BJP Kerala chief to contest from Nemom in 2026 Assembly elections
THRISSUR: BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday said that he would contest the 2026 assembly elections from Nemom constituency. He was speaking at the Meet the Press programme titled Vote Vibe of Thrissur Press Club. Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram is an important one for BJP as its senior leader O Rajagopal had won the seat earlier. Currently, Minister V Sivankutty is the MLA from Nemom. Though there were reports that Rajeev was likely to contest in the assembly election, it is the first time he has revealed the name of the constituency from where he plans to contest. Urging people to give a chance to the NDA, Rajeev said that Vikasith Thrissur would be their promise. He also put forward certain schemes like doorstep governance through digital technology. He pointed out that in most local bodies in Kerala, at least 30 to 40 per cent of budget funds was being wasted, which should be avoided. To a question on AIIMS in Kerala, the BJP state chief responded that the state government didnt acquire the land for the institution.
Back to basics: With poll aspirations, five ex-MLAs look to retrace their steps in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking their politics to the grassroots, five former MLAs are contesting the upcoming local-body elections. And, it looks to be back to the basics for Anil Akkara, K S Sabarinadhan, E M Augusthy, R Latha Devi, and K C Rajagopalan. Taking his campaign to the Sanskrit College ward of Adat grama panchayat, in Thrissur district, Anil is no stranger to local governance. He led the panchayat as president for two successive terms from 2000 and represented the same ward in 2005. His election as Congress MLA of Wadakkanchery in 2016 adds heft to his candidature. I am no stranger here. During my time, it was a model panchayat. But both the LDF and the BJP failed to preserve our legacy. This time, our focus is on rebuilding its former glory and ensuring development and progress, Anil said. Seeking the backing of the Maramon ward of Mezhuveli grama panchayat, in Pathanamthitta district, CPM veteran K C Rajagopalan is also banking on local ties. He had served as vice-president of the panchayat in 1979 and its president in 1988. Rajagopalan, who won the Aranmula assembly seat in 2006, had stepped down from active politics after turning 75 last December. Having dedicated myself to both small and large development projects in this panchayat over the years, I am a familiar face here. Though I have not held official positions recently, the strong encouragement from local residents and party workers willed me into the picture. I am determined to continue advancing welfare initiatives across all sectors, said Rajagopalan. Featuring in local-body polls for the first time, senior CPI leader Latha Devi is the LDF candidate in the Chadayamangalam division of Kollam district panchayat. A former MLA from the same region, she considers the contest a return to her political roots. Carrying the UDF banner in the Kowdiar ward of Thiruvananthapuram corporation, former Aruvikkara MLA Sabarinadhan has been projected as the Congress mayoral face. The party hopes his candidature will help revive its position in the capitals civic body. There is a strong desire among the people for change. We have the early-bird advantage, and being a familiar face adds trust and credibility. With high expectations all round, hopes are running high, said Sabarinadhan. Bringing his legislative experience to the local level, AICC member and three-time MLA Augusthy is contesting from the Irupathekkar ward of Kattappana municipality. He made it to the assembly from Udumbanchola in 1991 and 1996 and from Peermade in 2001. I began my journey as a panchayat member in Kattappana in 1978 and later held other positions. I consider local-body elections as important as assembly and Lok Sabha polls, Augusthy said. R Latha Devi LDF candidate in the Chadayamangalam division of Kollam district panchayat K S Sabarinadhan UDF candidate in Kowdiar ward of TPuram corporation K C Rajagopalan LDF candidate in Maramon ward of Mezhuveli grama panchayat in Pathanamthitta E M Augusthy UDF candidate in Irupathekkar ward of Kattappana municipality in Idukki Anil Akkara UDF candidate in Sanskrit College ward of Adat grama panchayat in Thrissur
Kerala local body polls 2025: National weightlifting champion steps into a new arena
Chitra Chandramohan to contest as the LDF candidate in the Valarkavu division of the Thrissur Corporation
Thrissur emerges as overall champions at State Special School Arts Festival
District Collector felicitates students, cash awards for all A-grade winners
Thrissur Collector submits that works on the congested corridor, which began in September 2024, was not progressing as expected and that safety issues prevailed in the form of insufficient street lighting and inadequate hazard sign boards
Key accused in major MDMA case in Kerala arrested at airport while attempting to flee abroad
Manjeswaram police take into custody Thrissur native Shamsudheen who has been wanted for over a year
Karuvannur bank stalls ED move to return attached assets
KOCHI: Resolution continues to remain a mirage for the hapless depositors of the scam-hit Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur. Even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the financial fraud, readies itself to return confiscated assets, bank officials are allegedly unwilling to accept possession a reluctance that has left depositors stuck in an endless wait for their own money. In its submission before the Special Court for PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) cases, the ED stated that the bank is the primary aggrieved party in the alleged money-laundering offence, and that eligible customers are legally entitled to have their deposits restored once the attached properties are transferred to the bank. According to ED sources who spoke to TNIE, investigators have already identified proceeds of crime including cash, movable assets, and immovable properties which were subsequently attached. Four provisional attachment orders were issued under Section 5 of PMLA, covering assets worth Rs 128.82 crore. The agency stated that it is prepared to hand over the attached properties to the bank, enabling it to release fixed deposits to rightful claimants. The assets include properties mortgaged to the institution itself, which could directly contribute to repayment. The ED pointed out that under the Prevention of Money-Laundering (Restoration of Confiscated Property) Rules, 2016, the bank has the option to approach the court and seek formal restoration or release of these assets. Yet, no substantial step has been taken so far, it said. Speaking to TNIE, counsel for the ED said the banks unwillingness to take charge of assets ready for restitution has become a major hurdle in the resolution process. He noted that a similar restoration was executed in the case pertaining to the financial crime at Kandla Service Cooperative bank an investigation that began later, but was settled without friction. Bank can compensate depositors if all attached assets are restituted Responding to the allegations, counsel for the bank maintained that the institution is cooperating with the investigation and has already filed a counter to the EDs affidavit. We are waiting for the individuals named in the affidavit to file their responses. Several people have been accused in the complaint, and the court has given them an opportunity to respond, said Anil Nair, counsel for the bank. Sreelal R L, administrator of Karuvannur bank, told TNIE that the ED has offered to restitute properties worth around Rs 120 crore, but several of these assets have counter cases pending in various courts. Even if we receive them, we may still be unable to compensate depositors fully. What we are asking is for the ED to restitute properties that have no cases pending or no accused linked to them, he said. He said the bank is confident that it can compensate depositors if all the attached assets are restituted. Bank officials also reiterated that they are not in a position to return documents of loans already cleared by borrowers, owing to the impounding of the files. Meanwhile, depositors of the bank are preparing to approach the High Court seeking expeditious return of seized properties, as the resolution process continues to remain indefinitely stalled. ED-bank faceoff The ED chargesheet states the total proceeds of Karuvannur bank scam is Rs I344 crore, with the principal amount being Rs I180 crore. The central agency has offered to return assets worth Rs I128.82 crore. However, Karuvannur bank claims the offered assets have pending cases and appeals Bank says it can compensate depositors if all the attached assets are restituted Karuvannur trail The financial scam came to light when Sreekala E S, the secretary-in-charge of the bank, filed a complaint on July 14, 2021, alleging the former secretary and employees had swindled about `100 crore from the bank The case was transferred to the crime branch on July 21, 2021. Subsequently, the ED initiated proceedings under the PMLA, 2002, on August 2, 2021 The ED has arrested several persons, including former bank secretary Sunil Kumar T R, Wadakancherry municipal health standing committee chairman and CPM member Aravindakshan P R, and former senior accountant of bank C K Jils. It has also questioned former minister and CPM leader A C Moideen and former MP P K Biju in the case The ED uncovered serious lapses in the sanctioning of loans at the bank. It stated that there was deep-rooted conspiracy to embezzle money from the public and make gains for the party as well as its leaders
Fort Kochi to see bishop consecration after 25 years
KOCHI: Fort Kochi is preparing for the consecration of a new bishop after 25 years. Monsignor Antony Kattiparambil will be consecrated as the 36th bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin on December 7. The ceremony will be held at the Parade Ground in Fort Kochi and will be presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman. According to Diocesan Chancellor Fr Johney Xavier Puthukkattu, Fort Kochi has witnessed episcopal consecrations at intervals of 25 years over the past century, with the last one held in 2000. Cardinal Ferrao will serve as the principal consecrator, while Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil of Verapoly and Bishop Emeritus Joseph Kariyil of Cochin will be the co-consecrators. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 3.30pm. Fr Johney added that the presence of Cardinal Ferrao in the upcoming ceremony reflects the historic ties between the Cochin Diocese and Goa. The Diocese was established on February 4, 1557, by Pope Paul IV as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Goa. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and around 30 bishops from the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches will attend the ceremony, along with priests, nuns and an estimated 12,000 believers from 51 parishes across Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts. The consecration will take place during Holy Mass, which will include the imposition of hands and anointing with chrism. Prayers and hymns will be recited in Latin, English and Malayalam. A choir of 170 singers selected from various parishes will be led by Fr Rafi Kootumkal and Fr Bibin George Thareparambil. The homily will be delivered by Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany. The Apostolic Nuncio, Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath and Calicut Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal will also address the gathering. The Diocese has arranged 20 seating sectors at Santa Cruz Square to accommodate the gathering. Volunteers will assist police in managing the crowd and traffic. E-toilets, a medical team and ambulances from Fatima Hospital, Perumpadappu, will be available at the venue.
