Latest news with #KeralaCongress
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP fields Kerala Congress leader as party's candidate in Nilambur
Ending weeks of uncertainty, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national leadership in New Delhi on Sunday fielded advocate Mohan George as the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) candidate for the Nilambur Assembly byelection. Mr. George, who entered politics as a leader of the Kerala Students Congress (KSC), was a close associate of the late founder of the Kerala Congress (B) [KC(B)], R. Balakrishna Pillai, for long. He later switched to several Kerala Congress parties and joined the Kerala Congress, a United Democratic Front (UDF) ally. Voters' orientation The BJP, which initially termed the bypoll at the fag end of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government as inconsequential, had realised that it could ill-afford to remain on the sidelines in the pivotal poll, widely reckoned an approximate point of reference to gauge the orientation of Kerala voters in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly polls. Nevertheless, questions about Mr. George's current political leanings prompted the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) campaigns in Nilambur to accuse each other of 'gifting' the BJP a candidate from the Christian settler farmer community, a significant electoral bloc in the constituency. (The BJP had garnered 17,000 votes in the Nilambur Assembly segment in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.) Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph, MLA, denied the LDF's accusation that Mr. George was a party member. He said Mr. George had switched allegiance to the Kerala Congress (M), an LDF ally. The LDF countered it by publishing photographs of Mr. George attending the Kerala Congress district convention in Malappuram last month. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State committee member and LDF's candidate for Nilambur bypoll M. Swaraj said the BJP found the UDF a favourite hunting ground to poach for ideologically ambiguous leaders, and Mr. George was the latest. BJP membership Mr. George is a Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church member, an Oriental Protestant Christian denomination. He said he would soon accept the BJP's primary membership and file his nomination papers on Monday. Mr. George said BJP leader Noble Mather had invited him to join the party. He said the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, a BJP ally widely perceived as the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam's political arm with sizable pockets of influence in the backwards class Ezhava community, had declined the Nilambur seat and suggested his name instead. (Girish Mekkatu, a BDJS leader, garnered 12,000 votes in the 2016 Assembly elections in Nilambur. In 2021, the BJP's vote share in the constituency had dwindled to 8,500 when the party pitched its candidate T.K. Ashok Kumar.)
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP to contest Nilambur bypoll, fields Advocate Mohan George
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid speculations that the party would likely not contest for the Nilambur bypoll seat, the BJP leadership has announced their candidate, former Kerala Congress Joseph Malappuram district president Advocate Mohan George. 62-year-old Mohan George is a native of Chungathara. He is a lawyer by profession, working at Nilambur and Manjeri. He is the former general secretary KSC, KYF, Mar Thoma Sabha council member and Mar Thoma college council member. He also acted as a vice president at Chungathara Mar Thoma Church, YMCA Chungathara. The party leadership chose to pick the candidate from the Christian community in an attempt to split a chunk of Christian votes. The Christian community makes up about 12 per cent of the total votes in the constituency. BJP hopes to attract community votes in the aftermath of the human-wildlife conflict and the Munambam Waqf land issue. With PV Anwar also expected to contest, Nilambur will witness a strong fight. Earlier, there were differences of opinion among BJP leaders about whether to contest or not, since one faction inside the party thought the Nilambur by-election was an imposed one. Later, the BJP decided to leave the seat to BDJS, which also didn't want to take over the seat. However, the BJP decided to field its own candidate. In the last election, BJP candidate TK Ashok Kumar won 8595 votes with a vote share of 1.9%.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
LDF govt. trying to mislead people on wildlife issue: Kerala Congress
A day after the Kerala Cabinet resolved to seek the approval from the Union government to cull wild animals that threaten human life and property, the Kerala Congress led by P.J. Joseph alleged that the move was aimed at influencing the Nilambur byelection. Addressing the media, Kerala Congress deputy chairman and Kottayam MP K. Francis George pointed out that the existing legal framework already empowered the State to cull animals and that the government made the latest decision with an intention to deceive people who are facing regular attacks by wild animals. 'In fact, when this issue was raised in Parliament, the Union Forest Minister had said that the State Chief Wildlife Warden has the power to hunt, kill or capture, Schedule 1 and 2 wildlife species that are harmful to human life and cause damage to agriculture, as outline in the sections 11 (i)a and 11 (i)b of the Wildlife Protection Act, as per the circumstances. The Union Environment and Forest Minister confirmed this in writing in Parliament on September 2, 2024 and April 8, 2025,' he said. 'Moreover, when I raised a demand to amend the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on March 12, 2025, the Forest Minister reiterated his statement and said the Union Forest Ministry has given a written instruction to the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Wildlife Department in this regard,' Mr. George said. 'The letter from the Union Forest Ministry to the State government specifically states that under section 11(i) a and 11(i) b, the Chief Wildlife Warden or the officer designated by the Chief Wildlife Warden must be given permission to cull wild animals that pose a threat to human life or property. This letter was sent to the State government by the Deputy Inspector General of Forests on April 3, 2025. The State government's decision to seek permission to shoot wild animals, despite the existence of such a clear directive, is an attempt to deceive the people,' he said.
