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Kerala: When cultural icons clashed at the hustings

KOCHI: Elections in Kerala have been fought over ideologies but the political battle often stoops to mud-slinging. But the state had the opportunity to witness a battle of two writers, both titans of the literary world, in 1962. The Left had fielded renowned writer and Jnanpith laureate S K Pottekatt as an independent in the Thalassery Lok Sabha constituency, and after a long search, the Congress brought in writer and orator Sukumar Azhikode to retain the constituency. It was the second contest for Pottekkatt who had unsuccessfully contested the first election after the state formation in 1957. In his maiden contest, Pottekkatt was trounced by Congress M K Jinachandran who won with a slender margin of 1,382 votes. Though Sukumar was my friend then, I didnt campaign for him, said critic M K Sanoo, recalling the epic battle. But I remember both the Left and the Congress had lined up many writers to campaign for Pottekkatt and Sukumar. But Sukumar had a sharp tongue, which created many foes. One of those days, Pottekatt told me that each time Sukumar addresses a rally he would get 5,000 additional votes. As expected, he lost the election by a huge margin. The tryst with politics proved a costly experiment for Azhikode, losing by 64,950 votes. Soon, he distanced himself from the Congress and remained a fierce critic of the party till his last breath. Later, the CPI had considered fielding him in Thrissur, but I advised him to keep away from politics. I also told former chief minister Achutha Menon that Sukumar wasnt the right candidate, recalled Sanoo. But Azhikode was not the only writer who burnt his fingers in the electoral cauldron. In a bid to capture the Thiruvananthapuram, the CPI had fielded Jnanpith poet O N V Kurup in 1989. Despite his support in the social circles, ONV lost to Congress A Charles by a margin of 50,913. Writer Madhavikutty, who later converted to Islam and adopted the name Kamala Surayya, also had once contested the Lok Sabha election from Thiruvananthapuram. She had formed a party and contested the election in 1984. But her entry into politics did not make any impact. She got only 1,786 votes. Thalassery Lok Sabha constituency 1962 S K Pottekkatt (Independent) 2,16,836, 58.81% K T Sukumaran (INC) 1,51,886, 41.19% Margin: 64,950 1957 M K Jinachandran (INC) 1,10,114, 37.15% S K Pottekkatt (Independent) 1,08,732, 36.68% Margin:1,382

The New Indian Express 28 Mar 2024 8:03 am

Kerala LS polls: Cross & knots

KOCHI: As the Lok Sabha election heat simmers in Kerala, all eyes are on how the Christian community which constitutes 18.4% or 61.41 lakh of the states population will vote. What are the issues that influence them? Will the community get closer to the BJP this time? If not, will it be a vote en masse for the LDF or rally behind the Congress-led UDF? While all political parties are leaving no stone unturned to woo the community, the task is easier said than done. The main reason being that Christians are not one single bloc. The community comprises various denominations Syro-Malabar Catholics and Latin Catholics, Jacobite/Orthodox Syrians, Mar Thoma Syrians, Church of South India (CSI), Pentecost/Church of God members and Dalit Christians. And, each segment has its own interests, issues, and demands. Traditionally, the Syro-Malabar Catholics, who make up 23.46 lakh (38.20% of Christians in the state), are considered close to the Congress. However, things have been gradually changing over the past two decades. UDF candidate Shashi Tharoor during Palm Sunday celebrations in Thrivananthapuram In contrast, the Jacobite segment of the Malankara Church lean towards the ruling Left front. The Jacobite Syrian Christian community has 4,83,000 members, and the Orthodox Syrian community about 4,94,000. Together, they number 9,77,000, according to a 2016 paper by K C Zachariah of Centre for Development Studies (CDS). The Christian community is not a monolithic block, nor were communal sects in their attitude to issues and in their outlooks, explains Fr Paul Thelakat, former spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Church. Pluralism has been an important component of the Christian make up. It has resisted the herd mentality. The declining influence of the Congress over the Church, especially among Syro-Malabar Catholics, is attributed to several factors. Several years ago, the Church and its flock considered communists an anathema. Voting for Hammer-Sickle-Star (CPM party symbol) was a strict no. But, it has completely changed now, points out Congress veteran Prof. K V Thomas, who is now LDF governments special representative in Delhi. Over the years, the Left front has made significant inroads into the Christian community, while the Congress influence has eroded. NDA candidate Suresh Gopi at Palm Sunday celebrations of the Latin Church in Thrissur A major reason for this is the absence of leaders such as Oommen Chandy and K M Mani, who had special rapport with the church leaders. Writer Paul Zachariah, a keen observer of Christianity in Kerala, explains that its not just about the leaders religion. He points out the sway former Congress chief minister K Karunakaran held over the Church leadership and the community. So, the rapport factor has nothing to do with the religion of the leaders. Among the current lot, only Ramesh Chennithala (former opposition leader) has some sort of acceptance within the Church and its leadership, he adds. Prof. Thomas, who is now acting as a bridge between the Left government and the Church leadership in Kerala, says theres a vacuum in Congress leadership in Kerala. What about the BJP? The rise in concerns over jihad among a section of the community, viewed along with Prime Minister Narendra Modis frequent meetings with Church leaders, seems to indicate that the gap between the saffron party and Christians is getting bridged brick by brick. Some [Christian] leaders who have moved to the BJP are mere fortune hunters, comments Zachariah. According to Fr Thelakat, the BJP knows well that, in order to win in Kerala, they need the support of either of the minority groups. Christian fundamentalism, too, is on the rise. There are clear anti-Islamic feelings in certain parts of Kerala, often based on mimetic rivalry emanating from socio-economic and demographic reasons, he adds. Meanwhile, in the north and northeast, Christians are persecuted in the name of conversion. While the equation sounds complex, this election will certainly be closely watched to analyse if the Christian community is, indeed, warming up to the BJP in Kerala. That would be a paradigm shift in the state. If so, which will be the constituencies where the BJP gains? If not, who will be the beneficiary LDF or UDF? We will know the answers on June 4. Christian population in Kerala Total: 61.41 lakh Catholics: 37.44 lakh (61% of total Christians in Kerala -- 23.46 lakh is Syro-Malabar and 9.33 lakh Latin Catholics) Jacobite Syrian Christian: 4,83,000 Orthodox Syrian: 494,000 (together 977,000) Mar Thoma Syrians: 405,000 CSI: 274,000 Pentecost/Church of God: 214,000 Dalit Christians: 160,000 ISSUES THAT CONCERN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Rise in number of deaths due to wild animal attacks in Wayanad, Idukki, Kannur where large number of Christian settlers Syro-Malabar Catholics Low prices of rubber and spices mostly Syro-Malabar Catholics Depleting fish resources fishers mostly Latin catholics Jacobite Syrian Christian loss of large number of churches to Orthodox The district with the largest number of Syro-Malabar Catholic Christians is Kottayam (13.4%), followed by Idukki (12.9%) Districts with a large number of Syro-Malankara Catholics are Ernakulam (16.7%) and Kozhikode (13.0%). Latin Catholics, the principal district of residence is Ernakulam (24.4%) Source: Religious Denominations of Kerala by K C Zachariah (2016)

The New Indian Express 28 Mar 2024 7:38 am

Kerala Kalamandalam Opens Doors to Boys too to Learn Mohiniyattam

Thiruvananthapuram : In a historic decision, the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University on Wednesday decided to allow boys to take admission in the Mohiniyattam course which was now restricted to girls. The decision was taken at the administrative council meeting of the university in Thrissur. As per the decision, which was taken unanimously by the council, admission to Mohiniyattam will now be gender-neutral. With this decision, boys from Class 8 to post-graduation will get the opportunity to learn Mohiniyattam at the Cultural University. The council also decided to start courses in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and theatre and performance. The curriculum committee will decide on the curriculum for the above courses. Kerala Kalamandalam founded in 1930, is the premiere public institution in the country for the preservation and promotion of Kerala's traditional performing arts. The Kerala Kalamandalam, which had earlier allowed entry of women in Kathakali, had not opened the doors for boys to pursue Mohiniyattam. After the casteist and racist slur on R L V Ramakrishnan by Kalamandalam Satyabhama (junior), the student union of Kalamandalam arranged a stage for the artiste to perform on the campus. Soon after the initiative of the Students Union, the administrative council decided to turn Kerala Kalamandalam into a fully gender neutral space. Earlier Kerala Kalamandalam Chancellor Mallaika Sarabhai had given the green signal to the institution to open Mohiniyattom kalari to boys. Subsequently, the vice chancellor proposed at the administrative council meeting which was unanimously accepted by all members. Boys will be admitted for the Mohiniyattam course from the next admission period. The Human Rights Commission and the SC/ST Commission had registered cases against Sathyabhama in connection with the casteist slur. Ramakrishnan who is the younger brother of noted actor late Kalabhavan Mani, meanwhile has lodged a formal complaint with the police against Sathyabhama for insulting him with casteist slur. A major controversy had erupted in Kerala with noted classical dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama (junior) making a humiliating racist attack on an accomplished Dalit artiste R V L Ramakrishnan. In an interview given on a YouTube channel, Sathyabhama stated that it was annoying to see men performing Mohiniyattam. Ramakrishnan has the colour of a crow. People who perform Mohiniyattam should have the attractive figure of a Mohini. This man (Ramakrishnan) has the colour of a crow. Mohiniyattam is an art form that has to be performed with one's feet apart. Nothing is as disgusting as to see a man performing Mohiniyattam with his legs crossed. In my opinion, if Mohiniyattam has to be performed by men, then they should be extremely good-looking. There are good-looking boys too. But this man (Ramakrishnan) performing Mohiniyttam will not be tolerated even by God or his mother, she said in the interview. Sathyabhama made the highly derogatory remarks against Ramakrishnan who bagged the first rank in MA Mohiniyattam from M G University. He was the top scorer in MPhil in performing arts from Kerala Kalamandalam and completed his PhD in Mohiniyattam at the institute.

Deccan Chronicle 27 Mar 2024 11:45 pm

Kerala Governor appoints interim VCs for two state universities

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 27 (PTI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, acting as Chancellor of universities in the state, on Wednesday appointed interim officiating Vice Chancellors (VC) of Sreenarayanaguru Open University and the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The VC of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad was suspended by Khan on March 2 in connection with the death of 20-year-old Sidharthan JS, a student there, on February 18. The Governor had said that there was gross dereliction of duty on the part of the VC. Subsequently, P C Saseendran was appointed as the interim VC of the university. However, he too resigned earlier this week after he withdrew his own order reinstating 33 students who were suspended in connection with Sidharathan's death. He had withdrawn the order following the intervention of the Governor. Khan, on Tuesday, said that he has accepted Saseendran's resignation. Now, Anil K S -- Professor of Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur -- has been appointed as the officiating VC of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, a notification issued by the Raj Bhavan said. Professor Anil shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the VC with immediate effect until further orders, it said. Professor Jagathy V P, Director and senior professor of School of Management Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi -- has been tasked with exercising the powers and performing the duties of the VC of the Sreenarayanaguru Open University, in addition to his normal duties, with immediate effect, a separate notification issued by the Raj Bhavan said. Professor Jagathy was given the new charge following the resignation of P M Mubarak Pasha as the VC of the open university. Pasha's resignation was accepted on March 25 subject to the proceedings pending before the Governor's office regarding the legality of his appointment as VC, according to a letter sent by the Raj Bhavan to the university. PTI HMP HMP SS Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team

Deccan Chronicle 27 Mar 2024 2:36 pm

Kerala LS polls: Back-to-back bang-bang!

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two recent elections stood out distinctively in Keralas political history for the dynamic voting patterns that deviated from the norm. They were wave elections. After the 1980s, when the UDF and LDF were formed, in most Lok Sabha elections, the UDF always had an edge, except in 2004. In the case of assembly elections, the pendulum system was a given. Shocking landslides were a rarity. However, the April 2019 parliament election and the 2021 state assembly election, Kerala witnessed back-to-back stunners. The 2019 general elections came after the flood of the century in 2018. While some pinned the blame on the then LDF government, others lauded it for the way it managed the crisis. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhis candidature from Wayanad, along with the impression created about the Congress returning to power at the Centre, tilted the balance in UDFs favour. Then, of course, the then LDF governments stand on the Supreme Court verdict on womens entry into the Sabarimala temple led to polarisation of the Hindu votes against the Left. For the first time after the Nilakkal protest in 1982, the Sangh Parivar, which led a strong protest against the state governments haste in implementing the SC verdict, saw a golden opportunity. But its hopes were dashed. The possibility of a Congress comeback at the Centre drove Muslim and Christian votes in favour of the UDF. Upsetting the BJPs calculations, a large chunk of Hindu votes also swayed in its favour, helping it win 19 of the 20 parliament seats. An unprecedented sweep in Kerala. After two years, a belligerent UDF took on the LDF in the assembly election held in May 2021. The LDF appeared to be on the backfoot. The sensational case over gold smuggling via diplomatic channels and the consequent arrest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans principal secretary M Sivasankar by the ED had left the LDF shaken. Add to that, other scandals and allegations over mismanagement of the 2018 flood relief and the pandemic. The age-old anti-incumbency factor seemed to be on the boil. The UDF eyed an easy walkover. However, the LDF surprised poll pundits with an impressive comeback in the local self-government elections, held soon after the general election. The UDF and the BJP were dismayed. Kerala Lok Sabha polls: Ping! The social media war is on Sweet poll o mine: Kozhikode chocolatier crafts candidate-themed treats for election season The UDF still banked its hopes on the pendulum factor in electoral politics of Kerala, where the two mainstream fronts came to power in alternate intervals. That, however, would not be the case. The LDF governments Covid crisis management, along with the distribution of free ration kits, seemed to retain voter confidence. With the anti-incumbency factor fizzling out, the LDF created history by retaining power for a consecutive second term by any government except the Congress-CPI government led by C Achutha Menon in 1977. The LDF was reelected with 99 of the total of 140 seats up by 8 from its 2016 tally. Family matters K Muraleedharan: Son of former chief minister K Karunakaran, Muraleedharan is a four-time MP and two-time MLA. The Congress has fielded him in Thrissur, his fathers home turf. He was elected as an MP from Kozhikode in 1989, 1991, 1999, and Vadakara in 2019. He was elected to the state assembly from Vattiyoorkavu in 2011 and 2016. Rahul Gandhi: Son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul is contesting for the second time in Wayanad. In the 2019 general election, he contested from Amethi, his then sitting seat, and Wayanad. He lost to Smriti Irani of the BJP in Amethi, a traditional fief of the Gandhi family, but won in Wayanad with a record margin. Hibi Eden: Son of the late Congress leader and MP George Eden, Hibi was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019 while he was representing Ernakulam in the state assembly. He replaced former Union minister K V Thomas, and is now seeking a second term in Parliament from Ernakulam. Francis George: Francis George, son of Kerala Congress founder K M George, has been elected twice as MP from Idukki. In 2020, he merged his Janadhipathya Kerala Congress, with the P J Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress. He is now seeking a mandate in Kottayam as a candidate of the UDF. A Vijayaraghavan: A former MP and member of the CPM politburo, Vijayaraghavan is the husband of Higher Education Minister R Bindu. Having previously represented Palakkad in Parliament (1989), he is vying to reclaim the seat, which the party lost in 2019. Anil Antony: Son of former chief minister and veteran Congress leader A K Antony, Anil is contesting as a BJP candidate in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency. Previously a leader of the Congress IT cell, he joined the BJP last year. Thushar Vellappally: Thushar Vellappally is the son of Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of the SNDP Yogam. Thushar is contesting in the Kottayam LS seat as a candidate of the NDA. Thushar is the president of BDJS and serves as the vice-president of the SNDP. In 2019, he contested from Wayanad. Bridging the Gulf Congress leader Shafi Parambil, the UDF candidate in Vadakara, is in Qatar to campaign among the Keralites in the country. Former League leader and the LDF candidate in Ponnani K S Hamsa will leave for the UAE within two days. Besides encouraging voters to return to Kerala during polling, these visits are intended to canvas votes of their relatives back home. Raising funds, of course, is another reason, say sources.

The New Indian Express 27 Mar 2024 8:21 am

Kerala stares at heat wave-like conditions

India Meteorological Department issues alert warning of 40C in Thrissur and 39C in Kollam and Palakkad for the next five days

The Hindu 26 Mar 2024 8:34 pm

Water woes plague Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Age-old water supply networks and recurring pipe bursts have left densely-populated areas surrounding Technopark high and dry. We have been grappling with the water crisis for the past two years and the situation has worsened in the past three months, says Sumesh (name changed), a techie residing in Kazhakoottam. Sumesh, a native of Thrissur, got settled in an area close to Technopark 10 years ago. I settled here because of my job at Technopark. When I shifted here, we had a 24x7 water supply, but the situation changed two years ago. We get water like ration supply now, that too at wee hours. It has become a huge concern for families like ours. We dont have any relatives or close family here to go to when we run out of water. If the issue is not resolved, we have no option but to move from here, adds Sumesh, who is one of the many residents and techies living in the densely populated areas surrounding the Technopark and Kazhakoottam areas. Several wards in the Kazhakootam constituency, including Edavacode, Sreekaryam, Chellamangalam, Powdikonam, Chempazhanthi, Njandoorkonam, Mannanthala, Attipra, Kulathoor, Kazhakootam and Kattayikonam, have reported severe water crisis this summer. Meanwhile, the residents are up in arms against the authorities, with some associations even threatening to boycott the Lok Sabha elections demanding long-term solutions. Around 400 families under the Arasumoodu Residents Association have launched an indefinite protest. We have been protesting for the past two years. The area has undergone massive development and the density of the population has gone up. The existing water supply network has become inadequate and when they try to pump more water the concrete pipes start bursting, said association secretary S Gopakumar. He said they are seriously considering boycotting this election. Recently, the authorities started supplying water twice a week after holding a discussion. However, some families are still facing crisis. Hence, we have decided not to withdraw our protests until we get a permanent solution, he added. According to official sources, the project to lay a new pipeline network in place of the old concrete one was stalled due to cost escalation. Replacing the existing water supply network with a new one is the only solution to resolve the issue. We have roped in the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd., (ULCCS) but the project has faced 43% cost escalation and the revised estimates should get the approval from the state cabinet, said an official source. The Peroorkada-Puthukunnu-Manvila water pipe installation project was initially estimated to cost around Rs 68 crores. The project proposes the laying of a 7 km-long pipeline network for water supply. An official of KWA said the procedures to revise the estimates are tion project was initially estimated to cost around Rs 68 crores. Thiruvananthapuram residents face water woes amid KWA pipeline issues and delays in repair work

The New Indian Express 26 Mar 2024 9:16 am

Warning! Hotter days in store for Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Daytime temperatures may go up as the isolated rainfall that hit parts of the state in the past three days is likely to weaken and dry weather is expected to set in. Vellanikkara in Thrissur recorded the highest temperature of 39.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Palakkad and Punalur in Kollam recorded 39 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the highest of 40.1 degrees Celsius recorded last year. Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, said maximum temperatures will go up in the state in the coming days owing to dry weather conditions. Meanwhile, IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Alappuzha on Monday. The recent rain led to a slight rise in total rainfall received by the state this season. However, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram are yet to record any rainfall. Only Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam have lower rain deficiency this season.

