The New Indian Express News

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bringing the long-running Fort Kochi Pappanji tradition to Kovalam, a 40-feet-high effigy has been set up at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village and will be set on fire at midnight on December 31 as part of the New Year celebrations. This is the first time Kovalam is formally adopting the Pappanji ritual, believed to symbolise bidding farewell to the old year and its troubles. The effigy has been built over 10 days by a team of around 10 artists. The structure has been designe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Personal laws have been disguised as unchangeable divine words against modern Muslim women who are progressing with education and a sense of democratic rights, former Kerala Sahitya Akademi vice-president Kadeeja Mumthas said on Monday, adding that the persistence of these laws was the greatest challenge faced by them. She was delivering the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial Lecture organised by the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial Research Centre (VMMRC) at Christ Church Centenary Hall in Thir

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has appointed former additional government pleader and public prosecutor M Salahudeen as the special public prosecutor in the sensational suicide case of a young female doctor, who was a student of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital in 2023. Dr Shahana A J, a second-year PG student in the surgery department, died by suicide on December 2, 2023, at her apartment near the MCH. She took the drastic step after her lover, Dr EA Ruwais, who was also he

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new city corporation council will verify all allegations raised by previous BJP-led opposition, said Mayor V V Rajesh . In a brief interaction, Rajesh shared with TNIE his vision about the new city, corruption allegations, stray dog management, waste management reforms, electric buses, streetlights, and BJPs political prospects. Over the past five years, the BJP has raised several allegations against the corporation, including corruption and backdoor appointments. What ac

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Renowned art director and designer K Shekhar, 72, best known for his path-breaking work in My Dear Kuttichathan, passed away on Saturday morning at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram. Shekhar was the art director of My Dear Kuttichathan, Indias first 3D film. He is especially remembered for designing the famous rotating bedroom set seen in the song Aalipazham Perukkan, where children appear to walk on walls and the ceiling. The scene was created using a real mechanical rotat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF retained control of the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat on Saturday with V Priyadarshini assuming office as its ninth president. She was sworn in by District Collector Anu Kumari at a function held at the district panchayat hall. Priyadarshini, an LDF member elected from the Kallambalam division, secured 15 votes in the presidential election. UDF candidate Agnes Rani, representing the Venganoor division, polled 13 votes. LDF member B P Murali, elected from the N

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The streets along Kanakakunnu Palace were flooded with people and crammed with vehicles not a new sight to a Trivandrum resident in the festive days. Big-sized reindeer leading the way for Santa Claus sleigh at the mega entrance to the palace, trees lit up in colourful lights, and thematic light designs the Vasantholsavam light and flower show has become the best weekend getaway for all Trivians, with people of all age groups coming up to see how lights tell tales! The 8-ye

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Aryancode police have arrested six persons for allegedly creating a fake Instagram profile using a young womans photographs to cheat and extort money from a man, and for brutally assaulting him when he came to meet them. The arrested are Nidhin, 24, his brother Nidheesh, 25, Sreejith alias Sreekuttan, 24, Akhil alias Sachu, 26, and two Plus-II students. According to the police, the gang targeted Mahesh Mohanan, 40, a native of Kunnathoor in Kollam, by creating a fake Inst

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the mayoral election, 97 valid votes were polled out of the 101-member council. V V Rajesh won the election with 51 votes, including the support of Independent councillor M Radhakrishnan. Two votes were declared invalid. LDF candidate R P Sivaji secured 29 votes, while Congress-led UDF nominee K S Sabarinadhan managed to get 17 votes. Two UDF votes those of K R Cletus, councillor from Nanthancode, and S Lathika, councillor from Venganoor were declared invalid due to erro

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF has decided to initiate legal action in connection with the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation mayoral election. CPM leader S P Deepak alleged that 20 BJP councillors took their oath of office in violation of rules and that their votes should not be counted in the mayoral election. According to the petition of S P Deepak, 20 BJP councillors took the oath in violation of rules. Chempazhanthy Udayan of Mannanthala ward and Sugathan R both of them swore in the name of Sree N

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Newly elected mayor V V Rajesh and Deputy Mayor Asha Nath on Friday evening visited BJP councillor R Sreelekha at her residence, amid reports that she was unhappy over being denied the mayoral post. Sreelekha had left the council hall soon after Rajesh took oath and before he delivered his first address, even as Opposition councillors were still present. She did not participate in the celebrations, triggering speculation within political circles. Following the visit, Rajesh s

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the Kerala Film Chambers decision not to screen movies in government-owned cinemas from next month, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian said on Wednesday that inter-departmental interventions have been initiated towards their demands. They have given a letter regarding this, and we have held a discussion with them. But many of their demands require coordinated efforts of multiple departments, including Electricity and Local Self-Government Departments, the minist