Mayors step aside as assembly beckons
KOCHI : A student who has passed Class 10 cannot be admitted back to Class 8. General Education Minister V Sivankuttys recent quip, made while explaining why Thiruvananthapuram mayor Arya Rajendran is not being fielded in the upcoming local-body polls, has quickly become a metaphor for moving the needle on ascending the political ladder in the state. His comment suggested that politicians who have completed a full term are ready for the next stage, widely interpreted as a nod to Aryas prospects in the 2026 assembly election. Sivankuttys own political journey underscores the point. Long before he entered the assembly and became a minister, he served as mayor of Thiruvananthapuram from 1995 to 2000, one of the earliest examples of a local-body chief rising to state-level leadership. The CPMs V K C Mammed Koya, who later represented Beypore in the assembly, also took the same route after serving as mayor of Kozhikode. This trajectory is now becoming the norm rather than the exception. Kozhikode mayor Beena Philip, Kochi mayor M Anilkumar, and Thrissur mayor M K Varghese are also staying out of the fray, prompting widespread speculation that they are setting the stage for bigger battles. Anilkumars name is already under consideration for the Tripunithura constituency. Analysts say that this is part of a larger shift in political grooming within Kerala. With decades of decentralisation empowering municipalities and corporations, local bodies have become the states most effective leadership training ground. Earlier, student politics was the route to the assembly. Today, the panchayati raj system shapes political grooming, said senior journalist Jacob George. Past examples are clear. Former Thiruvananthapuram mayor V K Prashanth eased his way into the assembly. In Thrissur, former mayor R Bindu became a minister. In the Congress, Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod who spent 25 years as a councillor and later became deputy mayor says his years in local governance remain foundational. Local bodies are where the real training happens, he said. Experts welcome the trend. This is common worldwide, noted Dr D Dhanuraj of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), a Kochi-based think-tank. Even in India, several leaders during the freedom struggle had served as mayors or deputy mayors. Local-level politicians should be promoted. They know the issues on the ground and can represent their constituencies more effectively, he said, adding that such a trend also helps strengthen a partys organisational base. Former legislator Sebastian Paul said mayors, who often oversee areas spanning multiple assembly constituencies, naturally gain a wide administrative perspective. With reservations limiting repeated mayoral terms, it is logical for them to move to the assembly, he said. As Kerala heads into the local-body elections, several mayors not on the ballot signals more than a reshuffle. It captures a clear political shift: Local bodies have become Keralas launch pads to the assembly and many of todays mayors may soon be graduating to their next class in state politics. Meanwhile, parties are also using this local-body election to promote a new generation. Across panchayats, municipalities, and corporations, CPM, Congress, and BJP have all fielded young candidates who are being groomed as future leaders. Party insiders say this is a deliberate move as senior mayors and councillors prepare to move up to the assembly, fresh faces are being placed at the grassroots to build the next rung of leadership.
With UDF, NDA snapping at LDFs heels, Guruvayur set for close fight
THRISSUR: In administering a temple town that attracts nearly 5 crore devotees annually, the task of running Guruvayur municipality can be at times overwhelming. With another local-body election round the corner, discussions in Guruvayur revolve around what political front can offer practical solutions to the problems faced by both residents and visitors. After the municipality was formed in 1995, it was the UDF that had the first go at governing it. But since 2000, it has been all the LDF. In the last five terms, the town has favoured the left, and with an increasing majority. However, the growing influence of the UDF and the NDA in recent years threatens to play spoilsport, and a close contest could be in the offing. Being a town with annual visitor numbers comparable to the entire population of Kerala, a major challenge we faced was management of waste. Through effective interventions, the LDF-led council introduced practical solutions that have changed the face of Guruvayur. Earlier, devotees to the temple couldnt walk barefoot through the town streets due to piles of waste and open defecation. But, now, the situation is entirely different. We have sanitation workers managing the waste over three shifts. Shavakotta, which used to be the dumping yard of Guruvayur, is now a childrens park, M Krishnadas, municipality chairman, told TNIE. Implementation of the Guruvayur drainage canal project, mooted 50 years ago, has been another milestone as far as Guruvayur is considered, he said. However, BJP councillor Shobha Harinarayanan questioned the claims. The canal project has been an utter failure as the Valiyathodu is still full of sewage and septage waste, despite spending crores. If the municipality could achieve anything, it was only because of central funds. The municipality and devaswom had at their disposal `100 crore under the Prasadam project, for which Guruvayur was selected. But, the LDF-led municipalitys lack a vision failed to put the money to good use, she said. BJP has two seats in the municipality, including Gurupavanapuri, where the Sree Krishna temple is situated. Since 2016, people in Guruvayur have been backing the development agenda of the BJP. This will reflect in the upcoming election, said Niveditha Subrahmanian, Thrissur West committee president. Meanwhile, the UDF is pinning its hopes on anti-incumbency following five terms of LDF rule. The Congress has been focused on reclaiming Guruvayur with grassroots-level work. We were the first to come up with the candidate list and launch campaigning. We are fully confident of overthrowing the LDF this time, as that is what the people desire, said R Ravikumar, UDF election committee chief coordinator in Guruvayur. While the LDF has several rebel candidates, UDF has only one. Following delimitation, the civic body now has 46 divisions -- up from the earlier 43. In an unusual scenario, the CPM local committee secretary even approached the court against the exercise, but the petition was rejected. Pending devpt projects Establishment of a sewage treatment plant in Guruvayur Expansion of the Guruvayur drainage canal Infrastructure upgrade, including improved facilities for pilgrims
NDA manifesto for Thrissur Corporation promises major development push
Suresh Gopi releases document outlining five key projects
NEP a 'weapon' to expose lies in compilation of history, says Union Minister Suresh Gopi
Interacting with people and party workers in his Lok Sabha constituency, Thrissur, Suresh Gopi alleged that the country's history had been distorted and portrayed in a wrong manner
Coming soon: Bedrolls for hire on sleeper trains to Chennai
KOCHI: Are you planning a train journey in sleeper class in the next few months? If so, you can cross off packing that bedsheet and pillow to make your trip comfortable. Taking note of problems faced by passengers, the Chennai division of Southern Railway has announced that from January 1, 2026, the transporter will provide sanitized, ready-to-use bedrolls on an on-demand, on-payment basis. Travellers from Kerala too would be able to avail the facility since two trains from the state have been included in the list of services in which this facility will be introduced.The train services from Kerala are the 22651/22652 Chennai-Palakkad Express, the 12695/12696 Chennai CentralThiruvananthapuram Express, and, the 22639/22640 Chennai-Alappuzha Express, a railway official said. Announcing the initiative, the Chennai division, in a communique, said that till now sleeper class passengers did not have access to an organised provision of bedrolls. To address this, the Chennai division implemented a pilot project under the New Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme during 2023-24. The pilot project received an overwhelmingly positive response from passengers, prompting the Railways to introduce this service as a regular non-fare revenue initiative. Under the scheme, a bedsheet, pillow, and pillow cover can be obtained on payment of Rs 50; and a pillow and pillow cover for Rs 30. Passengers can get hold of a single bedsheet for Rs 20. The passengers associations have welcomed the move. This initiative will help passengers travelling to Chennai or Mangaluru. Nearly all passengers on Chennai Mail and other trains make do with their bags as pillows while sleeping on bare berths. Now, that wont be necessary. Another thing that makes this initiative good is that it is not compulsory, as in AC, where the fee for bedsheets, pillows, and blankets is included in the fare, said P Krishnakumar, general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers Association.
