May 8, 2026

Mother of RG Kar victim Ratna Debnath KOLKATA: Five BJP workers suffered splinter wounds after bike-borne miscreants allegedly hurled bombs at them near the Panihati home of the RG Kar rapemurder victim late on Wednesday. Police arrested three persons on the basis of CCTV footage. The victim’s mother, who contested and won from Panihati assembly seat on a BJP ticket, condemned the attack. “Several persons who had actively participated in my poll campaign were among those injured,” she told TOI. In Howrah, two functionaries from BJP’s minority cell and a pedestrian were seriously injured after several bombs were hurled at a victory procession on Thursday. Their condition is stated to be critical. Police said the arrested suspects were produced before a local court. They suspect it to be an outcome of aprevious rivalry. In another case, Somnath Dhar, a BJP functionary from Baranagar constituency, was allegedly stabbed and his family was attacked near his home. In Basirhat in North 24 Parganas, BJP’s Rohit Roy suffered a gunshot wound during a clash between TMC and BJP late Wednesday. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya claimed four rounds were fired at BJP workers on WednesdayEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

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Mother of RG Kar victim Ratna Debnath KOLKATA: Five BJP workers suffered splinter wounds after bike-borne miscreants allegedly hurled bombs at them near the Panihati home of the RG Kar rapemurder victim late on Wednesday. Police arrested three persons on the basis of CCTV footage. The victim’s mother, who contested and won from Panihati assembly seat on a BJP ticket, condemned the attack. “Several persons who had actively participated in my poll campaign were among those injured,” she told TOI. In Howrah, two functionaries from BJP’s minority cell and a pedestrian were seriously injured after several bombs were hurled at a victory procession on Thursday. Their condition is stated to be critical. Police said the arrested suspects were produced before a local court. They suspect it to be an outcome of aprevious rivalry. In another case, Somnath Dhar, a BJP functionary from Baranagar constituency, was allegedly stabbed and his family was attacked near his home. In Basirhat in North 24 Parganas, BJP’s Rohit Roy suffered a gunshot wound during a clash between TMC and BJP late Wednesday. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya claimed four rounds were fired at BJP workers on WednesdayEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today


West Bengal: Bomb attack near RG Kar victim’s home
Mother of RG Kar victim Ratna Debnath

KOLKATA: Five BJP workers suffered splinter wounds after bike-borne miscreants allegedly hurled bombs at them near the Panihati home of the RG Kar rapemurder victim late on Wednesday. Police arrested three persons on the basis of CCTV footage. The victim’s mother, who contested and won from Panihati assembly seat on a BJP ticket, condemned the attack. “Several persons who had actively participated in my poll campaign were among those injured,” she told TOI. In Howrah, two functionaries from BJP’s minority cell and a pedestrian were seriously injured after several bombs were hurled at a victory procession on Thursday. Their condition is stated to be critical. Police said the arrested suspects were produced before a local court. They suspect it to be an outcome of aprevious rivalry. In another case, Somnath Dhar, a BJP functionary from Baranagar constituency, was allegedly stabbed and his family was attacked near his home. In Basirhat in North 24 Parganas, BJP’s Rohit Roy suffered a gunshot wound during a clash between TMC and BJP late Wednesday. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya claimed four rounds were fired at BJP workers on Wednesday



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. NEW DELHI: A total of 10,546 people involved in the farming sector (comprising 4,633 farmers/cultivators and 5,913 agricultural labourers) died by suicide during 2024, accounting for 6.2% of total suicide victims (1,70,746) in the country, says the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The number of such suicides, however, declined by more than 2% in 2024 compared with 2023 when 10,786 people died by suicide, making it the second consecutive year of decline. In 2023, the number had fallen by more than 4% compared with 2022. State-wise figures show Maharashtra continues to report the highest number of such suicides (3,824), followed by Karnataka (2,971), Madhya Pradesh (835), Andhra Pradesh (780) and Tamil Nadu (503). According to the 2011 Census, agriculture employed about 26 crore people (nearly 55% of India’s workforce), of whom nearly 12 crore were cultivators and 14 crore were agricultural labourers. NCRB clarified the data depict only the profession of people who died by suicide and has no linkage whatsoever with the cause of suicide. At the same time, high numbers in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh coincide with regions where farmers primarily cultivate cash crops like cotton and sugarcane.Failure or low output of such crops pushes the distressed towards moneylenders to meet their need for cash, with some of them even taking the extreme step. An increasing footprint of crop insurance, affordable farm loans and income support schemescould be the reason for the marginal decline in suicide numbers.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

