Former MP and ex-Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin eyes Jubilee Hills bypoll ticket
Following the sudden demise of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, the race for the Jubilee Hills bypoll ticket is heating up within the Congress. A former BRS MP who switched sides just before the Lok Sabha elections is now eyeing the MLA ticket and has launched an aggressive campaign. But former MP and ex-Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, who contested from the seat last time, is not backing down. He has already declared that he alone is in the race and will contest again. However, TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud struck a neutral note, saying that four names would be sent to the high command, and a final decision would be taken at the top. Meanwhile, the ex-BRS MP is lobbying hard, meeting key party leaders and hoping to send Azharuddin back to the pavilion before the innings even begins.
MLAs rock the boat, who's steering?
A PIL in court, four Congress MLAs pointing fingers at their own government and quite a few raised eyebrows in the ruling party. MLAs Anirudh Reddy (Jadcherla), Yennam Srinivas Reddy (Mahbubnagar), Murali Naik (Mahbubabad), and Rajesh Reddy (Nagarkurnool) have filed a petition in the High Court over encroached land near Khajaguda lake where a builder is raising eight towers, 47 floors each. It is said that a key minister might be the invisible hand guiding this move to embarrass the chief minister and flag concerns to the high command about his handling of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development portfolio. Some party leaders are wondering aloud: Was the courtroom drama really necessary? Couldn't this have been settled with a closed-door chat with the CM?
Tapped, but not everyone's on the line
Word is, even Gandhi Bhavan's PRO, Kappara Hariprasad —who drafts press notes and sets up media briefings — got a call from the SIT in the phone-tapping probe. But curiously, some of the Congress big guns didn't find a place in the 618-name longlist of 'eavesdropped elite'. Insiders say the SIT is relying on call logs from service providers, who only keep data for 15 days, and certain names are still missing. With the Telangana elections held way back in November 2023, that means they're trying to solve a jigsaw with half the pieces missing. At a recent chitchat, when someone asked a certain MP, who is believed to be close to the current CM, why he hadn't been summoned, the parliamentarian just chuckled and said, 'Guess 'Tapping Rao' didn't want to hear me crying about my financial woes!'
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The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Top news of the day on July 23, 2025
Election Commission of India begins preparations to hold vice-presidential poll The Election Commission of India (ECI) said it has begun the process of holding the vice-presidential election and has started constituting the electoral college comprising MPs of both Houses of Parliament. The poll panel said it is also finalising Returning Officers for the vice-presidential election. "On completion of the preparatory activities, the announcement of the election schedule to the office of the Vice-President of India will follow as soon as possible," the ECI said. Ahmedabad plane crash: 'Established protocols' followed for identifying victims, says India after U.K. media report on families receiving wrong bodies The Indian government is working closely with U.K. authorities to 'address concerns' raised by an aviation lawyer about families bereaved after the June 12 Ahmedabad Air India crash, receiving wrongly identified last remains, including in one case where remains of more than one person were placed in the same casket .British newspaper Daily Mail reported that relatives of one victim had to abandon funeral plans after being informed that their coffin contained the body of an unknown passenger. Parliament Monsoon Session: Deadlock continues in Parliament as both Houses see no business for third straight day Parliament remained in deadlock, as Opposition protests, demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, continued to stall proceedings in both Houses. Repeated adjournments rocked both Houses and no business was conducted on the day. Both Houses were adjourned immediately after commencing, only to reconvene and be immediately adjourned two more times in the day. Opposition members protested in Lok Sabha with placards Parliament failed to transact any business on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) too. PM Modi embarks on four-day visit to U.K., Maldives Prime Minister Narendra Modi left on a four-day visit to the U.K. and the Maldives, expressing confidence that this will boost India's ties with the two countries. In his departure statement, Mr. Modi said India and the United Kingdom share a comprehensive strategic partnership that has witnessed significant progress in recent years. He noted that the collaboration between the two countries spans a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties. 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Mr. Gandhi said he would put before the people and the Election Commission in black in white on how the "theft of votes" is being done. V-P Dhankhar's resignation: Mallikarjun Kharge says 'daal mein kuch kaala hai', seeks govt. clarification Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that there is something fishy about Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as the Vice-President and asked the government to clarify on it. Mr. Kharge claimed that Mr. Dhankhar used to "defend" the BJP and the RSS more than the BJP-RSS people themselves, but still had to resign. CJI agrees to constitute Bench to hear plea on behalf of Justice Varma Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said he will constitute a Bench for hearing a petition filed on behalf of Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, challenging the in-house inquiry procedure and the then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's recommendation to the President and Prime Minister, in the month of May, to remove the judge from office. 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Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Gau Rashtra Yatra Team Meets Governor Acharya Devvrat
