Page 5 - South India

Amid pushback, Sam Pitroda resigns as chairman of Indian Overseas Congress

This comes after Pitroda triggered controversy on Wednesday with his "people of the east look like the Chinese and those of the south look like Africa" remarks

Birla unit acquires ARMC IVF centre to foray into South Indian market

Birla Fertility & IVF, a part of C K Birla Group, on Wednesday said it has forayed into the South Indian market with the acquisition of ARMC IVF Fertility Centre for an undisclosed amount. Currently, Birla Fertility & IVF operates 30 centres and with the acquisition, it has expanded its presence across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, by adding seven more centres and taking the total to 37 outlets across the country. "ARMC IVF and its Founder and Medical Director, Dr KU Kunjimoideen, have served the patients in the southern region with the highest level of fertility care, and through this partnership, we will continue to uphold this commitment," C K Avanti Birla, Founder (Birla Fertility & IVF, C K Birla Healthcare), said in a statement. The company plans to expand its footprint to 100 clinics with an investment of over Rs 500 crore over the next-3-4 years. The growth from 37-100 centres would encompass both organic and inorganic routes and in some cases partnerships as .

Andhra: Politics not '5-minute noodles', needs patience, says Pawan Kalyan

Politics is not a five-minute noodles and one can not expect quick results as leaders have to earn the trust of people by withstanding turbulence and setbacks, Janasena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan has said. Janasena, TDP and BJP are NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh for the May 13 polls. Comparing the vision of the National Democratic Alliance for Andhra Pradesh, and that of the ruling YSR Congress party in the state, he said the former has got more credible leadership, people with commitment and experience. He appealed to the people to vote for the alliance, alleging that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy completely damaged and messed up the state during the last five years. "You have to understand. We all think that politics is a fast food (and expect) fast food results. You want to make it immediately. You want results immediately. It is not a five-minute Maggi noodles. When I look at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash, when I look at Ramana Lohia, all the elders, even Mr Kanshi Ram, they

Reservoirs report water shortage, southern belt worst hit, says CWC

The Central Water Commission has underscored a notable deficit in reservoir storage nationwide, which has dipped to 28 per cent from 35 per cent of the capacity during the corresponding period last year. The CWC, which monitors live water storage in 150 water reservoirs and releases a weekly status bulletin, found the southern region to be the most hit. A total of 42 reservoirs are monitored by the commission in southern region, which includes Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As per the CWC's latest Reservoir Storage bulletin, the total live storage available in these reservoirs is 8.353 BCM or 16 per cent of total capacity of 53.334 billion cubic metres (BCM). The storage during the corresponding period of 2023 in the southern region was 28 per cent of the total capacity of these reservoirs, while the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period was 22 per cent. The bulletin also revealed concerning data on reservoir storage acros

A first in LS polls: Corporate-backed political party enters the fray

The party is fielding two lawyers, Charlie Paul in Chalakudy and Antony Judy in Ernakulam

Jagan Mohan Reddy looting Andhra Pradesh, says TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu Friday accused Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of looting Andhra Pradesh and asked people to choose between a government that develops the state or the one that destroys it. Addressing an election meeting at Vemuru in Guntur district, he asserted that 29,000 farmers came forward to give 35,000 acres land reposing faith in him for setting up Amaravati as the capital city. "Probably this is a world record. But Jagan played a high drama in the name of three capitals and the ultimate result is that the state does not have a capital now," said Naidu. Further, the TDP supremo promised to take measures to supply water for three crops in a year in the Krishna river delta region. Asking people to choose between a government that develops the state or the one that destroys it, he alleged that Reddy looted the state by selling spurious liquor at very high prices. Promising jobs for the youth of the state on returning to power, he vowed to be the best driv

Haldia Petchem planning $10 bn oil-to-chemical project in south India

The company wants to boost profits by locally producing specialty chemicals

Swearing-in of senior DMK MLA K Ponmudy as minister likely on Friday

The swearing-in of senior DMK MLA K Ponmudy as a minister was likely on Friday, a day after the Supreme Court pulled up Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi over the matter, sources indicated. While there was no immediate official word on the matter, sources said the swearing-in of Ponmudy was likely to be held this afternoon. On Thursday, the apex Court had voiced "serious concern" over the conduct of Ravi for his refusal to reinduct Ponmudy as a minister in the state cabinet even after it suspended his earlier conviction. The SC had directed the Governor to decide on the issue within 24 hours. The Governor had refused to reinduct Ponmudy, whose conviction and three-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case the apex court stayed recently, despite Chief Minister M K Stalin's recommendation.