The New Indian Express 25 Mar 2024 10:23 am

Sex and the State

KOCHI : Kerala is witnessing a worrying spike in cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The latest figures show a prominent prevalence, with the numbers steadily on the increase. From April 2022 to March 2023, the volume of cases was 19,323, a marked increase from 15,296 in the previous year. This fiscal, till February, the number of cases reported is 13,840. This figure is expected to cross numbers from the last fiscal once we collate the final data in April, says an official of the Kerala State AIDS Control Society. Cases of one of the STIs, gonorrhoea, which was not to be found for at least a decade, have been spotted in some patients, notes Dr K Ajithkumar, professor of dermatology, Government Medical College, Kottayam. Syphilis, the most common STI found in Kerala, has for long only come up in blood probes. But now, the disease has moved on to its next phase physical manifestations such as lesions showing up among people affected with the disease, says Dr Binesh V G, professor at Government Medical College, Thrissur. The syphilis numbers show a marked increase to 1,361 in the last fiscal from 948 in the previous one. This fiscal, till February, the cases have been 1,209. Of this, Thiruvananthapuram has 186 cases and Ernakulam, 181. Experts say the worrying part is that the data-collection mechanism is confined to just the 23 STI clinics in the state. Also, the lack of awareness about safe sexual behaviour among young adults could lead to more HIV-AIDS cases. The data we have now do not speak of the total picture, says Dr Thankachy Yamini Ramachandran, deputy director (care, support and treatment), Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS). The numbers are from just the 23 STI clinics, leaving behind the cases in the larger government hospital network and, more importantly, the private sector. Many cases go undocumented because the system in the government sector, as of now, does not have a referral mechanism to the department concerned with STIs. Medical officers at our STI clinics have clearly spotted a rise and often flagged the need for a proper record of cases, says Dr Yamini. Anson P D, managing director of Kanal, an NGO that coordinates Project X sex education project, echoes similar views. Students need to be told about STIs. Even those in schools, he says. Especially nowadays, when dating and exposure to physical relations begin early. Age-appropriate sex education should include information on the prevalence of STIs and safe sex procedures. Anson adds that he often comes across several minor students engaged in consensual relations. Most know nothing about sexual relations, except what comes to them through social media and interactions through apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, etc., which are hard to monitor by the parents, he says. The result of all these translates to unsafe sexual practices. Most of these kids do not even know that, even if by consent, physical relations under the age of 18 come under the ambit of Pocso cases. A psychologist, who requests anonymity, also highlights the need to enhance awareness among youngsters. Girls and women get affected more, as they yield to pressures from their partners, she says. Add to this the drug menace, says Dr Yamini. Young adults have a no-big-deal policy towards premarital sex. Some among them use drugs, she says. Its not the syringes that are dangerous. Even oral drugs can create an ambience where inhibitions get dropped. What follows could lead to unsafe sex and scope for STIs. We cannot tell the youngsters to do as told. But, they should make sure the decision they make is an informed one. The increasing STIs could be indicative of a rising trend in HIV-AIDS cases, too. STIs and HIV-AIDS are friends, Dr Yamini. Most HIV patients in the state, (last fiscal this was 1,183, till Feb this year, 1,094), are now in their 40s and 50s. They could have contracted the virus in their 20s. The virus takes at least five years even to manifest and when the patient comes to the hospital, battling all personal and social odds, he or she would be in the latter stages. This is why data becomes imperative, she adds. The KSACS has put forward proposals. It has urged hospitals to start recording the sexual history (risk behaviour) of patients who come for consultations, Dr Yamini says. STIs could sometimes show up as a headache. Hence, a risk behaviour history of patients could be recorded and, if found necessary, referred promptly to us. This will help us spot the cases early on. And, in the case of HIV-AIDS, ensure the patient gets medical intervention on time. Official speak A highly placed source in the health department says: The government is planning better coordination between medical departments for data collection and early detection of the STIs We will be using social media and mass media campaigns along with awareness sessions among vulnerable groups. In schools and colleges too, there will be sessions on the need to take care of STIs and the ways to do it. As part of Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme, the government plans to train professionals to be better aware of the symptoms of the STIs WHO Speak The problem STIs have a direct impact on sexual and reproductive health They can increase the risk of HIV Mother-to-child transmission can result in neonatal death, low birth weight, sepsis, neonatal conjunctivitis and congenital deformities HPV infection causes cervical and other cancers Aims by 2030 To reduce cases of 4 STIs among adults from 374 million to less than 150 million worldwide Reduce HIV and viral hepatitis cases from 4.5 million to less than 500,000 Increase in the number of countries validated for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis, HIV, or hepatitis B from 15 to 100 Reduce deaths from STIs, HIV, and viral hepatitis from 2.3 million to less than 1 million Cut down new cases of cancer due to STIs, HIV, and viral hepatitis from 1.2 million to less than 700,000 Prevention When used correctly and consistently, condoms offer one of the most effective protection against STIs, inlcuding HIV However, condoms do not offer protection against syphilis or genital herpes Vaacination are available for two viral STIs hepatitis B and HPV

The New Indian Express 25 Mar 2024 5:41 am

Man sets himself on fire in petrol bunk, dies

THRISSUR: A man who set himself on fire in a petrol bunk at Irinjalakuda after buying petrol last evening, died early on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Shanavas, 43, a native of Kattungachira. As per the primary reports, family issues were behind the suicide. He bought petrol from the fuel station at around 8 pm on Saturday. When he set himself on fire after pouring petrol, a local person intervened immediately and used the fire extinguisher which averted a major tragedy, said officials.

The New Indian Express 24 Mar 2024 5:28 pm

BJP will win 4-5 seats in Kerala in LS polls: ''Metroman'' Sreedharan

BJP will win 4-5 seats in Kerala in LS polls: ''Metroman'' Sreedharan 'Metroman' E Sreedharan on Sunday said that the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would definitely come back to power at the Centre and that the saffron party would win at least four-five seats in Kerala in the Lok Sabha polls. He asserted that BJP candidate Suresh Gopi would surely win from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the state and Union Ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan would win in Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal segments, respectively. Senior woman leader Shobha Surendran has good chances in Alappuzha constituency, the Metroman added. Sreedharan, who had unsuccessfully contested as a BJP candidate from Palakkad constituency in Kerala's assembly polls, also made it clear that he has no plans to come back to active politics due to his advanced age of 94 years. ''The Narendra Modi government will definitely come back to power at the national level after the polls. In Kerala also, the party will win at least 4-5 seats. The victory is 100 per cent sure in Thrissur constituency,'' he said. Sreedharan told reporters that he would not contest from Palakkad assembly constituency even if there is a bypoll as sitting MLA Shafi Parambil is contesting in the Lok Sabha polls from Vatakara. Polling will be held in all of Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha constituencies on April 26.

devdiscourse 24 Mar 2024 4:22 pm

EC warns LDF candidate Sunil Kumar against using photo of his with actor Tovino Thomas for campaign

Seizing the opportunity, the BJP-led NDA early this week filed a complaint with the district Collector, who is also the returning officer for the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, against the Left candidate for allegedly violating the poll code.

The Economic Times 23 Mar 2024 7:05 pm

Kerala Human Rights Commission initiates case on racist remarks by Mohiniyattam dancer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission here on Friday initiated a case against Kalamandalam Satyabhama junior, a senior Mohiniyattam dancer, over her controversial racist remarks allegedly against a fellow artist on a YouTube channel. State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) member V K Beena Kumari directed the Thrissur district police chief and the government's Secretary for Culture to look into the statement by the dancer and submit a report within 15 days, a statement issued by the Commission said. The action was taken by the Commission on its own based on media reports, it said, adding that a human rights activist Guinness Madasamy had also filed a complaint on the same issue. As the video of the racial remarks by Satyabhama went viral on social media and was aired on news channels on Thursday, noted Mohiniyattam dancer Dr RLV Ramakrishnan had alleged that her comments were directed at him, and threatened to initiate legal action against her. The video and her subsequent statements defending what she had said were severely criticized by many on social media, cutting across political lines. Ministers Saji Cheriyan, R Bindu, Veena George, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan, and BJP state chief K Surendran, among others, had condemned the statement. The Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier public institution that preserves Kerala's artistic heritage, had also condemned Sathyabhama's remarks. 'Complexion similar to a crow': Racist remarks against Mohiniyattam artist triggers row in Kerala On Friday, Sreekumaran Thampi -- a renowned Indian lyricist, music director, Director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema -- said that she was not eligible to carry the moniker 'Kalamandalam Satyabhama' which was a well-respected name. Kalamandalam Satyabhama was one of the biggest gurus of Mohiniyattam seen in Kerala. She (Kalamandalam Satyabhama junior) was a student under the actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama. This lady should not have taken that name, Thampi told a news channel. The actual Kalamandalam Satyabhama was an Indian classical dancer, teacher, and choreographer, known for her performances and scholarship in Mohiniyattam. She died in September 2015 at the age of 77. Meanwhile, actor-cum-politician Suresh Gopi, who is contesting in the coming Lok Sabha polls from Thrissur as a BJP candidate, today said that on March 28 there is a 'cherup' -- a religious ritual -- at the temple frequented by his family in Kollam and he will invite Ramakrishnan to perform Mohiniyattam there if the artist was available on that date. Subsequently, Ramakrishnan was seen on TV talking on the phone with Gopi who was heard inviting the artist to perform at the temple on March 28 and the dancer accepted the invitation. In the purported interview, Sathyabhama had said, The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be 'mohini' (enchanting). He has the colour of a crow. This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner. In my opinion, men should perform Mohiniyattam only if they are that good-looking...But his looks are unbearable, she added. Sathyabhama, however, had not specified whom she was referring to. Kerala society still weighed down by casteism, racism

The New Indian Express 22 Mar 2024 12:40 pm

Kerala: State Human Rights Commission condemns Mohiniyattam dance teacher's remark, registers case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state human rights commission registered a suo moto case on Friday against the controversial comments by veteran Mohiniyattam dance teacher Kalamandalam Sathyabhama on the skin colour of a male dancer, in an apparent reference to RLV Ramakrishnan, an exponent of the same classical dance form. Commission member VK Beena Kumari directed the Secretary of the Cultural Affairs department and the District Police Chief, Thrissur, to examine the comments and submit a report within 15 days. The case was registered on the basis of media reports on Satyabhama's recent interview with an online channel. A human rights activist Guinness Madaswamy had also approached the Commission with a complaint on the matter. Without directly taking the name of Ramakrishnan, Sathyabhama spoke about a male dancer whose skin colour was that of a crow and suggested that he was not beautiful enough to be a Mohiniyattam performer. There is an artist in Chalakudy whose complexion is similar to the crow. Even the mother who gave birth to him cannot bear his performance. Besides Mohiniyattam is an art form where you have to keep the legs wide apart. It looks vulgar when men perform it. In my opinion men who performs Mohiniyattam should look fair, she said in the interview with a YouTube channel. She later told reporters on Thursday that she stood by her comments. Satyabhama's comments had evoked outrage and widespread condemnation from various quarters. Kerala society still weighed down by casteism, racism 'Complexion similar to a crow': Racist remarks against Mohiniyattam artist triggers row in Kerala

The New Indian Express 22 Mar 2024 11:35 am

Assam native gets twin life term for killing wife and son in Kochi

KOCHI: The Muvattupuzha Additional District and Sessions Court on Thursday awarded twin life imprisonment to an Assam native for murdering his wife and three-month-old son at Vengola near Perumbavoor in May 2015. Abdul Hakeem, 44, was living with his family in Vengola and working as a labourer when he carried out the murders. The deceased, Mehmudha, was Hakeems third wife. He killed her and their child for marrying another woman. Hakeem, who absconded after the incident, was arrested by the police from Assam in August 2015. In the absence of direct witnesses, the prosecution relied on circumstantial and scientific evidence to prove the case. As many as 25 witnesses, 48 documents and 26 material objects were examined by the court during the trial. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on Hakeem. Perumbavoor circle inspector Muhammad Riyas probed the case and filed the chargesheet at the court. Public prosecutors K S Jyothikumar and Abilash Madhu appeared for the prosecution. Hakeem was later shifted to Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur. Jyothikumar said that it is for the first time, the Muvattupuzha Additional District and Sessions court has awarded a twin life imprisonment in a criminal case.

The New Indian Express 22 Mar 2024 9:03 am

Kerala society still weighed down by casteism, racism

KOCHI: Despite claims of being progressive, caste and class discrimination and racism thrive in Keralas cultural sphere. The latest incident that reared the ugly face of society were remarks made by mohiniyattam artist Kalamandalam Satyabhama on Thursday, who tried to liken a Dalit male artist to a crow denigrating his complexion. Though R L V Ramakrishnan is a renowned artist with a PhD in mohiniyattam, he was forced to raise his voice against discrimination on multiple occasions. General society in Kerala has always been reluctant to accept artists who do not belong to the high castes. Classical art forms like kathakali, bharatanatyam, mohiniyattam, koodiyattam, chakyar koothu and Carnatic music have remained the domain for forward castes even 75 years after Independence. The practice of discrimination is prevalent more in districts north of Ernakulam, while temples in the south are more accommodating, says a Dalit artist. Kerala witnessed a major controversy when the thantri of Thriprayar Sree Rama temple denied permission for a performance of Gurudeva Mahatmyam, a kathakali play depicting the life of Sree Narayana Guru, on the temple premises. This hurt the emotions of the Ezhava community, which worships the Guru as god. Most kathakali performers belong to the Namboothiri and Nair communities and the classical dance forms continue to be a no-go zone for lower castes. Actors like Vinayakan have often revolted against the discrimination against Dalit artists in Mollywood. Actor Manikandan Achary took to the Facebook, reminding Satyabhama that the age when elites decide what others should do is over. We are humans. We are born and brought up in this land. We are artists and this is our identity. We will sing, dance and act. People who are interested in our performance will watch. The age when you decided on the role of others is over, he wrote. Casteism and racist mentality exists in Keralas society and I have experienced it over the years, says Dalit folk singer Praseetha Chalakudy. Praseetha Chalakudy I now have gained respect in society, but I earned it after much struggle. It is hard for a Dalit artist to find space in the cultural sphere. Even now people refer to my caste when hurling abuses on social media. Though I get better pay nowadays, folk singers generally are not treated on par with other artists, she said. The question is how you judge an art performance - by talent or by complexion, said political observer J Prabhash. Our belief that casteism has been wiped out from Kerala society has been proved wrong. It was lying dormant. The resurgence of Hindutva has legitimised casteist mentality. It is against this context that casteist aspersions are returning to the society. It is disgusting that people are openly endorsing caste even 75 years after Independence. This indicates where we are progressing as a society. The experience of R L V Ramakrishnan proves that the Dronacharya syndrome, where the Dalit who enters domains held by elites are punished, still exists in the society. We have to defeat this mentality, he said. 'Complexion similar to a crow': Racist remarks against Mohiniyattam artist triggers row in Kerala Most of the temples prefer percussion artists belonging to the Marar and Poduval communities to perform panchavadyam. Even Kerala Kalamandalam did not accept students from other communities to pursue percussion courses till recently. A Nair, Biju Sopanam was denied appointment by Cochin Devaswom Board as only Marar or Poduval community members can be sopanam singers. I was a sopanam artist at CDBs Cheranalloor Bhagavathy temple from 2010. But in 2012, my application for a permanent post was rejected. I continue performing on stage but many temples deny me opportunity to sing in front of the sanctum sanctorum, says Biju. Biju Sopanam Chakyar koothu artist Elavoor Anil, who also belongs to the Nair community, says major temples do not allow him to perform on their premises as he does not belong to Chakiar community, which is a sub-sect of the Brahmin community. I performed at Thiruvaloor Mahadeva temple in Ernakulam for 19 years. In 2016, the temple administration asked me to perform padakam instead of chakyar koothu. When I sought the reason, authorities said it was found in devaprasnam, the ritual to know the mind of the deity, that a chakiar should perform chakyar koothu, he said. Mansiya V P, a bharatanatyam dancer who renounced her Muslim faith fighting discrimination, struggles to find acceptance at temples as she has refused to convert to Hinduism. In March 2022, Koodalmanikyam temple in Thrissur cancelled her performance at the National Festival of Dance and Music as she failed to produce a certificate that she is a practising Hindu. A native of Malappuram district, Mansiya renounced Islam after the community denied a burial place for her mother Amina, whose daughters are all dancers. Though she married a Hindu, Koodalmanikyam temple demanded that she should declare her religion to perform on its premises. As she refused, Mansiyas programme was cancelled. Saumya Sukumaran, a Christian bharatanatyam dancer who married a Hindu was also denied the opportunity on religious grounds at Koodalmanikyam temple in 2022. Elavoor Anil Instances of caste discrimination Kalamandalam did not admit students belonging to lower castes for courses like kathakali, chenda and maddalam till the last decade Actors in Malayalam film industry like Vinayakan and Manikandan Achary struggle to survive in the caste-dominated industry 2013 Permission denied for performance of Gurudeva Charitham kathakali at Triprayar Sree Rama Temple Classical art forms like kathakali, koodiyattam, bharatanatyam, mohiniyattam, chakyar koothu remain a domain for upper castes Temples prefer chakyar koothu performers from Chakyar community, a sub-sect of Brahmins Artists belonging to Poduval and Marar communities selected to perform melam at temples Only Marar and Poduval can perform Sopana sangee-tham in front of sanctum sanctorum Dalit folk singers face discrimination at temple festivals. Payment lower than other art forms Mansiya who renounced Islam and married a Hindu denied opportunity at temples as she has refused to convert to Hinduism

The New Indian Express 22 Mar 2024 8:01 am

Suresh Gopi always welcome, says Kalamandalam Gopi Asan amidst controversy

THRISSUR: Putting an end to controversies, Kalamandalam Gopi Asan on Wednesday extended a warm welcome to actor-politician Suresh Gopi, through a Facebook post, emphasizing the bond they share as artists. Social media was abuzz after Asans son alleged how a medical doctor, who was familiar with his father, attempted to arrange a meeting for Suresh Gopi to seek the maestros blessings. He later deleted the post after it went viral. Expressing his displeasure, Asan shared that the doctors inquiry about Padma Bhushan had incensed his son. He clarified that apart from Suresh Gopi, anyone who respects him can visit him anytime. The whole controversy upset me and that is why I came up with such a post stating that Suresh Gopi can always visit me. Neither I nor my family is against it, Gopi Asan stated. Replying to reporters queries, Gopi Asan made it clear that he was a Left supporter and wanted V S Sunilkumar to win the election in Thrissur. INTERVIEW: Artist is always a slave of audience, says Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Gopi Asan

