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Mon, 13 March 2017
JNU MPhil student commits suicide
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23:11 JNU MPhil student commits suicide
A 27-year-old student of Jawaharlal Nehru University allegedly committed suicide due to depression in south Delhi's Munirka area today evening.
The deceased Krish was a student of MPhil in JNU.
No suicide note has been found till now, police said.
Till now it hasn't been found that the extreme step was taken by the student owing to any issues at the university, said a senior police officer.
He is said to have been depressed for some time over some personal issues, he added.
A PCR call was received at 5.05 pm that a person had locked himself in a room at a house in Munirka Vihar, said a senior police officer.
On reaching the spot, police forced open the door and a young man was found hanging from the ceiling fan. The crime team was called to the spot and the scene was inspected and photographed.
"He had come to his friends' house this afternoon to have food. He said he wanted to sleep and went to a room and locked himself inside.
"Later his friends called him out and on getting no response, they called the police," he said.
22:11 1 killed, 8 hurt in mine blast in Kabul
At least one person was killed and eight others
injured in a roadside mine blast in Kabul
city on Monday.
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Initial reports suggest that a minibus was targeted between Taimani and Qala-e-Fatullah area of the city.
This explosion comes five days after insurgents associated to the Daesh terrorist group had killed at least 50 people and wounding over 70 others in a military hospital in Kabul.
No terror group including Taliban has claimed responsibility for the incident so far. -- ANI
IMAGE: An Afghan policeman inspects the scene after a blast in Kabul on Monday. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters
The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Initial reports suggest that a minibus was targeted between Taimani and Qala-e-Fatullah area of the city.
This explosion comes five days after insurgents associated to the Daesh terrorist group had killed at least 50 people and wounding over 70 others in a military hospital in Kabul.
No terror group including Taliban has claimed responsibility for the incident so far. -- ANI
IMAGE: An Afghan policeman inspects the scene after a blast in Kabul on Monday. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters
20:26 SC to hear Congress' plea challenging Parrikar's swearing-in tomorrow
The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow Congress' plea challenging the swearing-in of Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister.
The Congress had challenged Parrikar's appointment as the Goa CM, claiming that being the single largest party in the state, the governor should have called it first to form a government.
The petition by the party terms the governor's decision as 'illegal'.
The party has also questioned the governor's 'conduct' in inviting Parrikar to form the government. -- ANI
The Congress had challenged Parrikar's appointment as the Goa CM, claiming that being the single largest party in the state, the governor should have called it first to form a government.
The petition by the party terms the governor's decision as 'illegal'.
The party has also questioned the governor's 'conduct' in inviting Parrikar to form the government. -- ANI
19:46 LIVE! Goa: 8 MLAs to be sworn-in as ministers with Parrikar tomorrow
Around eight MLAs would take oath as ministers tomorrow along with Manohar Parrikar who is set to return as Goa chief minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party said today.
"Around eight to nine ministers including two each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashta Gomantak Party and two independents will be sworn in. Two or three ministers from BJP (including Parrikar) too will take the oath," BJP's Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar said.
"Among the BJP legislators, (current) deputy CM Francis DSouza and another legislator whose name would be announced tomorrow morning will be sworn in," he said.
Tendulkar, however, added that from BJP only Parrikar and DSouza might be sworn in. "That possibility cannot be ruled out," he said.
"Three or four ministerial berths would be filled in the cabinet expansion later," Tendulkar said.
Governor Mridula Sinha has invited Parrikar to form the government after he produced letter of support of 21 MLAs, though the BJP finished as the second-largest party behind the Congress, bagging merely 13 seats against 17 of the Congress.
"Around eight to nine ministers including two each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashta Gomantak Party and two independents will be sworn in. Two or three ministers from BJP (including Parrikar) too will take the oath," BJP's Goa unit president Vinay Tendulkar said.
"Among the BJP legislators, (current) deputy CM Francis DSouza and another legislator whose name would be announced tomorrow morning will be sworn in," he said.
Tendulkar, however, added that from BJP only Parrikar and DSouza might be sworn in. "That possibility cannot be ruled out," he said.
"Three or four ministerial berths would be filled in the cabinet expansion later," Tendulkar said.
Governor Mridula Sinha has invited Parrikar to form the government after he produced letter of support of 21 MLAs, though the BJP finished as the second-largest party behind the Congress, bagging merely 13 seats against 17 of the Congress.
