New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday made his first official visit to New Delhi after assuming office, holding crucial discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the state’s worsening financial condition, pending projects and the state’s future development roadmap. Addressing the media after the meetings, Satheesan said the Centre was briefed about Kerala’s priorities and the need for support for the state’s …
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Thiruvananthapuram, May 26 (IANS) In a dramatic escalation of the politically sensitive Nava Kerala Yatra assault case, five police personnel attached to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, including his gunmen, were suspended on Tuesday while the state government simultaneously weighed strong action against senior police officer M. R. Ajith Kumar over allegations of attempting to derail the investigation.The suspended officers include gunmen Anil Kumar and Sandeep, along with escort …
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The raging controversy over Munambam land dispute has ignited further, with Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar escalating the matter with the Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday and demanding urgent redressal of residents’ concerns regarding the registration of ‘highly contentious’ pieces of land on the UMEED portal. Chandrasekhar, in a letter to Rijiju, claimed that the Waqf Board registered more than 400 acres of land in Munambam on the portal …
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) In his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after leading the Congress-led UDF to a sweeping victory in the Kerala Assembly elections, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday held crucial talks with the PM in New Delhi, signalling the start of the new state government’s engagement with the Centre.The PMO office posted pictures of the meeting between the two.The nearly 20-minute meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office assumed political significance, coming …
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for the revival of the Opposition INDIA bloc following the recently held Assembly election results, but alleged that the Congress, the largest constituent of the alliance, took a stand contrary to unity-building. “The attitude of the Congress towards other opposition parties is not helpful in building the unity of secular forces in a united fight against the RSS-BJP, which is the need of the hour,” said a party statem…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 21 (IANS) In a moment that blended parliamentary tradition with rare political theatre, seven-time Congress legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was on Friday elected Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly after a historic three-cornered contest that underscored the new political equations in the state.For the first time in the history of the Kerala Assembly, the election to the Speaker’s post witnessed candidates from all three political formations represent…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 21 (IANS) The stage is set for the first major political contest in the newly-constituted Kerala Legislative Assembly, with all three major fronts deciding to field candidates for Friday’s Speaker election even as the Congress-led UDF enjoys a comfortable numerical advantage in the House.While the Treasury Bench has a strength of 102 in the 140 member house, the Left has 35 and the BJP three.Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is poised for victory as the…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 (IANS) Bringing an end to days of intense negotiations and political uncertainty, Kerala’s United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Wednesday finally completed the allocation of portfolios in the 21-member ministry led by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, marking the formal beginning of a new political chapter in the state.The last time a Congress-led UDF government assumed office in the state was in 2011 under the leadership of Oommen Chandy. The new ministry, howeve…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 20 (IANS) In one of the most politically significant decisions taken within days of assuming office, the Cabinet led by Chief Minister, V.D. Satheesan, on Wednesday formally moved to dismantle the controversial Silver Line semi high-speed rail project, announcing the cancellation of all land acquisition notifications issued for the project across Kerala.Addressing the media after the second Cabinet meeting of his government, CM Satheesan declared that all proceedings rela…
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…