
BJP revamps state leadership; Sobha Surendran, Ramesh among general secretaries
Prominent woman leader Sobha Surendran, former secretary S Suresh and former Yuva Morcha national secretary Anoop Antony Joseph have been inducted as general secretaries, while senior leader M T Ramesh has been retained in the post. Notably, ex-DGP R Sreelekha and young leader Shone George figure among the 10 new vice-presidents.
The new office-bearers were announced on the day of Union Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state. Shah is expected to chair the state-level leadership meeting on Saturday.
The revamp, widely perceived as an attempt to rework internal dynamics and increase the party's appeal, includes a combination of seasoned leaders and successful career professionals. The appointment of a new team reflects the vision of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who recently took over as the party state chief.
With the reshuffle, current group equations within the party are anticipated to change. There are allegations that leaders close to V Muraleedharan have not been given due consideration in the revamp. Meanwhile, attempts have been made to ensure social and communal balance. A couple of leaders from minority communities figure among the new appointees.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Cong to decide on Raj's role in MVA if he & Uddhav reunite: Ramesh Chennithala
PUNE: The Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will take a call on Raj Thackeray's role in the alliance if he and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray formally reunite; the party's Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala said on Tuesday. Chennithala accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. The remark came at the end of the Congress's two-day, state-level workshop, attended by Chennithala and state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal. Asked about speculation following Uddhav and Raj seen sharing a stage recently, Chennithala told media persons, 'We have no objection if both brothers come together — that is their family matter. But as far as the MVA is concerned, once they reunite, we will hold discussions within the party and make a decision.' Also Read | Congress condemns Israeli envoy's reply to Priyanka on Gaza post, accuses Modi of 'moral cowardice' Chennithala attacked Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning why the CM was speaking on behalf of the Election Commission of India (ECI) after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about its functioning. 'Rahul Gandhi asked the ECI questions yet the Maharashtra CM replied on the ECI's behalf. Why?' Chennithala wondered aloud. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day workshop of the Congress in Pune, Chennithala alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ECI were working in collusion to undermine the democratic process during elections in the country. 'Vote chori' was first raised in Maharashtra. After the results of the assembly polls were declared, we raised doubts over the electoral process. It was obvious that the votes had been stolen. The BJP and the ECI had jointly snatched away our victory. This happened in Haryana as well, and the same will happen in Bihar,' Chennithala said. Also Read | Cong cites Jagdeep Dhankhar's move before he quit, takes a jibe over judge removal notice in Lok Sabha He accused the ECI of ignoring the information provided by the Opposition about suspected malpractices in various constituencies. In the LS elections held in May 2024, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was humbled by the MVA, with the Opposition bloc cornering 30 out of the 48 seats; Chennithala said. 'The MVA won the maximum number of seats in Maharashtra in the 2024 LS elections but 'vote chori' turned the mandate in favour of the Mahayuti in the assembly polls, held five months later,' he alleged. Also Read | 'Vote theft': BJP's lone Kerala seat in focus, Congress flags discrepancies in Thrissur voter list Furthermore, Chennithala said, 'The ECI cannot intimidate the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by sending him notices after he exposed the vote theft in Maharashtra and Bihar.' Gandhi is leading the protests against 'vote chori' to save democracy without any political motive. The Congress will intensify protests across the country by reaching out to the masses and conducting signature campaigns, Chennithala said. While the ECI has not clarified the 'vote chori' concerns, the BJP is defending the poll watchdog, Chennithala claimed. He alleged that the tariffs slapped on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump reflected the failure of India's foreign policy. 'The trade tariff has started hurting businesses. The country now remembers Indira Gandhi's valiant leadership during the India-Pakistan war in 1971. In contrast, our incumbent Prime Minister is scared to speak out against threats by the US,' Chennithala said. He claimed that the Mahayuti dispensation is running the 'most corrupt' government in the history of Maharashtra. 'They did not keep their promise on the farm loan waiver. The flagship Ladki Bahin scheme failed as many women were excluded from its ambit,' Chennithala said. He pointed at the allegations against minister of state for home, Yogesh Kadam, in connection with a dance bar in Mumbai and the controversy over cabinet minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session. Chennithala accused the BJP of deliberately delaying the long-pending elections to the local bodies in the state. Whereas Sapkal, addressing the party workers, said that the Congress has remained strong despite some leaders quitting. 'Those who left should not be spared any thought. We have a strong base. With local self-government elections coming up, the party must stand united to win in the municipal corporations and Zilla Parishads,' he said. The two-day workshop, held at a private resort near Khadakwasla dam, saw participation from all state-level leaders and office-bearers of the Congress. (with agency inputs)


Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Unsung no more: A celebration of silent change-makers
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya NEW DELHI: India's true strength lies in the hands of countless unsung heroes whose contribution to society often unfolds quietly, far from the spotlight, said Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, Union minister of labour and employment, and minister of youth affairs and sports. He was speaking at Adani Presents The Amazing Indians Awards 2025, hosted by Times Now. The event celebrated 13 exceptional individuals who have not only inspired change but also left a lasting impact on the lives of many. "These individuals embody the highest ideals of commitment and dedication, working tirelessly to bring about change in fields as diverse as agriculture, health, education, water, and community development. These changemakers are the living model of the country we aspire to be, where success of an individual is measured not in wealth or status, but in lives touched and communities strengthened. They work without expectation of reward, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a vision for a better tomorrow," added Mandaviya during his special address as chief guest at the event. The 13 winners felicitated across 12 categories included Ramprasad Sarkar (agriculture), Tapesh Mathur (animal welfare), Raghu Narasingasa Hubballi (disability, inclusion & accessibility), Shiva Balak Misra (education & skill development), Deepak Vishwakarma (environment & sustainability), Issa Fathima Jasmine M (food management & nutrition), Meera Satpathy (girl child & women's rights empowerment), Kkanchan Gupta (healthcare), Ekta Viiveck Verma and Triveni Acharya (human rights & legal aid), Kuldeep Raj Saxena (rural & slum development), Rajasekhara Raju Podili (water & sanitation), and Ambika Patel (social innovation using technology). The winners were shortlisted through a pan-India screening process by a jury comprising Neerja Birla, Padmaja Ruparel, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Prasoon Joshi, and Ashishkumar Chauhan.


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Panel ex-member: SEP lacks fundamentals of edu policy
Chennai: In a strong criticism of TN's State Education Policy (SEP) , L Jawahar Nesan, a former member of the high-level committee formed to frame the SEP, said the policy lacked fundamental elements of an education policy and urged the chief minister M K Stalin to withdraw the policy. Stalin on Friday released the 67-page SEP document for school education. Jawahar on Tuesday told reporters, "The policy lacked any concrete idea or proposal for the educational upliftment of all children in the 21st century and it aligns in letter and spirit with the National Education Policy (NEP)." "Any public policy should be released first as a draft policy for public consultation. While some stakeholders were engaged in a limited manner through public hearings to inform the policy's context, the draft policy was not subjected to comprehensive public consultation before being unveiled. This approach contravenes the fundamental principles of inclusive and participatory public policy making," he said. He said Union govt also released the draft NEP 2020 before releasing the final version. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Gold Rates Today in Chennai | Silver Rates Today in Chennai "The policy recommends current schemes such as the school observation app known as Palli Paarvai, the Educational Management and Information System (EMIS), proposed blockwise model schools, and STEAM learning as solutions to the lofty claim of producing future-ready students and inculcating 21st-century skills including critical thinking," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15+ Food That Clean Arteries (Most People Ignore) Undo "The means to achieve 21st-century skills are limited to app-based schemes. Teacher capacity building is confined to schemes such as the Payirchi Paarvai digital platform. The SEP appears to approach education in a lackadaisical manner, proposing populist slogans as solutions," said Jawahar. He said GO number 98, which gave terms and reference for the high-level committee, called for a distinct SEP for TN, keeping with the historical legacy, present situation, and future aspirations of the state. "The unveiled document does not reflect even an iota of understanding of what TN's distinct features, problems, conditions, and challenges are, nor how its recommendations can serve as genuine solutions to address these issues," he said. In a rebuttal, school education department said SEP preserves TN's educational autonomy while preparing learners for global challenges. "It provides a solid foundation to be built upon with regularly updated, measurable action plans. It also strengthens social justice, retains and upgrades welfare measures, and introduces future-ready curricula, ensuring flexibility," a release said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.