Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.Tamil Nadu Telangana Assembly Elections COVID-19 January 25, 26 Highlights: The Greater Chennai Traffic Police has announced that traffic will be diverted in Chennai on Wednesday from 6 am till the end of the function owing to the inauguration of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s memorial near the Labour Statue along Kamaraj Salai. The road between Light House and War Memorial along Chennai’s Kamarajar Salai will be closed from 6 am and will be reopened following the event.
The memorial will be unveiled on January 27 by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. As per a government release, alongside the Deputy chief minister O Pannerselvam, Tamil Nadu cabinet ministers, Parliament members, senior party functionaries will take part in the event which is scheduled to start around 11 am.
Spread over 50,000 square feet, the structure is built at a cost of Rs 79.75 crore alongside the Marina Beach in Chennai. The giant structure is right behind the memorial of former chief minister MG Ramachandran (MGR).
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 72nd Republic Day celebrations in Chennai today. A total of 20 police officers from the Tamil Nadu Police force will be presented with medals in recognition of their service amid Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu today.
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MK Stalin
The Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has invited applications for the post of engineer. A total of 26 posts are on offer. The candidates can apply at bel-india.in. The last date to submit the application form is February 18. Candidates will be selected on a contractual basis. While the applications can be filled online, duly filled applications complete in all respect may be sent through post to Dy General Manager (HR), Bharat Electronics Limited, I.E.Nacharam, Hyderabad- 500076, Telangana on or before February 18.
Candidates will be shortlisted based on marks obtained in their academics as well as the work experience. Of the total criteria, 75 per cent weightage will be given to the graduation score while 10 marks or 10 per cent will be given to relevant experience. For the remaining 15 marks, candidates will have to pass a video-based interview. Provisional appointment order will be issued to the selected candidates by email.
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DMK mouthpiece ‘Murasoli’ Monday launched a scathing attack on PMK founder Dr Ramadoss, who has called upon the “innocent” Vanniyar community to “take refuge at a safe place”, indicating that they shift loyalties to his party.
A full-page article in Murasoli took a jibe at Ramadoss’ recent comments asking whether he has any detectors to test the purity of the people he has referred to in his remark.
Authored by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s election-wing secretary Kuthalam Kalyanam, the article titled ‘Doctor’s day dream’ cited several references from Tamil ancient works to criticise the Pattali Makkal Katchi founder of “day-dreaming about patching up an alliance with DMK”.
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The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday with Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurling the tricolour at Chennai's Marina Beach.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave away medals and prizes including the Anna Medal for Gallantry, Kottai Ameer award for communal harmony, best performing farmer producer company and the Chief Minister's Trophies for the best police stations.
The winners of the Anna Medal for gallantry were P Mullai, a government high school teacher, loco pilot J Suresh of Vaigai Express and veterinary assistant surgeon Dr A Prakash. (PTI)
The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday with Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurling the tricolour at Chennai's Marina Beach. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave away medals, including for gallantry and communal harmony to various recipients.
Colourful cultural programmes depicting India's diversity from different states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana were performed at the event while a few floats were also taken out to mark the day.
The floats of 17 government departments including Police, Information and Public Relations, School Education and Health and Family Welfare were taken out in procession
Governor Purohit laid a wreath at the War Memorial on the occasion and took the salute during the Republic Day parade in Chennai. (PTI)
The Supreme Court Monday rejected the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s plea challenging the decision of the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold local body polls in Andhra Pradesh in February and attributed the problems to an “ego battle” between authorities.
“Ego problems between two authorities are causing all this…We will not be party to an ego battle”, Justice S K Kaul heading a two-judge bench remarked while dismissing the state’s plea which sought postponement of the polls on the ground that the vaccination drive against Covid-10 was underway.
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The Greater Chennai Traffic Police has announced that traffic will be diverted in Chennai on Wednesday from 6 am till the end of the function owing to the inauguration of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial near the Labour Statue along Kamaraj Salai. The road between Light House and War Memorial along Chennai's Kamarajar Salai will be closed from 6 am and will be reopened following the event.