In shifting sands of politics, faith is moving mountains
KOCHI: ... The futures in the air I can feel it everywhere Blowing with the wind of change... The Scorpions ballad on profound changes taking place in Europe in the early 1990s can hold a mirror to the evolving political picture in central Kerala. Winding ones way though Meenachil River-kissed Pala, Poonjar, and Bharananganam, the highlands of Idukki, and the gently rolling regions of Thrissur and Ernakulam, the shift is very evident -- and splashed across compound walls. Posters of candidates from traditional, influential Christian families now bear the lotus symbol. What was once considered odious has become a defining feature of this local body elections. In a development that is without precedent, the BJP has allotted nearly 1,900 seats to Christian candidates. And the shift isnt just numerical its psychological. The untouchability factor that kept the community away from the saffron party for decades is wearing thin, according to political observers. BJP state vice president Shone George is keen to highlight the momentum. In Christian belts such as Poonjar and Pala, around 60% of our candidates are Christians, he said. The feedback from house visits is remarkable. Families are warm, receptive many are big Narendra Modi fans now. While asserting that radical Islam has pushed Christians closer to the BJP, Shone concedes the party struggled to keep up with demand. We couldnt find enough Christian candidates everywhere. But KCYM members, Catholic Congress workers they are coming forward. This is just the beginning. This election marks a psychological break, according to political observer Milton Francis. The untouchability is gone. The acceptability of BJP candidates has grown sharply not just among affluent Christian families but even among Church leaders, he said. In the high ranges, Thrissur, Iritty, Nadapuram, Peravoor, and Taliparamba Christian votes are decisive. The BJP is fielding Christian candidates even in Kozhikode, reflecting how much the ground has shifted, he pointed out, adding that many families view Rajeev Chandrasekhar as an acceptable, professional, credible face of the party. The Catholic Congress, the official lay organisation of the Syro-Malabar Church, echoes the communitys evolving political posture. Its president, Rajeev Kochuparambil, says the organisation welcomes the new assertiveness of Christian voters. This time, there has been a sharp increase in the number of seats the BJP has allotted to Christian candidates, he said. Our stand is simple the communitys issues must be taken up by elected representatives. We are not opposed to any political party or front. But once elected, representatives must be willing to listen to our concerns. However, Apu John Joseph, Kerala Congress state chief coordinator and son of party supremo P J Joseph, argues that the BJPs sudden embrace of Christians is shallow. The arrest of two Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh earlier this year, on allegations of forced conversion, exposed this, he said. The incident was a realisation that the BJPs newfound affection has no real grounds, Apu added. It reminded Christian leaders that the BJP is no friend of Christians. Those who were drifting towards them are now having second thoughts. Apu counters the BJPs narrative of Christian under-representation within the UDF. Four of our MPs Dean Kuriakose, Anto Antony, Hibi Eden, and Francis George are Catholic. Benny Behanan is Jacobite. Nearly 28% of UDF MPs are Christian, far above the communitys share of population, he said. Kerala Congress (Joseph) is contesting in 615 local-body seats this time, up from around 500 in 2020. Within the LDF, the Kerala Congress (M), which contested around 850 seats in 2020, is now fighting 930-plus seats. A political analyst says this more liberal seat allocation to Kerala Congress parties by both UDF and LDF can be attributed to the rising influence of the BJP within the Christian community. Both KC (M) and Kerala Congress have increased their footprint to thwart the BJPs moves to capture the Christian vote, he said. These parties sense that the BJP has made its way into spaces that were once exclusively theirs. A senior KC (M) leader, requesting anonymity, concurred. People are fed up with the Congress infighting. The untouchability factor is slipping away even traditional UDF voters are coming to us and the BJP, he said. Meanwhile, even smaller flash points such as the Munambam land dispute and the Palluruthy school hijab row sharpened the communitys anxieties on identity and institutional autonomy, issues the BJP has used to deepen its outreach. But, for the saffron party, this election is an opening. Local-body polls will set the trend, Shone insisted. We will go full steam by next years assembly election.
LDF manifesto for Thrissur Corporation unveils vision for green city
With emphasis on environmental harmony and heritage protection, the manifesto positions the next phase of governance as one that can turn Thrissur into a nationally recognised model city
INTERVIEW| There is a visible change in approach towards BJP
KOCHI: The BJPs campaign for the local-body elections is focused on development issues, state general secretary Anoop Antony says in a conversation with TNIE, adding that political equations in the state has changed. Excerpts: The BJP has not been able to corner power in Kerala, where politics has been largely bipolar. What is your strategy for this election? The equations have changed. We have focused our campaign on development issues. There are concerns that have been neglected by both fronts. There is a visible change in the approach towards the BJP. There is a strong sentiment against the gold theft at Sabarimala and the state government is facing backlash from devotees. This will work in our favour. What are your expectations? In the previous election, we wrested control of 19 panchayats and two municipalities. This time round, the NDA will rule Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur corporations, besides hundreds of panchayats and several municipalities. We are presenting a novel concept of new-age governance. The focus will be on weeding out corruption and bringing the benefits of hitherto unknown central schemes to the common man. We organised development seminars in all local bodies and compiled suggestions of projects to be taken up. We will be releasing the development documents for each local body within a week. What is special about BJPs election manifesto? In local bodies where the BJP will be in majority, the party will introduce a development blueprint within 45 days. The document will have details of development projects that will be implemented over the next five years. But people will also evaluate the partys performance... I accept there were internal issues in Palakkad and Pandalam. But those were resolved amicably without impacting governance. Palakkad is the first municipality in Kerala to be brought under blanket CCTV surveillance. Both Palakkad and Pandalam ensured that the benefits of central schemes reach the common man. We are fighting the election highlighting our achievements. The BJP has been trying to woo the Christian community. Do you believe the outreach will deliver results? There has been a change in the approach of the Christian community. We have fielded a large number of minority candidates this time. The shift in Christian votes will definitely benefit the NDA. The BJP is the single-largest party contesting this election as we have fielded candidates in 19,871 wards.
Rights panel tells govt. to disburse travel aid to HIV patients
The Commission issued the directive after an HIV patient from Malappuram complained that travelling to Thrissur to collect medicines was difficult without financial support
Labour Codes an attack equivalent to genocide on workers: Rajendran
Protest organised against Labour Codes in Thrissur
Leader of the Opposition calls upon workers to recapture the Thrissur Corporation with a commanding majority
How A Missing Gold Chain Led Cops To Kerala Woman's Killer - Her Daughter
A 75-year-old woman was murdered, allegedly by her daughter and her partner, over a gold chain in Kerala's Thrissur. Incidentally, it was the missing chain that led the cops to the daughter.
Kerala local body polls: Can Lok Sabha wave meet local body reality in Thrissur?
Can the Suresh Gopi effect that reshaped Keralas electoral story redraw the political map of the Thrissur Corporation and his much-publicised outreach sessions build political capital; can BJP replicate its Lok Sabha breakthrough like his unprecedented strides across the Corporation divisions dominate political chatter as controversies shadow the actor-ministers image
NIA court flags serious lapses in Viyyur High Security Prison
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, has warned that the malfunctioning CCTV cameras at the High Security Prison, Viyyur, are a matter of concern, and may pose serious problems. The court sharply criticised Keralas prison administration after it emerged that only one out of 165 CCTV cameras have recording facilities. A report by the assistant engineer, PWD Electronics wing, Thrissur, claimed that only nine CCTV cameras are currently functional. However, the superintendents report stated that despite 165 cameras being installed, only one was operating and the others had not functioned since February 2024. The court directed the PWD to rectify the CCTV cameras immediately and file a time-bound compliance report. The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by prisoner Manoj P M, who alleged custodial torture. After records revealed that the prisoner suffered torture in the high-security prison, Viyyur. While forwarding the petition and records to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thrissur, the NIA Court instructed the former to take further action against the jail authorities. Manoj had stated in the petition that he was brutally attacked by the jail officials in the high-security prison, Viyyur, on November 13 following which he suffered serious injuries. The court also rejected the prison authorities claims in their report that Manoj did not suffer any serious injuries. It noted that while the injured jail staff received treatment at Thrissur Medical College Hospital at 6.30pm on November 13, Manoj was shifted to Central Prison Poojappura, nearly 300km away. The report of the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority and the documents produced show that Manoj suffered injuries in the attack. Reports from the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority confirmed that Manoj sustained injuries. Forwarding the petition of Manoj to the Chief Judicial Magistrate for further action, the court asked the prison authorities to provide Manoj medical examination at Ernakulam General Hospital. The NIA Court ordered that Manoj be shifted to Central Prison, Thavanoor.
Rebels set to spoil party for all three fronts
Hundreds of political leaders appear to have taken their cue from M.K. Varghese, a Congress rebel-turned-Independent, who became Mayor of the Thrissur Corporation with the support of the Left Democratic Front, and have thrown their hats into the ring against the official candidates of their own parties
SIR: over 50% of enumeration forms collected, 35% of them fully digitised in Thrissur
District Election Officer and Collector Arjun Pandian visits the dedicated camp set up for receiving and digitising these forms
72,005 in the fray for local body elections in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A total of 72,005 candidates are officially in the fray across the state for the upcoming local body elections, as per provisional data released by the State Election Commission late on Monday. The final picture of the candidates became clear after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Monday. The list of candidates includes 37,786 women, 34,218 men and one transgender person. Meanwhile, all major fronts are facing the menace of rebel candidates who have refused to withdraw their candidature despite efforts by party leadership to mollify them. While the LDF and the UDF have five rebel candidates each in Thiruvananthapruam corporation, 11 rebels are causing headache to the Congress-led front in Kochi corporation. Six-time BJP councillor Shyamala S Prabhu, who turned a rebel this time, is taking on the official candidate of the saffron alliance in Kochi corporations Cherlai ward. While the UDF has six rebel candidates in the fray in Thrissur corporation, four rebel candidates are poised to play spoilsport for the LDF that rules the civic body. The BJP-led NDA too has a rebel candidate in Vadookara ward, its sitting seat in Thrissur corporation. Kannur, the lone UDF-ruled corporation, has rebel trouble for the Congress-led front in three seats. A CPM rebel candidate in Kannur corporation withdrew his candidature on Monday, offering relief to the LDF. Relief for Wayanad UDF as YC rebel withdraws The UDF in Wayanad heaved a sigh of relief after Youth Congress leader Jasheer Pallivayal, who had entered the fray as a rebel for the district panchayat, withdrew his nomination on Monday following last-minute intervention by senior party leaders. In Alappuzha district panchayats Ambalappuzha division, the conflict within the UDF over the seat has been resolved, with the IUML agreeing to withdraw its rebel candidate at the last minute. The LDF has already secured 14 seats unchallenged. In Kannur, LDF secured two additional unopposed victories in Anthoor municipality after the nomination papers of UDF candidates were rejected during fresh scrutiny on Monday. With this, five LDF candidates have been elected unopposed in the civic body.