The New Indian Express 21 Mar 2024 8:26 am

Summer rain records 5-yr low in Kerala, experts say El Nino impact

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: March rains are rare, but the situation this year has so far been even more exceptional with the month registering a five-year low. Summer rain has been distressingly scant, with some districts experiencing no rainfall or significant deficits. The state has only received 1.4mm of rain so far, far below the normal 18.8 mm. Just five years ago, the average rainfall had reached 20mm, largely because of widespread rain in southern districts. Weather experts attribute the scanty rainfall to the impact of El Nio, a climate phenomenon that warms the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean. The rainfall this season has been consistently low, with even traditionally wetter southern districts experiencing significant deficits, said Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam typically receive the most rainfall in March, but this time, they have seen dramatic decreases. For example, Pathanamthitta, which usually receives 63 mm of rain, has only received 8.9 mm so far while Ernakulam received just 6.4 mm compared to the five-year high of 40 mm. The activation of rain has been delayed since mid-March, likely because of the impact of El Nio, said Rajeevan. However, he predicts the northern districts may see more rain by April. The prolonged dry spell has also led to an increase in maximum temperatures (2-4 degrees Celsius above normal). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alerts for several districts Palakkad, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, and Ernakulam until March 20. Residents in these areas should expect hot and uncomfortable weather because of high temperatures and humid air during the period. Rainfall in March (Five-year low this time) 2020 19.9mm 2021 19.7mm 2022 10.6mm 2023 9.8mm 2024 1.4mm Summer Rain Status (March 1- 18) Malappuram No rain Kasaragod No rain Kannur No rain Kozhikode No rain Wayanad No rain Idukki Large deficient Kottayam Large deficient Palakkad Large deficient Thrissur Large deficient TPuram Large deficient Ernakulam Large deficient Alappuzha Large deficient Kollam Large deficient Pathanamthitta Large deficient Kerala Large deficient (Source: KSDMA)

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 8:38 am

Kochi: Cops say Aluva abductors and victims may be acquaintances; seven identified

KOCHI: The police probing the suspected abduction of a youth from the vicinity of the Aluva railway station have identified seven persons, including three who have been reported missing since Sunday. Ernakulam Rural police chief Vaibhav Saxena said while everyone has been identified, whether it was a case of kidnapping or not will only become clear after interrogating the suspects. An autorickshaw driver had on Sunday alerted the police about the alleged abduction of the youth by a group who was travelling in a Toyota Innova car. The police registered a case suo motu based on the drivers statement and launched a probe. The police found the car at Kaniyapuram in Thiruvananthapuram later in the day. Eyewitnesses reported seven people fleeing from the spot after abandoning the vehicle. The police found bloodstains inside the car. As per sources, two people from Thrissur who had rented the car to an ASI at Pathanamthitta AR camp have also been questioned. The ASI told the officers that the vehicle was rented for his NRI friend who recently returned from abroad. We have identified all the persons involved in the case. We know their whereabouts and police teams from other districts are after them too. Three of the seven are likely victims and four are abductors. However, we are yet to confirm whether it is a case of kidnapping. This is the most vital aspect in the case. We are yet to get any complaint, Vaibhav said. The abductors and alleged victims may be known to each other and financial deals may be the reason behind the entire incident, he said. That may be why all seven fled when the police chased the vehicle in Thiruvananthapuram, Vaibhav said. Duo who arranged vehicle arrested Two Kollam natives who arranged the SUV used by the abductors and were part of the conspiracy were arrested on Monday. The arrested are Riyas Khan, 48, of Anchal and Anvar Abdul Sathar, 31, of Kollam. The Aluva police said an ASI with the Pathanamthitta Armed Reserve Camp had taken the vehicle on rent for his friend and the vehicle reached the duos hand through the officers friend. The police also suspect the abducted persons are migrant workers who had taken D5 lakh to supply goods, but were kidnapped after they failed to deliver the same. Meanwhile, though eyewitnesses statements indicate three people were abducted, Riyas and Anvar, who were privy to the conspiracy, have maintained only two were kidnapped. Curiously, no missing complaint has been received from the family of the allegedly abducted persons.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 8:31 am

Kerala LS polls: Candidates celebrity endorsement bid misfires

KOCHI/THRISSUR: Its election season, and celebrity endorsements are the norm rather than the exception. However, their attempts at such an endorsement and celebrity photo opportunity have backfired on the Left and NDA candidates in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, much to their embarrassment. CPI candidate V S Sunil Kumar and BJPs Suresh Gopi were at the receiving end of their own over-enthusiasm, following a snub by the celebrities. Sunil Kumar was forced to delete a photograph he posted on his social media pages with Tovino Thomas after the actor cautioned candidates against using his image as he is the ambassador of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Kerala. Meanwhile, a prominent doctor who tried to arrange a meeting of Suresh Gopi with Kalamandalam Gopi was reportedly rebuffed by the Kathakali maestro himself. The photo posted by Sunil Kumar showed him standing with Tovino, with the caption extolling them as the shining stars of Thrissur, along with CPIs symbol and the request urging voters to help the candidate win. Tovino took to social media to issue a statement after Sunil Kumar posted the photo. Did not know that Tovino is SVEEPs brand ambassador, says Sunil Kumar I wish to hereby convey that Im the ambassador for Kerala for the ECIs Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme and so it is against the law to use my photo, or a photo including me for any kind of election campaigning. In case somebody is using it, I wish to clarify that it is without my knowledge or consent. Wishing everyone a fair election experience, Tovino wrote on his FB page after Sunil Kumar posted the photo. After deleting the post, the former agriculture minister explained that he was unaware that Tovino was SVEEPs brand ambassador. He said the photograph was taken during his visit to Pulikunnam where the actor was shooting for a film. Earlier, the Congress and BJP had ridiculed and opposed CPIs action of using Tovinos pictures on the election posters. The NDA took a step further and complained to the ECI against Sunil Kumar. Meanwhile, Raghu Gurukripa, son of Kalamandalam Gopi, alleged that a prominent doctor in Thrissur called him and tried to influence his father on behalf of Suresh Gopi. The doctor had said Gopi Asan should bless Suresh Gopi and the actor would visit Asan at his residence. When Raghu denied them permission saying no BJP or Congress workers should approach his father as part of their election campaign, the doctor asked him whether his father doesnt want to be honoured with Padma Bhushan. Raghu being a follower of the LDF, has been campaigning for Sunil Kumar. Hence, he denied the doctor permission to bring Suresh Gopi to visit his father at his residence. According to Raghu, his father himself had denied permission for the meeting. Raghu, however, deleted the post on Monday and wrote on Facebook that he did not want people to exploit his father for their own profit. Raghu also urged people not to discuss the matter further. Responding to the row, Suresh Gopi said he didnt appoint anyone to ask permission to meet Gopi Asan. It is the BJP district president who takes care of the list of prominent people who I should meet as a candidate. When we have the campaign visits in each assembly constituency, we meet people there and seek blessings, he said. Suresh Gopi added that he had not read Raghus post on Facebook. He also said that if the party asked, he would meet Gopi Asan. I have met him several times, and even had the opportunity to release a documentary on him, Suresh Gopi said.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 7:18 am

Kerala: NDA files poll code violation complaint against CPI candidate in Thrissur

Kerala: NDA files poll code violation complaint against CPI candidate in Thrissur The BJP-led NDA on Monday filed a complaint with the district collector against VS Sunil Kumar, the CPI candidate from Kerala's Thrissur, for allegedly violating the poll code. According to the complaint, Kumar violated the poll code by posting a picture with actor Tovino Thomas, who is an ambassador for the Election Commission's Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation programme (SVEEP). Ravikumar Uppath, the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Thrissur district coordinator, filed the complaint with the district collector, who is also the returning officer for the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, alleging that the Left leader misused the actor's photograph to seek votes and, hence, violated the Model Code of Conduct. The complaint said the Left candidate and workers used the photograph for poll campaigning and asked the returning officer not to allow Kumar to contest the elections. Kumar recently met Thomas at a film set. Thomas later posted on social media, saying he is an ambassador for SVEEP and it is against the law to use his photograph for election campaigning. ''In case somebody is using it, I wish to clarify that it is without my knowledge or consent. Wishing everyone a fair election experience,'' Thomas said in the post. Kumar deleted the photograph and told reporters that he was unaware of Thomas' role as an ambassador for the Election Commission. The Thrissur constituency is witnessing a triangular contest among actor-politician Suresh Gopi, who is contesting on a BJP ticket, senior Congress leader and Vatakara MP K Muraleedharan, and former minister and CPI leader Kumar.

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 12:00 am

Tharoor no longer a sure bet for fourth term as BJP, CPI queer pitch in Kerala capital

Pannianji, are you contesting? was one of the first questions posed by a debutant Shashi Tharoor to the then sitting MP Pannian Raveendran, before his first ever electoral outing from the Kerala capital of Thiruvananthapuram in 2009. With the latter not keen, the former contested, won hands down, and is now seeking a record fourth term. Thiruvananthapuram, one of the few constituencies in the state to witness a genuine three-cornered contest, has three heavyweights fighting it out. The prestigious seat was once represented by stalwarts in national politics like Annie Mascarene, ex-defence minister VK Krishna Menon and Congress patriarch K Karunakaran. Congress heavyweight Shashi Tharoor, UN diplomat-turned politician, shares the record of three consecutive terms with another Congressman A Charles, who won from here in 1984, 1989 and 1991. In the constituency, however, the poll fever and fervour are yet to make their ripples felt on the ground. Though the candidates have initiated campaign moves, the political heat is yet to reach its crescendo, as the final picture was etched out just last week. Decoding Rahul Gandhi's face-off against Annie Raja in Wayanad and what it says about the India bloc Keenly-watched triangular contest The ruling Left has chosen a veteran Communist, the CPI's ex-state secretary and one-time MP Pannian Raveendran, to win back not just the seat but also its lost honour, as the party was pushed to a pitiable third slot the last two times, finishing far behind the BJP. With the saffron party nurturing an earnest desire to open its account in Kerala, it has deputed Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. A Malayali brought up outside the state, the Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka was till now a not-so-familiar face among the capital's voters. As expected, the Congress has chosen to rely on its sitting MP Shashi Tharoor, as they have done elsewhere in the state, except for Thrissur and Vadakara. Though his candidature was the last to be announced among the three, his was the most certain among the Congress electoral probables. Will the big Congress bet on Muraleedharan winning Thrissur after Padmaja's switch pay off? Enthusiasm vs Professionalism Pannian can claim the early bird advantage, as he kickstarted his campaign well before the other two. Rajeev is slowly catching up with a meticulously organised and structured campaign. Tharoor has begun with a slow yet planned campaign, albeit a bit delayed. While the last two are evidently professional in their approach - with in-house tech teams managing each move to the T, leaving no margins for error, with meticulous planning and follow-up steps - Pannian seems to be drawing enthusiastic crowds with his characteristic bonhomie. Undoubtedly, his zealous passion is unmistakable in its sincerity. The veteran leader always seems to have a horde of fans hovering around him all the time. Simplicity being his hallmark, the veteran enjoys the aura of a bard, attracting the masses, cutting across age, gender and political affiliations. As far as Rajeev is concerned, what began as an unfamiliar candidate saga has evolved into a well-chalked out campaign. Taking a cue from the rival Congress camp, a well-oiled machinery has been meticulously replicating Tharoor's campaign style in a bid to carve out his own niche among the voters. What was expected to be a cakewalk for Tharoor in his fourth outing seems to be slowly turning into a neck-to-neck fight. Why Pulwama terror strike is talking point in Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency What voting patterns say Going by the voting patterns in the last few elections, Tharoor can claim to have a sizable vote share that stood with him, even during his most perilous electoral fight in 2014, which was marred by a slew of controversies and allegations surrounding the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. In his first electoral fight in 2009, Tharoor emerged victorious securing 44.2% votes in a four-cornered battle with CPI's P Ramachandran Nair in the runner-up slot and BSP's A Neelalohithadasan Nadar coming third, pushing BJP's PK Krishna Das to fourth position. However, things were entirely different in 2014, when Tharoor, facing a formidable fight from BJP veteran O Rajagopal who finished a close second with 32.3% votes, clocked just around 34.1% votes. This could well be termed as the biggest fight that Tharoor faced due to the slew of controversies around him. The payment seat row, wherein the CPI had put up a candidate after allegedly taking money, turned out in Tharoor's favour. The disgrunted Left allies, mostly worried that the BJP might open its account, voted en masse for the Congress, pushing the CPI to the third slot, for the first time in the state's electoral history. With this, the BJP ensured a close second position in the constituency which continued in 2019 too. However, this time around, Tharoor bettered his own margin with 41.2%, while runner-up Kummanam Rajasekharan could muster only 31.3%. Noticeably, the CPI remained in the third slot, finishing far behind the BJP with just 25.6% votes. Having said that, the fact remains that Pannian had recorded the biggest vote share ever from the constituency in 2005 - 51.41%. The CPI won twice from here, prior to Tharoor. In 2004 when the Lok Sabha polls in the state witnessed an unprecedented Left wave with the LDF winning 18 of the 20 seats and NDA getting its maiden and lone seat ever through PC Thomas, CPI's PK Vasudevan Nair won with 37.6% votes against sitting MP VS Sivakumar of the Congress who polled 30.4%. One year later, in the byelection necessitated by PKV's death, Pannian registered a thumping victory. In his first contest, Pannian won a record 51.41% of the vote while runner-up VS Sivakumar got 41.63%. The BJP was nowhere in the picture, finishing with just 4.83%. Straight one for the CPI (M): Famous writer Mukandan on why he said only they can be trusted Campaign on developmental plank Going by the general pattern, development has been the prime campaign topic of debate in the constituency. While the Left Democratic Front (LDF) wants to highlight lack of development in the constituency during the last 15 years, the United Democratic Front (UDF) lists out the initiatives undertaken by Tharoor. On the other hand, the NDA is keen to juxtapose the country's overall development against that of Thiruvananthapuram. While the CPI is synonymous with Pannian's campaign, in the case of Tharoor and Rajeev, more than their parties per se, it's their individual poll machinery that's at work. Lack of development in the constituency remains the prime argument by both the Left and the BJP. 'Pazhaayippoya 15 varshangal' (The lost 15 years) is one of the key highlights in Pannian's campaigns while Rajeev reminds voters that time has been running out with his slogan 'Namukk Ini Pazhaakkan Samayamilla' (We now don't have time to waste). A content Tharoor, however, goes by the motto 'Thudaratte Nammude Swantham Tharoor' (Let our own Tharoor continue.) Caste interplay, community equations, vote swings and undercurrents Hardly a week after campaigning began, the poll picture in the constituency has undergone a drastic change. If Thiruvananthapuram was one of the sure bets for the Congress among the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, it's no longer the case. If first impressions were that the LDF and BJP hardly posed a threat to Tharoor, it took no time for the Congress and the LDF to realise that Rajeev Chandrasekhar is no small fry. Contrary to the initial impression that the Congress would retain its seat and that the LDF would push back BJP to the third slot, the perspective has changed. A professional Rajeev Chandrasekhar is surging close behind Tharoor, with Pannian far behind. The seemingly walkover win scenario has changed. The urbanised voter community is sure to see a vote swing, pointed out a CPM source. While the BJP is keen to harp on politics as a means to reinforce 'Modi's guarantee', the Left camp's politicking is to attack Tharoor over his controversial Hamas remark and statement on the Ayodhya Ram temple issue. Winning the Muslim minority votes would be crucial for both the Congress and the Left. Contrary to the BJP and the LDF, the Congress has been talking about development as well as socio-communal and political issues. The Vizhinjam Seaport project and the ensuing fishermen agitation is also bound to play a key role in the election. A section of the coastal population harbours resentment towards both the Left government and Shashi Tharoor. The BJP camp has naturally slid in to fish in these troubled waters. Both the LDF and BJP are also doing their best to reap electoral gains from a mild anti-incumbency wave against Tharoor. A well-organised campaign to woo residents associations in the city too is gradually gaining momentum in the state capital. Tharoor has always enjoyed major support from the urban, IT and youth groups, in addition to sufficient support from the coastal population, especially the Latin Catholic votes. However, both the BJP and the LDF hope to poach the same. Tharoor has been an appealing face for both the urban and coastal population. But this time around, Rajeev is likely eat into the urban, IT votes, while Pannian is sure to make substantial gains from the coastal votes. Pannian will also gain a sizeable vote share from the city and rural areas too. The present incumbent's win would be decided, depending on whether the gains made by the other two would be over and above Tharoor's eroding vote base or not. The next-door politician image, a clean track record and the people's leader is what makes Pannian stand out among the trio. This is exactly what the CPI has been trying to cash in on. The genuinely simple leader enjoys clear backing of the common man. Juxtaposed to him, stands Rajeev, eager to woo the IT and urban crowd, with his elaborate social media campaign that seeks to highlight the constituency's lag, despite PM Narendra Modi's developmental agenda for the country. Such professional moves are definitely attracting crowds. However the party support for him is yet to reach an optimum level. Of course Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur are two seats with the most winning possibility for the party. Rajeev is suitable for the IT and youth crowd. But he's not mingling much with the party workers. A highly sophisticated MNC model team has been taking the campaign forward. But the ground level enthusiasm is missing. On the other hand, in the case of Suresh Gopi, there's enthusiasm at the ground level, but management tactics are lacking, pointed out a BJP leader. Meanwhile none of the predictions and assessments seem to deter the Tharoor camp. Riding on the popularity wave, the Congress politician plans to cash in on the developmental and welfare activities that he has implemented here in the last decade and a half. A full list of activities in the constituency will be out in a day. It's true that the fight is slowly narrowing down to Congress vs BJP. The BJP candidate will have to say why he has not made any intervention in the state so far. They are silent on politics, as it could hurt minorities. Otherwise how will they justify the highly irresponsible statement by the BJP candidate after the Kalamassery blast? On the other hand, the Left wants to get minority votes and that's why they highlight Hamas and Ayodhya. We have enough weapons in our arsenal to counter such campaigns. We speak about development, socio-communal and political issues that will resonate with the voters, avers a source in the Tharoor camp, exuding confidence. Even as temperatures soar, the constituency is set for a big fight, the result of which could drastically alter Kerala's existing political climate.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 10:27 pm

CPI hopes to get at least 15 seats in 8 states as part of INDIA

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has identified at least 15 constituencies in eight states including Bihar, Assam, Manipur and Jharkhand, where it wants to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under electoral pact of opposition parties as part of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). The general secretary of the CPI, D Raja said that the party might soon announce its nomination for the identified seats subject to its negotiation with INDIA bloc members mainly with the Congress. The Left party has zeroed in one seat each in Manipur, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Assam and Jharkhand under the electoral alliance from the Congress. The CPI has already announced its candidate for one of the two seats in Manipur. It has fielded partys senior member and state unit general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Laishram Sotinkumar Singh in the Inner Manipur constituency. Miffed over Wayanad, CPI says Congress must keep coalition dharma In Telangana, it is seeking Warangal Lok Sabha seat. In Maharashtra, it is expecting Shirdi constituency, Bathinda in Punjab and Jharkhands Hazaribagh. Notably, its state leadership in Jharkhand last week announced to go alone and to contest in eight seats in the state. We have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls on our own, CPI state secretary Mahendra Pathak told PTI. In west Bengal, the CPI is staking claim to three seats including Ghatal and Medinipur from which it has been winning in the past. Raja further stated that talks are underway for three constituencies in Bihar too. The probable seats are Banka, Begusarai and Madhubani. Raja said that our state leaders are holding talks with their counterparts of political parties including Congress, which are part of the alliance and he is optimistic about a positive outcome. He added that hopefully the Congress would demonstrate maturity like what Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin showed in the state while sparing seats for coalition partners. Discussions pertaining to the identified seats are being held at state level. In case, something is to be conveyed to the national leadership or my intervention is required, I will talk. Seat sharing in Tamil Nadu has already been finalised and the CPI will be contesting on two seats in the state. Stalins seat-sharing arrangement illustrates maturity and understanding of prevailing political situations. The Congress should also be accommodative to each member of the alliance because the target is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said Raja. As part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the CPI got four seats to contest in KeralaWayanad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Mavelikkara.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 9:53 pm

Social media posts stir controversy for BJP & Left candidates in Thrissur LS seat

Thrissur: Two social media posts, one by the son of renowned Kathakali artist Kalamandalam Gopi and another by film star Tovino Thomas left the candidates of BJP and LDF in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in some kind of spot, on Monday. In a purported Facebook post, Kalamandalam Gopis son, Raghu Gurukripa, alleged BJP candidate 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 .