All commercial vehicles heading towards Broadway from Adyar along Kamarajar Salai will be diverted at Greenways Point towards R.K. Mutt Road, V.K. Iyer Road, Devanathan Street, St. Mary’s Road, R.K. Mutt Road, Luz Junction, Luz Church Road, Royapettah High Road, Royapettah Tower Clock, General Peters Road, Anna Salai to reach Broadway. All other vehicles from Adyar, including MTC Buses will be diverted at Santhome High Road - Kutchery Road Junction towards Kutchery Road. These vehicles can reach Broadway via Kutchery Road, Luz Junction, Luz Church Road, Royapettah High Road, Royapettah Tower Clock, General Peters Road and Anna Salai.
MTC buses travelling along Route 27D on Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai and heading towards Gandhi Statue will be diverted at Dr. R.K. Salai - V.M. Street Junction towards V.M. Street and can reach Foreshore Estate via Royapettah High Road, Luz Junction, R.K. Mutt Road, Mandaveli Junction, South Canal Bank Road and Srinivasapuram.
MTC buses plying along route 21G from Luz Junction towards Gandhi Statue will be diverted via Nilgiris Junction- left –Musci academy-GRH. Roypettah Tower Clock, Whites Road, Smith Road and Anna Salai to reach Broadway.
Vehicles heading towards Gandhi Statue will not be allowed beyond Dr. R.K. Salai - Dr. Natesan Road Junction and will be diverted towards Dr. Natesan Road to Karaneeshwar Koil Junction. Vehicles will not be allowed beyond Wallajah Road - Bells Road Junction (except M.T.C. Buses) towards Kamarajar Salai and will instead, be diverted towards Tiruvallikeni highroad.
Anna Square Bus Terminus will be temporarily shifted to Raja Annamalai Mandram.
Vehicles heading towards from Parry's will be diverted at R.B.I. Sub-way (North) towards Raja Annamalai Mandram. Commuters can travel via Muthusamy Point, Wallajah Point, Anna Salai, Anna Statue, General Patters Road, Royapettah Tower Clock, Royapettah High Road, Luz Junction, RK Mutt Road, Greenways Point and T.V.Ka Bridge to reach Adyar.
“We were not surprised to be very honest. We know about Washi’s capability. Had Shardul continued batting, both of them would have scored centuries,” Washington Sundar’s father M Sundar told indianexpress.com after the player’s return from the historic Australia series.
While the excitement within the family was expected as they welcomed Washington back home, his father is more than happy to see his son after months. “He was in a bubble. We understand that these are part and parcel of a cricketer’s life but six months is a long period. We were a bit worried. Every day we used to have at least one and a half hours video call, Washington never skipped that. We just prayed that he be fine and we thank BCCI for taking care of all the players in such a good manner during a difficult phase,” said Sundar who once was a Ranji probable himself.
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The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducted 318 fever clinics in Chennai on Monday. A total of 17,832 people attended the clinics, with swabs collected from 151 people who were identified with ILI symptoms, while others were provided with medication for minor ailments.
The most number of camps were held in Tondiarpet (Zone 4) where 36 camps had set up, while Manali (Zone 2) had the least with six camps.
Bookings for the Chennai Egmore - Puducherry - Chennai Egmore Daily Express Special Trains commenced at 9 am today.
According to Southern Railway, Train No. 06115 Chennai Egmore - Puducherry Daily Express Special Train will depart for Puducherry at 6.10 pm on January 31 and will arrive in the union territory at 10.15 pm the same day. Train No. 06116 Puducherry - Chennai Egmore Daily Express Special Train will depart fro Chennai Egmore at 5.35 am on February 1 and will arrive in the city at 9.30 am the same day.
Enroute, the trains will have stoppages at Trisulam, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Madurantakam, Melmaruvathur, Tindivanam, Villupuram, Chinna Babusamudram and Villialur.
The train will comprise two second class chair cars, seven general second class coaches and two luggage cum brake vans.
Chief Justice Hima Kohli hoisted the tricolour at the Telangana High Court during Republic Day celebrations in the state on Tuesday.
“I take this opportunity to assure all the stakeholders that the Judiciary will keep working with dedication and sincerity by interpreting and implementing the mandate of the Constitution of India, in the best interest and highest good of the public, Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, Justice Hima Kohli said during her address.