Kerala HC for app to alert public about missing Bengaluru native
KOCHI: In a significant decision to help locate Suraj Lama, a Bengaluru native who went missing in Kochi soon after being deported from Kuwait last month, the Kerala High Court has asked the state government to develop a mobile app that can issue a unified alert containing his details to various social media platforms. The court issued the directive while considering a habeas corpus petition filed by Santon Lama, Surajs son. It noted that the app should be created in coordination with the Kerala Police Cyberdome and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. During the hearing on November 21, the court directed the states counsel to develop an application capable of circulating a unified WhatsApp message across social media platforms, ensuring it reaches users across cyberspace, especially within Kerala, said a source with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), which is providing legal assistance to Santon. As per the plan, the app will send a unified alert mentioning details of Suraj, the time of his disappearance and other information to all social media platforms. The app will not be for public use. Meanwhile, Santons counsel said the state government had informed the court that missing person posters, including Surajs photograph, had been displayed at major pilgrim centres, including Sabarimala. The government also said they had arranged for public announcements about Suraj during the morning and evening sessions at Sabarimala, the counsel said. Aluva DySP T R Rajesh, who is heading the special investigation team (SIT) formed to trace Lama, said they had covered almost entire Ernakulam and Thrissur. We are once again carrying out searches focused on medical colleges, shelter homes and locations that that may have been missed earlier. We are also checking unidentified bodies, he said. Rajesh said the SIT has proposed additional measures, including issuing alerts during phone calls. When contacted, Santon told TNIE that he was thankful to all involved in the search of his father.
Parasitic leech found off Kollam a likely threat to native fish health
KOLLAM: A parasitic marine leech previously found only along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts has been reported for the first time in Indian waters off the Kollam coast. The finding has raised concern among researchers about the parasites potential impact on fish health, fisheries productivity and the marine ecosystem. The species, Pontobdella muricata, was found among the trawl bycatch that landed at Sakthikulangara harbour. The specimen was found attached to the ventral side of a ray fish, confirming a new parasite-host association for a leech previously restricted to colder European waters. Researchers say the leech poses no direct threat to humans but warn that it could severely affect native fish populations. Even a single leech can cause lesions, draw blood and create wounds that allow secondary infections reducing fish health and market value, says the study. The finding has triggered concerns about what else may be silently shifting to Keralas waters. The current detection is limited to deepwater skates, but researchers warn that the shift in parasite distribution may indicate changing ocean conditions, altered migration routes or broader ecological imbalances. Our marine ecosystem is already under extreme stress due to global warming, pollution, deep-sea fishing and declining fish stocks. With fisheries under unprecedented pressure, the emergence of a new parasite is a red flag, said Sarlin Pathissery, head of the zoology department, Fatima Mata National College, Kollam, who led the study. The new parasite could harm fish populations in the long run, especially in waters already stressed by overfishing, warming seas and species degradation. But how exactly this will affect the fishing community and the wider environment requires in-depth study, she said. If such parasites spread to commercially important species, small fishers who depend on healthy, clean catch for their livelihood will be the most affected, the study notes. Impact of parasites may be huge, need further study The exceptionally high genetic similarity (more than 99%) between the Kollam specimen and populations from the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts underscores the need for focused comparative assessments to determine whether similar ecological or pathological effects may arise in Indian waters. Researchers argue that monitoring such hidden parasites is crucial not just for biodiversity records but to understand subtle ecological shifts that ultimately influence coastal livelihoods. The discovery of the parasite is a reminder that what is hiding under the ocean will reach the market fish stall and our homes sooner than we expect. These parasites may be small, but their impact could be huge. Thats why further study is needed, said Sandie Moris, a chemical engineering student at Government Engineering College, Thrissur, who assisted the study. Savio Morris, chemical engeneering student at TKM Engineering College, Kollam, and Sancia Moris of the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Germany, were also part of the study. It has been published in a peer reviewed international journal, Taylor & Francis Biodiversity. First time in Indian waters Its for the first time that parasitic marine leech, Pontobdella muricata, is found in Indian waters, says the study The species was previously found only along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts The leech could severely affect native fish populations
Seat given to DCC secretary: local Congress leaders resign in protest in Thrissur
Sitting councillor resigns from party
Rebels, turncoats pose headache for fronts in Kerala local body elections
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Local body polls often act as a launch pad for new political faces, making them a keenly watched affair. These elections spawn leaders, disruptors, and at times kingmakers. Unlike general elections, voters are often kinder to those hopping from one party to another, finding fault with the policies they had espoused earlier, and contesting on a new label. The cabin of democracy during local body polls is so accommodating that there is room for turncoats and rebels. It is no different this time either. The three major political fronts LDF, UDF and NDA are having to deal with aspirants who can upset their apple cart. In Thiruvananthapuram corporation, where the LDF is locked in a seesaw fight with the NDA to retain power, intra-party feud in at least two divisions are giving the left coalition a headache. Former Desabhimani Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief K Sreekandan, a party member for the past four decades, is contesting from Ulloor ward, an LDF bastion, as an independent. He decided to throw down the gauntlet after the CPM agreed on another candidate. The bitterness prompted Sreekandan to come out against former minister and party strongman Kadakampally Surendran, accusing him of a deal with the BJP. In Chempazhanthy, former CPM local committee member Annie Asokan is contesting as a rebel candidate. The Kazhakoottam block panchayat president from 2004 to 2010, she chose to be a rebel after the party opted for Sheela Mohanan. Annies ire was also directed against Kadakampally. In CPMs sitting ward of Vazhottukonam, former CPM branch secretary K V Mohanan is contesting as a rebel candidate. His justification of going against the party is that a person having real estate interests has been picked as the candidate. For the UDF, too, which is trying to offset the previous electoral losses, is also bogged down by defections. K Maheswaran Nair, a former Leader of Opposition in the corporation and a four-time councillor from the Poojappura ward, has joined the BJP and is contesting from Punnakkamugal. Former Congress leader Padmini Thomas, who had joined the saffron party, is the NDA candidate in the Palayam ward. Another former Congress leader, Thampanoor Satheesh, is in the fray in Thampanoor for the NDA. In Kochi corporation, defection has been the order of the day. In the previous elections, the LDF won 33 seats and managed to garner the support of two independent candidates to grab power in the 74-member council. The UDF won 31 seats, while the NDA and independent candidates won five each. Muslim League rebel T K Ashraf, who had supported the LDF last time and was given the health standing committee chairperson post in return, has made a homecoming and has been fielded as the UDF candidate from North Kaloor. P M Harris, a League councillor and a former public workbns standing committee chairperson, is the LDF candidate against Ashraf. On its part, the LDF has fielded six former UDF councillors to retain power. In Vyttila division, CPM former area committee member V P Chandran has been fielded as an independent candidate by the UDF. In a tit-for-tat response, former KPCC member A B Sabu was fielded by the CPM as their candidate. Thoppumpady councillor Sheeba Durom, who was suspended from the Congress party in 2023, will now contest the election on behalf of the LDF from the same ward. Gracy Joseph, the LDF candidate in Kathrikadavu division, was a UDF councillor and was suspended by the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) in 2020. Another candidate, M B Muraleedharan, contesting from Vennala, was a three-term Congress councillor and was also the UDF parliamentary party secretary. Former Congress councillor Mary Calista Prakashan, who represented the Mundamveli division, is contesting from the same ward on a CPM ticket this time. Malini Kurup, a three-term councillor, has already left the Congress after being denied the Girinagar seat. This came as a shocker for the Congress which had witnessed its Vyttila councillor Sunitha Dixon joining the BJP and declared as its candidate in Ponnurunni East. Devankulangara councillor Santha Vijayan too defected. In Thrissur corporation, which has a rich history of turncoats becoming kingmakers, there is no dearth of rebels and turncoats this time too. Mayor M K Varghese himself was a Congress rebel candidate after the party denied him a seat in 2020. Varghese won the election and pledged support to the LDF, which cobbled up votes barely enough to catapult it to power. Varghese entered into a pact with the LDF and became the mayor. Former deputy mayor and LDF councillor for 15 years, Beena Murali has announced that she will contest from Krishnapuram as an independent. She had resigned from the CPI after being refused a seat. Janata Dal (S) councillor Sheeba Babu has now joined the BJP and will contest as the party candidate from Kalathode. The BJP too has to endure rebel woes as I Lalithambika, the partys councillor from Kuttankulangara, has deserted the ship. She is contesting as a CPI-backed independent from the same division. UDFs Kuriachira councillor Nimmy Rappai has left the Congress and is now contesting as an LDF-backed candidate. In Kannur corporation, the spotlight for the past 10 years was on P K Ragesh, a rebel Congress leader. He helped shape the corporations political landscape by helping to elect its first mayor, E. P. Latha of the LDF, in 2015. At the time, the UDF and the LDF had won 27 seats each in the 55-member council, while Ragesh secured a seat as an independent after breaking away from the Congress. By extending his support to the LDF, he was made the deputy mayor. However, in 2019, he shifted his stance by successfully backing a UDF-led no-confidence motion against Latha. Later that year, following compromise talks initiated by K Sudhakaran, he rejoined the Congress, paving the way for Congress leader Suma Balakrishnan to become the mayor while he retained the post of deputy mayor. He was expelled in 2023 from the party due to an internal feud. Now, he is working through the Rajivji Cultural Forum, which plans to field candidates in several wards of the corporation under the banner of Aikya Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi. Senior leaders who switched sides Former Congress leader K. Maheswaran Nair, ex-Leader of the Opposition in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Now contesting as NDA candidate Thampanoor Satheesh, once a close aide of K Karunakaran, is now contesting for the NDA from Thampanoor Former rebel Congress leader P K Ragesh became deputy mayor under the LDF regime. Now, he leads Aikya Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi LDF candidate in Kathrikadavu, Gracy Joseph, was earlier a UDF councillor. She was suspended from Congress in 2020 Muslim League rebel T K Ashraf had supported LDF last time. He has made a homecoming and is now the UDF candidate from North Kaloor in Kochi Thrissurs ex-deputy mayor, CPIs Beena Murali, is contesting from Krishnapuram as an independent CPM former area committee member V P Chandran has been fielded as an independent candidate by the UDF in the Vyttila division of the Kochi corporation Forgiving voters Unlike general elections, voters are often kinder to those hopping from one party to another, finding fault with the policies they had espoused earlier, and contesting on a new label during local body polls