The Siasat Daily 18 Mar 2024 9:08 pm

Social media posts stir controversy for BJP and Left candidates in Thrissur LS seat

Social media posts stir controversy for BJP and Left candidates in Thrissur LS seat Two social media posts, one by the son of renowned Kathakali artist Kalamandalam Gopi and another by film star Tovino Thomas left the candidates of BJP and LDF in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in some kind of spot, on Monday. In a purported Facebook post, Kalamandalam Gopi's son, Raghu Gurukripa, alleged BJP candidate Suresh Gopi tried to influence his father to garner support for him in the Lok Sabha polls, a charge denied by the saffron party leader. In the other episode involving Thomas, Left candidate Sunil Kumar deleted a Facebook post on his meeting with the former, after the actor said he was an ambassador for Kerala for the Election Commission's Systematic Voter's Education and Electoral Participation programme (SVEEP). He gave a disclaimer against anyone using his photograph. Gurukripa, in the post which was deleted after it went viral on social media, alleged that a famous doctor called his father and said that Suresh Gopi would come to his house seeking his blessings. ''When the doctor was informed that he could not do so, the doctor asked (Kalamandalam Gopi) if he wanted the Padma Bhushan,'' Gurukripa alleged in the post, screenshots of which were also circulated widely on social media. He also alleged that many VIPs are trying to woo his father for Suresh Gopi. Responding to the allegations, Suresh Gopi said Kalamandalam Gopi is like his guru, and he had not assigned anyone else to contact the Kathakali acharya. He said it is the BJP which decides whom he should meet as part of the campaign. ''If the party says to meet Kalamandalam Gopi, I will meet him. I have no strategy. I come directly to the people,'' Gopi told reporters here. Meanwhile, CPI(M) Politburo member M A Baby said an 'avatar' like Kalamandalam Gopi should not be underestimated. In a Facebook post, he described the Kathakali maestro as unique among the greatest artists alive in the country today. Referring to the BJP candidate, Baby said everything he does becomes 'antics' to make people laugh because he stands for communal politics. Eighty seven-year-old Kalamandalam Gopi is renowned for his captivating and emotive portrayal of virtuous pachcha roles in Kathakali, with notable performances including Nalan and Karnan. LDF candidate Sunil Kumar also faced some embarrassment over Thomas' social media post. ''My best wishes to all the Loksabha candidates. I wish to hereby convey that Im the ambassador for Kerala for the Election Commissions SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) program, and so it is against the law to use my photo or a photo including me for any kind of election campaigning. ''In case somebody is using it, I wish to clarify that it is without my knowledge or consent. Wishing everyone a fair election experience'', Thomas said in the post. The Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency is witnessing a triangular contest between actor-politician Suresh Gopi, senior Congress leader and sitting MP from Vatakara, K Muraleedharan, representing the UDF, and former minister and CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 7:31 pm

Kerala: TNIE staffer Gireeshkumar A P dies at 56

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Gireeshkumar A P, a staffer with The New Indian Express, passed away on Monday morning. Gireesh, who was 56, collapsed at his residence at Manacaud and could not be resuscitated. Gireesh has been part of The New Indian Express for about three decades and was working as an accounts coordinator at the newspaper's Thiruvananthapuram office. Known for his love for sports, Gireesh was equally active in organizing cultural events and celebrations at the office. He always exuded positivity and religiously wore a sweet smile while meeting people. He always maintained a calm disposition and kept people around him at ease with his quippery. Gireesh is survived by his wife N R Rajani, who is a lawyer, and sons Vignesh G R, a first-year student of Thrissur Government Law College, and Vaishnav G R, a Class X student of Christ Nagar School, Vellayambalam. The cremation will be held on Tuesday at 9 am.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 5:50 pm

Lok Sabha polls | Bid to bag celebrity endorsements backfires on rival candidates in Thrissur constituency in Kerala

V.S. Sunil Kumar, a former Minister and CPI candidate from Thrissur parliamentary segment, had to withdraw pictures of himself with actor Tovino Thomas from the formers social media campaign page

The Hindu 18 Mar 2024 4:47 pm

Jolt for CPIs Thrissur candidate as actor Tovino says his picture should not be used for campaigning

Kochi, March 18 (IANS) Former State Agriculture Minister and CPI candidate for the prestigious Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, VS Sunil Kumar on Monday suffered a jolt when the hugely-popular actor, Tovino Thomas, took to his social media page to point out that no one should use his picture for campaigning. He wrote, My best wishes []

bhaskarlive 18 Mar 2024 12:33 pm

Thiruvananthapuram: UDF camp stirs to life on campaign trail with poll schedule announcement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Just over 24 hours into the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming general election, an energised UDF camp is confident of making giant strides. Even as the Congress is betting on a clean sweep, there are murmurs even within its state leadership that the Pathanamthitta and Mavelikkara seats would be too close to call. The Opposition camp had been leisurely in its campaigning in the run-up to the announcement of the poll dates. Even as LDF and BJP candidates were stepping up the campaign heat, the UDF strategically stayed on the back foot: keen to ensure that their grassroots workers dont lose steam on the first lap itself. But they face challenges on multiple fronts. With 40 days left for the vote, contestants and party workers face a tough task in meeting the campaign expenses while sweating it out in the scorching heat. LDF and BJP candidates are not expected to face any dearth of funds, but that may not be the case with UDFs contenders. A leader close to former KPCC president K Sudhakaran who is contesting from Kannur told TNIE that their two political rivals will not face any monetary issues being the ruling fronts. Lok Sabha polls: In a first, people above 85, those with over 40% disability can vote from home The AICC leadership will provide only nominal funds. The rest will have to be met by the state leadership and collected from local business houses, said a Congress leader from Kannur. The surprise announcement of sitting MP K Muraleedharan being moved to Thrissur with Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil taking his place in Vadakara has invigorated the party base. Notwithstanding, Pathanamthitta and Mavelikara threaten to be stumbling blocks. A senior Congress leader from central Travancore said both Anto Antony and Kodikunnil Suresh would have to sweat it out to come up with trumps. The electoral fight is not going to be as easy as it sounds in these two seats. If the Catholic Church is opposed to Anto in Pathanamthitta, the NSS leaderships stand is going to be crucial for Kodikunnil in Mavelikkara, said a senior leader. UDF convenor M M Hassan, who has been assigned charge as KPCC chief, feels that there has been no laxity on the part of Congress workers in campaigning. He exuded confidence that the UDF will romp home with all 20 LS seats as they have based their campaign on the burning issues of the people, brought on by the misgovernance of the LDF and BJP governments.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 9:53 am

Footfall to Kuzhuppilly floating bridge sees dip; Operator says it is safe

KOCHI: The Varkala floating bridge accident that saw 15 visitors getting injured has put the spotlight back on the safety of such structures. Last November, a floating bridge at Chavakkad in Thrissur district collapsed soon after its inauguration by Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas. At the same time, the operator of the floating bridge installed at the Kuzhuppilly beach in Vypeen attempts to clear the apprehensions raised about its safety. The bridge being operated by my company places great importance on the safety aspect, says Vince K, director of Float Adventures. While more visitors now arrive at the Kuzhuppilly beach in the evenings, given the adverse weather during daytime, the floating bridge there has been a hit since its launch last October, he stresses. Safety concerns galore after Varkala floating bridge mishap, water sports operators asked to follow IMD weather updates Amid allegations against the Varkala floating bridge operator over the non-compliance of rules like getting permission from the disaster management authority and the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, Vince says his company has obtained the necessary permissions through the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). We adhere to the safety protocols like shutting down the bridge during adverse weather. For example, two days ago, when the waves became rough, we stopped the entry of visitors by 4pm and closed the bridge. The months of February, March and April are lean, Vince points out. Though we do get good numbers of visitors during weekends, the footfall is not that high compared to January. The heat and examinations have led to a drop in the number of visitors, he says. Crafted using high-density polyethylene, the floating bridge promises to provide visitors the joy of riding the waves. Conceived by the tourism department, the bridge was built in 15 days at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Rs 1 crore has been spent to construct the floating bridge at Kuzhuppilly in 15 days

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 9:20 am

North Paravoor Cooperative Bank in Kerala under vigilance scrutiny for corruption

KOCHI: Yet another cooperative bank has come under the scanner with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registering a case against the secretaries and governing body members of North Paravoor Service Cooperative Bank. The VACB FIR stated that the bank paid Rs 1.49 crore as fees to a lawyer for filing tax to the tune of `27.23 lakh since 2008-09 fiscal. The FIR was registered by the Ernakulam VACB unit recently under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. There are as many as 24 accused persons including two secretaries, a person who availed loans and 21 governing board members, including local CPM leaders. The accused bank secretaries Krishnakumar P, Jayashri K S, loanee Shainaj Sudheerkumar, board members C P Jayan, V Dileepkumar, T M Sheikh Pareeth, M A Vidyasagar, R Murukeshan, K R Didi, Sindhu Vijaykumar, Sreedevi Apukuttan, K Ramachandran, Gopalakrishnan P K, K M Rajeev, E P Sasidharan, T V Nidhin, Angels M P, Chandrabose K B, Jibu C P, Vijaykumar J, Jyothi Dineesh, Sunil Sukumar K S, Vidyanandan K A and V S Sadanandan. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by N Mohanan, a resident of North Paravoor. As per the FIR, the secretaries and governing body members of the bank conspired and illegally granted loans to Shainaj and another person named Sarasmohan. According to Vigilance, Shainaj and Sarasmohan had availed a loan mortgaging their properties. A new loan of Rs 32 lakh was sanctioned again by mortgaging the same properties to the same persons. Though Shainaj and Sarasmohan did not repay the first loan availed by them, it was shown as closed as per bank records. Karuvannur probe revealed similar frauds in 12 other cooperative banks: ED tells Kerala High Court Another major graft as per VACB FIR is that accused persons misappropriated funds in the form of income tax filing for the bank. From the 2008-09 fiscal to the 2020-21 fiscal, the bank paid Rs 27.23 lakh as income tax. However, fees for filing income tax returns during the same period coming to the tune of Rs 1.42 crore were paid to lawyer K K Chandrasekharan, including Rs 3.25 lakh paid as advance. From March 2008 to March 2018, Rs 79.50 lakh was paid to the lawyer as tax filing fees. From March 2018 to March 2021, Rs 59.25 lakh was paid as fees to the lawyer. However, income tax filing fees for the lawyer were fixed by the governing body on March 27, 2018. Despite this, the secretaries continued to pay the amount as fees without receipts or vouchers. Thus accused persons knowingly diverted the funds of the bank. Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank scam: ED grills CPM Thrissur dist secretary The case is being probed by Ernakulam VACB Inspector Kiran Sam. VACB officials said that the victim had approached the Vigilance Court with a complaint. The court directed VACB to investigate it. We conducted a preliminary probe and found it a fit case to probe. We have collected some records from the bank and we are examining them. Soon we will summon the accused persons for a detailed interrogation. The probe is in the preliminary stage, a VACB official said. Conspiracy suspected FIR says bank paid Rs 1.49cr as fees to a lawyer for filing tax to the tune of Rs 27.23 lakh since 2008-09 fiscal There are 24 accused persons including 2 secretaries, a person who availed loans and 21 governing board members, including local CPM leaders Case was registered based on a complaint filed by N Mohanan, a resident of North Paravoor

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 7:55 am

Ramesh Chennithala takes charge as UDF's campaign chief in Kerala, eyes full sweep in LS polls

KOCHI: With Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithalas appointment as the campaign committee chairman of the party in Kerala, the former Leader of the Opposition is poised to assume the role of UDFs leading figure in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Bestowed upon him by the Congress central leadership, the new responsibility, along with his role as the in-charge of party affairs in Maharashtra, indicates that he enjoys the continued backing of Congress top leaders. Chennithalas elevation to the position came soon after K Muraleedharan was named the party candidate in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress has fielded all incumbent MPs for the upcoming parliamentary elections, except T N Prathapan, aiming to replicate its 2019 success when the front secured 19 out of 20 seats. Party sources said that a resounding victory for the UDF would enhance Chennithalas clout within the party. Moreover, he is in charge of party affairs in Maharashtra and a better electoral performance by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boost his prospects in the future. Chennithala was busy forging MVAs seat-sharing deal with its constituents in Maharashtra. Congress-led UDF looks to repeat its 2019 LS poll performance in Kerala Kerala: LDF, UDF claim LS sweep, NDA bets big on five seats Definitely, the victory of UDF in the coming elections will help Chennithala redefine his political stature as he is focused on state politics. He will get the backing of the entire party in the state, said political observer K Baburajan. When the discussions over the Congress candidates in Thrissur and Vadakara ended in a deadlock, the central leadership contacted Chennithala who was in the state to resolve the issue, party leaders said. He was summoned to New Delhi for further discussions. Congress state president K Sudhakaran and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan were present at the party headquarters in Delhi during that time. The party finalised the candidates after seeking the opinion of Chennithala, the senior-most leader in the state, a source said. On his arrival in Kochi from Mumbai on Thursday, Chennithala told reporters that the partys campaign for the LS polls will turn high-tech. Congress poll campaign will be made high-tech. We are preparing the plans, he said adding that UDF will win 20 out of 20 seats this time.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 7:47 am

Congress-led UDF looks to repeat its 2019 LS poll performance in Kerala

Congress-led UDF looks to repeat its 2019 LS poll performance in Kerala The Congress-led UDF, which won 19 of the 20 seats in Kerala in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is looking to repeat the performance in the 2024 polls by retaining the same candidates with a few changes, while the Left front and the BJP have carried out a major overhaul of their nominee list. The Congress has fielded all its sitting MPs, except T N Prathapan who won from Thrissur last time, and added two new names to the list -- current Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil from Vatakara and AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation and Rajya Sabha member K C Venugopal from Alappuzha. Parambil is being fielded from Vatakara after the party decided that its sitting MP from there, K Muraleedharan, will contest from Thrissur in the wake of his sister Padmaja Venugopal joining the BJP. The BJP has fielded two union ministers -- V Muraleedharan (Attingal) and Rajiv Chandrasekhar (Thiruvananthapuram) -- and Anil K Antony (Pathanamthitta), son of Congress stalwart A K Antony while retaining actor Suresh Gopi in Thrissur. The ruling LDF too brought changes in its candidates line-up by fielding political heavyweights like former state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac (Pathanamthitta) and Rajya Sabha member Elamaram Kareem (Kozhikode). The region-wise performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is as follows 1. Northern region In Kasaragod constituency, Congress' Rajmohan Unnithan polled 4,74,961 votes out of the total 11,00,051 votes cast there with CPI(M)'s K P Sathishchandran came in second with 4,34,523 votes. BJP's Ravisha Thanthri Kuntar got 16 per cent of the total votes. In Kannur, K Sudhakaran (Cong) won by securing 5,26,755 of the total 10,65 619 votes cast there, and CPI(M)'s P K Sreemathi came in second with 4,35,182. In Vatakara, Congress leader K Muraleedharan with 5,26,755 votes out of the total 10,65,619 and CPI(M)'s P Jayarajan came second by polling 4,42,092 votes. In Wayanad, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, won with a huge margin by getting 7,06,367 votes out of a total of 10,92,197 with his closest rival -- CPI's P P Suneer receiving only 2,74,597 votes. In Kozhikode, Congress candidate M K Raghavan polled 4,93,444 out of a total 10,76,193 votes to come first, while CPI(M)'s A pradeep Kumar came second with 4,08,219 votes. BJP's Prakash Babu got 14.97 per cent of the total votes. Malappuram -- IUML's P K Kunhalikutty won by polling 5,89,873 out of the total 10,34,618 votes with CPI(M)'s V P Sanu coming in second with 3,29,720 votes. Later, Kunhalikutty resigned from the Lok Sabha to contest in the state assembly elections in 2021. Subsequently, a by-election was held in Malappuram in 2021 and IUML's Abdussamad Samadani won by getting 5,38,248 votes out of a total of 11,02,537 and Sanu, who got 4,23,633 votes, was again defeated. Ponnani -- IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer won with 5,21,824 votes out of the total 10,17,265 and Left candidate P V Anvar came second with 3,28,551 votes. BJP candidate Rema got 10.87 per cent of the total votes. Palakkad -- Congress candidate V K Sreekandan won with 3,99,274 votes out of the total 10,28,249 and CPI(M)'s M B Rajesh came a close second with 3,87,637. BJP's Krishnakumar C got 21.24 per cent of the total votes. Alathur -- Congress candidate Ramya Haridas won with 5,33,815 out of the total 10,18,743 and CPI(M)'s P K Biju came second with 3,74,847. 2. Central Kerala region Thrissur -- Congress' T N Prathapan won by polling 4,15,089 votes out of the total 10,41,869 with CPI's Rajaji Mathew Thomas coming second with 3,21,456 and BJP's Suresh Gopi coming third with 2,93,822 votes. Chalakudy -- Benny Behanan (Cong) won with 4,73,444 votes out of the total of 9,90,224 and veteran actor and CPI(M)'s late Innocent came second with 3,41,170 votes. BJP's A N Radhakrishnan got 15.56 per cent of the total votes. Ernakulam -- Congress' Hibi Eden won with 4,91,263 votes out of the total 9,67,203 and CPI(M)'s P Rajeev came second with 3,22,110 votes. BJP's Alphons Kannanthanam got 14.24 per cent of the total votes. Idukki -- Congress' Dean Kuriakose won by polling 4,98,493 votes out of the total of 9,19,297 and Joice George, an independent candidate, came second with 3,27,440 votes. Kottayam -- Thomas Chazhikadan of the Kerala Congress(M), then a UDF ally, won with 4,21,046 votes out of the total of 9,10,339 and CPI(M)'s V N Vasavan came second with 3,14,787. However, the seat fell into the LDF kitty later after Kerala Congress(M) joined the Left front. Alappuzha -- The only seat where the LDF won last time with CPI(M)'s A M Ariff polling 4,45,970 out of the total 10,88,728 votes with Congress' Shanimol Osman coming a close second with 4,35,496 votes. BJP's Dr K S Radhakrishnan polled 17.22 per cent of the total votes. 3. South Kerala region Mavelikkara -- Congress' Kodikunnil Suresh won by polling 4,40,415 out of the total of 9,71,035 votes and CPI's Chittayam Gopakumar came second with 3,79,277 votes. Pathanamthitta -- Congress' Anto Antony came first by getting 3,80,927 out of the total 10,26,553 with CPI(M)'s Veena George coming second by polling 3,36,684 votes and BJP's K Surendran third with 2,97,396 votes. Kollam -- UDF ally Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) fielded N K Premachandran who won with 4,99,677 votes out of the total 9,68,123 and CPI(M)'s K N Balagopal got 3,50,821 votes. BJP's K V Sabu got 10.66 per cent of the total votes. Attingal -- Adoor Prakash of Congress won with 3,80,995 votes out of the total of 10,04,888. CPI(M)'s Dr A Sampath and BJP's Sobha Surendran came second and third with 3,42,748 and 2,48,081 votes, respectively. Sobha Surendran will contest from Alappuzha in 2024. Thiruvananthapuram -- Congress's Shashi Tharoor won for a third consecutive time by getting 4,16,131 out of the total 10,10,180 votes and defeated BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan and CPI's C Divakaran, who came second and third, respectively. Rajasekharan polled 3,16,142 votes while Divakaran got 2,58,556 votes. Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Ponnani, Palakkad, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram were the LS constituencies in which the BJP got a vote percentage in double digits in 2019.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:06 am