18:26
JUST IN: Huge explosion rocks PD10 area of Kabul city. No immediate reports about casualties, reports TOLO News.
18:18 BJP elects N Biren Singh to be new Manipur CM
JUST IN: N Biren Singh elected as Bharatiya Janata Party's legislature party leader in Manipur; will meet Governor Najma Heptullah soon to stake claim for forming government.
"BJP's legislature party leader will be N Biren Singh who has been unanimously elected. We will soon move to stake claim to form a government," Union Minister Piyush Goel said.
IMAGE: Biren Singh with Goel. Photograph: ANI
"BJP's legislature party leader will be N Biren Singh who has been unanimously elected. We will soon move to stake claim to form a government," Union Minister Piyush Goel said.
IMAGE: Biren Singh with Goel. Photograph: ANI
17:30 Manipur: NPP says Cong faked support, Ibobi ready to quit
Changing his stand, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has said that he will resign on Tuesday.
Earlier, Governor Najma Heptulla had said that she has not received Singh's resignation yet and added that only then the process of government formation can begin.
"I have not received, till today, any resignation letter from the Chief Minister, though yesterday I told him that the process of formation of the government will begin once he resigns," Heptullah said.
Singh, however, had refused to resign, claiming that he had numbers to form a government.
The governor informed that she was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders along with its supporters to stake claim to form the government.
"Along with one LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) MLA, the four MLAs of the NPP (National Peoples Party), one MLA from the Trinamool Congress and one MLA from the Congress called on me. The president of NPP spoke to me on telephone and sent the letter of support to BJP-led government to the governors house. I was satisfied that they have the support of 32 MLAs," she said.
Heptullah further said that the chief minister came to meet her post the meeting with the BJP-led delegation to form the government in the state.
"After an hour the chief minister came to meet me with his deputy CM and party president with a letter to claim that he should be called because he is the single largest party, they also brought a letter on behalf of NPP signed by two people, secretary and the president, and When I saw that letter, I told him that he cannot bring the letter on behalf of NPP and they should personally come over here," she said.
Later, NPP leader Conrad Sangma said that Congress' letter to governor claiming his party's support was a fake.
Heptullah further said that the Election Commission of India will give her a notification with a list of elected members and only then she will start the process. -- Agencies
Earlier, Governor Najma Heptulla had said that she has not received Singh's resignation yet and added that only then the process of government formation can begin.
"I have not received, till today, any resignation letter from the Chief Minister, though yesterday I told him that the process of formation of the government will begin once he resigns," Heptullah said.
Singh, however, had refused to resign, claiming that he had numbers to form a government.
The governor informed that she was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders along with its supporters to stake claim to form the government.
"Along with one LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) MLA, the four MLAs of the NPP (National Peoples Party), one MLA from the Trinamool Congress and one MLA from the Congress called on me. The president of NPP spoke to me on telephone and sent the letter of support to BJP-led government to the governors house. I was satisfied that they have the support of 32 MLAs," she said.
Heptullah further said that the chief minister came to meet her post the meeting with the BJP-led delegation to form the government in the state.
"After an hour the chief minister came to meet me with his deputy CM and party president with a letter to claim that he should be called because he is the single largest party, they also brought a letter on behalf of NPP signed by two people, secretary and the president, and When I saw that letter, I told him that he cannot bring the letter on behalf of NPP and they should personally come over here," she said.
Later, NPP leader Conrad Sangma said that Congress' letter to governor claiming his party's support was a fake.
Heptullah further said that the Election Commission of India will give her a notification with a list of elected members and only then she will start the process. -- Agencies
16:34 Ex-employee accuses TVF boss of sexual harassment
Alnoor Peermohamed of Business Standard reports:
Tiger Global-backed digital entertainment start-up The Viral Fever has come under fire for 'promoting sexual harassment at the workplace' after an ex-employee in an anonymous post on Medium alleged that she was molested by the founder and Chief Executive Officer Arunabh Kumar.
Apart from calling out Kumar's multiple sexual advances on her, the employee alleges that she was asked to 'walk out' when she elevated the issue to her bosses at TVF.
Further, complaints to co-workers received cold answers and she cites one instance where someone laughed off the matter.
In a post titled 'The Indian Uber - That is TVF' the writer seems to have taken inspiration from ex-Uber employee Susan Fowler's post alleging sexual harassment at the SF-based company.
Claims which are now being investigated by board member Arianna Huffington and an independent legal team.