Gandhian ideals regain relevance, says Hassan
Dr. Kalpatta Balakrishnan remembrance meet held in Thrissur
LDF faces internal rift in Thrissur Corporation over seat allocation
Kerala Congress (M) fields rebel candidates in three general divisions
Trip on vintage charm with Vrischikolsavam in Tripunithura
Every year, the sleepy town of Tripunithura is jolted into a socio-cultural melange with the onset of Vrischikolsavam , the festival held in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (NovemberDecember). Held at the Poornathrayeesa Temple, this years eight-day festival began on November 19. It will conclude with the aarattu on November 26. It is believed that when the Perumpadappu Swaroopam (the erstwhile kingdom of Cochin) shifted its capital from earlier centres such as Mahodayapuram and later Thrissur to Tripunithura around the 14th century, the worship of Poornathrayeesa (Lord Krishna) acquired deeper political and familial significance, establishing the deity as the family god of the Cochin royal house. The temples annual Vrischikam festival subsequently evolved into the Rajotsavam , the official royal festival of the Cochin kingdom. Over the years, the festival has grown beyond its religious and royal origins to become a hotspot for Keralas major temple art forms, widening its popularity across communities. The temple premises transform into a vibrant 24-hour stage where performances unfold around the clock. Each day offers a curated roster featuring Panchari Melam and Thayambaka, Kathakali, Ottanthullal, and classical vocal and instrumental concerts. The ensemble Panchari Melam sets the primary auditory tone of the festival, giving the processions their momentum. This is also where a Tripunithura native often encounters a long-lost friend, a distant relative or gains new ulsavam buddies. Vrischikolsavam is anchored as much in musical rigour as in visual pageantry. Connoisseurs mark their calendars for specific melams often led by renowned maestros. Discussions on kalapramanam (tempo) and nadasoukhyam (tonal richness) continue long after the last beat of the chenda. The festival concludes on the eighth day with the aarattu at the Chakkamkulangara Temple, where the idol is taken for a ceremonial bath.
Established under a strategic collaboration between Starbucks Coffee Company & Tata Starbucks, the FSP aims to empower 10,000 Indian coffee farmers by 2030 Starbucks will open its 500th coffeehouse in India this week in Delhi NCR a Starbucks Reserve location offering a premium and immersive coffee experience Reaffirming its long-term commitment to India, and its plans to deepen its coffee leadership in the market, Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the establishment of a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP). In collaboration with Tata Starbucks Private Limited, the FSP will connect local agronomists and farmers to global farming best practices through open-source agronomy. Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Starbucks re-affirm coffee leadership and announce a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) to strengthen the coffee value chain from Bean to Cup Strengthening Indias coffee value chain from bean to cup Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, SARL (SCTC), Starbucks global procurement and trading subsidiary, will collaborate closely with Tata Starbucks to empower 10,000 farmers by 2030. The FSP based in Karnataka will combine Tata Starbucks deep local knowledge, Indias coffee-growing heritage, and decades of Starbucks global agronomy expertise. It will support farmers from Indias key coffee growing states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to strengthen connections with Starbucks global network, drive innovation, and share best practices in farming and sustainability to ensure a sustainable future for India coffee. The FSP will set up technical model farms in partnership with farmers in India, incorporating global learnings, to embed best practices in coffee agronomy and test sustainable solutions. The FSP in India will serve as a hub for testing new varietals, provide knowledge on innovative farming techniques aligned to Indian practices and conditions, and share insights about other agroforestry initiatives to improve coffee quality, productivity and climate resiliency. The goal is to build upon traditional methods to help farmers improve both the quality of their crops and their profitability. The FSP will work closely with existing centers of excellence within the Starbucks global network. This includes partnering with Farmer Support Centers (FSC) in coffee-growing regions around the world, where agronomists collaborate directly with farmers on research, and learning from existing model farms within Starbucks supply chain. This network includes FSCs in the APAC region in North Sumatra, Indonesia and Yunnan, China and Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks first company-operated coffee farm and headquarters to the Starbucks Costa Rica Farmer Support Center and Starbucks Global Research and Development team. Through the FSP, Indian farmers will also benefit from Starbucks 2026 global digital training tools, which will offer detailed online modules on agronomy, coffee quality, and C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) practices to foster ethical sourcing and ultimately enhance productivity and sustainability. It will also educate farmers about Regen-Ag (regenerative agriculture) practices and methods to reduce carbon, water, and waste footprints, and contribute to agroforestry and social development initiatives. The FSP will develop projects across the key Starbucks commitments of unlocking coffee productivity, increasing farm profitability and building climate resiliency over the next 5 years. To build capability and strengthen Indias entire coffee value chain, Tata Starbucks will also donate one million high-yield variety Arabica seedlings to farmers over the next five years. During his visit to India this week, Brian Niccol, chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks said, India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Were partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India, including supporting farmers, empowering communities, and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers. Its a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup . Sunil D'Souza, Managing Director & CEO at Tata Consumer Products said, Through the past decade, together, Tata Consumer Products and Starbucks, have helped shape Indias thriving coffee culture and industry. With this new initiative, we are pleased to pair Starbucks global agronomy expertise with Tatas footprint in India to drive tangible impact and pave the way for the future of responsible coffee farming in India . Re-affirming Starbucks coffee leadership through differentiated and elevated experiences Since its inception in 2012 as a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Consumer Products, Tata Starbucks has been dedicated to delivering the unique Starbucks Experience to customers in India. This has set the stage for Indias ever evolving and dynamic coffee culture. This week, Tata Starbucks will celebrate the opening of its 500th coffeehouse in India, marking a significant milestone in its growth journey and reaffirming its long-term commitment to the market. As one of Starbucks fastest-growing international markets, India remains central to the companys plans for strategic and sustainable expansion, with continued focus on job creation and meaningful development opportunities for its partners (employees). The 500th coffeehouse will be the second location to offer a Starbucks Reserve coffee experience in Delhi NCR, engaging coffee enthusiasts with an immersive experience that showcases Starbucks coffee craft, heritage, and storytelling. The coffeehouse and its Starbucks Reserve experience underscore Tata Starbucks commitment to elevating Indias coffee craftsmanship through elevated store design, handcrafted beverages, and locally inspired innovations. As part of the global strategy to make Starbucks a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather to enjoy the finest coffee handcrafted by skilled baristas, Tata Starbucks will continue to focus on creating a differentiated and elevated coffee forward experience in India. It invites customers to experience the full flavor profile it offers - serving the worlds finest coffee and elevated offerings in a welcoming coffeehouse environment that has made it a beloved part of Indias coffee landscape. Sushant Dash, chief executive officer of Tata Starbucks said, As the largest specialty coffee player in India, we are proud to bring the Farmer Support Partnership in collaboration with SCTC, a meaningful step toward strengthening Indias coffee-growing community and securing the future of high-quality Arabica. Our commitment to India extends beyond growth, to investing in farmers, partners (employees) and customers to continue building a vibrant coffee culture. We will continue to serve the finest Arabica coffee from India and around the world, brought to life through the warm, welcoming third place experience that defines Starbucks . About Starbucks Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 40,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or starbucks.com . About Tata Starbucks Private Limited Starbucks entered the Indian market in October 2012 through a 50/50 Joint Venture with Tata Consumer Products Limited and currently operates more than 497 stores in India across 81 cities, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Alibaug, Amritsar, Anand, Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhatinda, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Faridabad, Gandhinagar, Ghaziabad, Goa, Guntur, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Gwalior Haridwar, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lonavala, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mangalore, Meerut, Mumbai, Mussoorie, Mysore, Nagpur, Nashik, New Delhi, Noida, Pathankot, Patiala, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Siliguri, Sonipat, Surat, Thrissur, Trivandrum, Udaipur, Vadodara, Vapi, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Varanasi and Vizag are cities in India. through a network of over 4,437 passionate partners (employees). Starbucks stores are operated by the joint venture, Tata Starbucks Private Limited, and branded as Starbucks Coffee - A TATA Alliance.
