Court Issues Notice on Plea for MSP Fixation for Alternative Crops

The World, the largest privately owned residential mega yacht, to visit Visakhapatnam on April 28

The sojourn is part of The Worlds 2024 journey to five continents, including Antarctica, Africa, Australia, Asia and America

Welfare Push: AP CM Jagan Reddys YSRCP bets big on Navaratnas Plus to woo voters

YSRCP manifesto 2024 promises capital shift to Visakhapatnam and the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects

Jagan incorporates three-capitals proposal in YSRCP manifesto

The manifesto stated that Visakhapatnam will be transformed into the growth engine of Andhra Pradesh while Amaravati and Kurnool developed as the Legislative and Judicial capitals soon after

Jagan incorporates three-capitals proposal in YSRCP manifesto

The manifesto stated that Visakhapatnam will be transformed into the growth engine of Andhra Pradesh while Amaravati and Kurnool developed as the Legislative and Judicial capitals soon after

Kalahandi: Ex-Sarapanch Gets 1-Yr RI For Taking Rs 15K Bribe

Kalahandi: A vigilance court in Bhawanipatna convicted the former Sarpanch of Ardi panchayat in Kalahandi district for demanding and accepting a bribe. The accused has been identified as Phulmati Majhi, Ex-Sarapanch of Adri Panchayat, Th. Rampur Block in Kalahandi district. Majhi was charge-sheeted by Odisha Vigilance in a case vide Spl. Judge, Vigilance, Bhawanipatna TR [] The post Kalahandi: Ex-Sarapanch Gets 1-Yr RI For Taking Rs 15K Bribe appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

YSRCP manifesto: Key promises and highlights

YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy unveiled the party manifesto for the upcoming elections, pledging to incrementally raise welfare pensions from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per month. He also proposed to govern the state from Visakhapatnam, promising to elevate the city as the executive capital once the YSRCP forms the government in 2024. Reddy outlined plans to develop Amaravati as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

Nayagarh Residents Khadya Seva Rath to Seva Ambulance: A Journey of Compassion and Service

Nayagarh: In a heartwarming tale of resilience and compassion, a resident of Nayagarh, Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik has been serving the community for the past four years through his Sai Prasad Khadya Seva Rath, providing free food to the needy in front of temples and ashrams. This noble initiative began as a way for him [] The post Nayagarh Residents Khadya Seva Rath to Seva Ambulance: A Journey of Compassion and Service appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Congress slits throat of Hindu people for Muslims, alleges Giriraj Singh

Congress slits throat of Hindu people for Muslims, alleges Giriraj Singh Patna: Upping the ante against the Congress over its appeasement politics, Union Minister and BJPs Begusarai candidate on Saturday said that the grand old party has slit the throats of Hindu people and snatched their rights for Muslims. While interacting with media persons [] The post Congress slits throat of Hindu people for Muslims, alleges Giriraj Singh appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

YSRCP manifesto vows Vizag as executive capital, increased pension

Amaravati: YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday released the party manifesto for the coming elections and promised to gradually hike welfare pensions from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per month and govern the state from Visakhapatnam. The chief minister noted that welfare pensions, which are currently at Rs 3,000 per month, will 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 .

YSRCP unveils election manifesto: Pension hike, Vizag as executive capital among key promises

YSRCP unveils election manifesto: Pension hike, Vizag as executive capital among key promises YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday released the party manifesto for the coming elections and promised to gradually hike welfare pensions from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per month and govern the state from Visakhapatnam. The chief minister noted that welfare pensions, which are currently at Rs 3,000 per month, will be raised to Rs 3,250 from January 2028 and subsequently to Rs 3,500 from January 2029. ''Immediately after YSRCP forms the government in 2024, Visakhapatnam will be made the executive capital as the seat of the government. It will be developed as the growth engine for the state,'' said Reddy, addressing a press conference. Further, he vowed that Amaravati will be developed as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital. Continuing almost all the schemes introduced in the past five years, Reddy has also raised the financial outlay for some schemes such as Amma Vodi, which has been hiked from Rs 15,000 per annum to Rs 17,000. Amma Vodi is a financial aid scheme for mothers who send their children to school. The YSRCP chief insisted that a political party's manifesto assumed its real meaning only in his government, which treated it as a holy book like the Bible, Quran and Bhagavad Gita. Assembly elections will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh on May 13.