'He looks at me and asks me: 'Chaturbhuj Sthan ka naam suni ho'? I am stunned. For non-starters, Chaturbhuj Sthan is the Red Light District of Muzaffarpur. I didn't respond. His second question: 'Humko Chaturbhuj Sthan Bahut Pasand Hai. Udhar commercial deals hoti hain. Tum bhi to commercial deal pe aayi ho,' read the post on Medium.
The individual alleges the first time she was sexually harassed at the company when she was 21 days into her employment there, claiming that sexual advances by Kumar became a routine after that.
'Arunabh would try to lift me or would try and fall on me pretending he is drunk,' she claims in the post.
When verbally threatened with lodging a complaint with the police, Kumar's apparent retort was 'Police to meri pocket me hai', dissuading the 24-year-old from filing a complaint.
Further, he apparently directly contacted the father of the victim telling him that his daughter was 'making up stories'.
Kumar did not respond to calls when reached out for his comment. The company 'categorically' denied all allegations made against it and its team.
'We take a lot of pride in our team and in making TVF a safe workplace that is equally comfortable for women and men,' the company said in an email statement.
Further, it threatened to 'find the author of the article and bring them to severe justice' for making the so-called false allegations.
The anonymous ex-employee has written Arunabh Kumar knows her identity. TVF's shows such as Bachelors and Pitchers have made them a success in the online entertainment space.
The company has raised $ 10 million from Tiger Global.
The former employee starts off reciting her story of being recruited by Kumar at the age of 22, after being awe struck by the young entrepreneur from IIT Kharagpur who co-incidentally hailed from her hometown of Muzaffarpur in Bihar.
'Three years down the line I know what he was hiring. He was hiring his toys,' she wrote close to the end of her post, instigating the fact that this had happened to multiple people at the company.
The ex-employee, who wrote as 'Indian fowler', claims that one instance after which she decided not to return to work, prompted calls from the Legal department at TVF claiming that she was in breach of her contract.
She further alleges that she continues to get reminders from the company's legal department reminding her of her obligations, claiming to still be tracked.
Tiger Global-backed digital entertainment start-up The Viral Fever has come under fire for 'promoting sexual harassment at the workplace' after an ex-employee in an anonymous post on Medium alleged that she was molested by the founder and Chief Executive Officer Arunabh Kumar.
Apart from calling out Kumar's multiple sexual advances on her, the employee alleges that she was asked to 'walk out' when she elevated the issue to her bosses at TVF.
Further, complaints to co-workers received cold answers and she cites one instance where someone laughed off the matter.
In a post titled 'The Indian Uber - That is TVF' the writer seems to have taken inspiration from ex-Uber employee Susan Fowler's post alleging sexual harassment at the SF-based company.
Claims which are now being investigated by board member Arianna Huffington and an independent legal team.
'He looks at me and asks me: 'Chaturbhuj Sthan ka naam suni ho'? I am stunned. For non-starters, Chaturbhuj Sthan is the Red Light District of Muzaffarpur. I didn't respond. His second question: 'Humko Chaturbhuj Sthan Bahut Pasand Hai. Udhar commercial deals hoti hain. Tum bhi to commercial deal pe aayi ho,' read the post on Medium.
The individual alleges the first time she was sexually harassed at the company when she was 21 days into her employment there, claiming that sexual advances by Kumar became a routine after that.
'Arunabh would try to lift me or would try and fall on me pretending he is drunk,' she claims in the post.
When verbally threatened with lodging a complaint with the police, Kumar's apparent retort was 'Police to meri pocket me hai', dissuading the 24-year-old from filing a complaint.
Further, he apparently directly contacted the father of the victim telling him that his daughter was 'making up stories'.
Kumar did not respond to calls when reached out for his comment. The company 'categorically' denied all allegations made against it and its team.
'We take a lot of pride in our team and in making TVF a safe workplace that is equally comfortable for women and men,' the company said in an email statement.
Further, it threatened to 'find the author of the article and bring them to severe justice' for making the so-called false allegations.
The anonymous ex-employee has written Arunabh Kumar knows her identity. TVF's shows such as Bachelors and Pitchers have made them a success in the online entertainment space.
The company has raised $ 10 million from Tiger Global.
The former employee starts off reciting her story of being recruited by Kumar at the age of 22, after being awe struck by the young entrepreneur from IIT Kharagpur who co-incidentally hailed from her hometown of Muzaffarpur in Bihar.
