The impending Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections in 2024 have taken an interesting turn with the creation of alliances and political plans. Two major parties, N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party (JSP), have allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), transforming the state's political landscape. The TDP, JSP, and BJP coalition seeks to strengthen their support base and show a united front against the government YSR Congress Party, led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Assembly Elections 2024. With Naidu's expertise and Kalyan's popularity among young people, the alliance intends to pose a significant threat to the current government. The choice to collaborate with the BJP has sparked both anticipation and outrage. While some see it as a deliberate effort to challenge the YSRCP's growing dominance, others dismiss it as an opportunistic partnership motivated by political expediency. Nonetheless, the alliance partners have expressed confidence in their capacity to address the state's concerns and effect constructive change. One of the most pressing questions about the partnership is its possible influence on the Congress party led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. The TDP-JSP-BJP alliance presents a huge challenge to Congress, which is already under scrutiny for its administration and policies. The alliance's coordinated efforts to mobilise voters and capitalise on anti-incumbency emotions may erode support for Congress in key districts. Furthermore, the BJP's participation in the alliance alters the electoral situation in Andhra Pradesh. While the party has traditionally had little clout in the state, its partnership with the TDP and JSP could improve its chances and extend its appeal to voters. The BJP's emphasis on national concerns and development objectives may appeal to certain segments of the voters, thereby shifting the political narrative in the state. However, the success of the TDP-JSP-BJP coalition is dependent on a variety of factors, including efficient campaign strategy, candidate selection, and voter contact initiatives. Furthermore, the alliance partners must navigate the difficulties of coalition politics and manage competing interests to present a unified programme to the electorate. As the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024 approach, political experts and watchers are keenly watching changes and dynamics in the state's political environment.
18 April,2024 10:42 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMukesh Ambani, the renowned Indian business titan and chairman of Reliance Industries, was born on April 19 to parents Dhirubhai and Kokilaben. He was born in Yemen and briefly lived there before his father decided to move back to India. After he took over the reins from his father, with intelligent leadership and strategic vision, Ambani has propelled Reliance Industries to new heights, making it one of India's most powerful conglomerates. Ahead of Mukesh Ambani birthday 2024, let's reflect on his extraordinary journey in developing his economic empire. Ambani took over Reliance Industries in the early 2000s, succeeding his father, Dhirubhai Ambani. Under his leadership, the company experienced fast growth and diversification, entering new markets and experimenting with new business methods. Ambani's major corporate expansion strategy has been to leverage technology and digitalization to drive growth. Recognising the promise of the digital revolution, Ambani led the establishment of Reliance Jio, a telecommunications company that shook up the Indian telecom business. Reliance Jio quickly gained a considerable market share because of its low prices and high-speed internet services, revolutionising how Indians consume data and interact. Ambani has broadened Reliance Industries' business beyond telecoms by making smart acquisitions and investments in retail, energy, petrochemicals, and media. The acquisition of Future Group's retail assets, as well as the creation of JioMart, an e-commerce venture, have strengthened Reliance's position as the retail industry's dominant player. Ambani's innovative leadership has also catapulted Reliance Industries into the renewable energy sector, with ambitious plans to convert to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. The company's solar and wind energy generation efforts aim to help India achieve its renewable energy targets while lowering carbon emissions and environmental impact. Furthermore, Ambani's devotion to innovation and research has resulted in the formation of the Jio Institute, a world-class educational institution dedicated to cutting-edge research and technical improvement. The institute's mission is to develop future leaders and innovators who will propel India forward in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Ambani's success in expanding Reliance Industries can be ascribed to his ability to anticipate market trends, adapt to changing consumer preferences, and seize emerging possibilities. His strategic investments, along with a dogged pursuit of quality, have helped Reliance Industries thrive in a competitive corporate environment.