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Syndicate of the University of Kerala has decided to appoint Prof Sam Solomon, head of the department of optoelectronics, as registrar of the varsity. Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohanan Kunnummal who chaired the meeting refused to place before the Syndicate the award of PhD to researcher Vipin Vijayan on grounds that the matter was sub-judice. Vipins open defence of his doctoral thesis had courted controversy after C N Vijayakumari, the dean of the faculty of oriental studies, ob

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP on Wednesday held a series of meetings with its councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation to finalise its mayor and deputy mayor candidates. Sources said that the party leadership decided to defer an announcement amid differences of opinion with the RSS. Though an announcement was expected on Wednesday, the leadership chose to keep the names under wraps after the RSS strongly pitched for an experienced councillor to be named mayor. Party insiders said the RSS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP will hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss and finalise its candidates for the mayor and deputy mayor posts. The meeting will be attended by senior party leaders and NDA councillors, after which the party is likely to announce its candidates, sources said. Party insiders said the BJP has almost finalised councillor R Sreelekha for the mayors post and senior councillor Manju G S for the deputy mayors post. However, senior leaders maintained that a final decision would

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With new revelations coming up in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, the special investigation team probing the case has been met with fresh claims that could further complicate the investigation. A businessman, named earlier by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, has reportedly told the SIT that the first accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, had close links with D Mani, an antique collector based in Chennai. It is learnt that in his statement, the businessman alleged th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralas first skin bank at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College has started processing donor skin, ushering in a new era in advanced burn care in the state. The facility, established alongside the Burns Unit, is expected to significantly improve survival and recovery outcomes for patients who lose skin due to severe burns and accidents. The harvested skin is preserved under specially controlled temperatures and undergoes a three-week chemical processing procedure. Once proc

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has agreed to increase the width of the vehicular underpass at Kumarichantha as part of the NH 66 development activities, informed Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. Noting in an X post that the decision came after his discussion on the issue with the NHAI chairman Santhosh Kumar Yadav, he wrote that the community leaders of the locality too have agreed to the NHAI decision. Requesting the people to call off their agitation an

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a gesture of environmental stewardship and festive goodwill, ITREK Trekking & Outdoor Activities Group mobilised a dedicated 25-member team for a large-scale plastic clean-up drive at Ponmudi hill station on December 20. Led by founder Suresh Sam Chandy, the volunteers targeted two key locations, removing heaps of plastic waste to restore the areas natural splendour. ITREK, a vibrant community of nearly 700 members from diverse backgrounds across the state and beyond, oper

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the Bharat Mata portrait row, the inclusion of Hindutva icon V D Savarkars picture in the inaugural calendar brought out by the Kerala Lok Bhavan has raised eyebrows. The 2026 calendar, intended to be circulated among the Lok Bhavan staff, has a stamp sized picture of Savarkar in the February page, highlighting his death anniversary on the 26th of the month. The calendar also has dozens of pictures of national icons against the dates related to them as w

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to address substance abuse among young professionals, the Prevention of Drug Abuse (PODA), a joint initiative of the state police and the private sector, is being rolled out, said state police chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar. The initiative focuses on preventing drug abuse at work places through cooperation between police and private institutions. Under PODA, private sector employees will be required to sign a mandatory declaration at the time of joining, stating that t

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A special fast-track court here has sentenced a man to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 65,000 for abducting two minor girls by impersonating a police officer and sexually assaulting one of them. The accused, Vishnu, 35, a native of Madathuvila near the Medical College, was found guilty by Special Fast Track Court Judge Anju Meera Birla. The court also directed that the fine amount be paid to the survivor and that the Legal Services Authority prov

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversial Varkala Dakshin Kashi project, launched at the ancient Janardhana Swamy Temple under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, has landed in legal trouble, with environmental activists filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court seeking its intervention. The PIL highlights the archaeological and immense heritage value of the nearly 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple and alleges that the project is causing damage to the temple. It further claims tha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Artist Subin Abrahams paintings are rooted in memories, emotions and self-reflection. And his latest solo exhibition, Sole on the Soil, on display at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, stands as a testament to that. The exhibition brings together paintings that represent the natural world and the essence of village life. Though Subin portrays the realities and hardships of rural life, they appear nostalgic and serene. Maybe he was trying to convey, the hardship behind the idyllic.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The suspense over who will be the next mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram corporation continued on Sunday, even as councillors took oath amid keen public and political interest. While the ceremony drew several leaders and supporters, the question about the partys mayoral choice prevailed among those present. Several senior BJP leaders had expected the party to announce its mayor before the oath-taking ceremony. When asked, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar told TNIE that

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Promising a visual treat, the annual flower festival Vasantholsavam at Kanakakkunnu Palace will begin on Wednesday. This edition plans to feature a wide variety of flowering plants, making it the grandest flower show ever held in the state capital. The 12-day festival will come to a close on January 4. Vasantholsavam, along with the annual light festival, is being organised by the State Tourism Department and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), in collaboration wit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special poojas were conducted and offerings made to mark the 31st day of murajapam ritual at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here on Saturday. As part of the ritual held once every six years, vedic scholars also recited devajapam and sookthajapam to mark the occasion. The temple was decked up to mark the occasion. Pooyam Tirunal Gouri Parvathy Bai, Aswathi Tirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai and Aditya Varma of the erstwhile Travancore royal family visited the temple during the vedic r