Bar Council Chairman Narasimha Reddy, Avocate General BS Prasad, Additional Solicitor General T Surya Karan Reddy, Registrar General of High Court A Venkateshwar Reddy participated in the programme.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took part in the 72nd Republic Day celebrations held at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, Vijayawada on Tuesday.
The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has declared the seat allotment result of AP EAMCET on January 25. According to the notification, the result will be released after 6 pm today. Candidates can check the seat allotment result at apeamcet.nic.in.
“Registered candidates can get their login ID by sending SMS to 8790499899 as ‘APEAMCET (space) 01 (space) Your Hall Ticket Number’ through their registered mobile number. Candidates can get their allotted seat details by sending SMS to 8790499899 as’ APEAMCET (space) 02 (space) hall ticket number,” the notification mentioned.
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Hyderabad MP and AIMIM Party President Asaduddin Owaisi hoisted the national flag at Madina Building X Road, and Jamiat Ul Mominath Madarsa, Moghalpura in the Old City.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao unfurled the national flag and offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his camp office, Pragathi Bhavan today.
Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender unfurled the national flag at Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad and invoked Dr BR Ambedkar for giving the nation a robust Constitution.
He said several changes have taken place in the last 72 years but the country that Baba Sahib envisioned- a casteless, secular, and prosperous state, has not yet arrived.
On the occasion, he sought a great democratic secular state free from poverty and inequalities.
Somesh Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana hoisted the National Flag on Tuesday morning at BRKR Bhavan (temporary secretariat) on the occasion of Republic Day.
The Special Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Joint Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries, Secretariat Officers and Staff Members were attended in the program.
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan extended her Republic Day greetings to everyone today.
"The state government with full dedication, determination and commitment has successfully been able to reconstruct and rebuild the state. Though a newly born state, Telangana has achieved great success in several sectors and has been attracting the attention of the entire country and became a role model that is ‘Telangana Model’. Strong foundations are being laid for a Bangaru Telangana, where there is no hunger, no suicides, and where there is bountiful of peace and happiness, wealth and prosperity. With the support and cooperation of people, I am confident that this YAGNA of progress and development would be taken forward by the state government with unparalleled commitment and wholehearted dedication," she said in her Republic Day address.
The shooting of the Telugu remake of Malayalam hit Ayyappanum Koshiyum began on Monday in Hyderabad. The yet-untitled film stars Pawan Kalyan and Rana Daggubati in the lead roles.
The makers have planned a 10-day long first schedule to shoot a high octane action sequence involving Pawan and Rana, under the supervision of action choreographer Dilip Subbarayan.
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Two sisters were bludgeoned to death with a dumbbell, allegedly by their mother who had been suffering from mental health issues since the Covid-19 lockdown.
The incident occurred in Madanapalle mandal in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh Sunday. According to police, V Padmaja killed her daughters Divya, 22, and Alekhya, 27, after performing some rituals. Their father Dr V Purshottam Naidu was at home at the time of the incident and did not stop his wife, said police.
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Actor Vishnu Vishal on Sunday issued a statement explaining his side of the story after his neighbour Rangarajan called the cops on him. The actor was accused of disturbing the peace of other residents in the apartment by throwing loud parties regularly.
And on Saturday, Rangarajan called the cops on Vishnu after the situation allegedly became unbearable. However, the actor has rubbished allegations of creating a nuisance with large gatherings at the apartment in Chennai’s Kotturpuram.
“I rented an apartment in November. I was going to shoot among nearly 300 crew every day. For the safety of my parents due to my exposure, I decided to stay away from home. I have a lot of work related meetings since I’m producing FIR. I workout inside my apartment with gym equipment and go for a walk on my terrace. Since the day I have come, I have been accused by an apartment owner on the first floor. They have misbehaved with my staff, me and my guests who come to see me (sic),” said Vishnu in his statement.
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Superstar Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Annaatthe has a new release date. Production house Sun Pictures, which is bankrolling the movie, on Monday announced that the film will open in cinemas on November 4, 2021.