164 of 165 CCTVs faulty at Viyyur prison, admits superintendent in court
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a stunning disclosure, the superintendent of Viyyur high-security prison admitted that 164 of the facilitys 165 CCTV cameras are defunct, leaving the prison without meaningful surveillance for over a year. Rajesh Kumar R S made the revelation before the Ernakulam NIA special court on Thursday. Installed on February 28, 2019, the cameras stopped working after the five-year warranty expired. The assistant engineer of PWDs electronics division in Thrissur reported that both the network switch and cameras are damaged, rendering the entire system useless. The court was hearing a petition filed by NIA case undertrial Manoj P M, in which he alleged that he and fellow inmate Azharuddin were brutally assaulted by prison staff following an altercation with the warden on November 13. When the court sought CCTV footage, the superintendent submitted that since the cameras are malfunctioning he could not produce it. The medical records submitted before the court also purported to throw light on the systematic legal and human rights violations at the facility. According to the petition, around 15 jail officials dragged the two prisoners out of their cells after 6pm, in violation of prison regulations that prohibit removal after lock-up. They were allegedly beaten, denied medical treatment, and transferred before dawn the next day -- Manoj to Poojappura central prison and Azharuddin to Kannur central prison -- though a Thrissur district hospital doctor advised further treatment for Manoj. Manoj claims that he was further beaten up by Poojappura prison staff. He was reportedly admitted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, after he began a hunger strike. The medical reports submitted to the court state that the patient sustained trauma to head and abdomen around 5pm on November 13. He had sustained severe injuries including subcutaneous hematoma to left premaxillary, left frontal and left periorbital region. He also alleged that while his plea to file a complaint was denied, a counter complaint was registered against him for allegedly assaulting prison staff. Unimpressed by the explanations of both the superintendents of Viyyur and Poojappura prisons after they failed to produce Manoj on a video call, the two-member NIA court on Thursday directed the superintendent of Viyyur prison to appear in person on November 24. The superintendents of central prison Poojappura shall produce the accused personally on the 24th, the order said.
Kerala leaders say grassroots politics shapes stronger ministers, legislators
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not the MLA or minister you call when a water pipeline ruptures or a death occurs in the locality. Neighbourhood concerns tend to be the domain of ward members or councillors. But, these representatives may not always remain the guy next door. Local-body polls have given rise to several prominent political figures in Kerala. From panchayats and municipalities, to halls of assembly and Parliament, TNIE talks to some of the key figures whose political careers began at the institutions of grassroots democracy. General Education Minister V Sivankutty, who was the Thiruvananthapuram corporation mayor from 1995 to 2000, termed the local-body polls the toughest political test. The key is in fostering personal ties with voters. Here, politics takes a back seat. People mostly vote for individuals. Your voters are your extended family, he said. Higher Education Minister R Bindu, who served as Thrissur mayor (2005-10), said the experience one gains by working as a representative in a local body is unmatched, adding that it serves as a guide for all politicians. In my ten years in Thrissur corporation, I have directly interacted with people living in slums, erstwhile colonies, and many more. When you are part of local bodies, you understand the issues of commoners. The experience has helped me in my tenure as a minister, she added. A legislator who has had a stint in a local body knows how to combine peoples issues with the development needs of the state or country, Bindu said. My tenure as mayor helped me understand the dynamics between local bodies and government, and how they plan and execute projects, she added. Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, who was a member of the Pampady grama panchayat, in the 1988-93 period, said his days as a panchayat member taught him how people must be accorded prime priority in a democracy, and that politicians work for the welfare of these citizens. Unlike legislative assemblies or the Lok Sabha, local bodies deal directly with people, which gives its members a hands-on idea of their views and desires. Once the youngest municipal chairman in the state on being named to lead the Angamaly civic body in 1979, Congress leader K Babu recounted how others had doubts when a 28-year-old was placed in that position. People naturally expect a seasoned politician to hold the office. However, when I was elected, I decided to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which later strengthened my political journey, he said. The Tripunithura MLA said there was the larger trend of local-body members contesting assembly or Lok Sabha polls, which has given way to fresh faces being named as candidates. Kollam MP and RSP leader N K Premachandran fondly recalled his days as the panchayat member of Navaikulam -- which according to him laid the founding stone of his political career. The best takeaway from being the member of a local body is the ability to distinguish what is good and bad for people, especially when it comes to ministerial positions, Premachandran said. Speaking of his tenure as Thiruvananthapuram mayor (2015-19), Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth said ground work is key in politics. People should understand that we work for them, which is what I did being part of flood-relief activities. When your work is seen, they will help you help them, he remarked. The teamwork and coordination do not happen overnight, but is the result of years of effort, said Prasanth. My stint in the corporation was a mix of ground-level interaction and office work, both of which have helped me in my political journey, he added.
Thrissur Ragam theatre operator stabbed outside home
SUV driver speeds off with owner clinging to bonnet in Thrissur
THRISSUR: A shocking incident was caught on camera in Thrissur, Kerala, where a man was seen driving an SUV with its owner clinging to the bonnet in a dangerous manner. The incident took place on Friday and was widely shared on social media. The car, rented out by Aluva-based Solomon, had been taken by a Thrissur native named Backar on October 16. Backar had promised to return the vehicle but failed to do so, prompting Solomon to file a complaint with the Aluva police. On Friday, Solomon spotted the car at Erumapetty and blocked its path. However, Backar drove the SUV forward with Solomon clinging to the bonnet. Locals eventually managed to stop the vehicle after it travelled a few kilometres, and the police were alerted. Erumapetty police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Expressing his frustration, Solomon said, I had asked for my car back, but he was avoiding my calls. What could I do when he tried to drive away?