Congress slits throat of Hindus for Muslims: Union min Giriraj Singh

Patna: Upping the ante against the Congress over its appeasement politics, Union Minister and BJPs Begusarai candidate on Saturday said that the grand old party has slit the throats of Hindu people and snatched their rights for Muslims. While interacting with media persons in Begusarai, Giriraj Singh said, The fight in the INDI alliance is 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 .

BJP eying anti-incumbency, Modi wave in Odisha to defeat BJD: Tomar

Bhubaneswar: The BJP will benefit from the anti-incumbency against the Biju Janata Dal government, which is in power for an unbroken 24 years in Odisha and a strong Modi wave to dethrone Naveen Patnaik from the helm of the state, claimed senior saffron party leader Vijaypal Singh Tomar. In an interview with PTI, Tomar said, []

Telangana: Malla Reddy congratulates Eatala for winning Malkajgiri

HYDERABAD : Leaving his own party in shock, BRS MLA and former minister Ch Malla Reddy on Friday congratulated BJP Malkajgiri candidate Eatala Rajender on his impending victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Both Malla Reddy and Rajender were guests at a private function here on Friday. Seeing Rajender, Malla Reddy went up to his former colleague and gave him a hug. Anna, you are going to win, he told the BJP candidate and requested a photograph of them together for posterity. Malla Reddy also sought a few minutes in private with Rajender, who, at one point of time, was also minister in the previous BRS government. The sight left everyone present in shock, considering the fact that the BRS leadership is doing its best to win the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat. Incidentally, the BRS had won all seven Assembly seats that form the Lok Sabha constituency in the recent elections. For the Lok Sabha elections, the BRS has fielded Ragidi Laxma Reddy, while the Congress has nominated Patnam Suneetha Mahender Reddy.

Naveen Patnaik will be CM for sixth term: BJD leader Pradeep Majhi exudes confidence in party's victory

Pradeep Majhi also praised Chairman 5T (Transformational Initiatives) V. K. Pandian for the developmental works in Odisha.

Andhra Pradesh: Skill training programme for prisoners launched

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA) has initiated a Skill Development Training programme for prisoners, focusing on the plumbing trade to equip them with employable skills upon their release from jail. This programme targets 93 inmates from Central Prisons located in East Godavari, Nellore, and Visakhapatnam. The initiative follows the directives of Chief Justice of the High Court and Patron-in-Chief of APSLSA Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur. The inauguration of the programme was officiated by Andhra Pradesh High Court Judge and APSLSA executive chairman Justice AV Sesha Sai on Friday. On the occasion, Punjab National Bank DGM K Dinesh Kumar handed over the cheque of Rs 6,90,000 to Justice AV Sesha Sai for the National Academy of Construction. APSLSA member secretary M Babitha, AP High Court Legal Services Committee secretary G. Malathi, National Academy of Construction additional director general Abhijit Sinha, and several others were present.