Kerala LS polls: Long wait for BJP candidate in Ernakulam as UDF, LDF intensify campaign

KOCHI: The schedule for the Lok Sabha elections has been announced and the candidates of both LDF and UDF have made tremendous forward strides in campaigning. But the BJP cadre in Ernakulam district has been anxiously waiting for the candidate. Though Ernakulam is not among the A-class constituencies of the BJP, the party had garnered 1.38 lakh votes in 2019 when former Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam contested from here. The party workers believe that they can improve the vote share to 2 lakh if the party presents the right candidate and gives ample time for campaigning. Apart from Ernakulam, the BJP has not announced the candidates for Wayanad, Alathur and Kollam. However, considering the distinction of Ernakulam as the commercial capital of the state, the BJP state leadership wants to improve its foothold in the constituency. Though the NDAs performance was disappointing in the constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections, it garnered 1,44,172 votes in the 2016 Assembly elections with the help of BDJS which has substantial influence among the Ezhava community. Though the leaders do not have any clue about the candidate, around six leaders of the party have expressed willingness to contest from Ernakulam. It is said the national leadership is trying to rope in a prominent person from the Congress with the help of the Pathanamthitta constituency candidate Anil Antony. The names of a sports personality, a TV anchor and state vice president K S Radhakrishnan are on the list of probables. I have no idea about the candidate for Ernakulam. As you know, the national leadership is expected to release the names soon. Lets wait for the announcement, said Radhakrishnan. Former Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam who contested from Ernakulam in 2019 said he has conveyed to the national leadership that he is not willing to contest. I want to concentrate on campaigning. I will be actively involved in the campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur constituencies. If the party decides, I will be campaigning in other constituencies also, he said. Cashing in on the advantage of early candidate declaration, UDF candidate Hibi Eden and LDF candidate K J Shine completed the first round of campaign in the constituency. Meanwhile, the BJP district leadership organised a leaders meeting on Saturday which decided to complete the preparations at the booth level by the time the candidate is announced.

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 8:30 am

Kerala: LDF, UDF claim LS sweep, NDA bets big on five seats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just 41 days remaining for the Lok Sabha elections in the state, the three political fronts now have their tasks cut out. The ruling Left Front, Opposition UDF and the NDA are all gearing up for the April 26 elections that could literally alter their political fortunes in Kerala. Of the 20 seats in the state, the UDF currently has 18, with the remaining two in the LDF kitty. Both the UDF and the LDF have announced candidates for all seats, while the BJP-led NDA is yet to announce candidates for four seats. The UDF has fielded all its sitting MPs, except for Thrissurs T N Prathapan. On the other hand, the LDF has -- for the first time -- a sitting minister contesting an LS poll, along with five ex-ministers. The BJP list includes two union ministers in addition to Anil Antony, the Pathanamthitta candidate, who recently moved to the party from the Congress. Hours after the election notification, the UDF exuded confidence the front will bag all 20 seats. The Congress will fight against communalism, fascism and corruption, said Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. Pinning its hopes on minority elements and the agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the ruling Left front, on the other hand, aims for a big comeback. These elections, the Left front has set its eyes on six to seven seats even as the LDF leaders too claimed the possibility of winning all 20 seats. Hours before LS poll schedule announcement, LDF govt rolls out measures to woo voters While the two fronts maintain the chances of a sweep, the BJP is hopeful of opening its account this time around. The party has high hopes in at least four constituencies and is confident of staging a triangular fight in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta and Attingal. BJP state president K Surendran said both the LDF and the UDF will face setbacks in the upcoming polls. Thushar Vellappally BDJS chief Thushar to contest from Kottayam Putting an end to the anticipation, the Bharatiya Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a constituent of the NDA, on Saturday announced its candidates for the Kottayam and Idukki parliamentary constituencies. BDJS chief Thushar Vellappally will be the party candidate in Kottayam, while vice president Sangeeta Viswanath will contest from Idukki. With this, the party has announced candidates to all its four assigned constituencies. BJP-ally BDJS announces candidates for two more LS seats in Kerala Last week, it unveiled K M Unnikrishnan and Baiju Kalasala as candidates for Mavelikkara and Chalakudy, respectively. Following the announcement in Kottayam, Thushar said the partys campaign will be kicked off with conventions in Kottayam on March 18 and Idukki on the 20th. The delay in naming candidates will not hinder election preparations, he asserted, adding the party had started campaign preparations six months back.

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 8:11 am

Heatwave criteria not suited for Kerala, experts blame inadequate weather infrastructure

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when Kerala is reeling under one of its harshest summers, following prolonged dry spells and erratic weather patterns the state is also staring at a major challenge in terms of inadequate weather readings and infrastructure. Adding to the woes, experts point out that the national criteria for declaring heatwaves are not suited for Keralas weather patterns. High humidity levels, brought on by its tropical climate, make summers worse in the state, they say. Even as sweltering heat plays havoc, experts and agencies here are grappling with inadequate predictions that hinder more specific public warnings. The 100 automatic weather stations (AWS) installed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have been giving erratic and invalid predictions. There are also no weather stations in four districts Kasaragod, Wayanad, Idukki and Pathanamthitta which cheats the state out of a comprehensive picture of the prevailing conditions. State Disaster Management Authority member secretary Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose said the national criteria for heatwave declaration is not suited for Kerala. We need to develop local thresholds for heat-related health warnings. We need to undertake studies in this regard and have already initiated steps to come up with state-specific criteria that will be essential for the state in the coming years, he told TNIE. According to IMD, a heatwave is defined as a maximum temperature of 40 Celsius or more for the plains, 37C or more for coastal stations and 30C for hilly regions. An increase of 4-5C from the normal is considered a heatwave condition, while an increase of 6C or more is considered a severe heatwave condition. Kerala: Sultry nights signal beginning of summer, temp to touch 38 degrees Celsius We have a moist heatwave situation in Kerala because of the rise in temperature and humidity. The heat we experience here is way more than the actual temperature. Unfortunately, the state is unable to meet the criteria set by IMD and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The state government should take steps to collaborate with IMD and come up with state-specific criteria, said MG Manoj, a scientist with Cusats Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research (ACARR). He stressed the need for more research in the area. We need more weather readings and infrastructure, a long-pending demand in Kerala. In the future, more weather infrastructure should be set up at identified strategic points across the state for better predictions on microclimate changes. More data is essential for further studies and solutions, he added. Kerala faces hottest summer in decade: Soaring temperatures drive power consumption to record highs Early onset of summer sees increase in waterborne diseases in Kerala The human body reacts differently to varying temperatures, health experts said, amid calls for increased inclusion of health management in climate change and mitigation policies of the government. Heatstroke and heat rash are only included as heat-related events by the NDMA. This should change and health should be given top priority, while devising policies for climate mitigation. We are trying to raise this point and educate policymakers to give due consideration to matters of health, said Dr Anish T S, associate professor, community medicine, Malappuram Medical College Hospital. Meanwhile, K Santhosh, director, IMD Thiruvananthapuram, said they follow the national criteria. We follow the national criteria for weather-related declarations and the IMD headquarters make decisions on matters whether a state should have a specific set of criteria for heatwaves or not, Santhosh said. Calibrating weather stations cannot be a sudden process, he said. The Kerala Met department has proposed the setting up of more weather stations in the state to cover all districts, he added. Mild heat waves prove deadlier over time in India, study reveals urgent need for revised heat warnings Yellow alert in 10 districts KSDMA has issued a yellow alert for 10 districts in the state owing to a rise in temperature till March 20. All districts with yellow alert warnings are likely to record 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal temperature. Maximum temperature is likely to be around 39 degrees Celsius in Kollam and Palakkad districts, while Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts will record 38 degrees Celsius. Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur districts are likely to record 37 degrees Celsius. Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kannur districts will record 36 degrees Celsius.

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 7:51 am

BJP-ally BDJS announces candidates for two more LS seats in Kerala

KOTTAYAM: The Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an ally of the BJP in Kerala, on Saturday announced its candidates for Kottayam and Idukki Parliamentary constituencies from the southern state. BDJS State President Thushar Vellappally said he would be contesting from Kottayam and advocate Sangeetha Vishwanathan would be the party candidate from Idukki. He said at a press conference held here that the decision was taken by the state executive which met on Friday. Last week, the BDJS had announced that Baiju Kalasala would contest from Mavelikkara constituency and K A Unnikrishnan from Chalakudy in Alappuzha and Thrissur districts respectively.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 1:29 pm

Fire in her belly: Kerala's women blaze through barriers to become firefighters

KOCHI: At the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Academy in Thrissur, a team of women are preparing to fight fire, handling the high-pressure hydraulic hose, as part of a mock drill. They have just arrived from Thiruvananthapuram, where they attended the passing-out parade after being trained at this academy. Their demeanour reflects the raw energy and exuberance that natures most feared element bears. They display the dual nature of fire warmth and lethality. Indian mythology contains stories of powerful women born from fire, like Draupadi. Or of Sita, whom fire could not scorch. Or Kannagi, who set a city afire with her grief and fury. Yet, traditionally, women were kept away from fields that were considered fiery. However, the winds of change have been blowing across India. And Nari Shakti has been on the rise. The latest venture of women into the male bastion of firefighting in Kerala is yet another example. The batch of 82 women has found their way into the Fire and Rescue Services, six decades after its formation. These womens induction, after the passing-out parade on Womens Day (March 8), made Kerala home to the largest batch of female firefighters in the country. Their first task was to take on the notion that women were unfit for the physically demanding job. They went through the rigours of a six-month-long training programme and have come out blazing, reducing regressive barriers to ashes. A mock drill It did take time for the notions to change. But then, everything happens in its own time. Didnt it take years for women to be recruited in the police, excise, and forest departments? asks M G Rajesh, regional fire officer and director of the academy. The new group includes 26 postgraduates, 50 graduates, four B Tech graduates, three B Ed graduates, and two diploma/ITA holders. At least 27 among them are married, and 12 are mothers. They were selected after a Public Service Commission screening, which included physical and aptitude tests. They are now packing up for a six-month training at fire stations across Kerala, after which they will be ready for actual deployment. It has been an exciting journey so far, says Megha Dickson, of Alappuzha. From rescuing people in the mountains to handling chemical accidents, we have been trained to tackle various kinds of emergencies. Our training included industrial fire safety, underwater rescue, flood rescue, self-rescue, first aid, rescue in smokey and dark rooms, and basic life support (BLS). The academys facilities were great, and they made sure we followed safety rules every step of the way. The trainees sneer at the doubts raised on the toughness quotient required for the job. I never imagined I could lift a person heavier than myself through a ladder, but I was able to do that, says Anu S from Malappuram. The move to induct women has bearings on the role that women could play during rescue efforts, says district fire officer Reni Lukose. When we go on rescue missions, women and children are often the ones in distress, he explains. The presence of women in our team can have a soothing effect. Women fire and rescue officers can also help manage stress during difficult situations. Moreover, he adds, there is a need to educate individuals, especially in rural regions, about BLS techniques. The involvement of women officers in this initiative is important because they can organise hands-on training sessions and engage with womens groups within communities better, he notes. The first batch was admitted into the academy on September 4, 2023, after which they underwent the training and now the induction. It is a proud moment to be part of the training process, says Havildar Renitha, who is part of a group tasked with providing support to the new batch of women firefighters. Anusree V P, of Kozhikode, says it was a proud moment as her 10-year-old daughter was present during the passing-out parade. She always wanted to become a teacher. However, after seeing me in uniform with the cap, she also wants to be in a similar job, she adds. Knowing that she is proud of me fills my heart with joy. Societal challenges are tougher to tackle than physical ones, says in Sneha C M from Kollam. The first question from those who heard I was joining the force was: Dont you have any other job options? The notion that women cannot handle such jobs is ingrained in peoples minds. However, I am confident that we can prove them wrong, she says. Pics: S Lal Binsi S P, from Thiruvananthapuram, recalls how she took the physical test for the job just two years after giving birth to her child. People were astonished when they heard about my training achievements after the C-section. Many of us lacked a sports background. Yet, we have come a long way, she smiles. Tanur Fire and Rescue Service station officer Rajendranath M, who was in charge of ground training, admits that doubts had indeed been cast on the endurance levels of the trainees. However, they kept surprising us with their grit, he says. The higher-ups appreciated us after the parade. Now on, more women will be encouraged to join services like this. The motto of the force is We Serve to Save, and the women seem to understand it well. It is not just a job; it is a noble service, says Geetumol K M from Kottayam. A sense of achievement was palpable in all members of the team, well-emphasised by the commander of the passing-out parade, Sneha Dhinesh, who hails from Ernakulam. The parade was in front of the chief minister on Womens Day. The confidence I gained from here is going to propel me throughout my life, she says. There are 100 new posts for women in the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services. Officials in the academy suggest this allocation is insufficient. The recommendation is that each of the 129 fire stations in the state should have at least four women officers.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 10:12 am

Centre gives nod to inter-state transfer of captive elephants

THRISSUR: The Central government has issued an order allowing inter-state transportation of captive elephants through a Gazette notification on Thursday. Paramekkavu Devaswom, one of the organisers of Thrissur Pooram, which took the initiative to bring in an amendment to the Wildlife Act, has welcomed the Central governments move that came ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha elections. The shortage of captive elephants has been a major concern for festival organisers here. In Thrissur Pooram alone, close to 100 elephants are needed for various rituals. The latest development will benefit Thrissur Pooram as the organisers have already begun preparations right from booking elephants to making parasols for the parade. The Gazette notification states that captive elephants can be transported to other states after a thorough fitness examination. A veterinary expert should examine the elephant and issue a fitness certificate. The owner of the elephant should file an application along with the veterinary experts report to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state to which the elephant is transported. The Chief Wildlife Warden, within seven days, should forward the application to an officer not less than the rank of deputy conservator of forest. The transfer will be allowed only under three circumstances. The first is that the owner should no longer be in a position to maintain the elephant. The transfer can be done if the elephant can get a better upkeep compared to the present circumstances. The third condition is that the Chief Wildlife Warden should deem it fit and proper in the circumstances of the case considering the better upkeep of the elephant. The notification also makes it mandatory that the elephant should be accompanied by a mahout and an assistant. A certificate of fitness stating that the elephant was not in musth and its health condition is suitable for transportation should be obtained from competent authorities. The captive elephant should also be put under quarantine for a specific period after the transportation. Welcoming the move, Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G Rajesh said that it would be of great help for festival organisers as an acute shortage of elephants is being felt in the state. The elephants that are in good health at present are being stressed due to the shortage. With the new notification, the scenario will change. We have already made plans to bring in elephants from other states as and when the guidelines come into force, he said. Rajesh had met Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, raising the matter. Actor Suresh Gopi, during his term as Rajya Sabha MP, had also demanded to make inter-state transfer of elephants legal.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 8:45 am

Why Pulwama terror strike is talking point in Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency

The February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror attack is the talking point in Kerala's Pathanamthitta constituency where the state's ex-finance minister Thomas Isaac of the CPI (M) is facing a stiff challenge from sitting MP Anto Antony of the Congress and Anil Antony of the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The son of veteran Congress leader AK Antony, Anil Antony's campaign has been bolstered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the constituency on Friday. The Pulwama terror attack became a talking point after the sitting MP and Congress candidate shot himself in the foot by blaming the BJP government at the Centre for the attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway by a suicide bomber. As many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the attack. ThePakistan-basedterroristgroupJaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the terror strike. Will the big Congress bet on Muraleedharan winning Thrissur after Padmaja's switch pay off? Anto's statement triggered outrage, with BJP candidate Anil demanding an unconditional applogy from him. Anto retorted that he was only echoing the views of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik. It may be recalled that in an interview, Satya Pal Malik alleged that there was a massive security lapse on the part of the Indian government in Pulwama and that Modi subsequently tried to silence him. National Security AdvisorAjit Doval too instructed him not to speak about it, Malik asserted. Ten days after Maliks explosive interview, he was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi over an inquiry into aninsurance scam in Kashmir during his tenure. Meanwhile, for his part, Isaac affirmed that Pakistani terrorists were behind the Pulwama attack, but added that the Centre failed to take necessary steps to prevent the strike. Decoding Rahul Gandhi's face-off against Annie Raja in Wayanad and what it says about the India bloc

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 9:44 pm

Thrissur Lok Sabha polls 2024: Date, schedule, result, party-wise candidates and other key details

Thrissur, Kerala, has been alternating between electing Congress and CPI candidates. 2024 Lok Sabha polls will see a contest among Congress' K Muraleedharan, BJP's Suresh Gopi, and CPI's V. S. Sunil Kumar. T. N. Prathapan won last time from the seat with 93,000 votes.