Kerala local body polls: UDF poised for a comeback in Thrissur, says Rajan J. Pallan
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Thrissur Corporation says a strong and unmistakable wave is rising in favour of the Congress and voters are ready to correct what he calls the slip between the lip and the cup in the last election
Beauty is most beautiful when it is simple. Trust a neurosurgeon, someone who has studied the labyrinths within the brain, saying that. The contours are difficult to manoeuvre, yet their beauty lies in their precision. Surgical precision. Immersed in one of her favourite paintings with an injured hand. Dr Usha Shajehan, who was a neurosurgeon for over two decades, probably understood the simplicity of beauty best through her profession. Her paintings, to be exhibited at the Vylopilly Samskriti Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram from November 22 to 26, will reflect this understanding amply. The 140 paintings that will be on display were created over the past year. A friend, Leela, the wife of Prof. I S Gulati, urged me to take up painting again. I had not painted for the entirety of my career, when complex brain surgeries filled up my time, says Dr Usha. During that phase, there was no mood for colours or sketches. But somewhere within me lingered a passion that had been awakened long ago, when I was 18. A friend named Sreedevi saw my biology sketches and told me I could sketch and paint. That stirred something within me. I did some artworks then, but on entering the medical world, I kept them as a cherished memory. Dr Ushas painting spree restarted last year when she was asked to touch up some prints of Jamini Roy that hung on Leela Gulatis wall. That exposed me once again to the world of paintings, she says. Some of Dr Usha's works: Quiet Majesty 'Ignite your soul' From then on, it was quite a passion unleashed. I painted relentlessly over 140 frames in a year. Some days, it used to be more than two paintings. Dr Ushas paintings reflect her penchant for simplicity, as does her attitude. What I see around me is a beautiful piece of poetry called life. And that is what strikes me the most. I want to paint it in all its lucidity. It shouldnt spark any intellectual tug-of-war, she says. Aligned with this thought, she paints an elephant basking in all its majesty, letting nature reveal itself through little nuances. So too are her watercolours of the verdant life in the woods. The gurgling ponds, stretches of greenery around softly undulating hills, and wildlife that reflects a quiet contentment in serene, simplistic environs. 'Waiting' 'Guardian Angel' It is the simple, organic happiness that I wanted to capture. Thats what most people seek. Havent you seen how works by Raja Ravi Varma or Jamini Roy even now fill souls with a unique sense of charm and calm? The beauty of nature, of life, of everything around me that naturally, seamlessly, and effortlessly stretches beyond the apparent towards the innate is what appeals to meand what I paint. I dont go looking for it. It just happens. I call it a higher influence a touch of grace or a feeling of oneness, quite Advaitic in a way, says the Kochi-born doctor based in Thiruvananthapuram. Drs Usha and Shajehan She loves working her brush inspired by the photographs taken by her husband, Dr Shajehan Shivasankara Pillai, who was also a neurosurgeon. He is an avid photographer, whose works form a body on their own. We travel quite a bit, and these journeys inspire both of us. I also take inspiration from his photographs and paint accordingly, says Dr Usha, who is also a keen cyclist, swimmer, and explorer. The couple quit medicine three years ago. We had enough of the field, although we enjoyed every bit of it. We felt it was time to delve into something that connected with our core, says Dr Usha. I learnt a lot from my profession diligence, nuanced discipline, steadfastness, and above all, fast and precise work. These now help me in pursuing my passion. Dr Ushas upcoming exhibition will be inaugurated by her good friend, Wing Commander S K G Nair (retd), who will do the honours in a very informal manner. If celebrities come to inaugurate, it becomes more of a publicity gimmick. I responded to a friends request to conduct the exhibition. Yet, to me, this is a very personal space. I wish to share it with those who want to be in the same space. The paintings selected too are that way, she says. The slow pace Dr Usha has tuned herself to defines most of her paintings, which are classified into collections such as Sunset, Waterscapes, Divine Presence, Fields, and Light and Shade. There are works in different media too watercolour, pastels, acrylic, etc. 'A Taste of the Past' I am an untrained painter who learnt the colour choreography all by myself. Training would have stripped me of my instinct. The instinct, I feel, is natures way of connecting to me, she says, pointing to her first oil pastel, painted at the Vazhalikkavu Bhagavathi Temple at Thozhupadam in Thrissur. I painted with a sling because I had injured my arm in a fall. But the entire scene created in me an undying urge to paint. I titled it Ignite Your Soul to show how the call from the soul cannot be ignored.
Spot slots cut to 5,000 to manage pilgrims rush in Sabarimala
PATHANAMTHITTA/KOCHI : A drastic reduction in spot bookings and tighter restrictions on forest routes were among the measures taken by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) on Wednesday to manage the unprecedented rush of devotees that caught authorities unawares and led to complete system collapse in Sabarimala on Tuesday, the second day of the Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season. The decision follows strong remarks by the Kerala High Court earlier in the day. Cautioning there was a real chance a catastrophe could occur at the hill shrine, the HC ordered assessment of Sabarimalas carrying capacity. The TDB capped spot booking to 5,000 pilgrims per day, from the earlier 20,000, until Monday, and said only 5,000 pilgrims would be allowed via forest routes, including Pullumedu. The first unit of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also took charge at Sannidhanam. The 30-member team from the 4th Battalion of NDRFs Thrissur Regional Response Centre has been stationed along critical stretches near the Sopanam and along the Nadapanthal. Seven more booking counters were started at Nilakkal, with the base camp also serving as the first point of restriction. Preparations should have started six months ago Two hundred more staff members have been deployed at the queue complex, and another 200 will be added to manage toilet cleaning and sanitation-related work, TDB president K Jayakumar said. As many as 2,98,310 pilgrims have offered darshan at the shrine till the start of the pilgrimage season on November 16. ADGP S Sreejith said all pilgrims reaching on the date allotted in their virtual queue pass will be able to offer darshan. The HC had rapped the TDB for lapses in preparations. A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar observed that only a controlled number of devotees should be permitted entry. Noting that the arrangements for the pilgrimage season should have started six months earlier, the bench orally remarked that though the TDB is responsible for ensuring all facilities are in place, there appears to be no coordination. Measures taken for Crowd Management Spot booking capped at 5,000 pilgrims per day until Monday. Considering rush at Sannidhanam, this can be raised to 10,000 Max 5,000 pilgrims allowed on forest routes Virtual queue cap continues at 70,000 devotees a day. NDRF unit deployed at Sannidhanam 7 new booking counters opened at Nilakkal 200 staff deployed at queue complexes; 200 more to be engaged for cleaning toilets and sanitation-related works
Engineering students develop software to track EVMs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two engineering students have developed a software to track the movement of more than half a lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) to and from polling stations in the local body elections. Named EVM Track, the software was developed by Ashin C Anil and Jeswin Sunsi, third-year BTech students at SRM Institute, Chennai, under the supervision of State Election Commissions EVM consultant L Suryanarayanan. Ashin hails from Thiruvananthapuram, while Jeswin is a native of Thrissur. The software was formally launched by State Election Commissioner A Shajahan on Tuesday. EVMs that includes 50,693 ballot units and 1.37 lakh control units have already been subjected to first-level checks and are ready to use.
Survivor turns author: Satyan Warriers CanSwar aims to end cancer taboos in Kerala
THRISSUR: Even though there are numerous campaigns across the country sharing survival stories of people diagnosed with cancer, in Kerala it still remains a taboo to talk about the disease. Whether within extended families or among close friends, there is an aversion to speak openly about cancer diagnosis and treatment. For Satyan Warrier, an IT professional residing in Athani, this became clear when he had to face the situation himself. This experience inspired him to write the book CanSwar , detailing his diagnosis, treatment and survival of a life-threatening disease. It was in December 2015 that Satyan first consulted a doctor in Bengaluru after suffering from fever. Though he took the medicines prescribed by the doctor, the fever didnt subside and dengue was initially suspected. Blood tests revealed a low platelet count, prompting further investigations. When indications of a possible cancer appeared, Satyan resigned from his job in Bengaluru to pursue advanced medical care. After consultations, the diagnosis at Aster Medcity confirmed Stage IV Aggressive T-cell Lymphoma. T-cells are usually produced in our bone marrow, but in my case, they were turning cancerous at the production stage and invading other cells in my body. Hence, the only practical solution was a bone marrow transplantation. However, we did explore potential treatments in the US, where clinical trials for new medicines were underway, he said. However, he decided not to experiment with unproven therapies and chose to proceed with bone marrow transplantation. Fortunately, his twin brother Vijayan was a perfect donor match. After undergoing chemotherapy, Satyan returned to life following the bone marrow transplantation procedure. The chemotherapy just before the surgery was too intense. To mentally prepare for the transplant while enduring such harsh treatment was an incredibly difficult phase. Yet, when I look back, I feel confident, he said. Life gradually returned to normal, but one day Satyan had to be admitted to the hospital again with a fever. It was an eye-opener for me. Now I respect my body and lead a life taking care of myself. From my eating habits to my daily routine, surviving cancer has transformed me as a person, Satyan added. Satyan wrote the book with the aim of encouraging people to talk openly about cancer survival and treatment. He began writing about his journey while undergoing treatment in the hospital. Even though his handwriting was shaky and the process was difficult, he was determined to document his thoughtscontinuing to write even on days when getting out of bed was a struggle. I had decided to write about my experience during the treatment itself. After surviving, many people began sharing their journeys with me. Yet, few are willing to talk about it publicly. Some feel ashamed of their illness, while others are simply afraid. This mindset must change, people should feel free to share their experiences, Satyan opined. The book captures his thoughts, experiences and the ways he fought back the disease. Satyan was diagnosed with a rare form of T-cell Lymphoma with fewer than 1,000 reported cases worldwide. It is the first such case reported in India. As per Dr Arun Warrier, Senior Consultant (Medical Oncology) at Aster Medcity, even diagnosing such a condition was challenging.
56-day-long murajapam festival to begin November 20
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Murajapam-Lakshadeepam festival, held once in every six years, will begin at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple on Thursday (November 20). The inclusion of Atharva Veda in the murajapam, the ritualistic chanting of vedas, will be a novelty this year. The 56-day-long festival involves the recital of vedas culminating with the Lakshadeepam, lighting of one lakh lamps, on the Makar-Sankranti which falls on January 14. In the past editions, only Rigveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda were recited. Vedic scholars from across the country attend the event which was started during the reign of King Marthanda Varma. This year monks from the Sringeri, Uduppi, Uttaradi and Kanchi Kamakodi mutts and Chinna Jeeyar Swami from Hyderabad will participate. Keralite scholars include Azhvanchery Thambrakkal, vadhyans from Tirunavaya and Thrissur, vaidiks from Kaimukku, Pandal, Kaplingad and Cherumukku. During murajapam, vedas are chanted in seven cycles or muras, each lasting for eight days. Each cycle ends with a colourful procession named muraseeveli in which the priests carry the festival idols of Lord Sree Padmanabhaswamy, Lord Narasimha Swamy and Lord Thiruvambadi Sreekrishna Swami in decorated vahanas. The procession will be accompanied by Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma, head of the erstwhile Travancore royal family. Poojas will be led by thantris Govindan Namboodiripad, Pradeep Namboodiripad, Satheesan Namboodiripad and Saji Namboodiripad. Vedamandapas will be set up on the four nadas of the temple. Pushpanjali Swamiyar Oravankara Achutha Bharathi will light the deepam on the vedamandapam on the east nada at 4.30pm on Wednesday, temple administration committee members said on Tuesday. Cultural programmes will be held during the festival days. Telugu actor Rana Daggubati will inaugurate the cultural programmes titled Vande Padmanabham at 5pm on Thursday.