Visakhapatnam: Ex-CBI JD sees threat to life, complains to CP

VISAKHAPATNAM : VV Lakshminarayana, president of Jai Bharat National Party, and the partys candidate for Visakhapatnam North Assembly constituency, lodged a complaint with Police Commissioner A Ravi Shankar on Friday, expressing concern about threat to his life. The former CBI Joint Director said he filed the complaint based on credible information suggesting that certain individuals are attempting to harm him. He alleged that individuals associated with past cases he handled during his tenure in the CBI are now targeting him politically. Individuals affiliated with a political leader I encountered during my time in the CBI are now posing a threat to me. A member of their party has been nominated as an MLA candidate, he mentioned. Lakshminarayana stated that his family members are deeply concerned about their safety, prompting him to file the complaint. He cited social media posts and direct threats from political adversaries as reasons for his apprehension. Making it clear that he is not accustomed to seeking security measures, and preferring direct engagement with people, Lakshminarayana said his decision to file a complaint was due to genuine concerns for him and his familys safety.

Vizag Petrol Bunks Licence Suspended for Code Violation

Rush witnessed at the Supplyco petrol pump in Kozhikode due to the unavailability of petrol at various petrol bunks in the city on Monday. (Photo: DC) Rush witnessed at the Supplyco petrol pump in Kozhikode due to the unavailability of petrol at various petrol bunks in the city on Monday. (Photo: DC) Visakhapatnam: The licence of Burfani Petroleum Products, owned by Reliance and located near NAD Kotha Road Junction in Visakhapatnam, has been temporarily suspended by election officials on charges of violating the election code. According to a statement issued by joint collector K. Mayur Ashok on Friday, the district flying squad raided the petrol station on April 19 after receiving complaints that the management is supplying fuel to motor vehicles using coupons issued by political parties. Upon inquiry, the staff at the petrol station revealed that they have provided petrol to 860 motorists after collecting coupons given by supporters of the contesting candidate from Visakhapatnam West assembly constituency. The joint collector called on all political parties and petrol station managements to refrain from such practices, as it amounts to violation of the model code of conduct.

Andhra Pradesh: Six Lok Sabha Seats Never Saw Female Contestant

Visakhapatnam: Since independence, no major political party in Andhra Pradesh has fielded women candidates for the Lok Sabha seats of Anantapur, Guntur, Hindupur, Machilipatnam, Nandyala and Ongole. No woman candidate ever won the polls from these constituencies. From Narasapur and Ongole, two women from lesser-known parties tried for the seats, but failed. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha seats. Four of these are reserved for SC (Scheduled Caste) and one for ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates. The remaining 20 seats are unreserved. The Election Commissions data shows AP has an electorate of 3,99,84,868, with female voters outnumbering males at 2,02,21,455 and 1,97,59,489 respectively. Women voters have a significant presence in each constituency. However, this presence is not reflected in the Lok Sabha. No woman from Anantapur, Guntur, Hindupur, Machilipatnam, Nandyala and Ongole has ever been elected. Parliament represents the aspirations and concerns of its citizens. However, there have been instances of women candidates entering the fray in other constituencies. In Rajampet and Tirupati, the BJP and TD fielded women candidates, albeit only once. In 2014, Rajampet YSRC contestant PV Midhun Reddy was challenged by Daggupati Purandeswari, representing BJP. She secured 426990 votes but lost the battle. In 1996, TD gave Tirupatis Lok Sabha ticket to Gali Rajasree, who secured 292406 votes but was defeated by Nelavala Subrahmanyam of the Congress. In Narasapur, no major political party has given ticket to women since independence. However, Ganji Purnima, representing the Republican Party Of India (A), contested the polls there, got 865 votes and stood as the 14th runner-up. Similarly, for the Ongole Lok Sabha seat, Gogineni Bharati Devi, representing the SWA party, contested and secured 104703 votes but was defeated by P Ankineedu Prasada Rao of the Congress, who secured 284597 votes. Andhra Pradesh still faces challenges in ensuring adequate representation of women candidates in Lok Sabha elections. Efforts to promote gender equality and encourage womens participation remain crucial for a more balanced political landscape.

