TN polls: Rahul Gandhi’s absence looms large as DMK steps up campaign

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chennai, April 14 (IANS) With just over a week remaining for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on April 23, political activity has intensified across the state, with major parties accelerating their campaign efforts in what is shaping up to be a crucial electoral battle.

The ruling DMK is preparing to host a major Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) rally in Salem on April 15, aimed at consolidating voter support in the final phase of campaigning.

The party has invited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to attend the event, but the lack of a confirmed response from him has reportedly led to dissatisfaction within sections of the DMK leadership.

Political sources trace this uncertainty to earlier tensions during alliance negotiations between the DMK and Congress.

At one stage, discussions reportedly took place within the Congress regarding a possible alignment with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Victory Party (TVK).

While Rahul Gandhi was said to be open to the idea, Sonia Gandhi is believed to have opposed the move, after which Congress reaffirmed its alliance with the DMK.

Despite the alliance being intact, signs of strain have surfaced in recent weeks. Observers point to Rahul Gandhi’s limited visibility in Tamil Nadu’s campaign landscape, fuelling speculation about his level of engagement.

Though there is no official confirmation, reports suggest he may reduce or delay his campaign appearances in the state.

Recent developments have further added to the perception of a disconnect. Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin were present in Puducherry on the same day for election-related events but did not share a common platform, addressing separate gatherings instead.

Similarly, during earlier visits to Chennai and Coimbatore, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did not participate in joint rallies with DMK leaders.

Amid the speculation, Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar has sought to allay concerns, stating that Rahul Gandhi is expected to campaign in the state before polling day.

He also noted that senior leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and leaders from Telangana and Karnataka, are likely to join the campaign trail.

As the election approaches, the cohesion of the DMK-Congress alliance and the visibility of its top leadership could prove decisive in influencing voter sentiment.

–IANS

aal/dpb

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Thunderstorms with heavy rain warning for South Bengal; fishermen advised to avoid sea

Kolkata, Sep 2 (IANS) A powerful squall front swept across south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, bringing torrential rain, lightning, and gusty winds.

Incessant rain accompanied by thunderstorms was reported from several areas in South Bengal since Monday night.

The system is likely to remain effective for another 12 hours, said the Meteorological (MeT) Department. As a result, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely in the next 12 hours in the south Bengal districts, especially in Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly.

Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea from Tuesday to Thursday.

A squall front is a convergence zone where massive cumulonimbus clouds form in a linear pattern, triggered by the collision of easterly and westerly winds. Such fronts often result in heavy downpours, thunderstorms, microbursts and cloudbursts.

According to meteorologists, a squall front forms within a very short period. As a result, darkness suddenly descends and conditions are created for lightning, heavy storms and rain.

On Monday night, the MeT Department issued a red alert for severe thunderstorms and lightning accompanied by intense rain for Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata.

“A cyclonic circulation is present over the Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar coast. Due to its influence, a low-pressure area will form in the sea within the next 24 hours. The monsoon axis has shifted again in the state. It extends over Digha to the northeast Bay of Bengal. Due to this, there is a possibility of heavy rain in some areas of South Bengal. The sea will remain rough due to the influence of the low-pressure area,” said a MeT Department official. As a result, rain will intensify over South Bengal from Tuesday onwards.

Rain will continue in North Bengal as well. There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in some northern districts till next Sunday. Light to moderate rainfall is likely in all the remaining districts, said the MeT officials.

The maximum temperature in Kolkata on Monday was 34.2 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was 28.2 degrees Celsius, 1.6 degrees above normal.

–IANS

sch/dpb

‘Diplomatic disaster’: Shiv Sena(UBT) in ‘Saamana’ on New Delhi’s stance on IRIS Dena sinking

Mumbai, March 6 (IANS) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Friday raised an alarm over the sinking of an Iranian naval vessel — that had participated in India’s joint military exercises — in the Indian Ocean after being struck by a torpedo from a US submarine. It said that amid the shifting global geopolitical landscape, the current silence from New Delhi suggested a “weakening” of national stature under the BJP-led government at the Centre.

The Thackeray camp in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, said the shocking reality is that the Iranian warship, ‘IRIS Dena’, which was attacked and sunk by the US, was in Visakhapatnam, where it had participated in an international naval exercise at India’s special invitation.

The vessel had been honoured in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. By attacking a warship that was a “guest” in India, the US claimed the lives of 100 naval personnel. “The scorch of the war in the Gulf has reached India. These are no ordinary burns; they are setting fire to India’s prestige and reputation. The United States has violated international maritime boundaries and regulations,” it added.

According to the editorial, this act constitutes not only an international maritime violation but an act of “bullying” by President Trump’s administration. “The attack has raised urgent questions regarding the government’s ability to protect its own borders and diplomatic guests.”

The editorial termed President Trump’s actions as “mobocracy” and argued that by tolerating this, Prime Minister Modi is making India appear weak on the global stage.

“However, despite such a significant event, PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have remained ‘frozen’and inactive. The government has failed to issue even a simple protest against the US. Since the ship was in India at the government’s invitation, the Prime Minister and Defence Minister must take responsibility for the attack,” it said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena stated that despite India holding the BRICS chairmanship — a group of which Iran is also a member — the government has failed to release a statement supporting its partner.

“The contrast between the government’s ‘Vishwaguru’ branding and its perceived inability to mediate or take a firm stand is growing, it said.

The editorial claimed that as long as the current leadership remains passive in the face of such provocations, India’s global image will continue to suffer, rendering the nation “weak and helpless” on the world stage.

–IANS

sj/dpb

Freak storms cause 19 deaths in Bihar in 48 hours, destruction of crops; govt orders compensation

Patna, April 10 (IANS) A sudden shift in weather has wreaked havoc across multiple districts of Bihar, leading to 19 deaths in 48 hours and widespread damage to crops and property.

The calamity, triggered by freak thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning, has impacted both lives and livelihoods.

According to official reports, at least 19 people have lost their lives in the last 48 hours.

This includes five deaths in Begusarai, five in Darbhanga, three in Madhubani, two each in Saharsa and Samastipur and one each in Lakhisarai and Gaya district of Bihar.

The storms, accompanied by hail and strong winds, caused extensive damage to Rabi crops, especially wheat, mango, and litchi, in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Shivhar, and East Champaran.

Local farmers are reporting large-scale losses just weeks before harvest.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed deep condolences over the loss of lives and directed officials to provide an ex-gratia grant of ₹4 lakh each to the families of all the deceased.

District administrations have been instructed to assess crop damage and prepare relief measures.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that rain, lightning, and thunderstorms are likely to persist across Bihar until April 12, with some regions expected to experience hailstorms and strong winds.

The ongoing cyclonic circulation triggered by a low-pressure area over the west-central Bay of Bengal is influencing the severe weather pattern.

The IMD has also issued an alert for the next five days, cautioning residents in vulnerable districts.

Districts likely to be affected include Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnea, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Banka, Munger, Jamui, Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Patna, Nalanda, Nawada, Jehanabad, and Gaya.

The weather turned drastically on April 8, as stormy winds and sudden heavy rains disrupted normal life in several areas, including Patna, where evening showers brought relief from the summer heat but also caused disruptions.

The Meteorological Department has urged people across Bihar to stay indoors during storms, avoid open fields during lightning, and secure loose objects. Authorities are monitoring the situation and coordinating emergency response efforts.

–IANS

ajk/rad