The Economic Times 15 Mar 2024 3:22 pm

Bee fences on forest borders among major steps to curb wildlife conflict, says Kerala CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an attempt to prevent wild elephants from straying into human habitats, the state will install bee fences on forest borders, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. Since honey would attract bears, such fences will be grown only in forests that do not have the presence of bears. He said the number of wildlife attacks was on the rise due to the hot weather. A high-level meeting on Thursday reviewed the arrangements to prevent wildlife from straying into human habitats. A 24-hour control room has been opened at the forest headquarters. Emergency operation centres will be opened in 36 forest divisions. WhatsApp groups have been formed in the circle and division levels of the forest department to pass on warnings to the people. Efforts are on to form WhatsApp groups at the panchayat level, too. The service of 900 temporary watchers is utilised in areas where attacks are reported. Shrubs are being cleared at 66 plantations in the Wayanad region. Steps are being taken to purchase 64 pump action guns, two tranquilliser guns and four drones. As many as 264 vigilance committees were formed at the panchayat level. Steps have been taken to ensure the availability of water inside forests. A total of 341 ponds in Wayanad forest region and 249 in Idukki are being preserved. Of the Rs 13.70 crore set aside for providing compensation to wildlife attack victims, Rs 6.45 crore has been distributed. A seminar will be held in April to discuss ways to prevent wildlife attacks. Fight is between LDF & UDF Rejecting LDF convenor E P Jayarajans claims, Pinarayi said the electoral fight in Kerala was between the LDF and the UDF. The LDF will win the election and the BJP will face a huge setback, he said. Recently, Jayarajan had claimed that the major fight was between the LDF and the BJP and that the Congress got weakened in the state. He also said that the BJP has fielded good candidates in Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Thrissur and Kozhikode. Pinarayi also criticised Congress leader K C Venugopal for fighting the election though he will not win. The politically enlightened people of Kerala will not allow him to lose his Rajya Sabha membership. But he should introspect whether his decision was wise. Suppose he wins, the BJP will gain from it. BJP candidate will have an easy win from Rajasthan, he said. Poonjar issue: CM stands by statement In what could create political ripples during the Lok Sabha poll campaign, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday reiterated his stand on the attack against a priest at Poonjar. During an interaction with minority leaders, he had stated that the students who were involved in the car racing on the church premises were Muslims. The chief ministers remark had invited flak from different community leaders. I stand by what I said, he said in reply to a question at the press conference. The assistant vicar of Poonjar St Marys Forane Church was struck by cars when he intervened to stop a group of school students from racing vehicles on church premises last month. I n reply to another question over the investigation against his daughter, he said he had already stated his version. He expressed displeasure over the question by asking whether the reporter had hearing loss.

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 8:13 am

SARPA brings down snakebite fatalities in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As summer peaks, the state is facing an increased threat of snakebites. Experts advise caution as snakes turn more aggressive during summer which is their mating season. During 2018-19, a record number of 123 snakebite deaths had happened in the state followed by 71 deaths in 2019-20. Thanks to SARPA (Snake Awareness, Rescue and Protection app) mobile application launched by the state forest department in 2020, the number of casualties due to snakebites has come down. Annually, 12,000-15,000 calls are received by a trained group of 700 active volunteers from across the state which advises on giving immediate first-aid to the victim and also guides them to the nearest hospital where antivenoms are available. It has been found that the villain behind the maximum snakebite deaths reported from the state is Cobra. During 2020-21 the casualties had come down to a further 52. Statistics reveal that an average of 1,250 calls are received by SARPA volunteers every month. During the 2023-24 fiscal, 34 deaths have been reported due to snakebites so far. The SARPAs 2,400 certified volunteers which include 700 active volunteers get the maximum calls from Palakkad, Thrissur, Kannur and Ernakulam districts. Y Mohammed Anwar, assistant conservator of forests and state nodal officer for snake rescue who also heads the Special Investigation Team in Kollam told TNIE, Palakkad experiences humid conditions more compared to other districts which triggers the snakes to come out of their pits. Krait is a typical nocturnal snake which has been widely found in Palakkad. Deaths due to Krait bites have also been reported. But the maximum deaths due to snakebites is caused by Cobra, said Mohammed Anwar. Follow Karnataka lead in recording snakebites Centre launches national action plan to reduce snakebite deaths by half by 2030 Herpetologist Sandeep Das who is also one of the admins of the popular FB group told TNIE, Currently, we are undertaking a scientific study to evaluate the reasons behind the number of snakebite deaths coming down. I feel that there are multiple reasons for it. Apart from the SARPA app, medical facilities have been improved in hospitals. Post Covid, the majority of the district hospitals have ventilators which are also helping the snakebite victims to come out of danger. G S Roshni, forest officer at Paruthippally forest range division in Thiruvananthapuram, told TNIE, Over the last two years, I have rescued more than 400 snakes with Cobra topping the list followed by Python, Krait and Viper. Now the mating season is on when the snakes show aggressiveness when they come into contact with human beings. Scientists develop synthetic antibody that neutralises deadly snakebite toxin paving way for universal antivenom

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 7:38 am

Here's why Congress leader VD Satheesan claims 'BJP and CPI (M) have an unholy nexus'

Even though the Lok Sabha poll schedule hasn't yet been announced, electioneering is shifting to top gear in Kerala and the mercury levels on the campaigning trail are rivalling the searing heat across the state. The ruling CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and its main rival, the Congress, which heads the United Democratic Front (UDF), are reluctant to spare each other from stinging criticism. As allegations flew left and right came the CPI (M) Kerala state secretary MV Govindan's claim that the Left party is the only credible party the voters can rely on in Kerala. What followed was the response of leader of the opposition VD Satheesan to the allegations levelled by Govindan against the Congress party. Looking at the war of words, it is clear the CPI (M) has no qualms in tarring the BJP and the Congress party with the same brush. Writing in the party mouthpiece Deshabhimani on Thursday, March 14, 2024, Govindan, an ex-minister too, claimed that whether it be the electoral bond issue or the Citizenship Amendment Act, CPI (M) is the only credible party the voters can rely on. Govindan also argued that the CPI (M) is the only political party to move the Supreme Court against the electoral bonds. He noted that the CPI(M) was never ready to accept money through bonds.Parties including the Congress received money through electoral bonds, he pointed out. Decoding Rahul Gandhi's face-off against Annie Raja in Wayanad and what it says about the India bloc The CPI(M), Govindan added, came forward to oppose the Modi government which is going all out to polarize the voters on the basis of religion. Govindan recalled that when Article 370 of the Constitution granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court challenging it. When invited to the inauguration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury declined to participate saying that it was a political event aimed at the upcoming elections. Congress only came to this position after a few days, Govindan claimed and added that later, many Congress leaders visited Ayodhya. The Congress, which is has a soft Hindutva approach, is unable to confront the extreme Hindutva agenda of the BJP.It is because of this soft Hindutva approach that the Congress has lost miserably in states that directly clash with the BJP, Govindan further claimed. He also cited the defection of Padmaja and Anil Antony as having come about because the Congress is ready to cooperate with the BJP in economic and political policies. Kerala leader of the opposition VD Satheesan refuted the allegations and in turn claimed that it was the CPI (M) which has an unholy nexus with the BJP. Satheesan said the Congress party has taken a firm stand against the BJP's communal politics. He pointed out that Rahul Gandhi's yatras were, in fact, against the communal politics. So, what proof did he have for unholy nexus between CPI (M) and Sangh Parivar outfits? From the SNC-Lavalin (financial scandal) case in which the present Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several other leaders were involved to the multi-crore loan scam at Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur, there has been no progress, Satheesan noted. In the Lavalin case hearings, Satheesan added, he lawyers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Centre have sought 38 postponments. Will the big Congress bet on Muraleedharan winning Thrissur after Padmaja's switch pay off? A fact check here. It may be recalled that Vijayan and six other accused in the case were temporarily cleared of the charges by a CBI special court on November 5, 2013. But the CBI appealed against the order in the Kerala High Court on August 23, 2017. Vijayan was acquitted by the court. Presently, the CBI's petition against acquittal of Pinarayi Vijayan is pending in the Supreme Court. Secondly, Satheesan continued, in the gold smuggling case of 2020, Vijayan's then principal secretary M Sivasankar was arrested, but there has been no probe against the CM.. In the Karuvannur Cooperative bank scam, no senior leaders were arrested, he added. Then coming to the case against the CM's daughter Veena T , two statutory authorities have found that her IT company Exalogic Solutions had illegal transactions with several other companies. But nothing has come out of the probe till now, Satheesan said. Vijayan had meanwhile rubbished the charges against his daughter saying that the allegations were made to tarnish his image and defame him. In all the other states where the Congress is the main rival of the BJP, the central agencies have been busy investigating and arresting the leaders, but it is not so in Kerala, Satheesan argued. What else do you need to show the unholy nexus between the CPI (M) and the Sangh Parivar outfits? he queried.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 6:55 pm

BJP in Kerala confident of roping in more Congress leaders

As the battleline has been drawn for the LS polls in the state, the BJP is jubilant that it could wean away some prominent faces from the UDF and field them as candidates. The highlight of BJP's LS candidate list in Kerala is the inclusion of four former Congress leaders Anil Antony, C Raghunath, former VC of Calicut University, M Abdul Salam, and former Pathanamthitta DCC general secretary Baiju Kalasala. Of these, Anil Antony, son of Congress patriarch A K Antony, was the big catch for the BJP. Before leaving Congress, Anil was a national coordinator of the party's social media wing. In the 2019 general elections he was the digital media coordinator of Congress in Kerala. In the 2021 state assembly elec- tion also he was in charge of the social media wing. BJP has fielded Anil Antony in Pathanamthitta, one of its 'A' class constituencies. C Raghunath, former Kannur DCC general secretary, was associated with the Congress for five decades. He was chosen by Congress to take on Pinarayi Vijayan in the 2021 assembly election in Dharmadom. Raghunath is the BJP candidate in Kannur this time. BJP may field ex-Karnataka CMs Jagadish Shettar, Basavaraj Bommai in Lok Sabha polls Dr M Abdul Salam was the VC of Calicut University from 2011 to 2015. Though he was appointed as VC as a nominee of the Muslim League, Dr Salam was closely associated with Congress' teachers organisation at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani. Abdul Salam has been fielded by BJP in Malappuram constituency. Baiju Kalasala was the Congress candidate in the 2021 assembly election from Mavelikkara. Although he could not win, he garnered 43,013 votes. Baiju will be contesting as the BDJS candidate in Mavelikkara LS constituency. BJP state president K Surendran told TNIE that there was no surprise in the party fielding former Congress leaders. We have been allotting 25-35% of seats to new entrants, he said. Surendran said that many Congress leaders from Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur would soon join the BJP. However, Congress leaders chose to downplay the issue. Terming Abdul Salam as a Muslim League nominee, KPCC president-in-charge M M Hassan told TNIE that C Raghunath was not a prominent leader: Raghunath harbours strong anti-CPM sentiments. That might be the reason he joined BJP, he said. On Anil Antony and Padmaja Venugopal, Hassan said lust for power led them to ditch Congress. Anil asked his father A K Antony to recommend his name to Rahul Gandhi for a post at the national level. Congress may not get Tiruvallur, Tiruchi, Karur and Arani seats However, Antony reportedy told him to achieve it through merit. Anil's name was also considered for the post of KPCC secretary in Kerala. However, Antony told the then state president K Sudhakaran that it was unwarranted. Hassan said that the Congress would not face any problems even if more party leaders left the party. Leaders who have conviction in Congress ideology will stand with the party, he said. The CPM, which was critical of the Congress on the exodus, is watching the developments closely. CPM state secretariat member M Swaraj told TNIE that he has reliable information that more leaders would leave Congress. Two senior Congress leaders had held discussions with the BJP leadership. They had also decided to continue the discussion. I think Padmaja was also speaking about this when she said that more Congress leaders would join the BJP soon, he said. Surendran's claim leaves Cong camp guessing T'Puram: BJP state president K Surendran's claim that a few senior Congress leaders will be joining the saffron camp when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be coming down for election campaigning in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta later this week has left the Congress camp in the capital city guessing. Speculation is rife that the state BJP leadership had approached former health minister VS Sivakumar, former Kollam MP N Peethambara Kurup, and former KPCC general secretary T Saratchandra Prasad to join its camp. But the three leaders vehemently denied the claims and termed it as scandalous and ubbish. Key Telangana Congress leaders may get nominated posts ahead of Lok Sabha polls

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 3:05 pm

Ban on ferocious dogs: A blow to pet industry, animal lovers cheer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The decision of the Central government to ban the import, sale and breeding of ferocious dogs including Rottweilers, Pitbulls, and Terriers has come as a huge blow to pet lovers, breeders and pet business owners in Kerala. The decision comes in the wake of growing attack and death cases because of such ferocious dogs being reported in the country. Kerala witnessed a boom in the pet business after the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. The demand for hybrid dog breeds and exotic dogs, including Rottweilers and other breeds, increased prompting many people to invest in the industry. Animal rights activists have welcomed the ban with open arms. Its a welcome move and its about time the government took such a step. All these exotic dog breeds should be confined to their country and should ideally live in the climatic conditions in which they were born. Illegal breeding and unethical practices are rampant in the pet business in Kerala. We rescue a lot of such breeds, including Rottweilers and Pitbulls, from streets. They are abused and exploited by illegal puppy mills and when they are of no use they abandon them on the streets, said Maria Jacob, State Animal Welfare Board member and trustee of People for Animal (PFA). Many people took up dog breeding as a livelihood and invested a lot to meet the growing demand in the past couple of years. Pet supermarkets, hospitals, grooming centres and shops selling breed-specific accessories and foods mushroomed in the state.State secretary of All Kerala Pet Owners Association P Rajesh said that many of the dogs on the list banned by the Centre are not ferocious. Rottweilers are in high demand in Kerala and many people have invested a lot in this business. Most of the dogs featured in the banned list are guard dogs and are used extensively in estates, and plantations, said P Rajesh. He sells an average of five to 20 Rottweiler dogs every month. The demand for hybrid dog breeds and exotic dogs, including Rottweilers and other breeds, increased prompting many people to invest in the industry. The industry will lose 50 per cent of the business because of the ban and many businesses including the pet food business will be hit badly, he added. Those in the dog breeding industry who have invested a lot are the worst hit by the ban order. Many people have taken this up as a means of living and invested a lot with whatever savings they had. This is an unorganised sector and now after the ban order, we are coming together. The breeders from the entire country are affected and breeders from other states are agitated and we as a community may challenge the order in the court, said Desheeb M, a breeder based in Thrissur.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 9:22 am

Paytm FASTag: Paytm users should change their FASTag immediately, NHAI has given the last date.

Paytm Payments Bank: The last date for the ban imposed by RBI on Paytm Payments Bank is March 15. After this, Paytm FastTag will not be topped up. Therefore, NHAI has advised to get a new Fastag. Paytm Payments Bank: National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has advised those using Paytm FASTag to get a new FASTag issued by some other bank. NHAI has issued an advisory and appealed to all vehicle owners to get the new Fastag by March 13. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, by getting the new FastTag activated, vehicle owners will be able to avoid paying double tolls on the highway after March 15. This advisory has been issued due to the RBI ban on Paytm Payments Bank. RBI has banned Paytm Payments Bank The Reserve Bank of India had banned Paytm Payments Bank from taking deposits. Its last date is 15 March. Due to this restriction, now Payments Bank cannot take any kind of deposit or top up. Due to this, Paytm FastTag will not be able to be recharged after March 15. Following the guidelines of RBI, NHAI issued this advisory on Wednesday. Money will not be deposited in Paytm FastTag after March 15. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in its official statement that as per the guidelines of RBI, money cannot be deposited in Paytm FastTag after March 15. However, people will be able to use their remaining money. Therefore, people are being appealed to take the new Fastag. For any other information related to Paytm FastTag, users can also take the help of FAQs available on the website of their bank or Indian Highways Management Company. List of 39 banks and NBFCs issuing Fastag released Meanwhile, NHAI has also updated the list of banks and NBFCs issuing Fastag. 39 banks and NBFCs have been included in the new list. These include Airtel Payments Bank, Allahabad Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, City Union Bank, Cosmos Bank, DombivaliNagariSahakari Bank, Equitas Small Finance. Bank, Federal Bank, Fino Payment Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IDFC First Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, IndusIndBank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vyas Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Livquick Technology Pvt. Ltd., Nagpur Citizens Co-operative Bank, Punjab Maharashtra Bank, Punjab National Bank, Saraswat Bank, South Indian Bank, State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, The Jalgaon People's Co-op Bank, Thrissur District Co-operative Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India and Yes Bank are included.

Kalam Times 14 Mar 2024 9:12 am

Chennithala appointed as chairman of Congress's Kerala LS election campaign committee

Chennithala appointed as chairman of Congress's Kerala LS election campaign committee AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday appointed senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala as the chairman of the Congress's Lok Sabha election campaign committee in Kerala. In a statement, the AICC said that the Congress president has approved the proposal for the appointment of Chennithala as the chairman of the campaign committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee for the upcoming general elections with immediate effect. The Congress will contest 16 seats in Kerala, while the rest of the four seats will be contested by the constituent parties, announced Kerala Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan after the party's Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. Prominent among them are AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal and CWC member Shashi Tharoor. Kerala has 20 parliamentary seats. Chennithala's appointment coincides with the Congress's decision to once again nominate Rahul Gandhi for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. The Congress has fielded all the sitting MPs except T N Prathapan in Thrissur. The constituents of the Congress-led UDF will contest the four other seats, with the Indian Union Muslim League fielding candidates in two segments and Kerala Congress (Joseph) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) each fielding one. The party-led UDF had won 19 out of 20 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The number decreased to 18 after the Kerala Congress (M), which won the Kottayam seat, switched over to the CPI(M)-led LDF before the 2021 assembly polls. Notably, Congress on Friday released its first list of candidates for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. The names have been announced for Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana and Tripura. (ANI)

devdiscourse 13 Mar 2024 10:31 pm

Forensic reports delayed by years, undertrials forced to languish in jails in Kerala

KOCHI: Migrant worker Sanjay Oraon, 26, was arrested on October 21, 2019, for allegedly stabbing to death fellow West Bengal native and roommate Ajay Uravo at the house in Kunnathunadu where they stayed. Four years on, Sanjay has been languishing in jail. The trial in the case is yet to start. Reason for the delay: Non-receipt of the report and properties produced for examination from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) concerned. Sanjay is not the lone victim of such delays. Several undertrials are languishing in jails across the state because, as per the data available with the home department, reports in as many as 28,272 cases are yet to be received from the state, district and regional FSLs. This has triggered inordinate delays in starting trials and conduct of further investigations. Analysis reports of material objects in 3,549 cases under the Pocso Act are also pending. Officials cite staff crunch in FSLs as the reason for such delays. The state has 14 district forensic laboratories, one state FSL, and three regional FSLs one each in Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur. The labs, say officials, are operating well beyond capacity. As a result, thousands of samples remain untested, leading to a significant backlog. Clearing the backlog is expected to take several years, say official sources. James Vadakkumchery, a noted criminologist, cites shortage of forensic experts in laboratories as the main reason for the delay. In several cases, it took five to six years to receive forensic examination reports. This affects trial and further investigation, says James. Taking note of the delay on several occasions, the Kerala High Court directed the Kerala government to wake up and set up enough forensic science/chemical laboratories. It also directed to spruce up infrastructure and deploy technical personnel to ensure reports are provided to the court within three weeks. In a similar case in 2022, the HC observed that the pendency in the labs was mind-boggling. Obviously, a state like Kerala where the crime rate is high requires enough labs with highly skilled scientific officers and state-of-the-art equipment. Reports from the FSL and chemical examiner's lab form the backbone of the prosecutions case. Testing of samples must be swift, efficient, and accurate, and the report has to reach courts as expeditiously as possible. It has to be ensured that a sample forwarded to the lab is analysed and a report forwarded to the court within an outer limit of three weeks at the most. If reports are delayed as has happened in this case, the only conclusion that can be arrived at is that the system has collapsed and needs resuscitation, the HC had observed. When contacted, the forensic officials said when it comes to sensational and important cases, the reports are delivered timely to avoid any delay in investigation. There are 18 FSLs functioning in the state. As of now, there is no plan to set up new laboratories, says one of the officials, adding that on January 12 this year, the home department issued an order creating 28 additional posts of scientific officers.