64 mandals in Andhra Pradesh likely to experience severe heatwave conditions today

VISAKHAPATNAM : Dry weather conditions persist in the State as severe heatwaves grip multiple mandals across various districts. On Saturday, 64 mandals, including three in Alluri Sitarama Raju, six in Anakapalli, two each in East Godavari and Eluru, one in Kakinada, 13 in Parvathipuram Manyam, 15 in Srikakulam, and 22 in Vizianagaram, are expected to experience severe heat waves, while 183 mandals are forecast to encounter heatwave conditions. The India Meteorological Departments Amaravati Centre reports that isolated places in Rayalaseema are likely to witness heatwaves on Saturday. Additionally, hot, humid weather is expected at isolated locations in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam, and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP). Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph are also predicted in isolated parts of NCAP and Yanam. The heatwave conditions are expected to persist until April 30, with isolated places in Rayalaseema likely to experience heatwaves. Discomforting weather conditions are anticipated at isolated locations in NCAP, Yanam, and SCAP. On Friday, 41 mandals reported severe heatwaves, while 116 mandals recorded heatwave conditions. Nandyala registered the highest maximum temperature at 44.6 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Kurnool at 44, Anantapur at 43.4, Kadapa at 43.2, and Tirupati at 43.3 degrees Celsius. According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, since April 1, four districtsAlluri Sitarama Raju, Nandyal, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Nellorehave reported the highest temperature of 45.8 degrees Celsius. Additionally, 26 other locations throughout the State have recorded temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.

Lack of infrastructure haunts Vizags only tribal hamlet

VISAKHAPATNAM : Nestled just 15 kilometres away from the bustling city limits of Visakhapatnam lies Sambhuvanipalem, the sole tribal hamlet in the region. Home to approximately 65 families and 300 to 350 Manne Dora tribals, this village finds itself amid the serene expanse of the Kambalakonda Wildfire Sanctuary reserved forest. Despite its proximity to urban areas, Sambhuvanipalem grapples with a host of challenges, especially in accessing fundamental infrastructure, even within a municipal jurisdiction. The village falls under Bheemili constituency and boasts good road connectivity, with a checkpost positioned three kilometres away to regulate public access. However, residents lament the absence of street lights along this vital stretch, making night time commutes perilous for pedestrians and motorists alike. Villagers also highlighted the dire need for an improved drainage system, citing the sight of open sewage flowing through the streets as a persistent health hazard. V Demudu, the village head, rued, We do not have culverts. The drainage system is very poor. The drainage water keeps flowing openly, causing diseases for both us and our livestock. Despite outward appearances of prosperity, the reality for Sambhuvanipalems inhabitants is starkly different. Employment opportunities are scarce, forcing many to rely on daily-wage work. We built our houses long ago by selling some of our lands, but we hardly have any employment sources, Demudu shared. The forest department offers work, such as forest watchers and employment at the Eastern Ghats Biodiversity Centre. Additionally, villagers cultivate cashew plantations to supplement their income, while during lean periods, they seek daily-wage labour elsewhere. After years of struggle, it should be noted that the village was finally provided with an RTC bus facility. This service aids children in commuting to schools and colleges and enables others to travel for work. Despite having an Anganwadi centre, a primary school, and a community hall, Sambhuvanipalem lacks a primary health centre (PHC). This void forces villagers to travel four to five kilometres for medical needs, exacerbating their plight. Emphasising this burden, the villagers expressed, Having a PHC in the village will benefit us so that we dont have to travel long distances for every minor health issue. Moreover, recent health trends are troubling. A surge in kidney problems residents and persistent virulent fevers have raised concerns about water quality. We have access to water supply all the time, but we have a feeling the causes of health problems have something to do with the quality of our drinking water, Demudu noted. The transfer of a Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) worker, tasked with village upkeep, has compounded their woes. He now only visits the region once a month, which the tribals say is insufficient to maintain cleanliness effectively. Another problem we have is that of erratic power supply. Once there is a power cut, it takes them hours to restore it, Demudu lamented. Political apathy further deepens residents disillusionment. Demanding tangible solutions over fleeting assurances, villagers said, No matter who the politician is or which party he is from, they only come to our village before elections and can never be seen again. We want someone who can solve our problems and not just give us assurances based on votes.