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Randhir Jaiswal NEW DELHI: The govt on Thursday sought cooperation from Dhaka on the “core issue” of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis in India. Speaking on the issue for the first time after Bengal poll results, MEA called on Bangladesh to expedite pending nationality verification of close to 3,000 individuals for smooth repatriation of illegal immigrants. “This requires cooperation… Over 2,862 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, some for five years,” said MEA’s Randhir Jaiswal. India’s policy is that all illegal foreign nationals staying in India must be repatriated according to Indian laws, procedure and established bilateral arrangements. “We expect Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. The remarks came in response to media queries related to a social media post by Bangladesh’s foreign minister Khalilur Rahman on the issue Tuesday in which he said Dhaka will take action if there are any “push-in” incidents from the Indian side. “These comments must be seen in context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This requires cooperation from Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said. He also responded to another question on possible cooperation between Bangladesh and China on the management of Teesta river. “…we have 54 rivers that the two countries share. We have structured bilateral mechanisms to discuss all water-related issues. These bilateral mechanisms continue to meet at regular intervals,” he said. Bangladesh’s BSS news agency reported Rahman, during his visit to China, had sought its involvement and support for the Teestaproject.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

Randhir Jaiswal NEW DELHI: The govt on Thursday sought cooperation from Dhaka on the “core issue” of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis in India. Speaking on the issue for the first time after Bengal poll results, MEA called on Bangladesh to expedite pending nationality verification of close to 3,000 individuals for smooth repatriation of illegal immigrants. “This requires cooperation… Over 2,862 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, some for five years,” said MEA’s Randhir Jaiswal. India’s policy is that all illegal foreign nationals staying in India must be repatriated according to Indian laws, procedure and established bilateral arrangements. “We expect Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. The remarks came in response to media queries related to a social media post by Bangladesh’s foreign minister Khalilur Rahman on the issue Tuesday in which he said Dhaka will take action if there are any “push-in” incidents from the Indian side. “These comments must be seen in context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This requires cooperation from Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said. He also responded to another question on possible cooperation between Bangladesh and China on the management of Teesta river. “…we have 54 rivers that the two countries share. We have structured bilateral mechanisms to discuss all water-related issues. These bilateral mechanisms continue to meet at regular intervals,” he said. Bangladesh’s BSS news agency reported Rahman, during his visit to China, had sought its involvement and support for the Teestaproject.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