18 April,2024 10:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEvery voter across India is waiting with bated breaths as the nation goes into polls with the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 kicking off on April 19. The line-up for the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 has notable candidates, including Union ministers and former chief ministers who are vying for seats across various constituencies. Eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers, and one ex-governor are among the candidates competing in the first phase of elections on April 19. This phase covers 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories, according to a PTI report. Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is seeking a re-election from Maharashtra's Nagpur, aiming for a hattrick win while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is contesting from Arunachal West seat and is going up against former chief minister Nabam Tuki, a PTI report stated. Sarbanada Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, is seeking to return to the Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh in Assam. Similarly, Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan is contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Muzaffarnagar despite the complex caste dynamics prevalent within the constituency. The notable contestants in other places include Jitendra Singh in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, Bhupendra Yadav in Alwar (Rajasthan), and Arjun Ram Meghwal in Bikaner (Rajasthan). Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK leader A Raja will be contesting against L Murugan from the Niligiris while Karti Chidambaram is contesting the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Sivaganga, the news agency report stated. Other notable candidate in Tamil Nadu includes Tamilisai Soundarajan who will be contesting from Chennai South. Additionally, in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Manipur's Law and Education Minister Basanta Kumar Singh will be seen running against JNU professor Bimal Akoijam in Inner Manipur. Congress leader Kamal Nath's son Nakul Nath has been fielded from their bastion Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh while former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi's son Gaurav will be contesting the polls from Jorhat. The phase also has some intriguing matchups, such as Devendra Jhajharia versus Rahul Kaswan in Churu, Rajasthan. Kaswan, a former BJP member, adds suspense to the battle, the PTI report added. Polling for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place in seven phases starting Friday until June 1 with votes counting on June 4.
18 April,2024 10:42 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondentMembers of two communities reportedly clashed and targeted one another with stones over rumours of tearing of a flag and banner during a Ram Navami procession in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Wednesday night, the police said, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, the Nagpur Police have booked nearly 150 persons from both groups and arrested 24 of them in connection with the clash in the city's Mahadula area, an official said on Thursday. Tension erupted after two groups got into a confrontation when a Ram Navami procession was passing through the locality, as per the PTI. Though the police intervened, the two groups clashed and resorted to stone pelting. The police had to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, he said. Police personnel have deployed in the area to maintain law and order, the officials added, the news agency reported on Thursday. Meanwhile, After two years of communal conflict, the Ram Navami festival celebration concluded peacefully in Malwani area of Mumbai. Ram Navami was celebrated in Mumbai and across the country on Wednesday. Mumbai Police had deployed a large number of personnel, ensuring no untoward incidents take place during the celebrations, an official said. According to police sources, approximately 2000-3000 individuals, including a significant presence of youth, children, and women, participated in the rally from Mahada to Malvani Gate No. 1, a turnout notably lower than the past two years. The rally was closely monitored by a substantial deployment of police personnel, including senior officers from the North Region, especially Additional Commissioner Rajeev Jain and DCPs. Credit also goes to the traffic department for their excellent management during the event; the police were monitoring the procession through drone cameras and mobile vans. Meanwhile, two youths were killed after their motorcycle collided with a truck during a Ram Navami procession in Odisha's Sundergarh district on Wednesday, police said, the PTI reported. The deceased were identified as Bastab Majhi (17) and Abhimanyu Baa (18) of Subdega area in the district. The incident occurred near a petrol pump at Tumulia under the jurisdiction of Talsara police station, the police said. Some locals had organised a motorcycle rally to celebrate Ram Navami, and the youths participated in the procession. (with PTI inputs)