Naveen Patnaik will be CM for sixth term: BJD leader Pradeep Majhi exudes confidence in partys victory

The News Mill

Kalahandi affected by mass migration

Bhawanipatna: The malady of migration has hit Kalahandi district hard. Every year, thousands from the district are migrating to other states in search of jobs for their livelihoods. Most people migrate to the states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Goa. Two of the favourite cities for migration are Mumbai and Pune, sources []

Karnataka: Test is between person and personality

BENGALURU: Braving the scorching heat, people in the high-voltage Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency briskly cast their votes. Likening the election to a festival, local leaders of both the Congress and BJP-JDS alliance have invited voters of villages and towns settled in faraway places to come and vote, besides making all other efforts on the ground. This constituency is a test for voters to elect a person or personality, with candidates DK Suresh of the Congress and Dr CN Manjunath of the BJP in the fray. Voters joined serpentine queues even in villages to exercise their franchise. The influential DK Suresh, brother of DCM DK Shivakumar, a professional politician who has grown from the grassroots, is trying his luck to enter Parliament for the fourth time. On the other hand, Dr CN Manjunath, a renowned cardiologist and son-in-law of former PM and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda, is new to politics. But he is seen as a rare person who has carved a niche in the hearts of countless people through his service in society. Being fielded as the NDA candidate, Manjunath has put up a tough counter to incumbent MP DK Suresh. We support JDS in the assembly and other local elections, but vote for DK Suresh in parliamentary elections, since he is a powerful person who is locally available, said Mujahid, a voter in Channapatna of Ramanagara district, which falls under Bengaluru Rural parliamentary constituency.

BJP's Samir Mohanty cries conspiracy over Odisha CMs nomination, BJD says wait till June 4

BHUBANESWAR: Reiterating Union Home Minister Amit Shahs statement at a meeting of party functionaries, former state president of BJP Samir Mohanty on Friday said by contesting from two Assembly segments in the ensuing elections, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wants to leave one for his political successor. Addressing a media conference here, Mohanty said, The chief minister plans to vacate one of the two seats after the elections so that VK Pandian can contest from there. It will help the chief minister announce Pandian as his successor later. Mohanty said Pandian is in the list of star campaigners of BJD. He is the number two in the regional party after the chief minister. Voting for BJD means the path for Pandian to take over the administration is being cleared. But the people of Odisha already know the plans of the chief minister and would never allow this to happen, he said. The BJP leader said people of Odisha have not forgotten the manner in which democracy was killed in the state in the name of 5T. People will give a fitting reply to BJD for the ill-treatment meted out to ministers, MPs and MLAs, he said. Strongly countering Mohantys statement, BJD Rajya Sabha member and spokesperson Sulata Deo told mediapersons here it is a figment of imagination of BJP leaders. She alleged the statement read by Mohanty was produced by the fake news factory of BJP. BJPs Odisha leaders always make such baseless allegations whenever they realise they are going to lose the elections. Deo said the 2024 elections will be a repeat of 2019 and it seems BJP leaders have got an inkling of it because of which they are unable to think logically. Mohanty is yet to get over the drubbing that the BJP suffered during his stint as the party president in the panchayat elections, she added.