PM Modi doesn't care about TN, did not visit during cyclone Michaung: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that while he has been visiting Tamil Nadu frequently in the last few weeks, he has "historically paid little attention" to the state. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posed questions for the prime minister ahead of his visit to Tamil Nadu's Salem and Kerala's Palakkad on Tuesday. "The prime minister is visiting Salem, Tamil Nadu and Palakkad, Kerala today. Some important questions that he must address: While the prime minister has been visiting Tamil Nadu frequently in the last few weeks, he has historically paid little attention to the state," Ramesh said. For instance, he did not set foot there during the Cyclone Michaung crisis in December 2023, he claimed. The chief minister of Tamil Nadu has repeatedly urged for the release of Rs 37,907 crore from the Modi government for rehabilitation and reconstruction after the cyclone, he noted. Does the prime minister plan to

LS elections 2024: PM Modi to address rally in TN as part of South push

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a BJP rally here on Friday, as part of his southern outreach with the Lok Sabha polls around the corner. He is slated to address rallies next week as well, in the western region of the state. The BJP has not been able to make significant electoral gains in Tamil Nadu in the past but the saffron party is hopeful of reversing that trend, especially under an aggressive K Annamalai who is heading its state unit. Modi had made a number of visits to Tamil Nadu in the past, besides other southern states. Among others, he visited Hindu temples and places with religious significance. The BJP is attempting to a stitch up a non-DMK, non-AIADMK alliance in the state and has already roped in GK Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress, expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam and AMMK, headed by TTV Dhinakaran. Tamil Nadu has a total of 39 Lok Sabha seats and the neighbouring Puducherry one.

DMK allots Madurai, Dindigul to CPI(M), Nagapattinam, Tiruppur to CPI

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Tuesday announced that CPI(M) will contest from Madurai and Dindigul and the CPI from Nagapattinam and Tiruppur constituencies in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The announcement came a month after the ruling party allotted two seats each to the Left parties, who are part of the alliance with Congress and a few other parties. CPI(M) leaders led by State Secretary K Balakrishnan, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan and others called on Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin at the Dravidian party's headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' here today and signed formal agreements regarding the seats. The ruling DMK had allotted two seats each to the CPI(M), CPI and VCK and one each to the IUML, KMDK and MDMK. The DMK has earmarked nine seats in Tamil Nadu besides the lone segment in Puducherry to the Congress party. The DMK is set to contest in 21 seats. The KMDK nominee will contest in DMK's rising sun symbol and in effect, the ruling party is set to fight from 22 ou

The North-South divide: The 'fiscal injustice' rhetoric is biased

It should not be forgotten that in the 1950s and 1960s, the North Indian states subsidised Southern and Western India as part of the cooperative model of nation-building

Kamal Haasan's MNM joins DMK-led alliance in TN, gets one RS seat for 2025

Actor Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Saturday joined the ruling DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu and extended its support for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Amid speculations that Haasan's party might be allotted seats to contest the Parliamentary polls, the DMK gave MNM one seat for the 2025 Rajya Sabha polls. Haasan and the ruling party President and Chief Minister M K Stalin finalised the deal at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam here. Speaking to reporters after clinching the deal, Haasan said his move to join the alliance was done for the sake of the country and not for any consideration for post. He extended his party's "full support" to the alliance. MNM will do campaign related work in the 39 Lok Sabha seats in TN and the lone Puducherry segment, according to the understanding arrived at by the two leaders.

Our family strives for every family in TN: Stalin takes jibe at PM Modi

'This is family rule, one that strives for every family in TN', says Stalin in response to PM's jibe

Expected Infrastructure push sets South India's cement market in motion

Industry majors and analysts expect the rise in overall infrastructure capital outlay in the Interim Budget to Rs 11.11 trillion in 2024-25

Centre's alleged 'injustice' in devolution of taxes to southern states

Complaints from the south of the Vindhyas gained intensity as the debate over the lower devolutions added to the perception of a "North-South divide"

Lal Salaam trailer is out, Rajinikanth's movie to release on Friday

Superstar Rajinikanth and Vishnu Vishal starrer Lal Salaam's trailer is out now. The movie is directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and it will hit theatres on Friday, February 9, 2024

Cong MP asks for higher share in Budget, demands separate nation for south

Karnataka politician DK Suresh threatened a call for separate nationhood for southern states after accusing the Centre of disproportionately distributing share of GST and direct tax funds

Despite challenges Andhra progressing in various sectors: Governor Nazeer

Andhra Pradesh made remarkable progress in various sectors, surpassing past achievements with the cooperation of people despite being faced with numerous challenges, Governor Abdul Nazeer said on Friday. After unfurling the national flag on the occasion of Republic Day, Nazeer said the state government aims to bring joy to every underprivileged individual, cutting across caste, religion, class, region and political affiliations. "We are committed to delivering welfare schemes effectively and without any discrimination...," he said. Listing out the state government's achievements, the Governor said the key feature of the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led dispensation is "prompt and transparent delivery" of welfare and development schemes, ensuring they reach beneficiaries satisfactorily. A major step towards empowering citizens is the establishment of 15,004 village/ ward secretariats which have been instrumental in delivering over 540 government services right at the people'

Amaravati farmers protesting against dictator CM Reddy: TDP's Nara Lokesh

"Amaravati stood against conspiracies and intrigues. Congratulations to the farmers who have been fighting against the dictator for 1,500 days," Nara Lokesh posted on X