Thrissur Revenue District School Arts Festival begins at Irinjalakuda
Shifting loyalties continue to shake up Thrissur ahead of local body elections
Rebels emerge across parties as denial of seats and internal rifts trigger mass resignations. What began as sporadic rumblings of discontent has now grown into a district-wide wave of political realignments, setting the stage for one of Thrissurs most unpredictable and fiercely contested local body elections in recent memory
Official Suspended For Sharing Video Of Dead Deer At Newly Opened Kerala Zoo
A week after at least 10 deer were killed by stray dogs at Kerala's newly inaugurated Puthur Zoological Park in Thrissur due to a major security lapse, the state's Forest Department suspended an official for allegedly sharing footage of the dead deer
Equal representation drive demands action, not excuses, from Keralas political leadership
State convention of Thulya Pradinithya Prasthanam organised at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall in Thrissur
Back-to-back exits haunt the Congress in Thrissur
Two district-level leaders quit the party, unhappy with denial of party ticket in the local body election. Another leader resigns from all party positions
Rajeev Chandrasekhar launches NDAs Kerala local body poll campaign in Thrissur
Colourful rally marks Childrens Day in Thrissur
Childrens president, prime minister, and speaker take part in festivities. A special stamp released on the occasion
LDF councillor joins BJP in Thrissur Corporation
Sheeba Babu will contest as BJP candidate from Krishnapuram division
Kozhikode Mayor Beena Philip and Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar express a desire to return to organisational roles in their parties, while Thrissur Mayor M.K. Varghese hints at political ambitions. Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran also appears to be primed for a larger political assignment
10 Deer Killed By Stray Dogs At Newly Opened Kerala Zoo
A major security lapse was reported at Kerala's newly inaugurated Puthur Zoological Park in Thrissur, where at least 10 deer were killed by stray dogs.
SIR: Thrissur District Election Office collaborates with food delivery partners
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Ernakulam will go to polls on December 9. Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode on December 11
Kumki elephants brought in to drive away rogue tusker in Kerala's Thrissur
The wild elephant has been frequently straying into Irumpupalam region at Kuthiran for past two weeks, creating panic among residents
Woman with muscular dystrophy to appear for equivalency exam at home
Permission given considering the 32-year-old Thrissur natives case as a special one, says Sivankutty
Remand prisoner escapes police custody in Thrissur
Kerala State Awards 2025: From Mammootty to Shamla Hamza, here's all the winners!
The Kerala State Film Awards 2025 brought together Malayalam cinemas finest, honouring talent, creativity, and powerful storytelling. The event, also known as State Film Awards 2025, was filled with anticipation and excitement as industry icons gathered in Thrissur.
Rajan exhorts all to be part of the journey towards Nava Keralam
Minister inaugurates the Vision 2031 Cultural Seminar organised by the Department of Culture in Thrissur
BJP invites Thrissur Mayor M.K. Varghese to its fold
Mayor had said that he would not contest the upcoming elections or campaign for the Left Democratic Front. He also said he was open to working with those who shared his vision
Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cherian will announce the awards for 2024 at a press conference in Thrissur at 3.30 p.m.
Railway Ministry approves Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Ernakulam, via Coimbatore
The train will stop at Krishnarajapuram, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur, Says the Railway Board communication
Over 10,000 families get land titles across the State
Revenue Minister K. Rajan inaugurates a State-level Pattaya Mela in Thrissur. A total of 1,349 pattayams distributed across Thrissur district and 225 handed over personally by the Minister at the Town Hall.
Vision 2031 cultural seminar in Thrissur on November 3
Discussions to focus on Keralas secular, humanist and cultural vision for the future
Cultural fete of Bhavans schools in Thrissur on November 1
Higher secondary students from 25 Bhavans schools across the State will compete in 23 on-stage and off-stage events across 15 venues. Around 450 students will participate.
CM opens countrys first designer zoo and Asias second largest at Puthur
Built on 338 acres, the world-class Thrissur Zoological park redefines the idea of a zoo from cages to coexistence. Designed by Australian architect Jon Coe, the park boasts nine zones that showcase diverse ecosystems.
Old Facebook post on Kochi Metro link to Thrissur resurfaces as Suresh Gopi denies earlier claim
Never said AIIMS will come to Thrissur, says Suresh Gopi
He clarifies that he never promised a metro rail service forThrissur
Thiruvananthapuram makes a big splash at State School Sports Meet.
Thiruvananthapuram garnered 649 points to finish way ahead of Thrissur (149 ponts) and Ernakulam (133) in the points table.
Isolated heavy showers to continue in Kerala; yellow alert for six districts on October 26
Yellow alert for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Thrissur
Rains Batter Kerala, Trigger Mudslides and Dam Alerts
Heavy downpour continues across Palakkad, Idukki, and Thrissur; authorities open dam shutters as water levels reach danger marks
Rains continue in Kerala, causing mudslides, rise in water levels of dams
Kerala is experiencing heavy rainfall. This has caused dam water levels to rise in Palakkad, Idukki, and Thrissur districts. Authorities have opened dam shutters. Tamil Nadu will release surplus water from Periyar Dam. This will increase the water discharge significantly. Minor mudslides have also occurred in Thiruvananthapuram.
CM to inaugurate Thrissur Zoological Park on Oct. 28
Thrissur declared free from extreme poverty
A total of 5,013 families in Thrissur district have now been officially declared free from extreme poverty
State governments stand on PM SHRI scheme a disgrace, says AISF
AISF stages protest in Thrissur against the State signing the PM SHRI agreement
Celebrating the theme Diversity and Resistance, the week-long festival will showcase over 52 films
Video: Teen Jumps Signal, Hits Senior Citizen With Bike In Kerala, Arrested
A 19-year-old man was arrested after his two-wheeler knocked down a 68-year-old woman when he tried to jump the traffic signal, in Kerala's Thrissur last week.
Hours-long traffic snarl-up brings Amballur in Thrissur to a grinding halt
Congestion on the national highway, which began in the afternoon, persisted well into the evening, leaving hundreds of motorists frustrated and exhausted
BBA student in Bengaluru ends life allegedly due to harassment by her senior
Based on the complaint filed by Abdul Nazeer, a civil contractor at Virajpet in Kodagu district, the Bagaluru police have registered a case of abetment to suicide against the accused, identified as Refaas, a native of Thrissur, Kerala., for further investigation.
Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple Has A New Chief Priest
Prasad E D from Thrissur has been selected on Saturday as the new 'melsanthi' (chief priest) of the famed Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
Sabarimala Temple gets new 'melsanthi'
Prasad E D from Thrissur has been appointed as the new chief priest of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple ahead of the annual pilgrimage season. Manu Namboothiri M G will serve as the melsanthi for the Malikappuram shrine. The selections were made through a traditional draw conducted by children from the Pandalam royal family.
Petitioners disappointed at HC decision to lift toll collection ban at Paliyekkara
Petitioners plan to explore scope of moving Supreme Court and say suspension period had been a lesson for both the National Highways Authority of India and the contractor. The order came even as the Thrissur-Angamaly stretch of the NH continues to witness heavy congestion
Customs to release seized cars of Dulquer, Thrissur native
Ouseppachan, Fakruddin Ali share stage with BJP leader B. Gopalakrishnan at Thrissur rally
Film composer praises national unity; BJP leader invites them to join party and contest Assembly polls
Water bottle row: Kerala High Court sets aside KSRTC drivers transfer
The transfer (from Kottayam to Thrissur) can only be treated as a colourable exercise of power, a Bench of Justice N. Nagaresh said and allowed a petition filed by Jaimon Joseph
Kerala is set to witness a new approach in zoo management. Ending the traditional practice of confining animals in enclosures, Thrissur Zoological Park, which will be opened soon, will offer animals a dignified and near-natural life. Mini Muringatheri visits the park to get a view of the facilities there
CBI probe essential on Sabarimala gold theft, says Kodikunnil Suresh
Congress leader lashes out at CPI(M) and LDF government during Vishwasa Samrakshana Yatra in Thrissur district
Exit of southwest monsoon, onset of northeast monsoon likely to be on October 16
Orange alert issued for Idukki and Kottayam on Thursday; yellow alert in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Malappuram
Exit of southwest monsoon, onset of northeast monsoon likely to be on October 16
Orange alert issued for Idukki and Kottayam on Thursday; yellow alert in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Malappuram