BJDs woman card will not work in Jeypore: Congress LS candidate Bahinipati

JEYPORE: Two-time MLA and Congress candidate for Jeypore Assembly constituency Tara Prasad Bahinipati on Friday accused the BJD-led state government of allegedly cheating women of the region on the pretext of empowering them through self-help groups (SHGs). Speaking to mediapersons here, Bahinipati said the state government has been luring innocent tribal women of giving loans through SHGs eyeing the poll prospects. But in reality, no money or scheme is being provided to them. Unfortunately, the poor tribal women are seen running from pillar to post to avail loans for development of the tribal areas but in vain. These are nothing but hollow assurances by the BJD to get votes, he said. The Congress candidate further stated that the woman card played by the ruling party will not work in Jeypore Assembly constituency as women voters have already realised the truth and this will reflect in the coming elections. The BJD candidate here is asking women SHG members to join her in rallies and meetings by giving false promises, he said. BJD leader and candidate from Jeypore Assembly segment Indira Nanda has been asserting that party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has prioritised women in the segment by giving ticket to a female candidate and that the woman card will swing votes in favour of the ruling party this elections. Nanda began her poll campaign on Thursday in different panchayats of Jeypore block where she held meetings in Dangarchinchi and Patraput villages and sought peoples support in winning the polls. The BJD has for the first time fielded a woman candidate from Jeypore Assembly constituency. I appeal to all of you to support me in the upcoming election, she added.

Odisha 5T chairman Pandian takes a veiled dig at Dharmendra Pradhan

UMERKOTE: Launching a veiled attack on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, 5T chairman VK Pandian on Friday claimed the BJP leader is conspiring to stop the state governments flagship scheme Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). Addressing the public during his visit to Nabarangpur district, the senior BJD leader alleged the union minister is also opposing the Mission Shakti scheme. The women members of self-help groups (SHGs) were scheduled to visit Dubai. However, the central minister cancelled it. The SHG members will give him a befitting reply in the coming days, he said. He (Pradhan) only talks big. He could have established two-three central schools in Nabarangpur during his tenure as the union education minister. But he didnt. When he comes to Nabarangpur, people should ask him this question, Pandian said. On the other hand, Pandian said, the Odisha government has transformed more than 8,000 high schools and 8,500 primary schools under the 5T initiative in the state. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has constructed hostels for tribal children in Odisha. He has also approved four degree colleges for Nabarangpur district. The chief minister loves and respects the tribal people. He has formed a special development council (SDC) to protect the tribal art and culture. Besides, the CM has ordered withdrawal of 50,000 minor cases against the tribals, he informed. Highlighting the contribution of the state government, the 5T chairman said crores of rupees have been sanctioned for Nabarangpur. Drinking water is being supplied to households in Jharigam through pipes. The state government has sanctioned Rs 45 crore for Jharigaon-Medena road, Rs 61 crore for Umerkote-Chandahandi-Malgaon road besides Rs 3.25 crore for development of Bhairaghumar waterfall and Rs 3.70 crore for Chandandhara falls. A dialysis centre has also been opened in Umerkote. Projects worth Rs 500 crore are being implemented in Nabarangpur district. The 5T chairman appealed to the public to ensure victory of BJDs Nabarangpur Lok Sabha candidate and nominees from all Assembly seats with huge margins. On the day, Pandian addressed public meetings at Umerkote, Dhodra in Jharigam, Maidalpur in Dabugam and Pujariguda in Nabarangpur Assembly seat. Among others, BJDs Nabarangpur LS candidate Pradeep Majhi and MLA nominees from Jharigam, Umerkote, Dabugam and Nabarangpur Assembly constituencies were present. 5T chairmans chopper inspected Poll officials on Friday checked the helicopter of Pandian after he landed at Umerkote to campaign for BJD candidates in Nabarangpur. The district magistrate along with a team of local police inspected the senior BJD leaders helicopter for around 20-25 minutes. However, as no objectional material was found in the chopper, Pandian was allowed to leave. The 5T chairman is one of the 40 star campaigners of BJD for the first two phases of the General Elections.