Earlier, the makers had plans to release Annaatthe in theatres in January during Pongal holiday. However, the shooting was not resumed immediately after lockdown relaxations last year in view of Rajinikanth’s safety.
The movie boasts an all-star supporting cast including Khushbu, Meena, Prakash Raj, Nayanthara, Keerthy Suresh, Sathish and Soori. D Imman, a long-time collaborator of Siva, is scoring the music for Annaatthe.
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Puducherry Minister for Public works A Namassivayam has tendered his resignation hours after the party suspended him from the primary membership for indulging in “anti-party activities”. He met the Speaker of the legislative assembly VP Sivakozhundu and submitted his resignation from the ministerial and MLA post (from Villianur constituency). Following him, Ossudu constituency MLA E Theepainthan also submitted his resignation.
Puducherry Congress president AV Subramanian accused Namassivayam of trying to pull some of the other legislators and senior party functionaries away from Congress. He added that Namassivayam was removed from the party with the consent of Congress high command, and those associated with him will also be removed soon.
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A total of 26 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date.
The health bulletin released by the Tamil Nadu health department stated that nine (six UK returnees and three of their contacts) of the 46 samples which had been sent to Instem Lab in Bengaluru were found to have the UK variant of the virus on Whole Genome Sequencing. While 26 have tested negative, the results of 11 more samples are awaited.
Seven of the nine patients have been discharged and kept under home quarantine after testing negative in their follow-up RT-PCR test, while two more are under hospital isolation.
A total of 26 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date. Among the 26 primary cases, nine cases were reported in Chennai, three each in Thanjavur, Madurai, Nilgiris and Chengalpattu and one each in Theni, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, Karur and Virudhunagar. Among the 20 contact cases, six were reported in Chennai, three in Thanjavur, two each in Nilgiris and Theni, four in Chengalpattu and three in Nagapattinam.
A total of 2300 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between November 25 and December 23, of which 2146 have been tested. Among these, 24 have tested positive, 2122 have tested negative and the tracing of more passengers is underway. Additionally, 3977 close contacts of the 2122 passengers who had tested negative were also tested for COVID-19 and were found to be negative.
A total of 941 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between January 8 and January 24, of which 667 have been tested. Among these, two have tested positive, 641 have tested negative and the results of 24 passengers are awaited. Tracing of further passengers is underway.
All the UK returnees and their contacts have been kept in isolation wards, according to the Tamil Nadu Health Department.
Among the 26 primary cases, 24 of them who tested negative in their follow up RT-PCR test have been discharged and kept under home quarantine. Similarly, all 20 contact cases have been discharged and kept under home quarantine.
Tamil Nadu recorded 540 positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the state tally to 8,35,280. Among these, Chennai reported 157 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,30,346.
The state recorded four deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 12,320. All four of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. The state discharged 627 patients following treatment, putting the total number of recoveries at 8,18,147.
As of Monday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 4813. Till date, 5,04,844 males, 3,30,402 females and 34 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 1,56,96,304 samples from the state have been sent for testing till date, with 55,919 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 253 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 68 are government and 185 are private facilities.
DMK leader MK Stalin Monday announced that his second leg of campaign for the upcoming Assembly election will begin on January 29 from Tiruvannamalai.
Addressing reporters outside the house of former DMK president late M Karunanidhi in Gopalapuram, Stalin said he will launch a special initiative ‘Ungal Thoguthiyil Stalin (Stalin in your constituency) through which he will address the public grievances across the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu. He added that if DMK comes in power, all these grievances will be addressed within 100 days.
A form will be provided to people and they can submit their issues directly to Stalin who is scheduled to visit all the constituencies within a month. People who won’t be able to appear in person can log into http://www.stalinani.com or dial 9171091710 to submit their complaints.
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The state government has announced that 20 police officers from the Tamil Nadu Police force will be presented with medals in recognition of their service amid Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
According to a release by the state government, three officers will be presented with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 17 officers will be given the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service:
Police Medal for Meritorious Service:
Violinist Rama Swamy Annavarapu from Andhra Pradesh, Villupattu theatre art exponent Subbu Arumugam from Tamil Nadu, artist Kanaka Raju from Telangana and mridangam exponent Nidumolu Sumathi from Andhra Pradesh were awarded the Padma Shri this year.
