Thiruvananthapuram, May 30 (IANS) A major anti-narcotics operation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) that led to the seizure of more than 24 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances across Kerala has underscored the scale of the drug menace confronting the state. Under ‘Operation Chakravyuh’, the DRI’s Cochin Unit seized substantial quantities of methaqualone, methamphetamine, and hashish oil in coordinated operations at Kochi, Malappuram, and Thiruvananthapuram.Five…
Latest Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar News & Updates
Thiruvananthapuram, May 29 (IANS) In a major gender focused announcement that immediately grabbed statewide attention, the new Congress-led UDF government in Kerala on Friday proposed up to three days of monthly menstrual leave for schoolgirls as part of an ambitious women and child-centric welfare roadmap.This was unveiled in Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s maiden policy address in the Assembly.The announcement, made during the first policy declaration of the government headed by Chief…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 29 (IANS) The very first working day of Kerala’s newly constituted Assembly on Friday witnessed an early confrontation between the Congress-led UDF government and Lok Bhavan, with a controversy over the rendition of Vande Mataram ahead of the Governor’s policy address.The flashpoint came even before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar began reading out the government’s maiden policy declaration.As part of the ceremonial reception accorded to the Governor, the Keral…
Chennai, May 21 (IANS) A fresh political controversy that erupted in Tamil Nadu on Thursday after the recitation of songs during the swearing-in ceremony of 23 newly inducted ministers in Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Cabinet reignited the debate over the place of Vande Mataram and the Tamil invocation song (Tamil Thai Vazhthu) at official state events.The issue resurfaced after Vande Mataram was played before the Tamil invocation during the oath-taking ceremony, drawing criticism from the …
Chennai, May 21 (IANS) The C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government will undergo its first Cabinet expansion on Thursday, with Congress likely to formally join the ministry in a move aimed at strengthening the ruling coalition and filling several key portfolios that have remained vacant since the government assumed office.The swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. at the Governor’s residence in Guindy, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will a…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 (IANS) In a politically loaded moment that underlined Kerala’s dramatic change of guard, veteran legislator and former CPI(M) strongman G. Sudhakaran was on Wednesday sworn in as a legislator of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan.Present on the occasion were Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his cabinet colleagues.Sudhakaran was nominated by the state cabinet on Monday as the Pro-tem Speaker, who was once am…
Chennai, May 11 (IANS) The Congress party is set to return to the Tamil Nadu government after over 55 years, following the formation of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.The development comes after TVK decided to allot two ministerial berths to Congress as part of the post-poll power-sharing arrangement forged after the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections produced a hung verdict. The new government was sworn in during a grand ceremony held at th…
Chennai, May 10 (IANS) The Communist Party of India (CPI) criticised the conduct of the swearing-in ceremony of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday, questioning why the state song ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was relegated to third place during the event, instead of the first.In a strongly-worded statement, CPI State Secretary M. Veerapandian said it was against the long-standing convention in Tamil Nadu to allow the rendering of ‘Vande Mataram’ during a government ceremony before givin…
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay will take the oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office to him.Several senior national and regional political leaders, film personalities and party workers are expected to attend the ceremony.Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Chennai to attend t…
Chennai, May 9 (IANS) Veteran Tamil filmmaker S.A. Chandrashekhar, the father of actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief C. Joseph Vijay, on Saturday expressed happiness after his son secured the backing of 120 MLAs to stake claim to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. Speaking exclusively to IANS on Saturday, Chandrashekhar reacted emotionally to the fast-moving political developments in the state and Vijay’s emergence as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s pos…