Modi factor very much in play in mini-India Malkajgiri

HYDERABAD: The three-cornered contest in Telanganas Malkajgiri constituency, which elected the states current Chief Minister Revanth Reddy as a Congress MP in 2019, may be a foregone conclusion. The Congress has fielded a recent entrant from BRS, Patnam Suneetha Mahender Reddy, while the BRS candidate is a turncoat from the Congress, Ragidi Laxma Reddy. The BJP candidate Eatala Rajender was a minister in the KCR government and switched over from the BRS in 2021. Who is the front-runner? A 45-year-old businessman from Kukatpally, Mahesh, who identified himself as a member of the Congress, did not hesitate for a moment when asked who he would support this time. Its Modi at the Centre. I believe in Modi and would vote for the BJP, he said. Mahesh is not alone in rooting for the saffron party. Several voters from Malkajgiri constituency said they would vote for the BJP. Dhanalakota Shravan Kumar, a traditional artiste from Quthbullapur one of the seven suburban Assembly segments making up the Malkajgiri LS seat reasoned: If I vote for Congress, my vote would be wasted as the party might not come to power at the Centre. As for the BRS, they have lost power in Telangana. Most of Shravans neighbours shared similar views. Though all seven segments of the Malkajgiri constituency voted for the BRS in the November 2023 Assembly elections, it appears that the saffron party has an edge in the LS polls.Eatala Rajender claims people are with PM Narendra Modi, whose 1.3-km roadshow in Malkajgiri on March 15 saw a massive response. Rajendar, who quit BRS after an acrimonious fallout with former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, told this paper recently during Hyderabad Dialogues that the party can win 12 out of the 17 seats in the state, including Malkajgiri. The constituency, established in 2009 following delimitation, has 37.47 lakh voters, with over 90% belonging to urban and suburban areas. With a sizable population of migrant settlers from other states including Tamil Nadu due to the presence of Central government institutions, Malkajgiri is deemed Mini India. Since the seat came into being in 2009, the Congress has won twice and the TDP once in 2014, when it was in alliance with the BJP. Marwaris in Malkajgiri inclined to BJP: Sources Revanth Reddy was elected in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, months after losing in the 2018 Assembly polls. While Revanth won with 38.63% of votes, Marri Rajashekhar Reddy of the BRS stood a close second with 37.93% while the BJP candidate was a distant third with 19.47%. This time, the Congress candidate is Suneetha Reddy. She is Ranga Reddy Zilla Parishad chairperson and wife of former minister P Mahender Reddy. The BRS candidate, Ragidi Laxma Reddy, who quit the Congress last year after he was denied an Assembly ticket, was a close aide of Revanth and worked for him when he contested from Malkajgiri in 2019. When asked about their preference, voters who favoured the BJP mostly had only two responses: I want to vote for Modi or I know Eatala but Im not very familiar with the other two candidates. Political analysts also point out that while Suneetha Reddy is known in political circles, she is relatively new to the voters. As for Laxma Reddy, Rasoolpura resident Rahim said: I heard he was the assembly in-charge in Uppal. But I saw him only during an iftar party recently, when KTR introduced him to us. He did not hold a rally or a meeting with us after that. Laxma Reddy, a native of Hyderabad, has repeatedly stressed in his election campaigns that the BJP and Congress candidates are non-locals and that the people would support a local leader like him. (Eatala is from erstwhile Karimnagar district and Suneetha is from Tandur of Vikarabad district.) However, political analysts say this is not a major issue. In the 2019 elections, though the BRS and BJP fielded local candidates, people voted for Revanth, who hails from erstwhile Mahbubnagar district. There is a significant presence of migrant settlers from Tamil Nadu and other states in Malkajgiri. In the previous elections, the BRS made a lot of promises in favour of the Tamil community but they did not follow through. So, most of our community members are looking to vote for the Congress or the BJP, said Rajkumar, a settler from Tamil Nadu. Some of the Tamils in the constituency say they would vote for the BJP as Modi recently extended his support to the Tamil language, he added. Political sources say the Marwaris in the constituency are inclined towards the BJP. There are also a lot of people who migrated from districts within the state, mostly from north Telangana. So, all parties are crafting strategies to get the votes of settlers.

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