V Thiruvengadam, popularly known as “two rupees doctor” in Tamil Nadu for treating poor patients was awarded Padma Shri posthumously. He died in August last year.
The Padma Shri was awarded to 102 individuals – 29 of the Padma awardees were women; there were 10 in the category of foreign nationals, NRI, PIO AND OCI and one transgender. Sixteen people have been given the award posthumously.
Shortly after the announcement by the Home Ministry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said those awarded were exceptional individuals from different walks of life who brought qualitative changes in the lives of others.
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With Republic Day celebrations to be held along Kamarajar Salai in Chennai on Tuesday, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) have announced restrictions on vehicle movement along the stretch between Light House and the War Memorial from 6 am to 10 am.
According to a release by the GCTP, vehicles heading towards Broadway from Adyar will be diverted at Greenways Road. Commuters will have to travel via R K Mutt Road, V K Iyer Road, Devanathan Street, St. Mary's Road, Luz Junction, Luz Church Road, Karpagambal Nagar, Sivaswamy Salai, Royapettah High Road, Whites Road, Smith Road and Anna Salai. While these will have to be followed by commercial vehicles, private vehicles will be diverted from Santhome High Road-Kutchery Road Junction towards Kutchery Road.
Similarly, vehicles plying from Parrys to Adyar will be diverted at RBI Subway. Commuters will have to take an alternative route via Raja Annamalai Mandram, Muthusamy Point, Wallajah Junction, Anna Salai, GP Road, Whites Road, Anna Salai, American Consulate Service Road, Cathedral Road, R K Salai, Dr. Natesan Road, Karaneeswarar Pakoda Street and Santhome High Road.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 72nd Republic Day celebrations in Chennai today. The government had announced last week that cultural programmes of school and college students will not be a part of the Republic Day celebrations in Chennai this year amid the pandemic.
Appealing to people, students and the elderly to avoid visiting the Marina beachfront to witness the event on January 26, the government said this was aimed at preventing the gathering of a large number of people.
This year, "the cultural programmes of school and college students is avoided and district collectors have been advised to visit the freedom fighters and honour them with shawls," an official release had said.
The Raj Bhavan had announced earlier that the customary "At Home" reception will not be hosted by Purohit this year owing to the pandemic.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 72nd Republic Day celebrations in Chennai today. The government had announced on Monday that EPS and the Governor will be will be taking part in Republic Day celebrations which will be held near the Mahatma Gandhi statue along Chennai’s Kamarajar Salai today.
Good morning!
Welcome to the live blog from Chennai and Hyderabad where we bring to you the latest updates on Republic Day celebrations, Tamil Nadu elections 2021, COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, UK COVID-19 virus in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and more across Chennai and Hyderabad throughout the day. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the states in real time.
AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran has confirmed that expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala will be released from prison on January 27. Dhinakaran added that a decision on her discharge will be taken following consultations with doctors.
With Republic Day celebrations to be held along Kamarajar Salai in Chennai on Tuesday, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) have announced restrictions on vehicle movement along the stretch between Light House and the War Memorial from 6 am to 10 am.
According to a release by the GCTP, vehicles heading towards Broadway from Adyar will be diverted at Greenways Road. Commuters will have to travel via R K Mutt Road, V K Iyer Road, Devanathan Street, St. Mary's Road, Luz Junction, Luz Church Road, Karpagambal Nagar, Sivaswamy Salai, Royapettah High Road, Whites Road, Smith Road and Anna Salai. While these will have to be followed by commercial vehicles, private vehicles will be diverted from Santhome High Road-Kutchery Road Junction towards Kutchery Road.
Similarly, vehicles plying from Parrys to Adyar will be diverted at RBI Subway. Commuters will have to take an alternative route via Raja Annamalai Mandram, Muthusamy Point, Wallajah Junction, Anna Salai, GP Road, Whites Road, Anna Salai, American Consulate Service Road, Cathedral Road, R K Salai, Dr. Natesan Road, Karaneeswarar Pakoda Street and Santhome High Road.