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VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala TIRUVANANTHAMPURAM: Congress’ battle for Kerala CM crossed from closed-door bargaining to open-street mobilisation on Thursday as rival camps staged demonstrations, mounted flex-board offensives and pressed competing claims before AICC observers tasked with choosing the state’s next helmsman. A power struggle erupted despite Congress-led UDF sweeping 103 seats in the 140-member assembly, handing the party its biggest mandate in decades and reviving factional fault lines long buried during the campaign. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held marathon consultations with senior functionaries, MPs, newly elected MLAs and UDF allies before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) adopted a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next CM. Three contenders — party MP KC Venugopal, 63; sixterm MLAs VD Satheesan, 61; and Ramesh Chennithala, 69 —intensified lobbying across the 63-member Congress bloc. AICC general secretary Venugopal’s camp claimed backing of 43 MLAs, while Satheesan and Chennithala factions projected support of 35 and 22, respectively, triggering aggressive last-mile manoeuvring before the brass seals the verdict. Sources said camps led by Satheesan and Chennithala resisted attempts to project Venugopal as a consensus candidate. Venugopal’s supporters said numbers tilted the race decisively in his favour. MP and former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran submitted a letter backing Venugopal’s candidature. During consultations, Satheesan is said to have argued that the CM choice could not hinge solely on arithmetic inside CLP and should also factor in public sentiment and coalition dynamics. Many UDF allies, including IUML, RSP, Kerala Congress, CMP and Kerala Congress (Jacob), are learnt to have backed Satheesan. Congress brass is also weighing possible political fallout if Venugopal gets the nod. Sources said Satheesan has indicated he could stay away from both cabinet and organisational responsibilities if denied the top post, raising stakes in an already volatile succession contest. Maken said the observers held one-to-one consultations with all MLAs before leaving for Delhi to submit a report to the party brass. A decision on the CM is expected by Sunday after consultations betweenAbout the AuthorRajiv GRajiv G is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India, bringing over two decades of journalistic experience and editorial expertise to the newsroom. He began his journey in 1998 with The Indian Express in Coimbatore before moving on to Deccan Chronicle in Hyderabad and later The New Indian Express in Hyderabad and Bangalore, and later in Kerala where he spent a decade covering some of the most defining stories. Since joining The Times of India in 2011, Rajiv has been at the forefront of reporting on Kerala’s health and political landscape. His sustained coverage of the health sector since 2005 has contributed to public awareness and policy discourse, while his political reporting since 2008 has provided readers with sharp, well-informed perspectives. His work has been widely recognized, earning him honors from the Indian Medical Association, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association, and the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association. He was also conferred the *Best Reporter Award* by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, where he has held leadership roles as Secretary and President.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala TIRUVANANTHAMPURAM: Congress’ battle for Kerala CM crossed from closed-door bargaining to open-street mobilisation on Thursday as rival camps staged demonstrations, mounted flex-board offensives and pressed competing claims before AICC observers tasked with choosing the state’s next helmsman. A power struggle erupted despite Congress-led UDF sweeping 103 seats in the 140-member assembly, handing the party its biggest mandate in decades and reviving factional fault lines long buried during the campaign. AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken held marathon consultations with senior functionaries, MPs, newly elected MLAs and UDF allies before the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) adopted a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to pick the next CM. Three contenders — party MP KC Venugopal, 63; sixterm MLAs VD Satheesan, 61; and Ramesh Chennithala, 69 —intensified lobbying across the 63-member Congress bloc. AICC general secretary Venugopal’s camp claimed backing of 43 MLAs, while Satheesan and Chennithala factions projected support of 35 and 22, respectively, triggering aggressive last-mile manoeuvring before the brass seals the verdict. Sources said camps led by Satheesan and Chennithala resisted attempts to project Venugopal as a consensus candidate. Venugopal’s supporters said numbers tilted the race decisively in his favour. MP and former KPCC chief K Sudhakaran submitted a letter backing Venugopal’s candidature. During consultations, Satheesan is said to have argued that the CM choice could not hinge solely on arithmetic inside CLP and should also factor in public sentiment and coalition dynamics. Many UDF allies, including IUML, RSP, Kerala Congress, CMP and Kerala Congress (Jacob), are learnt to have backed Satheesan. Congress brass is also weighing possible political fallout if Venugopal gets the nod. Sources said Satheesan has indicated he could stay away from both cabinet and organisational responsibilities if denied the top post, raising stakes in an already volatile succession contest. Maken said the observers held one-to-one consultations with all MLAs before leaving for Delhi to submit a report to the party brass. A decision on the CM is expected by Sunday after consultations betweenAbout the AuthorRajiv GRajiv G is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India, bringing over two decades of journalistic experience and editorial expertise to the newsroom. He began his journey in 1998 with The Indian Express in Coimbatore before moving on to Deccan Chronicle in Hyderabad and later The New Indian Express in Hyderabad and Bangalore, and later in Kerala where he spent a decade covering some of the most defining stories. Since joining The Times of India in 2011, Rajiv has been at the forefront of reporting on Kerala’s health and political landscape. His sustained coverage of the health sector since 2005 has contributed to public awareness and policy discourse, while his political reporting since 2008 has provided readers with sharp, well-informed perspectives. His work has been widely recognized, earning him honors from the Indian Medical Association, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association, and the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association. He was also conferred the *Best Reporter Award* by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, where he has held leadership roles as Secretary and President.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

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Chennai: VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and leaders of the Left parties flayed Tamil Nadu governor R V Arlekar for not inviting TVK president Vijay to form the govt, calling it a ploy by the BJP-led Union govt to ‘complicate Tamil Nadu politics and Vijay’s position’.Other DMK allies, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam and MDMK also slammed the governor.Addressing the media on Thursday, Thirumavalavan said that as per the provisions of the Constitution, the governor should immediately invite Vijay to form the govt. “If he fails to do so, it would mean the governor is deliberately trying to complicate and muddy the prevailing political situation in the state,” he said.Thirumavalavan, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and CPM state secretary P Shanmugam called on DMK president M K Stalin at his residence on Thursday. “We discussed the outcome of the elections. We also spoke in detail about the prevailing political scenario,” said Thirumavalavan, noting that discussions continued regarding TVK leader Vijay’s invitation to VCK and other parties.He reiterated that the party’s frontline leaders would meet and take a decision on TVK’s proposal. “We have received communication expressing their wish to form the govt along with VCK. He (Vijay) has also spoken to me. We are considering that. But we have to see many other factors before arriving at a decision. We cannot rush as the party has certain procedures,” he said.”TVK has emerged as the single largest party in the poll. So, the governor must give adequate time to TVK to prove its majority on the floor of the House,” said Veerapandian. Shanmugam echoed the view.MDMK leader Durai Vaiko also stated that delaying or attempting to thwart TVK leader Vijay from assuming office was unconstitutional and went against the people’s mandate.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

