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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Senthil Balaji intensifies preparations in Western districts ahead of TN assembly election 2026
TIRUPPUR: Intensifying the preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, DMK West Zone in-charge and former minister V Senthil Balaji met DMK functionaries in Tiruppur and instructed them to expedite the election duties, on Thursday. Sources said that Balaji, who was previously in charge of Karur and Coimbatore districts, has now been appointed as the in charge of West Zone districts by the DMK leadership. As a result, the charge of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Erode, Namakkal and Karur districts for the elections have been handed over to Balaji, covering a total of 35 constituencies. In Tiruppur, Avinashi, Tiruppur North, Tiruppur South and Palladam constituencies are under Balaji, while Dharapuram, Kangeyam, Madathukulam and Udumalaipet constituencies have been assigned to Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Sakkarapani. Reportedly, Balaji is now holding secret consultations and meetings with DMK functionaries in the West Zone districts. Reporters have been barred from these meetings, and Balaji has also been avoiding press meets. On Thursday, Balaji met Tiruppur East and North district functionaries separately, gave suggestions, and also advised them to expedite election works. Speaking to TNIE, N Dinesh Kumar, district secretary of Tiruppur North, said, "This is purely an election-related consultation meeting. Senthil Balaji gave instructions to party functionaries to expedite election works." Reportedly, Balaji also issued instructions to quickly identify strong and weak polling booths and address them. "Balaji has instructed that all preparatory works be completed and ready by the end of January 2026, as the election date is likely to be announced by February," a DMK functionary said. Further, party functionaries said Balaji, who met party functionaries in Erode two days ago, instructed district secretaries to remove non-performing functionaries from their posts and appoint new active functionaries. In 2021, the AIADMK-led alliance won 44 out of 68 seats in 10 districts in the Kongu region. It won all 10 seats in Coimbatore district, and five of eight seats in Tiruppur. In Erode, the AIADMK alliance had won five of eight seats. "This will change in the upcoming Assembly election. Balaji is formulating strategies for this," said a senior DMK functionary.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM inaugurates infrastructure projects at Oddanchatram
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday inaugurated infrastructure projects worth ₹41.12 crore in Oddanchatram in Dindigul district via video conference. The Chief Minister inaugurated Gandhi Market commercial complex in Oddanchatram built at a cost of ₹2 1.25 crore, the girivalam path of Kulanthai Velappar Temple laid at a cost of ₹18.64 crore and the new panchayat office building at Keeranur built at a cost of ₹1.23 crore. The infrastructure projects in Oddanchatram were inaugurated in the presence of Food and Civil Supplies Minister R. Sakkarapani, Dindigul MP R. Sachithanantham, Dindigul Collector S. Saravanan and other government officials. Speaking at the inauguration in Oddanchatram, Minister Sakkarapani said that the State government was implementing various welfare schemes for the benefit of the people. He said that construction of 10,000 houses were underway under the Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam scheme. A new building for the Arts and Science College in Kallimandayam was being constructed at a cost of ₹15 crore, a new building for the Women's Arts and Science College in Ambilikkai was being constructed at a cost of ₹25 crore and a new building for an Industrial Training Institute in Virupatchi was constructed at a cost of ₹5 crore, he said. The competitive training examination centre at Kalanjipatti was established for the benefit of the students and many students had succeeded in the examinations. The Cauvery Combined Drinking Water Scheme was being implemented to provide drinking water to every household. Tenements were being constructed in Keeranur and Oddanchatram under the Urban Livelihoods Mission, the Minister said. Apart from these projects, a garbage dumping yard, sewage treatment plant and road repair works were also being carried out, he said, adding that vehicles were being provided for garbage collection. A new building for Oddanchatram Government Hospital was being constructed at a cost of ₹25 crore, he said.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala sanctions Rs 100 crore more for paddy procurement
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The distribution of procurement price for paddy collected from farmers during the current season will resume shortly, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G R Anil said on Wednesday. To facilitate this, the state government has sanctioned an additional Rs 100 crore. The minister said that the full procurement payment for 1, 45,619.915 metric tonnes of paddy collected during the first crop of the 2024-25 season has already been credited to the farmers' accounts. In the second crop season, 366,610.498 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured from 142,217 farmers so far. A total of Rs 212.86 crore has been disbursed to the farmers as procurement price till date. With the distribution of the newly sanctioned Rs 100 crore, an additional Rs 152 crore is expected to be released. The minister said that this would enable the government to fully settle the payments for the paddy procured from farmers. As part of expediting the procurement process, more officers have been deployed in major areas. The state also expects to receive Rs 1,108 crore from the Central government in connection with the paddy procurement.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
False caste claims: Issue of Lingayat-Jangamas claiming to be Beda Jangamas to get reservation benefit comes to fore again