The New Indian Express 13 Mar 2024 9:21 am

ISL match: Traffic curbs in Kochi on March 13

KOCHI: Ahead of the Indian Super League match at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor, on Wednesday, the Kochi city police have imposed traffic regulations in the city. Parking of vehicles near the stadium premises will not be allowed. People should use public transport system, including Kochi Metro, to the maximum, said police. Spectators from West Kochi such as Vypeen and Edavanakkad, should park their vehicles along the Chathyath Road. Vehicles coming from Thrissur and Malappuram should be parked at Aluva and people should travel by metro to reach the stadium. Vehicles coming from the eastern parts of the district should park their vehicles at Tripunithura. Vehicles from Alappuzha should be parked at Vyttila and Kundannoor. Vehicles carrying spectators will not be allowed to enter the city. Meanwhile, vehicles proceeding towards Edappally from Kaloor after 5 pm should take the Pottakuzhi-Elamakkara Road.

The New Indian Express 13 Mar 2024 8:16 am

30 people sign living will in Thrissur

The Hindu 12 Mar 2024 8:12 pm

LS polls: BJP's ambitious bid to overcome challenges in Kerala

LS polls: BJP's ambitious bid to overcome challenges in Kerala The BJP is intensifying its efforts to break its electoral dry spell in Kerala as the state braces for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With a concerted focus on outreach, particularly towards the minority Christian community, the party aims to secure a foothold in the southern state. Kerala's demographic landscape, with Muslims and Christians constituting a significant portion of the population, presents a formidable challenge for the BJP, perceived as a pro-Hindu party. However, the party is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to appeal to diverse voter segments. In a strategic move, the BJP has welcomed prominent Christian figures like Anil K Antony, son of Congress stalwart A K Antony, and seasoned Kerala politician P C George, into its fold. Additionally, the party is leveraging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent visits to Kerala, emphasising developmental agendas tailored to the state's needs. To bolster its electoral prospects, the BJP has strategically fielded two Union Ministers, Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan, alongside popular actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi. The party's campaign slogan, 'Modi's guarantee', underscores its reliance on the Prime Minister's popularity and leadership. 'Modi's guarantee' will be the main catchphrase of the BJP's electoral campaign this time in Kerala, party leaders said. While the BJP is confident that its strategy will play out as planned, the two major traditional players in the state politics-- the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF believe that it will not help the saffron party secure even a single seat. Disregarding the criticism and doubts raised by the Left front and the Congress, the BJP's state general secretary George Kurien said that the people of Kerala no longer have any trust in either of them which is why they will vote for the saffron party. To fulfill the party's desire to make inroads in the state and secure seats in double digits, as revealed by the PM during his most recent visit to Kerala, the BJP has fielded candidates who were best suited and ''fit'' for the job, Kurien said. ''We felt that they were the most fit, the best suited candidates to contest from Kerala,'' he told PTI in response to a query as to why the party fielded Union Ministers of State Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Gopi and Anil. Gopi, Muraleedharan and Chandrasekhar will contest from the Thrissur, Attingal, and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies, respectively, while Anil Antony has been fielded from the Pathanamthitta constituency. Explaining why Gopi has been nominated from Thrissur, Kurien said that he had managed to triple the party's vote share last time when he contested from that constituency. ''Similarly, in Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram too, we have seen an increase in the party's vote share,'' he said. Antony's son was also the correct choice, the BJP leader said. Terming the BJP's preparations as ''gimmicks'' Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan said it indicated the saffron party's ''lack of confidence to fight the battle politically'' as they have realised they are not going to get any political ground in Kerala based on their ideology. ''That is why they are running after people from other parties or actors. But they are thoroughly mistaken, as Kerala is a very political state, and for that very reason, the people will not accept such gimmicks,'' he told PTI. With regard to the nominations of the two Union Ministers, Muraleedharan and Chandrasekhar, the Congress MLA said neither was going to make a difference. ''They both tried their luck earlier, but none of them could make an impact in Kerala,'' he said. CPI leader P P Suneer too, was of the same view as Kuzhalnadan that the BJP's plans to make electoral gains in the upcoming LS polls are bound to fail. ''There is no possibility of their strategy working out in Kerala. It might work in north India, but not here,'' he said. He said that people in Kerala are very political and would not be swayed by film stars like Gopi. When it was pointed out that the actor managed to triple the party's vote share in Thrissur in the 2019 LS polls, Suneer said that was because of his novelty factor. ''It was the same when Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad last time. Five years have gone by. There have been a lot of issues since then,'' he said. ''There is no way the vote share would increase this time,'' he added. Regarding the fielding of the central ministers, Suneer said their presence would not influence voters as they have not done anything for Kerala. ''The PM only made back-to-back trips to the state and announced some projects, but did nothing to benefit the public. His visits are only for publicity,'' the CPI state assistant secretary said. Suneer also said that the recent defection of Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of late Congress stalwart and former Kerala CM K Karunakaran, to the BJP will not benefit the saffron party and has only served to spoil the public's faith in the Congress. ''The LDF will benefit from it,'' he added. Kuzhalnadan said that it was unfortunate that she moved to the BJP. ''But we will get over it. Karunakaran's son, K Muraleedharan, has decided to contest from Thrissur. It is a strong reply to the BJP. ''Padmaja going to the BJP will ultimately damage them politically,'' the MLA from Muvattupuzha contended. Regarding the recent statement of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan that the defections from Congress will erode people's trust in them, Kuzhalnadan said the Marxist veteran was trying to shift attention from the corruption allegations he was facing. Kurien on the other hand said that the Congress and the Left Front, being the political rivals of the BJP, will always say that the saffron party will get no seats in Kerala. ''But the people will prove them wrong,'' Kurien said.

devdiscourse 10 Mar 2024 8:40 am

Cong. candidate rejig in the face of BJP move in Alappuzha, Thrissur

Designated a star campaigner by BJP, Padmaja Venugopals involvement in Suresh Gopis electioneering will also arouse curiosity, particularly in light of her brother Muraleedharan candidature in Thrissur

The Hindu 10 Mar 2024 12:01 am

Secular values of the Left should triumph: A. Vijayaraghavan

LDF convention of Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency was held on March 9

The Hindu 9 Mar 2024 10:04 pm

Kerala: BJP Candidate Suresh Gopi Gives Party Workers an Earful

Thiruvanthapuram: Malayalam actor and BJPs high-profile candidate for Keralas Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency Suresh Gopi gave party workers a piece of his mind on Saturday for failing to mobilise enough number of people during his visit. Suresh Gopi was miffed over the low turnout when he came on a visit to Vellikulangara in Thrissur. What is the job of people working in booths if I am asked to visit a place where there are no people around? If this is the way you work then I will leave for Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow itself and work for BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrashekhar, he said while admonishing the workers. The actor said the BJP is engaged in a crucial battle in Thrissur, taking on the Congress and the ruling LDF. Suresh Gopi and the BJP camp were upbeat over former chief minister K Karunakarans daughter Padmaja Venugopals entry into the party the other day. However, their joy was short-lived as the Congress made a tactical move replacing the sitting MP T N Prathapan with K Muraleedharan who was to contest from his Vadakara seat. The BJP was expecting support from Karunakarans followers in Thrissur following the crossover of Padmaja. It believed that Padmajas arrival would result in a shift of a sizeable section of traditional Congress votes in favour of Suresh Gopi. But with Muraleedharan being fielded from Thrissur, the possibility of a shift now looks remote. Political observers say this is also one of the reasons why Suresh Gopi is disturbed. The BJP is pinning its hope on Thrissur where Suresh Gopi is now locked in a tight triangular contest with Muraleedharan and LDFs candidate and former minister V S Sunil Kumar. Earlier Muraleedharan received a rousing reception when he arrived at the Thrissur railway station on Saturday. Thrissur is gearing up for an interesting electoral battle this time.

Deccan Chronicle 9 Mar 2024 8:39 pm

K.C. Venugopal surprise name in first Congress LS list, K. Muraleedharan moved to Thrissur

Thiruvananthapuram, March 8 (IANS) Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopals name was a surprise among the Lok Sabha candidates from Kerala in the partys first list released in New Delhi on Friday. Presently a member of the Rajya Sabha, Venugopal returns to his home turf at Alappuzha, which he won in the 2009 and 2014 []

bhaskarlive 8 Mar 2024 10:33 pm

Rahul Gandhi to recontest from Wayanad as Cong announces first list of 39 candidates for LS polls

Rahul Gandhi to recontest from Wayanad as Cong announces first list of 39 candidates for LS polls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Kerala's Wayanad once again as the party announced its first list of 39 candidates on Friday. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has been fielded by the party from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal from Alappuzha (Kerala) and Shashi Tharoor renominated from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. However, the party has denied ticket to sitting MP T N Prathapan from the Thrissur constituency, while Venugopal will contest from the lone seat that the Congress lost last time. Tharoor will be contesting from the seat for the fourth time in a row from Thiruvanathapuram. Venugopal said the first list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. He also said there are 12 candidates below the age of 50 years, eight between 50 and 60 years, 12 between 61-70 and seven from 71-76 years. There are, however, only three women candidates among the first list of 39 candidates. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the list has a good mix of youth and experienced leaders, besides those who have been associated with the Congress party from their student and youth days and are connected with the grassroots. ''The Central Election Committee had met yesterday and has selected 39 candidates in the first list, which includes former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel,'' he announced at a press conference. Asked whether senior leaders have been asked to contest the Lok Sabha polls, Venugopal said this is the Lok Sabha election which will decide the future of the country. ''Our target is to win the maximum number of seats in this Lok Sabha election to eradicate this fascist government. That is the target. We are searching (candidates) for winning each and every seat wherever we can win. ''Senior leaders are there in this list and will be there in coming lists also,'' he said, indicating many senior leaders would figure in the forthcoming lists of the party. Among the candidates declared, six are from Chhattisgarh, seven from Karnataka, 16 from Kerala, four from Telangana, two from Meghalaya and one each from Sikkim, Nagaland, Tripura and Lakshadweep. Among the candidates declared by the party after the CEC cleared it, include Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon, Shivkumar Dahariya from Jangir-Champa (SC), Jyotsana Mahant from Korba, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund, Rajendra Sahu from Durg, Vikas Upadhyay from Raipur (all from Chhattisgarh). Besides, D K Suresh, brother of Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, has been fielded once again from the Bangalore Rural constituency, H R Algur (Raju) from Bijapur (SC), Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Math from Haveri, Geetha Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, M Shreyas Patel from Hassan, S P Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur and Venkataramegowda (Star Chandru) from Mandya in Karnataka. In Kerala, Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad, K C Venugopal from Alappuzha, Rajmohan Unnithan from Kasaragod, K Sudhakaran from Kannur, Shafi Parambil from Vadakara, M K Raghavan from Kozhikode, V K Sreekandan from Palakkad, Ramya Haridas from Alathur (SC), K Muraleedharan from Thrissur, Benny Behanan from Chalakudy, Hibi Eden from Ernakulam, Dean Kuriakose from Idukki, party's chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh from Mavelikkara (SC), Anto Antony from Pathanamthitta, Adoor Prakash from Attingal and Shashi Tharoor has been renominated from his Thiruvananthapuram constituency. For the Lakshadweep (ST) seat, the party has fielded Mohd Hamdullah Sayeed, while in Meghalaya, former chief minister Vincent H Pala will contest from Shillong (ST) and Saleng A Sangma from the Tura (ST) seat which the TMC was earlier demanding. For the lone Nagaland seat, S Supongmeren Jamir has been fielded while in Sikkim the party has fielded Gopal Chettri. In Telangana, the party has fielded Suresh Kumar Shetkar from Zahirabad, Raghuveer Kunduru from Nalgonda, Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy from Mahbubnagar and Balram Naik Porika from Mahabubabad (ST). For the Tripura (West) seat, the Congress has fielded Ashish Kumar Saha in its first list. The announcement came a day after the CEC finalised the names for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections following a discussion on over 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 states and Union territories. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshadweep. ''We are in election mode and are on an aggressive path of campaigning with Rahul Gandhi undertaking the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which is currently in Gujarat,'' Venugopal said. The Nyay Yatra will end on March 17 in Mumbai with a mammoth rally and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is writing to all INDIA bloc partners to attend that joint public rally, he said. There are speculations that Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Raebareli, a seat which was previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both the seats are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Congress first family should contest from there. Venugopal, however, did not answer questions on whether Rahul Gandhi would contest from Amethi too and said the seats will be declared after they are cleared by the CEC. He said the next meeting of CEC headed by the Congress chief would be held on March 11.

devdiscourse 8 Mar 2024 10:04 pm

Cong. springs a surprise in Thrissur, replaces Prathapan with Muraleedharan

The move comes close on the heels of Padmaja Venugopal, K. Muraleedharans sister, shifting to the BJP camp. Thousands of posters had been printed for Prathapan, the sitting MP, and now Congress workers are hard at work replacing campaign materials meant for him

The Hindu 8 Mar 2024 8:27 pm

Congress fields Muraleedharan from Thrissur to checkmate BJP's Padmaja Venugopal move

Amidst BJP's Padmaja Venugopal move, Congress surprises with K Muraleedharan's nomination from Thrissur. Seen as a tactical maneuver to counter BJP's influence, Muraleedharan's history of electoral successes strengthens his candidacy. Rahul Gandhi to contest Wayanad, reaffirming commitment. Congress announces candidate list for Lok Sabha polls, signaling strategic intent in Kerala's political landscape. All eyes on further developments as election fervor escalates.

The Economic Times 8 Mar 2024 8:25 pm

Cong CEC clears Rahul from Wayanad; Ex-CM Baghel to enter LS fray

Congress clears first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls, including Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad. Decision pending on Rahul Gandhi contesting from Amethi. 15 sitting Congress MPs of Kerala to fight again, except in Thrissur. K C Venugopal cleared to contest from Alappuzha. Bhupesh Baghel to contest from Rajnandgaon.

The Economic Times 8 Mar 2024 9:33 am

Karunakarans Daughter Padmaja Venugopal Joins BJP

Thiruvananthapuram: With former chief minister and Congress stalwart K Karunakarans daughter Padmaja Venugopal joining the BJP, the party has got a shot in the arm in Kerala ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls. Padmaja Venugopal, 63, who was Kerala PCC general secretary, received the BJP membership from Prakash Javadekar at the party headquarters in Delhi on Thursday. She blamed the Congress state and central leadership for forcing her to quit the party. I am so happy. This is the first time I am changing parties. I was not happy with the Congress for a long time. There is no leadership before which you can seek redressal for your grievances. I have great respect for Sonia ji but even she did not give me an appointment. I spoke about my grievances but there was no response from the leadership, she told media persons. Padmaja said she had complained to the leadership that people who were responsible for her defeat in the Thrissur assembly constituency in 2021 were brought to the helm of the party. I feel bad for the Congress workers since I had stuck to the organisation even when my father left the party. But I am sure they will understand why I took this decision, she said. Padmajas entry into the BJP was on the cards. The BJP central leadership had held a couple of rounds of discussions with her without taking the Kerala unit on board. Though Padmaja claimed that she joined the party without any conditions, sources said the BJP is exploring all possibilities; fielding her from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency and even a Raj Bhavan assignment. Padmaja, for the BJP, is a prize catch in Kerala which continues to remain out of bounds for the party. The party believes that her entry will have an impact in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency where the BJP has fielded a high-profile candidate like actor Suresh Gopi. Padmaja had contested back-to-back assembly elections from Thrissur in 2016 and 2021. In the last elections, she lost by a slender margin of 946 votes to the LDF candidate. The BJP feels that her presence will make an impact in Thrissur where Suresh Gopi is locked in a triangular contest with sitting MP T N Prathapan and LDFs V S Sunil Kumar. The Congress which made attempts to mollify Padmaja earlier, sought to play down her exit. The party leaders say she left Congress in search of greener pastures. Her brother and Congress MP K Muraleedharan hit out at Padmaja calling her a etrayer. Work from home leaders exit will have no impact on the party, he said and added that the Congress had fielded Padmaja from safe seats once in Lok Sabha and twice in Assembly. But she could not win any of these seats which spoke volumes about her popularity. K Karunakaran gave his entire life for the party and he fought against the communal forces. Unfortunately, his daughter is joining BJP, said veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. He claimed the Congress-led UDF would register a stupendous victory in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Former Mahila Congress president Bindu Krishna said Padmaja joined BJP under duress as ED had questioned her husband Dr Venugopal recently. Meanwhile, Prakash Javadekar who is in charge of Kerala said a big churning is set to take place in the state. People are attracted to Modi jis leadership. Our party will give respect, responsibility and role to Padmaja ji, he said.

Deccan Chronicle 8 Mar 2024 12:26 am

Kerala Congress leader Padmaja Venugopal joins BJP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Padmaja Venugopal, senior Congress leader and daughter of former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, has joined BJP. The senior leader received BJP membership from national leader Prakash Javadekar at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Padmaja said she was staying away from the Congress ever since her defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections. She expressed happiness in getting an oportunity to work under a 'powerful leader' like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a hard hitting, but short speech, Padmaja said she had raised comlpaints before the Congress High Command several times about how her own party colleagues who ensured her defeat in the 2021 assembly poll. Padmaja who initially addressed the media in English said she faced difficulty in working with Congress in her home town Thrissur. Expressing happiness in joining the saffron camp, Padmaja informed that the BJP leadership has not asked her to contest in the imminent Lok Sabha election. I have been neglected in the Congress party. Despite giving several complaints before the leadership, my grievances were not addressed. I believe my complaint letters were dumped in the waste basket. Those leaders who ensured my defeat were given party posts pushing me to a quandary. The Congress party in Thrissur fell into the hands of four to five leaders. Initially I thought of ending my political career. But I had a change of mind and decided to work with a powerful leader, Modi, said Padmaja in Malayalam. Earlier, Javadekar exuded confidence of bringing significant change in Kerala, hinting of Padmaja, walking away with key positions from the BJP. He informed that they will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday where Padmaja will be given a rousing reception at the airport. When news broke of Padmaja ditching the Congress on Wednesday night, KC Venugopal, national general secretary (organization) held talks with her. But the 64-year-old woman leader was in no mood to relent as she was firm in her demand to have the Rajya Sabha seat which has already been promised to the IUML. Younger daughter of Karunakaran, Padmaja who nursed political ambitions had never managed to win an Assembly or Lok Sabha election. She had unsuccessfully contested from Mukundapuram Lok Sabha constituency in 2004 and Thrissur Assembly seat during 2016 and 2021 polls. She had served as KTDC chairperson under the UDF government. In the party she was now serving as KPCC's Political Affairs Committee member. She had previously held the posts of KPCC vice president, KPCC general secretary and AICC member. The immediate trigger to join the BJP camp was the Congress decision to give a second Rajya Sabha seat to the Muslim League.