Chennai: VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and leaders of the Left parties flayed Tamil Nadu governor R V Arlekar for not inviting TVK president Vijay to form the govt, calling it a ploy by the BJP-led Union govt to ‘complicate Tamil Nadu politics and Vijay’s position’.Other DMK allies, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam and MDMK also slammed the governor.Addressing the media on Thursday, Thirumavalavan said that as per the provisions of the Constitution, the governor should immediately invite Vijay to form the govt. “If he fails to do so, it would mean the governor is deliberately trying to complicate and muddy the prevailing political situation in the state,” he said.Thirumavalavan, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and CPM state secretary P Shanmugam called on DMK president M K Stalin at his residence on Thursday. “We discussed the outcome of the elections. We also spoke in detail about the prevailing political scenario,” said Thirumavalavan, noting that discussions continued regarding TVK leader Vijay’s invitation to VCK and other parties.He reiterated that the party’s frontline leaders would meet and take a decision on TVK’s proposal. “We have received communication expressing their wish to form the govt along with VCK. He (Vijay) has also spoken to me. We are considering that. But we have to see many other factors before arriving at a decision. We cannot rush as the party has certain procedures,” he said.”TVK has emerged as the single largest party in the poll. So, the governor must give adequate time to TVK to prove its majority on the floor of the House,” said Veerapandian. Shanmugam echoed the view.MDMK leader Durai Vaiko also stated that delaying or attempting to thwart TVK leader Vijay from assuming office was unconstitutional and went against the people’s mandate.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovernor RN Ravi Dissolves West Bengal Assembly After Mamata Banerjee Refuses To ResignSatadru Dutta Accuses TMC’s Aroop Biswas Of Sabotaging Lionel Messi Kolkata EventWill Vijay Fight In Court For CM Post? | India Destroyed 13 Pakistani Aircraft | Headlines @9’Whatever Requires To Be Done’: Indian Air Force On Recent Missile Tests By Pakistan And China’Pending For Over 5 Yrs…’: India Reacts To Bangladesh’s ‘Pushback’ Remark After BJP’s Bengal Win’It Was Abhishek Banerjee’: BJP Blames TMC Leaders After Suvendu Adhikari’s Close Aide Shot Dead’No Terror Sanctuary Is Safe’: Indian Army Warns Pakistan On Op Sindoor Anniversary’Killed Him Because I Defeated Mamata In Bhabanipur’: Suvendu Adhikari On PA Chandranath’s Killing’Aap Haare Nahi Hain’: Akhilesh Yadav Tells Mamata Banerjee In Kolkata After TMC’s Bengal RoutIn Punjab Money Laundering Case Cash Bags Hurled From Ninth Floor During Raids123PhotostoriesRashtrapati Bhavan treated the Vietnamese President with Punjabi and Haryanvi meal: This is what was served on the menuHow to make Gujarati Kadhi for summer dinner at homeHappy Birthday Sai Pallavi: ‘Amaran’, ‘Premam’, ‘Fidaa’ – Films of the natural star to binge-watch on OTTThings you are not allowed to do in your garden in the USSimple kitchen habits that may attract more lizards indoorsMet Gala 2026: Weirdest red carpet looks that stole the spotlight this year5 beautiful scented plants to add to your garden todayStrengths of being an introvert: 5 unique traits of people who prefer to be alone over socialisingTaking supplements every day? Doctor warns they may be doing more harm than good7 plants that keep away mosquito from your house123Hot PicksBihar ministers listDelhi traffic advisoryDelhi rainPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingKerala CMWest Bengal ViolenceTamil Nadu Class 12 Result 2026Maharashtra Board SSC Result 2026Kerala plus one improvement resultBihar cabinet expansionWBBSE Madhyamik Result 2026Salil AnkolaBihar Ministers ListRCB vs LSG IPL Match Today

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