A huge jump in the population of Beda Jangama community during the enumeration for Socio-Economic and Educational Survey conducted by H. Kantharaj-headed Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes had raised eye brows and was seen as caused by many belonging to Lingayat Jangamas allegedly counting themselves as Beda Jangamas. The reservation benefits that Beda Jangamas or Buduga Jangamas, a community that is part of notified Scheduled Castes (SC) list, was seen as a reason for many Jangamas, coming under the larger Veerashaiava-Lingayats grouping, classified as other backward classes (OBCs), choosing to identify themselves as Beda Jangama, which is among the nomadic SCs. In the court As enumeration of SCs for the purpose of internal reservation is under way, controversies surrounding Beda Jangama claims have emerged again. While the Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa has flagged the issue of Lingayats counting themselves wrongly to avail reservation benefits, the Beda Jangama community itself went to court flagging another issue. It called 'discriminatory' the retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das-led Commission on Internal Reservation making showing of caste certificates mandatory for the community members during enumeration. They pointed out that the Beda Jangama caste certificate issual had been stopped for several years, following the 'fake certificate' controversy, and therefore, many genuine community members also did not have certificates. Nagmohan Das Commission may seek change of names of certain Scheduled Caste communities that are used as cuss words in Karnataka 'Though we initially made caste certificate mandatory for Beda Jangamas because of the problems associated with a number of community members holding caste certificate. However, later, we made any one of the three – caste certificate, Aaadhaar or BPL cards - to be mandatory during enumeration,' commission sources said. Mr. Nagmohan Das also acknowledged that the higher number of Beda Jangamas in the survey could upset the balance. 'There is a standard benchmark to track population growth. Any huge increase should be noted. It is up to the government to decide,' he told presspersons recently. He also said that the survey cannot keep out those who have caste certificate. Wading into the controversy is also Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa, who has flagged the issue both to the commission and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 'It has come to notice in recent years that Veerashaiva-Linagayat Jangamas, who are culturally and socially different from Beda Jangamas, are taking caste certificate and enjoying the benefit of reservation. Only the Telugu speaking nomadic Beda Jangamas should be counted in the survey,' he said. 'Abnormal increase' Pointing out at 'abnormal increase' in the population of Beda Jangama community, the Minister said that the population, which was 5,141 in 1961 general census, had increased to 4,10,804 by 2015 when the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes conducted the survey. He pointed out that this Telugu speaking community found in the border districts of Bidar, Kalburgi, Yadgiri, Raichur and Ballari are a meat-eating, nomadic community of soothsayers, who seek alms from Holeya and Madiga community and perform rituals for their members. 'They are initiated into priesthood to conduct rituals by the Mala Jangama seers,' he said. 'The enumeration of Beda Jangamas that would include Lingayat Jangamas also is a dangerous trend. They may consider inclusion of the survey as a proof of they being SCs. In the long run, this will affect political representation too. The government needs to take a stern call on taking action against this,' said Basavaraj Kowthal of Madiga Samudaya Jagrithi Andolana, representing Dalit (left) caste. D. Chandrashekaraiah of Chalavadi Mahasabha, representing Dalit (right), also urged the government to take action against those who are claiming to be Beda Jangama.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Paddy growers prepare for stir as banks refuse loans against PRS
With the banks continuing to deny loans against Paddy Receipt Sheets (PRS), paddy farmers across Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad are gearing up to intensify their protests. As per estimates, around 7,000 paddy farmers in Kottayam district alone are awaiting payments for the paddy procured during the current season. The total dues are estimated at approximately ₹81 crore. Minister's assurance Despite assurances from Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil that the PRS payment issue will be resolved, farmers say banks are still refusing to accept their receipts. While the State Bank of India (SBI) is accepting PRS, it has only sanctioned loans against sheets dated up to March 31. Meanwhile, Canara Bank has reportedly withdrawn from the scheme altogether, allegedly demanding a hike in interest rates. 'Farmers have been waiting for their payments for over a month. Canara Bank has not accepted a single PRS this season. This is the first time a bank has completely opted out of the scheme,' said V.J. Lally, patron of the Nelkarshaka Samrakshana Samithi, a collective of paddy farmers. PRS loans effectively serve as advance payments for paddy procured by the government. The delay in issuing these loans is severely affecting preparations for the next cultivation cycle in the region. Although authorities had earlier proposed involving Kerala Bank in the PRS loan scheme, no action has followed in this direction. Taking note of the mounting crisis, the Kerala Congress has announced an indefinite protest. Party chairman P.J. Joseph has urged the State government to immediately release ₹100 crore as payment for paddy collected from various padasekharams (polder networks) in Upper Kuttanad. 'This prolonged delay is pushing farmers into deep distress. It's high time the State and Central governments implement practical and lasting solutions to the recurring crises in paddy procurement and stock reservation,' Mr. Joseph said.