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Alleging that he was brutally assaulted by police personnel of Mannanthala station, a 46-year-old autorickshaw driver has raised a complaint. The complainant, Dastakeer, a native of Nalanchira, alleged that he was beaten up by the police initially at his house and later at the police station on Friday. He claimed that he was taken to the station and moved to an area without CCTV and beaten up on his back and thighs. Dastakeer, who is diabetic, also claimed that he was not eve

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after the declaration of results of the city corporation elections , the BJP which emerged as the single largest party is gearing up to announce its mayoral candidate by Wednesday. The delay in the announcement, with multiple contenders in the fray, has triggered discussions and criticism in political circles. The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected councillors will formally mark the beginning of the new councils term on Sunday, while the election to the post of

The season of choosing a star for the home, checking whether a string of lights glows white, yellow or multi-coloured, and decking up a Christmas tree is here. With just four days left for Christmas Eve, Thiruvananthapurams markets are preparing to see a heavy rush over the coming weekend. The market comes alive mainly in the evenings, once offices close, and schools let out. Families arrive together, taking their time to walk through the rows of shops. White Christmas trees continue to be popul

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mandatory licensing of pets and microchipping for vaccine compliance were among the proposals mooted by the State Animal Welfare Board in its first meeting on Friday, as it set in motion a comprehensive action plan to address the stray dog issue, strengthen animal welfare and improve shelter infrastructure across the state. Chaired by Minister J Chinchu Rani, who is also the board chairperson, the meeting also proposed stricter penalties for abandoning pets and establishment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to restore its lost charm and revive tourism at Kovalam, which was once Keralas most sought-after beach destination, tourism stakeholders including resort owners and hoteliers have launched a beach dining initiative at the iconic Lighthouse Beach. The move comes following prolonged apathy from the tourism department and the state government that has left the destination in a state of neglect. Poor infrastructure, lack of street lighting, police-imposed time restricti

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Drawing a clear line between central agencies probe against Congress leaders and those involving CPM leaders, AICC Media and Publicity Department chairman Pawan Khera on Friday said that catching the ED and CBI red-handed in the National Herald case against Congress leaders does not mean that every investigation conducted by agencies can be dismissed or used as a shield by others. Khera was responding to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans allegation that Congress was adopting d

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Expressing strong objection to the VB-G RAM G Bill, brought in by the Union government to replace MGNREGA, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Centre to refrain from implementing the new legislation in its current form. Going by the current proposal, Kerala would incur annual fiscal loss of about Rs 3,500 crore due to the new provisions, the CM pointed out in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Terming the proposed bill regressive and counter to the

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan on Thursday indicated his willingness to contest from Kazhakkoottam in the 2026 Kerala assembly elections, while making it clear that the final decision rested with the partys central leadership. Muraleedharan, while interacting with reporters in Delhi, said, Partys central leadership will decide whether I contest or not. I do have an interest in contesting from Kazhakkoottam, as I have been working there for a long time. The BJP certainly ha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala has felicitated the state government for securing the top achiever position in the National Ease of Doing Business (EODB)rankings 2024. The felicitation was held during the fifth meeting of the CII Kerala state council. Industries Minister P Rajeeve, Industries Department principal secretary A P M Mohammed Hanish, and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) managing director Vishnuraj were honoured for their le

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP on Thursday accused the CPM and its affiliated organisations of deliberately creating a crisis in the states higher education sector for political reasons. In a statement issued from the state headquarters, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the legal complications surrounding the appointment of vice chancellors were the result of the CPMs political hostility towards Dr Ciza Thomas. Chandrasekhar alleged that students and teachers affiliated with CPM-backed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Confusion continues to grip passengers at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station as last-minute changes in the timetable force them to sprint across the already crowded foot overbridge and board trains from the wrong side. The problem is most acute in the evening when three trains, Guruvayur Intercity Express (5.30pm), Kanyakumari-Punalur Passenger (5.35pm), and Vanchinad Express (5.45pm), are scheduled to leave in quick succession. Passengers are usually kept guessin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Terming the restructuring of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) one of the worst calamities that have hit the poor, social activist Aruna Roy commented that the change is an assault on democracy and an execution order on the poor citizens of the country. The peoples law, which was framed after years of formulation, rejection and examination, cannot be set aside by some law concocted in the ministry of rural development in a few weeks or months, she said. Roy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has opposed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025 , introduced by the Union Government in Parliament on the grounds that it transgresses upon basic regulations governing universities under the concurrent list. Higher Education Minister R Bindu told reporters here on Wednesday that the Bill, that provides for the establishment of an umbrella commission (VBSA) to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Educatio