'Three years down the line I know what he was hiring. He was hiring his toys,' she wrote close to the end of her post, instigating the fact that this had happened to multiple people at the company.
The ex-employee, who wrote as 'Indian fowler', claims that one instance after which she decided not to return to work, prompted calls from the Legal department at TVF claiming that she was in breach of her contract.
She further alleges that she continues to get reminders from the company's legal department reminding her of her obligations, claiming to still be tracked.
15:29 Jaitley gets defence portfolio after Parrikar's resignation
The President has accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gets additional charge of the defence ministry.
Jaitley held the MoD before Parrikar was elevated to the post.
Parrikar will go back to his role as Goa chief minister, taking oath of office tomorrow. -- ANI
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley gets additional charge of the defence ministry.
Jaitley held the MoD before Parrikar was elevated to the post.
Parrikar will go back to his role as Goa chief minister, taking oath of office tomorrow. -- ANI
14:29 Fresh landslides force closure of Srinagar-Jammu NH again
The nearly 300-km long Srinagar Jammu National Highway was again closed today with fresh landslides occurring at a few places along the road, a day after it was reopened for traffic.
The only all-weather road connecting the Valley to the rest of India, the highway was opened yesterday for one-way traffic after remaining closed for four days.
"The National Highway was once again closed for traffic as fresh landslides occurred at few places along the highway," a Traffic Department official said in Srinagar.
A portion of the road in Panthyal was damaged because of landslide, he said.
No traffic was allowed to ply from either side of the highway this morning, the official said.
The road was closed on Wednesday after heavy rains triggered landslides at many places in Banihal and Ramban sectors.
The official said efforts were being made to make the National Highway two-way traffic worthy as soon as possible.
Representative image only.
The only all-weather road connecting the Valley to the rest of India, the highway was opened yesterday for one-way traffic after remaining closed for four days.
"The National Highway was once again closed for traffic as fresh landslides occurred at few places along the highway," a Traffic Department official said in Srinagar.
A portion of the road in Panthyal was damaged because of landslide, he said.
No traffic was allowed to ply from either side of the highway this morning, the official said.
The road was closed on Wednesday after heavy rains triggered landslides at many places in Banihal and Ramban sectors.
The official said efforts were being made to make the National Highway two-way traffic worthy as soon as possible.
Representative image only.
13:42 Kerala excise minister hospitalised after heart attack
Kerala Excise and Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan has been hospitalised in Kozhikode after he suffered a heart attack.
Sixty seven-year-old Ramakrishnan was admitted to the Intensive care Unit of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Sunday, after he complained of chest pain, hospital sources said on Monday.
A senior doctor of the Cardiology department of KMCH said the minister underwent angioplasty after two blocks were detected in his arteries, they said.
"The Minister is under observation at the super-speciality block of the hospital," he said.
Ramakrishnan was at his residence in Perambara in the district, when he complained of chest pain. -- PTI
Sixty seven-year-old Ramakrishnan was admitted to the Intensive care Unit of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Sunday, after he complained of chest pain, hospital sources said on Monday.
A senior doctor of the Cardiology department of KMCH said the minister underwent angioplasty after two blocks were detected in his arteries, they said.
"The Minister is under observation at the super-speciality block of the hospital," he said.
Ramakrishnan was at his residence in Perambara in the district, when he complained of chest pain. -- PTI
12:16
JUST IN: Manipur governor asks Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to resign so that the process of formation of next govt can be started: Raj Bhavan sources.
12:14 Jaya's niece alleges threats from 'Sasikala camp'
Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa has alleged that the V K Sasikala camp is threatening her for her decision to contest the bypolls from the R K Nagar assembly seat, vacated after the death of the former CM.
"I am getting repeated threats from Sasikala camp since the moment I announced to contest from RK Nagar," Jayakumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
Launching a new political forum, 'MGR Amma Deepa Forum', last month, Jayakumar had said that that 'people wanted her to contest from R K Nagar constituency' that fell vacant following the demise of Jayalalithaa.
"I am getting repeated threats from Sasikala camp since the moment I announced to contest from RK Nagar," Jayakumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
Launching a new political forum, 'MGR Amma Deepa Forum', last month, Jayakumar had said that that 'people wanted her to contest from R K Nagar constituency' that fell vacant following the demise of Jayalalithaa.
11:49
JUST IN: Manohar Parrikar has resigned as defence minister. Will take oath as Goa CM tomorrow.