18 April,2024 09:14 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentOdisha Chief Minister and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik announced nine Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates including six women and four turncoats for the Assembly elections 2024. Naveen Patnaik made the announcement on Wednesday, when he released the fifth list of nine candidates for the state Assembly elections. The party has dropped four sitting MLAs - Purna Chandra Baka (Chitrakonda), Kishore Chandra Naik (Kuchinda), Rajnikant Singh (Angul) and Samir Ranjan Dash (Nimapara). Naveen Patnaik will run in both the Kantabanji assembly constituency in Bolangir district, Western Odisha, and his customary Hinjili seat in Ganjam for the Assembly elections 2024, reported the PTI. Naveen Patnaik contested two seats in the 2019 assembly elections. He won both the Hinjili and Bijepur assembly segments in Bargarh district, western Odisha. Patnaik later resigned from Bijepur and kept his Hinjili seat, according to the PTI. Naveen Patnaik has also rewarded four turncoats and nominated them to contest the assembly polls. They include: Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Dillip Kumar Nayak (Nimapara), Rajendra Kumar Chhatria (Kuchinda) and Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda), the news agency reported on Thursday. According to the PTI, the six women candidates are Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda), Barsa Singh Bariha (Padampur), Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Sanjukta Singh (Angul), Sulkhnsa Gitanajali Devi (Samakhemundi) and Dr Indira Nanda (Jeypore). While denying party ticket to Angul MLA Rajanikant Singh, BJD nominated his wife Sanjukta Singh from the same seat. Former minister and ex-MLA Rabi Nanda was also denied party ticket. His wife Dr Indira Nanda got the BJD ticket for the Jeypore assembly segment in Koraput district, as per the PTI. Naveen Patnaik also nominated S Gitanajali Devi, daughter of former MLA Nandini Devi in Sanakhemundi assembly segment. The BJD president also inter-changed the candidature of two leaders. Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari has been nominated from the Sambalpur assembly segment while Prasanna Acharya will contest from Rairakhol. The BJD has so far announced the names of 126 candidates out of the total 147 assembly segments in Odisha. Meanwhile, with the Election Commission of India issuing notification for the simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly, the nomination paper filing process started Thursday. The candidates can file nomination papers for Odisha’s four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 assembly segments between 11am and 3pm from April 18 to April 25, the notification said. Voting will be held May 13 in four Lok Sabha seats – Berhampur, Nabarangpur (ST), Kalahandi and Koraput (ST). Polling for the 28 assembly segments under the four Parliamentary constituencies will also be held on the same day. (with PTI inputs)
18 April,2024 09:06 PM IST | Bhubaneswar | mid-day online correspondentA youth was detained on Thursday for allegedly issuing a threat to Maharashtra's Nashik Central BJP MLA Devyani Pharande in connection with an incident that took place on April 3, a police official said, reported the PTI. On April 3, a resident of Jai Bhavani Road area had uploaded an allegedly objectionable post, following which a mob had agitated in front of Upnagar police station and Dwarka Chowk seeking his arrest. The mob also pelted stones at vehicles on Pune-Nashik highway, the official said, according to the PTI. "The man was arrested by Upnagar police. A couple of days ago, Devyani Pharande had addressed a press conference seeking further action from the police," the official said, as per the PTI. "In response the press conference's clip on Facebook, a person issued a threat to the MLA claiming she was escalating the issue. We have increased her security and have posted a constable to accompany her," the police official informed, the news agency reported on Thursday. A case under Information Technology Act was registered at the cyber police station and the youth who allegedly threatened the MLA has been detained, the official said. Salman Khan firing case: Suspects intended to scare actor, says Mumbai Crime Branch Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch officials said on Wednesday that the individuals involved in the firing incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Bandra residence "intended to just scare him and not murder him," the ANI reported. "The accused conducted a 'recce' of Salman Khan's farmhouse in Panvel. They intended to just scare him, not murder him. The statements of both families have been recorded in Bihar. Around 7 people have been called from Haryana and other states for questioning, which is ongoing," said a Mumbai Crime Branch official, as per the ANI. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the Mumbai Crime Branch will record Salman Khan's statement as a witness in the case related to the firing outside his Bandra residence. Earlier, the Mumbai Crime Branch disclosed that the perpetrators had conducted a reconnaissance of the actor's residence before carrying out the attack. Moments before the shooting, the assailants parked a motorcycle approximately 100 metres away from Salman Khan's residence at Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, the news agency reported on Thursday. (with PTI inputs)