The Tamil Nadu government has announced that 20 police officers from the Tamil Nadu Police force will be presented with medals in recognition of their service amid Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
According to a release by the state government, three officers will be presented with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and 17 officers will be given the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service:
Police Medal for Meritorious Service
Puducherry Minister for Public works A Namassivayam has tendered his resignation hours after the party suspended him from the primary membership for indulging in “anti-party activities”. He met the Speaker of the legislative assembly VP Sivakozhundu and submitted his resignation from the ministerial and MLA post (from Villianur constituency). Following him, Ossudu constituency MLA E Theepainthan also submitted his resignation.
Puducherry Congress president AV Subramanian accused Namassivayam of trying to pull some of the other legislators and senior party functionaries away from Congress. He added that Namassivayam was removed from the party with the consent of Congress high command, and those associated with him will also be removed soon.
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DMK leader MK Stalin Monday announced that his second leg of campaign for the upcoming Assembly election will begin on January 29 from Tiruvannamalai.
Addressing reporters outside the house of former DMK president late M Karunanidhi in Gopalapuram, Stalin said he will launch a special initiative ‘Ungal Thoguthiyil Stalin (Stalin in your constituency) through which he will address the public grievances across the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu. He added that if DMK comes in power, all these grievances will be addressed within 100 days.
A form will be provided to people and they can submit their issues directly to Stalin who is scheduled to visit all the constituencies within a month. People who won’t be able to appear in person can log into http://www.stalinani.com or dial 9171091710 to submit their complaints.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the “person through which” prior information on India’s air strikes in Balakot in Pakistan in 2019 was made available to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.
The Congress MP, however, did not provide evidence to back up his claim. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) also did not immediately respond to the unfounded claim.
Addressing a roadshow in Karur during his final day of election campaign in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, he said only five people including the PM and the Defence Minister would have prior information of the planned strikes.
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The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) will commence the counselling process for the integrated common entrance test (ICET 2020) from January 25. The candidates can participate in the online counselling process at sche.ap.gov.in.
The candidates need to submit their documents till January 29, and have to pay an application fee of Rs 1,200.
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Continuing to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his second day of campaign in Tamil Nadu, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged Chinese troops have occupied Indian territory and the man with “56 inch-chest” cannot even utter the name of the neighbouring country.
Addressing meetings here and in neighbouring Erode as part of three-day campaign tour of Tamil Nadu for the assembly elections to be held in the next few months, he also repeated his charge that Modi governed the country for just five or six
business people.
The Central government was not for the farmers, labourers or the Micro Small or Medium Enterprises, that are the nation’s future and abound in this region of the state, Gandhi, on a campaign tour of western districts, said.
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V.K. Sasikala, former AIADMK leader and close confidante of the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, is stable and comfortable after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
A health bulletin issued by the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) on Monday morning stated that she was conscious, alert and well-oriented, with her symptoms reducing, walking with support, sitting comfortably and consuming oral food normally.
Sasikala was admitted to Victoria Hospital last week after she reported symptoms like fever, cough and breathlessness. She was diagnosed with a severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), and initially tested negative for COVID-19 and later after CT Scan, she tested positive.
Dr C.R. Jayanthi, Director-cum-Dean of BMCRI, said in a press release that Sasikala was being continuously monitored in the ICU. Her pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate were said to be normal. "Her oxygen saturation on Monday was 98% with three litres of oxygen. Her blood sugar level is 205 and she is being administered insulin. Sasikala is cooperative for treatment,” Dr C.R Jayanthi said.
Meanwhile, Sasikala’s sister-in-law J. Ilavarasi, who was admitted to a dedicated COVID-19 facility at Victoria Hospital, is asymptomatic and stable. She is being also treated as per standard treatment protocols.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conducted 276 fever clinics in Chennai on Sunday. A total of 6088 people attended the clinics, with swabs collected from 65 people who were identified with ILI symptoms, while others were provided with medication for minor ailments.
The most number of camps were held in Tondiarpet (Zone 4) where 32 camps had been set up, while Manali (Zone 2) had the least with three camps.