11:41 Pak violates ceasefire in Poonch, firing still on
The Pakistani troops on Monday fired along the Line of Control in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian troop was hit by 82 mm mortar shells fired by the Pakistan Army in second incident of 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation in the last three days.
Troops from Pakistan opened fire four villages. There has been no casualty reported yet.
On Sunday, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire in Krishna Ghati Sector in the same district.
The Indian forces are retaliating strongly and the firing is still on.
Further details are awaited. -- ANI
The Indian troop was hit by 82 mm mortar shells fired by the Pakistan Army in second incident of 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation in the last three days.
Troops from Pakistan opened fire four villages. There has been no casualty reported yet.
On Sunday, the Pakistani Army had violated the ceasefire in Krishna Ghati Sector in the same district.
The Indian forces are retaliating strongly and the firing is still on.
Further details are awaited. -- ANI
11:33 Parrikar to take oath as Goa CM tomorrow
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will take oath as new Goa Chief Minister tomorrow at 5 pm.
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha had appointed Parrikar as the CM, asking him to prove majority within 15 days of administration of oath of office and secrecy.
Parrikar will be resigning from the defence ministry before taking oath as the Goa CM.
This would be Parrikars third term as Goa CM. He previously served as the CM of the state during 2000-2005 and 2012-2014.
Also read
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha had appointed Parrikar as the CM, asking him to prove majority within 15 days of administration of oath of office and secrecy.
Parrikar will be resigning from the defence ministry before taking oath as the Goa CM.
This would be Parrikars third term as Goa CM. He previously served as the CM of the state during 2000-2005 and 2012-2014.
Also read
11:21
JUST IN: Pakistan violates the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir, resorts to mortar shelling.
10:31 Pakistan set to conduct its first census in 19 years
Pakistan is set to conduct its first national census in 19 years which will begin on Wednesday with the assistance of over 200,000 troops.
Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor and Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb addressed a joint conference about preparation for the sixth census, which will be conducted in two phases and will be completed on May 25.
"The census would be conducted with the assistance of over 200,000 troops," Ghafoor said, and that at least one soldier will accompany each civilian enumerator going from house to house to enlist the number of households and individuals living there. The soldiers will not only provide security but help in verification of data collected by the enumerators.
"The number of the civilian staff taking part in the census is 118,918. They are all government servants from various departments and thoroughly trained for the job," Aurangzeb said.
Islamabad last conducted a census in 1998, which recorded a national population of approximately 180 million at that time.
09:59 BJP stealing elections in Goa and Manipur, says Chidambaram
In the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party staking claim to form a government in Goa and Manipur, senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidamabaram on Monday asserted that any political party that comes second in the elections cannot form the government.
"A party that comes second has no right to form the government. BJP stealing elections in Goa and Manipur," Chidambaram tweeted.
Earlier, the BJP declared a chief minister for Goa in Manohar Parrikar, and sealed its candidature by garnering support from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and Goa Forward Party.
The BJP has also been working overtime to ensure it forms the government in Manipur as well. The Congress has, however, been slow in deciding on its chief ministerial nominee for both the states.
09:29 250,000 throng rock concert in Argentina, 2 killed, many hurt in crush
At least two people were killed and a dozen injured, when spectators rushed to the stage at an over-packed outdoor rock concert in eastern Argentina.
As many as 2,50,000 people attended the open air concert featuring the popular singer Indio Solari and his band in the town of Olavarria, a suburb of Buenos Aires, as reported by the local media.
Witnesses said crowds thronged the concert stage at the event in Olavarria, a town of some 90,000 -- roughly one-third as many people as the number of concertgoers -- which led to the deaths and injuries.
Olavarria Mayor Ezequiel Galli said officials had been expecting 160,000 to 170,000 for the concert by Indio Solari, but far more showed up.
Solari is wildly popular in Argentina and gives few concerts.
"The situation got out of hand. That many people really weren't expected," Galli told a news conference.
09:03 Now Ram Gopal Varma targets Holi festival
After recently making the headlines with his sexist post on Women's Day, director Ram Gopal Varma is back with a new shout-out on the eve of Holi.
Taking to his Twitter handle, the 54-year-old director said, "I doubt even 1 in 120 crore Indians knows reason why Holi is celebrated but they all do becos Bhang needs no reason ..Mera Bharat Mahaan!"