The New Indian Express 7 Mar 2024 7:11 pm

Two more killed in Kerala in attacks by wild animals

Thiruvananthapuram, March 5 (IANS) A day after a woman was crushed to death by a wild elephant in Keralas Ernakulam district, a man in the states Kozhikode succumbed to injuries suffered in a wild gaur attack, and another woman was trampled to death by a wild jumbo in Thrissur. Abraham, 70, who was injured in []

bhaskarlive 6 Mar 2024 12:28 am

Two more people killed in in Kerala in attacks by wild animals

Thiruvananthapuram, March 5 (IANS) A day after a woman was crushed to death by a wild elephant in Keralas Ernakulam district, a man in the states Kozhikode succumbed to injuries suffered in a wild gaur attack, and another woman was trampled to death by a wild jumbo in Thrissur. Abraham, 70, who was injured in []

bhaskarlive 5 Mar 2024 11:28 pm

Communal fascism and communism two sides of the same coin: Satheesan

Journey of Love against Hatred, led by T.N. Prathapan, MP, concludes at Puthukkad; the yatra, which began on February 20 from Vadakkekkad, toured the entire Thrissur constituency

The Hindu 5 Mar 2024 10:14 pm

Wild elephant tramples woman to death at Peringalkuthuin Thrissur

Valsala, wife of Rajan, tribal chief of Vachumaram Colony, went to collect forest resources

The Hindu 5 Mar 2024 9:07 pm

Human-Animal conflicts claim two more lives in Kerala

Kozhikode: The issue of human-animal conflicts continued to haunt Kerala as two elderly persons lost their lives in attacks by wild animals in Kozhikode and Thrissur districts, respectively, on Tuesday, March 5. According to police, Abraham, a 70-year-old farmer, was attacked by an Indian gaur at his farm in Kakkayam area of Kozhikode district around 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 .

The Siasat Daily 5 Mar 2024 8:08 pm

I offered crown to Lourdes church according to my capacity: Suresh Gopi

BJP leader promises gold to the tune of 10 lakh to the church if he wins from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency

The Hindu 5 Mar 2024 7:50 pm

A theatre festival where Nature was the co-actor

International Festival of Theatre Schools in Thrissur explored the intersection of theatre and ecology

The Hindu 5 Mar 2024 2:16 pm

As domesticated elephant numbers dwindle, temple festivals in crisis

As domesticated elephant numbers dwindle, temple festivals in crisis The vibrant and iconic temple festivals in Kerala including Thrissur Pooram, renowned for their grand procession of ornately caparisoned elephants, may soon witness a significant transformation. Elephant owners in the southern state warn that this cherished tradition could fade into memory within the next 5-10 years due to the declining population of domesticated jumbos. N P Shyamkumar, manager of the Kidangoor Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, one of the famous temples in Kerala, said that the lack of elephants was creating a crisis during festivals and the performance of rituals. ''There are 22 elephant processions during the ten-day festival (at the temple). The lack of adequate elephants creates a crisis for this ritual. Three elephants, which were regularly used in the temple festivals for two decades, died in the last two years,'' he told PTI. Shyamkumar further said that the cost of hiring elephants has increased more than three times in the last five years. ''An elephant, which used to cost Rs 30,000 a day, today costs more than Rs 1 lakh. Even if you pay this amount, you may not get an elephant on some days,'' he said. He also said that the Sree Subramanya Swamy Temple, which at one time used around nine elephants for the procession, now has only three to five elephants available at the most for the ritual. ''This year, for several days, there was only one elephant available,'' he said. In a state where at one time there were more than a thousand domesticated elephants, there are only around 400 now, and not all of them can be part of temple festivals, according to elephant owners in Kerala. P S Ravindranathan, the general secretary of the Kerala Elephant Owners Federation, said the main cause of the problem was the lack of rules for bringing jumbos from other states to the southern state. He said that in 2003 an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act restricted transport of elephants from one state to another. Then, in 2022, the Central government amended the Act by which the transfer or transport of a captive elephant for religious or any purpose by anybody having a valid certificate of ownership was allowed. ''Following that, states had to frame rules for taking elephants from one state to another or for change in ownership of the jumbos. ''But, no such step has been taken yet by the Kerala government,'' he told PTI. Rajesh Pallatt, a lawyer, an elephant owner and the state working president of the Kerala Festival Coordination Committee, said all that was required to solve the problem was a policy decision by the state government. ''If they take a policy decision that elephants are required for the festivals and poorams in the state, everything else will work out after that,'' he said. On contacting the Culture Department of the government, officials refused to comment on whether any such policy decision was in the offing. Meanwhile, as the numbers of domesticated elephants dwindle, especially those trained specifically for festivals, often the jumbos are overworked, and this leads to some of them getting agitated or acting out, Ravindranathan said. Another reason for such acts by the elephants is the use of jumbos that are not trained to stand for long periods amidst the loud sounds of festivals, Pallatt said. Both of them also suggested another solution to this problem of dwindling numbers of domesticated elephants -- capture and train the wild jumbos which foray into populated areas. Animal rights activists, on the other hand, say that subjecting elephants to the ''rigours'' of such festivals amounts to cruelty and temples should stop this practice. ''There is no need for elephants in temple festivals. We do not see this practice in Hindu temples outside Kerala,'' Angels Nair, an animal rights activist, said. He said that it is the Centre which has to lay down the guidelines for allowing the transfer or transport of live elephants by persons having ownership certificates and not the state government. Nair further alleged that elephants are given on lease to people for a few years at exorbitant rates and in order to make a profit, the lessees subject the pachyderms to intense working hours without proper rest or food and even beat them cruelly. ''All this results in elephants acting out in some instances,'' he claimed. However, many still believe that the presence of an elephant adds to the grandeur of the temple festivals and that it is a part of the state's cultural heritage. Kollam resident Subhaga Pillai, a member of the Thevalakkara Major Devi Temple advisory committee, firmly believes that use of elephants in poorams and festivals are part of Kerala's culture. ''A temple festival is not complete without an elephant,'' she said. Similar was the view of Ashokan, a building contractor, and Raju, a milk vendor, both of whom hail from Pathanamthitta district of the state. They both said that ''elephants are a must at temple festivals. They add to the grandeur and pride of these celebrations''. All of them expressed hope that the government would take steps to address this problem. But Nair said that just like various customary practices have been stopped over the years, use of elephants can also be ended. ''There is the option of using mechanical elephants,'' he said. In a first in Kerala, a life-like mechanical elephant was dedicated to the deity in a temple in the central Kerala district of Thrissur in February last year for performing daily rituals, instead of a real pachyderm. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India joined hands with award-winning actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, and held the 'Nadayiruthal' ceremony of 'Irinjadappilly Raman', a robotic elephant, at Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in the district.

devdiscourse 3 Mar 2024 9:03 am

PM Modi, Amit Shah in first BJP list of 195 candidates for Lok Sabha polls

PM Modi, Amit Shah in first BJP list of 195 candidates for Lok Sabha polls Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from Varanasi for a third time as the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, naming 34 Union ministers, including heavyweights like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh from their current Gandhinagar and Lucknow seats respectively. Two former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb -- also figure in the list which did not have many surprise omissions, as there were in the party's lists during previous polls, except in Delhi where four sitting MPs including Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union minister Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Bidhuri have been dropped. Bidhuri was recently in the news for his controversial comments against opposition MP Danish Ali. Besides Lekhi, Union minister John Barla (Alipurduar) and Rameswar Teli (Dibrugarh) have also been dropped. Another noticeable name that did not find a mention in this list is Sadhvi Pragya Thakur from Bhopal. The party has fielded one Muslim candidate: Abdul Salam from Malappuram in Kerala. The list of candidates for the 195 constituencies included nearly 155 seats the party had won in the 2019 polls. In this list, The party has dropped over 20 per cent of its MPs. Seven ministers, who were members of Rajya Sabha and were expected to fight the Lok Sabha elections, have been fielded in the polls. Jyotiraditya Scindia will contest from Guna (Madhya Pradesh), Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh (Assam), Bhupender Yadav from Alwar (Rajasthan), Rajeev Chandrashekhar from Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), V Muraleedharan from Attingal (Kerala) Parshottam Rupala from Rajkot (Gujarat) and Mansukh Mandaviya from Porbandar (Gujarat). Announcing the names of candidates, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde said they include 28 women, 47 persons below 50 years of age, 27 from Scheduled Castes, 18 from Scheduled Tribes and 57 from Other Backward Classes. The first list has 51 seats from Uttar Pradesh, 24 from Madhya Pradesh, 20 from West Bengal, 15 each from from Gujarat and Rajasthan, 12 from Kerala, nine from Telangana, 11 each from Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, five from Delhi, three from Uttarakhand, two each from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, and one each from Goa, Tripura, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Daman and Diu. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will fight again from Kota in Rajasthan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan returns to his former parliamentary constituency Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, which he represented for five terms before taking over as the state's chief minister in 2005. Union ministers Smriti Irani, who will fight from Amethi again, Jitendra Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, G Kishan Reddy, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Arjun Munda also figure in the list. Modi had contested from Varanasi for first time in 2014 as he led the BJP to its maiden majority in Lok Sabha. Since then, Uttar Pradesh has become a saffron citadel, with the party sweeping Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. Tawde said the party is confident that it would form the government for the third term under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi with a much bigger mandate. He also said that the party has been working on further expanding its footprint across various states and also to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance led by it. Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, whose controversial utterances have drawn flak several times, has been dropped. Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj, will make her poll debut from the New Delhi seat, replacing Lekhi. Kamaljeet Sehrawat has replaced incumbent MP Parvesh Verma from West Delhi, MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has come in place of Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi while Praveen Khadelwal, who heads a trading body, will contest from Chandni Chowk, edging out Harsh vardhan. Manoj Tiwari is the only sitting MP from the national capital who has been retained. He will again contest from North East Delhi while the BJP is yet to name candidates for two seats. Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh has been fielded from Asansol in West Bengal, currently represented by TMC leader and actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. The list for UP is full of sitting MPs with party leaders hinting that next lists may see some new names. The BJP had won 62 seats last time and is expected to contest from nearly 75 of its 80 seats in the coming polls, leaving some to allies. In UP, the party has fielded former BSP MP Ritesh Pandey from Ambedkar Nagar, while Hema Malini, Ravi Kishan, Ajay Mishra Teni, Mahesh Sharma, SPS Baghel and Sakshi Maharaj are among those being repeated from their seats. In Jharkhand, former Congress MP Geeta Kora has been fielded from Singhbhum (ST reserved). Modi has set a target for the BJP to win at least 370 seats on its own in this Lok Sabha election and more than 400 for the NDA. The BJP is looking to bolster its presence in southern states like Kerala, where it currently holds none of its 20 seats, and Telangana, where it had won four of its 17 seats in 2019. It has fielded actor Suresh Gopi from Thrissur in Kerala and is banking on some former BRS leaders to boost its tally in Telangana. The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule later this month and the elections are likely to be held in April-May. The BJP had won 303 seats in 2019 polls but currently it has 290 members in Lok Sabha, the number decreasing for various reasons including due to some MPs recently resigning after winning assembly polls. The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) had met for more than five hours Thursday night and deliberated on names for their first list. The next CEC meeting is expected to be held next week to discuss further names.

devdiscourse 2 Mar 2024 10:07 pm

Rajeev Chandrasekhar To Take On Tharoor and Pannyan in Thiruvananthapuram, Stage Set for Battle Between Ex-Technocrat and Ex-Diplomat

Thiruvananthapuram: After having tried unsuccessfully to beat Shashi Tharoor in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat despite fielding veteran heavyweights O. Rajagopal and Kummanam Rajashekharan, the BJP has chosen former technocrat and Union IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar to end the 15-year reign of the diplomat turned politician. The BJP believes that a high-profile person like Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has family roots in Thrissur, could spring a surprise in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency which has welcomed star candidates with open arms in the past. They cite the example of Shashi Tharoor who despite being a high profile UN diplomat, had no experience worth the name in the political landscape of Kerala. But he struck an instant chord with the voters of the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. Tharoor struggled with the Malayalam language in the initial days but that never came as a handicap for him. He connected well with all sections of society from techies of Technopark, government employees, the coastal population, farmers, agricultural workers, women, students and youth. In the maiden contest in 2009, he won by a huge margin of nearly 1 lakh votes. At that time the BJP had fielded P K Krishna Das who could manage only 84,000, ending up a poor third. But Tharoor faced a huge scare in 2014 when BJPs veteran O Rajagopal managed to reduce the margin to 15,470 votes. In 2019, Tharoor came back strongly, defeating a formidable candidate like Kummanam Rajashekharan by a margin of 99,998 votes. The LDF came third. The BJP camp believes that the anti-incumbency factor will work against Tharoor this time and it will be advantageous to Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The LDF has fielded a veteran leader in Pannyan Raveendran who is a former MP from Thiruvananthapuram. Pannyan who leads a spartan life, is quite popular in the constituency and the Left believes that he is the best choice in the present political circumstances. Apart from Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP is making a strong bid for Thrissur where actor Suresh Gopi is locked in a triangular contest with the sitting MP T N Prathapan and LDFs V S Sunil Kumar who is a former minister. The BJP has fielded veteran Congress leader A K Antonys son Anil Antony from Pathanamthitta. Union Minister V Muraleedharan will try his luck from the Attingal Lok Sabha seat. The list of 12 candidates of BJP for Kerala; M L Ashwini Kasargod, C Raghunath Kannur, Praful Krishna Vadakara, M T Ramesh Kozhikode , Dr Abdul Salam Malappuram, Nivedita Subramaniam Ponnani, C Krishna Kumar Palakkad, Suresh Gopi Thrissur, Shobha Suredran Alappuzha, Anil K Antony Pathanamthitta, V Muraleedharan Attingal and Rajeev Chandrashekhar Thiruvananthapuram.

Deccan Chronicle 2 Mar 2024 10:06 pm

Two Union ministers, three women and two minority faces in BJP's LS candidates list from Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar will take on three-time MP Shashi Tharoor in the Kerala capital of Thiruvananthapuram while Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan will contest from Attingal. As expected actor-turned-politician and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi will seek people's mandate from Thrissur. The BJP's list of candidates for 12 seats in Kerala, announced as part of its first list in Delhi on Saturday, contains two union ministers, three women in addition to two minority faces. Besides the Mahila Morcha, the party also accommodated the Yuva Morcha representative into the list. As TNIE already reported, regular faces were excluded from the candidate list. Though a slew of names including that of Union ministers S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman in addition to actor Sobhana were doing the rounds for Thiruvananthapuram, the party finally zeroed in on Rajeev Chandrasekhar. With this, the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram parliament constituency is all set to witness a strong triangular contest between NDA-LDF-UDF. While LDF has already declared former CPI state chief Pannian Raveendran as its candidate, Congress party's incumbent MP Shashi Tharoor has already ensured his candidature from here. As expected, V Muralidharan is the candidate for the BJP in Attingal, party state general secretary C Krishna Kumar is contesting from Palakkad and Suresh Gopi is the candidate in Thrissur. No other names were proposed for these three seats from the state. The national leadership decided to put Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader AK Antony in Pathanamthitta. Senior leader MT Ramesh has been given the Kozhikode seat while the party's woman face in Kerala Shoba Surendran will be fielded from Alappuzha. The party has clear calculations in fielding ex-Calicut varsity VC Abdul Salam from Malappuram. Besides Shobha, there are two other women candidates too. Niveditha Subrahmaniyan who will contest from Ponnani is the state president of Mahila Morcha and ML Aswini who will contest from party stronghold Kasaragod is the state general secretary of Mahila Morcha. List of BJP candidates in Kerala Thiruvananthapuram: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Attingal: V Muraleedharan Pathanamthitta: Anil K Antony Alappuzha: Shobha Surendran Palakkad: C Krishna Kumar Thrissur: Suresh Gopi Kozhikode: MT Ramesh Malappuram: Abdul Salam Ponnani: Niveditha Subrahmanyan Vadakara: CR Praphul Krishanan Kannur: C Raghunath Kasaragod: ML Aswini

The New Indian Express 2 Mar 2024 9:26 pm

ASI compilation camp held in Thrissur

The Hindu 28 Feb 2024 8:40 pm

Tiger captured in Wayanad shifted to Thrissur zoo

Tiger, aged about seven, which triggered panic among residents in Surabhikkavala, Thanni Theruvu and Vadanakkavalaareas near Pulpally, was captured on February 26 morning

The Hindu 28 Feb 2024 11:26 am

Brecht For Millennials

Like previous editions, the 14th edition of International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFOK 2024) which began in Thrissur on Friday has also set out with lofty goals. Organised by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, the festival...

The Times of India 10 Feb 2024 7:38 pm

BJP Christian connect affects Kerala balance

The function ticked all the boxes except the achievement list rolled out by the PM aimed at women. Kerala witnessed a grand Narendra Modi show the other day when the prime minister addressed over 2 lakh women in Thrissur, the states cultural capital. The meetorganised by the state BJP unit as a grand reception for the PM after the passage of the womens reservation billwas attended by women from all walksfrom anganwadi workers and teachers to nurses and celebrities. The atmosphere was charged with chants of Modi, Modi and Bharat mata ki jai , both alien to Keralas political framework. The PM, as expected, used the opportunity to drive the point that both the LDF and the UDF are failures as far as states interests are concerned and that BJP should be given a chance. The function ticked all the boxes except the achievement list rolled out by the PM aimed at women. The claims of drinking water connections, toilet construction and Suvidha sanitary napkin projects will not make much impact in Kerala, which has achieved all these and more years ahead. But the greatest takeaway from his 40-minute speech was his special assurance to the Christian community. While underlining BJPs commitment to their welfare, PM Modi gave the example of his partys victories in the Northeast as proof. Very old, very close and very warmthis was how Modi had described his relations with the Christian community during an interaction with its leaders at his residence last week; it was no coincidence that the dignitaries were mostly from Kerala. ALSO READ | Women celebrities share centre stage with PM Modi at Thrissur rally The BJP, which has not been able to open its state account except for a lone assembly seat in 2016, knows too well that the Christian community could be a gateway to break that jinx. The communitywhich accounts for 18 percent of the states population and is powerful politically and financially beyond its numbershas been a strong vote bank for the Congress. With the Congresss powers waning in the state, a section of the community had shifted to the Left; but that relationship is fraught with inherent contradictions. The BJP senses an opportunity here. After the recent assembly results, the Christian communitys mood is quite favourable to the BJP. But to translate that into votes, the party will have to have a credible state leadership. If that and a few strong candidates are put in place, the BJP will certainly have an unprecedented opportunity in the state in the near future.

The New Indian Express 5 Jan 2024 12:21 am

Why Thrissur Matters For BJPs Inroads Into Kerala

All eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Thrissur today (3 January), where he will have a 1-kilometre-long roadshow and address two lakh women as part of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Stree Shakti Modikkoppam Mahila Sangamam programme. The Prime Ministers visit also comes at a time when the government has been at Continue reading Why Thrissur Matters For BJPs Inroads Into Kerala The post Why Thrissur Matters For BJPs Inroads Into Kerala appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .

Our Voice WeRIndia 4 Jan 2024 11:22 am

On Day 2 In South, Prime Minister's Massive Roadshow In Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow in Thrissur on Day 2 of his visit to South India which is seen as a mega push towards the BJP campaign for the Lok Sabha elections due later this year. The party is holding a massive meeting for women in the state's cultural capital, which the Prime Minister addressed shortly after. Hitting out at the opposition, the Prime Minister said the Left and the Congress were two faces of the same coin.

NDTV 3 Jan 2024 8:41 pm