18 April,2024 07:35 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentAtleast two people were killed and three seriously injured when their speeding SUV jumped over the divider and overturned on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Nashik district on Thursday morning, police said, reported the PTI. The SUV was on its way to Nashik from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra when the incident occurred. The accident took place at Khamble Shivar village near Sinnar town. As the driver of the ill-fated vehicle lost control, it crossed the divider, broke side barriers and turned turtle, a police official said, as per the PTI. The passengers of the SUV were residents of Karodi village in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The deceased were identified as Bajirao Eknath Gangurde (65) who died on the spot and Nisha Ramkisan Gatkal (20) who died during treatment at a hospital. One of the injured persons was admitted to a private hospital in Sinnar and the other two were admitted in District Civil Hospital in Nashik, the official said. Several accidents have been reported on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway since its first phase was inaugurated in December 2022, the news agency reported on Thursday. 10 killed as car rams into parked truck on Ahmedabad-Vadodara ExpresswayMeanwhile, in an another incident, as many as ten persons travelling in a car, including a child, died after their speeding vehicle crashed into a stationary truck on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway near Nadiad town of Gujarat's Kheda district on Wednesday, police officials said, as per the PTI. Preliminary probe revealed the Maharashtra-registered truck was parked on the extreme left lane of the busy expressway after it developed a mechanical fault and the car rammed into it from the rear side, said Kheda Superintendent of Police Rajesh Gadhiya, the news agency reported on Thursday. He said all the ten occupants of the car, including the driver and a five-year-old child, died in the crash. "The Gujarat-registered car was going towards Ahmedabad from Vadodara when it rammed into the rear side of the parked truck on the expressway near Nadiad. While eight people died on the spot, two injured persons, who were shifted to the Nadiad civil hospital in an ambulance, succumbed later," said the SP. The truck was on its way to Jammu from Pune in Maharashtra when it developed a mechanical snag near Nadiad, the police officer said, the news agency reported on Wednesday. (with PTI inputs)
18 April,2024 06:59 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentMukesh Ambani, the renowned business titan and chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, is more than a name; he represents entrepreneurial power and innovation in India and around the world. Mukesh Ambani continues to be the richest Indian and has now broken into the world's top 10 wealthiest persons in the latest Forbes 2024 Billionaire List. Mukesh Ambani, is ranked 9th on the list with a wealth of USD 116 billion, up from USD 83.4 billion in the 2023 ranking, according to Forbes. On his birthday, here are some interesting facts about Reliance Industries Limited chairman. - Mukesh Ambani was born on April 19, 1957 in in Aden, Yemen into a Gujarati Hindu family to Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani. He has a younger brother Anil Ambani and two sisters, Nina Bhadrashyam Kothari and Dipti Dattaraj Salgaonkar. - As the eldest son of the legendary Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh Ambani has inherited not just a business empire but also a legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation. - Mukesh Ambani lived only briefly in Yemen because his father decided to move back to India in 1958 to start a trading business that focused on spices and textiles. - Mukesh Ambani he prefers to be with his family on his birthday. - Mukesh Ambani had once gifted his wife Nita Ambani a private jet plane worth about 62 dollars million on her birthday. - Mukesh Ambani and his family lives in the most expensive house in the country, Antilia, a private 27-storey building in Mumbai, which was valued at one billion USD and was the most expensive private residence in the world at the time it was built. The building requires a staff of 600 for maintenance, and it includes three helipads, a 160-car garage, private movie theater, swimming pool, and fitness center. - Under his leadership, Reliance Industries has diversified and expanded into various sectors, including petrochemicals, telecommunications, retail, and digital services. - Being the richest person in the country, Mukesh Ambani is said to be a very humble person and he likes to eat home cooked food. - The Ambani family prefers to eat home-cooked pure vegetarian food. - Beyond business, Mukesh Ambani is deeply committed to philanthropy and social causes.