In another tweet, the Satya helmer wrote, "Greatest thing about Holi is that this is only legitimate day in entire year men and women can see and touch each other in wet clothes."
"I really don't know which god killed which raakshas that we celebrating Holi but I thank rakshas for creating such wonderfully sexy moments," he went on.
Varma added in another tweet, "Don't know what which rakshas did nd why God killed him but I thank both for giving me opportunity to see girl next door in wet clothes."
According to him, "Foolishness of festivals is celebrating victory over problems we not even aware of and ignoring both our present problems and solutions."
"I wish a very unhappy Holi to all who understood the shallow depth of my Holi tweets in relation to the deep shallowness of their minds," he concluded.
08:53 Being harassed to prevent me from contesting bypoll: Jaya's niece
Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, has alleged that she is being harassed to prevent her from contesting the bypoll in R K Nagar assembly seat to be held on April 12.
Apparently referring to AIADMK chief V K Sasikala's camp, she said, "Right from the day I announced that I will be contesting in R K Nagar assembly constituency, I am being harassed in several ways indirectly."
"I could not even stay at my house and goons are being sent against me. I do not know who (goons) they are...," Jayakumar told reporters. "Several conspiracies are being hatched to prevent me from contesting in the bypoll," she alleged.
In an unexpected move, she paid homage at Jayalalithaa's memorial at the Marina Beach in Chennai at around 10 pm on Sunday and sat there in meditation for some time. Former chief minister O Panneerselvam had also sat in meditation on February 7 at the memorial before revolting against Sasikala.
Announcing the founding of MGR Amma Deepa Peravai on February 24, Jayakumar had said she will contest from R K Nagar assembly constituency that fell vacant following the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5 last year.
Meanwhile, AIADMK Coimbatore North MLA PRG Arunkumar on Sunday called ondissident leader O Panneerselvam and joined hands with the rebel camp, taking the number of legislators supporting it to 12.
Arunkumar had moved out of the Koovathur resort last month, where thosesupporting party general secretary V K Sasikala were lodged, to his home town, Coimbatore, and did not participate in the February 18 trust vote.
Against this background, he called on the former chief minister at his residence in Chennai on Sunday today and extended his support. He had said AIADMK going the way of a 'single family' (apparently in a reference to V K Sasikala) was not agreeable to him.
08:22 BJP claims 31 MLAs in Manipur, to stake claim today
The BJP in Manipur has claimed to have secured the support of 32 MLAs after getting the backing of NDA constituent parties and two other MLAs, and said it would elect the legislature party leader on Monday.
The BJP has 21 MLAs of its own and has secured support of 11 others, adding up to 32 legislators; 31 are needed to form the government in the 60-member assembly, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after meeting Governor Najma Heptullah.
A delegation of BJP and parties supporting it too called on the governor but it was not clear what transpired in the meeting.
Biswa Sarma said the legislature party leader would be elected on Monday.
Shyamkumar, one of the 28 Congress MLAs who won from Andro constituency, and the lone All India Trinamool Congress legislator Robindro have joined the BJP, taking the party's numbers to 32, Sarma said.
Asked about application of the anti-defection law against Shyamkumar, Biswa Sarma said they have kept that in mind.
08:13 Parrikar appointed Goa CM, to prove majority in 15 days
Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Sunday appointedManohar Parrikar the BJP's legislative party leader, as the chief minister and asked him to prove majority on floor of House within 15 days of taking oath.
Tthe BJP members led by the incumbent defence minister, called on the governor on Sunday evening and formally staked their claiim to form the government.
The BJP has enlisted the support of two independents, three members each of the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party.
Though the lone NCP member, Churchill Alemao, has also backed the coalition, he is yet to submit the formal letter of support.
"Governor Mridula Sinha has appointed Manohar Parrikar, the leader of the Goa BJP legislature party, as the chief minister of Goa," Rupesh Kumar Thakur, secretary to the governor, stated in a press note issued in Panjim.
Parrikar has submitted evidence before the governor, of the support of 13 MLAs of BJP, 3 MLAs of MGP, 3 of Goa Forward Party and two independent MLAs, thus having a total strength of 21 MLAs in the 40-member assembly, it stated.
"The governor has asked Parrikar to prove his majority in the legislative assembly within 15 days after administration of the oath of office," the note said.
A bit of self-praise here. Hours before Parrikar was invited to form the government, Rediff.com's Prasanna Zore had reported that the defence minister was all set to move back to Panjim, here.
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