Always good to share views with experienced veteran: Tharoor meets Kharge after Kerala win

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met his party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Friday to share his impressions of the situation in Kerala and discuss recent political developments within the party.

In a post on X, Tharoor wrote: “Met with @INCIndia President Mallikarjun Kharge to share my impressions of the situation in Kerala and discuss recent political developments involving our party. Always good to share views with the robust, direct and experienced veteran!”

In a separate development, the Congress Legislative Party in Kerala, which met in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday (May 7), passed a resolution authorising the party high command to decide the next Chief Minister of Kerala, while AICC observers have begun consultations with legislators and senior leaders to assess preferences and build consensus on the leadership choice amid growing internal lobbying.

The decision comes even as key contenders within the party stepped up consultations with MLAs to consolidate support.

The political context follows a decisive victory for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, which ended the decade-long dominance of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). The verdict reflects strong anti-incumbency sentiment, with voters opting for change and reshaping the state’s political landscape after ten years.

The UDF secured a strong majority, with Congress winning 63 seats and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), securing 22 seats. The LDF managed 26 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) failed to make a significant impact, winning only three seats.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan won from the Dharmadam constituency with 85,614 votes, defeating Congress candidate V.P. Abdul Rasheed by 19,247 votes, even as his party faced a broader statewide setback.

With the UDF now set to form the government, internal discussions have intensified over the chief ministerial choice, with the final decision expected from the Congress high command in the coming days.

–IANS

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Odisha: Vigilance arrests woman police inspector on graft charges

Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (IANS) The Odisha Vigilance on Thursday arrested a woman police officer after she was caught red-handed while allegedly taking a bribe to facilitate bail for an accused in a criminal case.

The officer has been identified as Sukma Hansdah, who is posted as the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Dasmantpur Police Station in Koraput district.

According to Vigilance sources, Hansdah was apprehended by anti-corruption sleuths while demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a relative of an accused in exchange for submitting the case diary before the court.

The accused is reportedly involved in a women’s atrocity case that was earlier registered at Dasmantpur Police Station, of which IIC Hansdah herself was the investigating officer.

Sources revealed that the accused in the case had already been lodged in judicial custody, and the court had formally called for the case diary to proceed with the hearing. It was alleged that Hansdah insisted on payment of the bribe for producing the case diary in court, an act that would help the accused secure bail.

Following repeated demands, a relative of the accused approached the Odisha Vigilance authorities and lodged a complaint detailing the alleged bribery demand.

“Based on the above complaint, a trap was laid on Thursday, wherein the accused Sukma Hansdah, IIC, was nabbed by the team of Odisha Vigilance inside Dasmantpur Police Station premises for demanding undue advantage of Rs 20,000 from a relative of the accused.

The entire bribe money was recovered and seized from the possession of Hansdah in the presence of witnesses,” informed a senior Vigilance official.

After the successful trap operation, Vigilance teams conducted simultaneous searches at Hansdah’s residential government quarters at Dasmantpur as well as her office chamber. Relevant documents and materials were examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

Following the trap, Hansdah was produced before the court and later remanded to judicial custody.

–IANS

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Global tariffs to be offset by local markets, exporters to gain new opportunities: Varanasi Professor

Varanasi, Sep 3 (IANS) As the 56th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, began in New Delhi, Professor Anoop Kumar Mishra, Head of the Economics Department at Varanasi’s DAV College (affiliated to BHU) on Wednesday said that the government is attempting to use the domestic market to cushion the impact of global tariff wars on Indian exporters.

“Today’s meeting can be seen from two perspectives. First, the tariff war initiated by US President Donald Trump. Because of this, Indian exporters are facing difficulties. When our products go abroad, nearly 50 per cent additional duty is imposed on them,” Professor Mishra told IANS.

The two-day Council meeting, scheduled for September 3-4, is expected to discuss rate rationalisation. Proposals on the table include eliminating the 12 per cent and 28 per cent GST slabs and moving towards a simplified structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, along with a 40 per cent slab for so-called “sin goods”.

Mishra highlighted the second key context for the meeting – India’s approaching festive season.

“This 56th meeting is taking place just before festivals, when consumer demand traditionally rises. The government is trying to ensure that the losses exporters face from global tariffs can be compensated through the internal market. This is India’s answer to the tariff war,” he added.

He linked the strategy to the government’s push for ‘Vocal for Local.’

“India is promoting indigenous products. The Prime Minister has consistently stressed that self-reliance will come from strengthening local industries. The GST decisions under consideration aim to support that vision,” he said.

Mishra added that rationalising GST could boost consumption and simultaneously support government revenue.

“With festivals approaching, consumer numbers will increase. Lower GST rates will make goods cheaper, encouraging demand. When demand rises, government revenue also deepens. It becomes a win-win situation for both consumers and the state. These decisions will be historic,” he added.

He also underlined the benefits for those unable to export their products abroad due to high tariffs.

“Such producers will now find opportunities in the domestic market. This will generate revenue, benefit consumers with lower prices, and allow exporters to reduce their losses. Everyone gains,” he told IANS.

The GST Council meeting brings together the Union and state Finance Ministers with the agenda of structural reforms in GST, including rate changes, simplifying compliance, and exploring new compensation mechanisms for states. A preparatory officers’ meeting was held on Tuesday to lay the groundwork for the key discussions.

–IANS

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Mizoram Governor stresses need to strengthen soldier-civilian bonds

Gangtok/Aizawl, Oct 26 (IANS) Mizoram Governor General V.K. Singh (Retd) on Sunday emphasised fostering stronger ties between soldiers and civilians.

The Governor on Sunday flagged off the ‘Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0’ (a hill half-marathon) at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.

Addressing the function, General Singh (Retd) praised the Soldierathon for fostering stronger ties between soldiers and civilians. Expressing gratitude to the organisers, he extended his best wishes to all participants.

An official said that the Soldierathon aims to build closer connections between the soldiers and the public, especially the youth, while promoting physical fitness. It seeks to deepen public appreciation, particularly among the younger generation, for the unwavering dedication of soldiers who defend the nation 24/7, regardless of terrain or weather, the official said.

The event also reinforces the core values of unity, discipline, and shared responsibility in nation-building.

The second edition of ‘Sikkim Soldierathon: Great Himalayan Connect’ also aims to promote fitness and sports tourism in the scenic state of Sikkim. The Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0 included three race categories: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km.

The Mizoram Governor and his Sikkim counterpart Om Prakash Mathur jointly presented awards to the winners, while senior citizens and children were also recognised for their participation. The ceremony featured vibrant cultural performances symbolising national unity, which were warmly applauded by the audience.

Held under the theme ‘Great Himalayan Connect: Run the Ridge -Connect the Peaks -Unite the Spirit’, the event attracted over 2,700 enthusiastic participants from over 130 cities across 27 states, and featured cultural performances.

The marathon was organised by ‘Fitistan -Ek Fit Bharat’, in collaboration with the Eastern Command and Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army.

Sikkim Governor Mathur described the event as an inspiring initiative towards the state’s youth power, military-social coordination and civil consciousness. He congratulated the organising committee, army officers, participants and all the co-operative organisations for the successful ‘Sikkim Soldierathon 2.0’.

Winners received attractive prizes, and every participant received an achiever’s medal and promotional items. Cash prizes were sponsored by Sikkim Raj Bhavan. The event also showcased diverse cultural performances, adding to the exhilarating and electrifying atmosphere.

–IANS

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