18 April,2024 06:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight test of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, on Thursday. A release issued by the Defence Ministry stated that during the test, all subsystems performed as per expectations. According to the release, to ensure complete coverage of the flight path, the missile performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations. The flight of the missile was also monitored from the Su-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The missile followed the desired path using waypoint navigation and demonstrated very low-altitude sea-skimming flight. This successful flight test has also established the reliable performance of the indigenous propulsion system developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), Bengaluru, the release mentioned. The missile is also equipped with advanced avionics and software to ensure better and more reliable performance. The missile is developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), along with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries. The test was witnessed by many senior scientists from various DRDO laboratories, along with representatives from the production partner, as mentioned in the release. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful flight test of the ITCM and stated that the successful development of indigenous long-range subsonic cruise missile powered by indigenous propulsion is a major milestone for Indian defence R&D. Secretary, Department of Defence- Research and Development (R&D) & Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat congratulated the entire team of DRDO on the successful conduct of the ITCM launch. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 April,2024 05:46 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Supriya Sule on Thursday filed their nomination for the Baramati seat in Maharashtra's Pune district for Lok Sabha elections 2024. Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Vishwajeet Kadam, among others, accompanied Sule, the sitting MP from Baramati and daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, as she filed the nomination papers before the returning officer at the Council Hall in Pune. Polling in Baramati, the pocket borough of Pawars, will be held on May 7. Meanwhile, Supriya Sule's sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar also filed her nomination on Thursday. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, husband of Sunetra Pawar, also filed a set nomination papers for the seat, which an NCP functionary described as a back-up plan in case Sunetra Pawar's nomination does not stand scrutiny or any discrepancy is found in it, according to the PTI. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and NCP leader Praful Patel were present when Sunetra Pawar, who is making her poll debut, filed her nomination at the Council Hall later in the day. Before the filing of her nomination, a campaign rally was held by the ruling 'Mahayuti' constituents - Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde, BJP and Ajit Pawar-headed NCP.Addressing the rally, CM Shinde said a change is inevitable in Baramati and gave the slogan - "Abki baar, Sunetra Pawar". Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that a new history will be created in Baramati as the "daughter-in-law of Baramati" will go to Delhi.Sunetra Pawar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done tremendous work and the world has taken note of it. "Be it infrastructure, building of roads, Chandrayaan, Modiji has been instrumental in doing tremendous work and that is why he is in the minds of the people," she said, as per the PTI. Praful Patel and Union minister Ramdas Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (A) and is a BJP ally, also attended the rally. Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar and Ajit Pawar visited the Dagadusheth Halwai Ganpati temple here and performed 'aarti'. Actor-turned-politician Amol Kolhe, the sitting MP and NCP (SP) candidate from Shirur Lok Sabha seat in Pune district, also filed his nomination before the returning officer, the news agency reported on Thursday. (with PTI inputs)
18 April,2024 04:08 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe police in Greater Noida on Thursday said that drugs worth Rs 100 crore were seized and four Nigerians allegedly running MDMA lab were held in the matter, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, four Nigerian nationals living in Greater Noida were arrested after approximately 25 kg of methylenedioxyphenethylamine (MDMA) drugs were recovered from their rented residence, officials said on Thursday. The seized MDMA, popularly known as Ecstasy or Molly, would have sold for more than Rs 100 crore in the black market, a senior official said, as per the PTI. "Four Nigerian nationals were taken into custody on Wednesday night after they were found manufacturing MDMA with the help of sophisticated apparatus in a set-up made at their rented accommodation in Greater Noida," he added, the news agency reported on Thursday. This is the third such case in Greater Noida since 2023 when foreigners have been found manufacturing synthetic drugs in their rented houses. Meanwhile, in February, the Maharashtra ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) arrested a foreign national in the Juhu area allegedly with MDMA (Methyl enedioxy methamphetamine) worth Rs 3.37 crore, an official said on Friday, the ANI had earlier reported. He was held on Thursday near a five-star hotel on Juhu Tara Road. "Egve John was arrested with MDMA worth Rs 3.37 crore, while his associate is on the run. While two kilograms of the drug was found on him at the time of arrest, another 250 grams was seized from his associate's home in Nalasopara in neighbouring Palghar district," the ATS official said, reported ANI. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered and further investigation is underway, reported ANI. In an another incident, the Thane Police in Maharashtra has busted a drugs manufacturing and trafficking racket in Thane district and nabbed eight people in connection with the matter, the police said, according to the PTI. The police said that the arrested persons were allegedly involved in a drug manufacturing and trafficking racket. The police also seized mephedrone worth Rs 55.7 lakh in the operation, an official said on Friday, as per the PTI. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
18 April,2024 03:53 PM IST | Noida | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