India.com
25-05-2025
- Climate
- India.com
Waterfall-Like Visuals At Delhi Airport After Heavy Rains, Congress Shares Video
Delhi Airport: After heavy rainfall in the national capital, a video surfaced showing a shed collapsing at Delhi Airport, creating a waterfall-like scene. The video shared by the official handle of Kerala Congress on the social media platform X showed water falling on a shed at the Delhi Airport, followed by the collapse. Vikas overflows in Delhi Airport after a drizzle. — Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) May 25, 2025 Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rainfall and strong winds overnight, which resulted in waterlogging, air traffic disruption, and other issues. According to IANS, regions of Delhi, including the Delhi Airport area, Minto Road, and Moti Bagh, faced waterlogging and fallen trees. Flights Affected The Delhi Airport has issued an advisory at 7 pm on Sunday stating that due to 'inclement weather conditions and changing wind patterns', flight operations might be impacted at Delhi Airport. It wrote, 'Our on-ground teams are diligently working with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience.' Furthermore, the Airport requested the passengers to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Passenger Advisory issued at 19:00 Hours#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory #BadWeather — Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 25, 2025 After heavy rainfall, 49 flights, including 17 international flights, were diverted between 11:30 pm and 4 am, ANI had reported earlier on Sunday. The Delhi Airport had also issued a passenger advisory at 06:50 am. In a post on X, Delhi Airport stated, "Due to adverse weather conditions last night, some flights have been impacted. Passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly and stay in touch with airline staff for updates." Earlier on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for the national capital and nearby regions, warning of strong thunderstorms, rain, and high-speed winds over the next two to three hours. Rain In Other Parts Of India Maharashtra's Mumbai also witnessed rainfall on Sunday morning, with the IMD predicting heavy rainfall in the state for the following few days. The southwest monsoon also arrived over Kerala on Saturday, nearly a week ahead of the usual onset date of June 1, according to IMD. With the early onset, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts of the state till May 28.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tharoor slams Kerala govt for aid to turkey in 2023; aid was part of union govt's ‘Operation Dost', Brittas reminds him
Amidst multi-party delegation's visit across the globe as part of government's outreach in wake of the India-Pakistan conflict, two Parliamentarians from Kerala Congress's Shashi Tharoor and CPI(M)'s John Brittas sparred over Kerala government financial assistance to Turkey after it was struck by an earthquake in 2023. Mr. Tharoor in a post on 'X' on Saturday (May 24, 2025), criticised the Kerala government's ₹10 crore aid to Turkey two years ago, as 'misplaced generosity'. To which Mr. Brittas said Mr. Thaoor's comments show 'selective amnesia', since it does not mention Narendra Modi government itself had launched Operation Dost to help Turkey. Mr. Tharoor is leading a delegation visiting the U.S., Panama, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia. Mr. Brittas is a member of a delegation headed by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha which is touring Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. 'I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later! Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores better…' Mr. Tharoor posted on 'X'. His remarks come in the context of reports that Pakistan used Turkish made drones during the conflict with India. Wayanad in July 2024 was hit by a devastating landslide which killed more than 300 people and destroyed large parts of three villages. Responding to Mr. Tharoor's post Mr. Brittas said, 'Have great regards for Shashi Tharoor. But these comments are symptoms of selective amnesia. It is amusing and puzzling why he had to belittle Kerala when he knows very well the Narendra Modi government itself had launched Operation Dost to help Turkey. Kerala basing is unwarranted.' At a External Affairs Standing Committee headed by Mr. Tharoor held last week, several members raised concerns over Indo-Turkey relations. With many emphasising that India should take care to repair the current breach.