A total of 256 flights will be operated between Chennai and major cities today, with 128 arrivals and 128 departures scheduled at the Chennai International Airport.
An ASHA worker died in the Government General Hospital in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday with her fellow workers alleging that she died following coronavirus vaccination. Guntur district Collector Samuel Anand said the exact cause of the ASHA worker’s death would be revealed only after a post-mortem but maintained that not a single Adverse Event following Immunisation was reported in the district as 10,099 healthcare staff were vaccinated in the first eight days.
ASHA workers staged a demonstration in front of the GGH demanding that a compensation of Rs 50 lakh be paid to the deceased’s family. A leader of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions that led the protest picked up an argument with the district Collector when he visited the hospital to console the family members of the deceased.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday accused DMK president M K Stalin of deception for posing with Lord Muruga’s spear like weapon, ‘Vel’ and said the divine symbol has come to leader of opposition’s notice since Assembly elections were round the corner.
On his second day of campaign in Coimbatore, the AIADMK top leader, referring to a photograph of the DMK chief holding the Vel alleged it was an act of deceit.
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After a gap of nearly one year, schools for class 9 and 10 students (academic year 2020 -21) in Telangana are set to reopen from February 1 and shall function till May 26.
According to a memo issued by the Telangana School Education Department on Saturday, the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations in Telangana will be held from May 17 to 26. “Every child who is willing to write the relevant exam shall be allowed to do so without insisting on minimum attendance and no such child will be withheld from writing the examinations on any ground,” it said.
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Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, who is serving a jail term in a corruption case and has been hospitalised for Covid-19 is stable, according to the hospital where she is undergoing treatment.
The symptoms have reduced and she is now stable, authorities at Victoria Hospital where Sasikala is being treated said on Sunday.
Her sister-in-law J Ilavarasi, who is also serving a prison term in the corruption case, has tested positive for coronavirus and has been admitted to Victoria Hospital.
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Tangedco has announced a powercut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm to carry out maintenance work.
Here are the affected areas:
A total of 26 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date.
The health bulletin released by the Tamil Nadu health department stated that a total of nine samples (six UK returnees and three of their contacts) which had been sent to Instem Lab in Bengaluru were found to have the UK variant of the virus on Whole Genome Sequencing.
Seven of the nine patients have been discharged and kept under home quarantine after testing negative in their follow-up RT-PCR test, while two more are under hospital isolation.
A total of 26 passengers who had returned to Tamil Nadu from UK and 20 of their primary contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 till date. Among the 26 primary cases, nine cases were reported in Chennai, three each in Thanjavur, Madurai, Nilgiris and Chengalpattu and one each in Theni, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, Karur and Virudhunagar. Among the 20 contact cases, six were reported in Chennai, three in Thanjavur, two each in Nilgiris and Theni, four in Chengalpattu and three in Nagapattinam.
A total of 2300 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between November 25 and December 23, of which 2146 have been tested. Among these, 24 have tested positive, 2122 have tested negative and the tracing of more passengers is underway. Additionally, 3977 close contacts of the 2122 passengers who had tested negative were also tested for COVID-19 and were found to be negative.
A total of 817 passengers had travelled to Tamil Nadu from UK between January 8 and January 24, of which 641 have been tested. Among these, two have tested positive, 620 have tested negative and the results of 19 passengers are awaited. Tracing of further passengers is underway.
All the UK returnees and their contacts have been kept in isolation wards, according to the Tamil Nadu Health Department.
Among the 26 primary cases, 24 of them who tested negative in their follow up RT-PCR test have been discharged and kept under home quarantine. Similarly, all 20 contact cases have been discharged and kept under home quarantine.
Tamil Nadu recorded 566 positive cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the state tally to 8,34,740. Among these, Chennai reported 168 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,30,195.
The state recorded seven deaths on Sunday, putting the state toll at 12,316. All seven of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. The state discharged 642 patients following treatment, putting the total number of recoveries at 8,17,520.
As of Sunday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 4904. Till date, 5,04,545 males, 3,30,161 females and 34 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 1,56,40,385 samples from the state have been sent for testing till date, with 62,619 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 253 COVID-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 68 are government and 185 are private facilities.
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