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 23: In a discussion held with a 12-member delegation of Rashtriya Gau Sevak Sangh (RGSS) and allied organizations at Raj Bhavan, Gandhinagar, Hon'ble Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat met the Gau Rashtra Yatra team. During the round of discussion, Narendra Kumar and Bharat Singh Rajpurohit shed light on the Gau Aadharit Prakritik Krishi, emphasizing the need for traditional value restoration for Gauseva, cow breed conservation, scientific breeding programs, development of self-reliant Gaushalas, advisory task force setup for cows, and mass awareness through cow protection campaigns. Narendra Kumar emphasized that the future of India lies in embracing cow-based agriculture and restoring Gau-based traditional values. According to Narendra Kumar's LinkedIn post, if India adopts Gau Aadharit Prakritik Krishi, we will be able to save around $1.5 billion annually on fertilizer imports and reduce a significant value of government subsidies. In addition to this, we will save our soil, farmers, and national health. Highlighting the importance of cow breed conservation and scientific breed programs, Bharat Singh Rajpurohit stressed in the discussion that every Indian household and farm must include cows as a major part of ecological and spiritual life. He regarded cows as the living laboratories for organic farming and rural prosperity. RGSS Presents Roadmap for Gau Seva and Rural Sustainability The delegation outlined a strategic plan to promote organic farming, gaushala self-reliance, breed improvement, and cow protection. The key RGSS Demands and vision include- Organic Farming Movement - Adoption of Panchgavya-based Organic Farming, replacing chemical inputs through cow dung, urine, and bioenzymes. Breed Improvement Program- Efforts to save indigenous cow breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Bachaur, Gangatiri, and others through scientific breeding and farmer support. Rashtriya Gau Yatra Initiative- A Campaign to begin in August 2025 to cover 500+ districts, promote Gau Aadharit Krishi, conduct training sessions at farming clusters and Gaushalas, and culminate in Rashtriya Gausamman Sammelan, 2025. In the discussion with Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat, Narendra Kumar talked about the spiritual and economic imperative of cow conservation. Based on his experience and learnings at Hindrise Gau Sanvardhan Aashram, he expressed his feeling regarding how gaushalas can emerge as rural innovation centers and farmers will evolve to become self-reliant Annadatas. Narendra Kumar said, "Organic farming with cow inputs can restore soil fertility, leave no scope for toxic agriculture, and change the lives of millions of Indian farmers. Yes, our Kisans will become debt-free." Narendra Kumar further added, "Rashtriya Gau Yatra will connect thousands of gaushalas, farmers, youth groups, and panchayats, collecting petitions, offering trainings, and identifying cow warriors, breeders, and innovators to be honoured at the Sammelan. Adding to the vision, Bharat Singh Rajpurohit said, "This year, we will identify and support the real protectors of cows on the ground. From Bihar to Gujarat, from Rajasthan to Odisha, we are uniting India to stand together and contribute to Gaurashtra revival." The 12-member delegation included leaders and experts across India including Narendra Kumar (Founder- RGSS and Hindrise Gau Sanvardhan Aashram), Bharat Singh Rajpurohit (President- Awari), Swami Madhav Prakash (Advisor- RGSS and Head- Swaminarayan Gaushala, Gandhinagar), Sanjeet Kumar Yadav (State Organisation Secretary, Bihar- RGSS), Harshad Gugaliya (Gau Seva Activist), Dinesh Sharma (Gaushala Head, Rajasthan), Dr. Shakti Dev (Veterinary Expert- Indigenous Cow Breed), Devendra Chauhan (Legal Advisor- Cow Protection), Ravi Shukla (RGSS Member), Gopal Mishra (Farmer Leader, Madhya Pradesh), Loknath Tripathi (Campaign Coordinator- RGSS, East India), and Parth Patel (Youth Representative, Gujarat).
The Wire
20 minutes ago
- The Wire
Indian Govt Sent British Families of Air India Crash Victims 'Wrong Bodies'; MEA Responds to Reports
British prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to discuss the case with prime minister Narendra Modi when the latter makes a state visit to Britain this week. Representative image. Members of the Indian Medical Association and Ahmedabad Medical Association pay tribute to the victims of the Air India plane crash, in Ahmedabad, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Photo: PTI New Delhi: British news outlets have reported that grieving families of those killed in the Air India plane crash in Gujarat in June have been sent by wrong bodies by the Indian government – a claim that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not denied in its official response. Reports on the Daily Mail and The Times noted that British prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to discuss the case with prime minister Narendra Modi when the latter makes a state visit to Britain this week. The former also reported that a "top-level inquiry into the scandal" is underway in India and England. Fifty two of the 241 people killed in the 242-passenger Air India flight bound for London's Gatwick on June 12 were British citizens. Nineteen others, who were in and around the building into which the plane crashed, were also killed. The reports, including on the British Telegraph, noted that the remains of a number of British victims were "wrongly identified before they were flown home." The relatives of a victim abandoned funeral plans after allegedly being told that the coffin contained a different – and unidentified – passenger's body, the Daily Mail reported. Daily Mail further reported that the remains of more than one person killed in the crash were "commingled in a single coffin" and "had to be separated before the funeral could go ahead." The errors were reportedly identified by Fiona Wilcox, the Inner West London coroner, who had to compare DNA from the bodies with samples given by the victims' families. "Though two instances of mistaken identity have so far come to light, there are fears that more such errors could have been made, leaving families under a shadow of uncertainty," the Daily Mail report said. The victims' families are represented by a lawyer, James Healy-Pratt, who told the news outlets that the mistakes had left the families 'distraught'. Healy-Pratt said that this confusion has been prevailing for the last two weeks. To The Telegraph, he said that the question also is that if it "isn't their is it in that coffin?" Most crash victims whose families are in India have been cremated or buried soon after their bodies were recovered, in accordance with religious customs. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in his response to the reports today, said that India is working with UK authorities to address concerns on this. Jaiswal also claimed that the authorities had carried out identification of victims "as per established protocols and technical requirements." His statement said: "We have seen the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention. In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements . All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue." Lawyer Healy-Pratt also told Telegraph that the family who received the wrong body had been left 'in limbo' and that the coroner also "has a problem because she has an unidentified person in her jurisdiction.' The Times reported that Healy-Pratt is seeking formal responses from Air India and its emergency response contractor, Kenyon International Emergency Services. The families are in contact with their respective MPs and the UK's Foreign Office. One of the family members of three victims is quoted by Telegraph as having said that they were not "allowed to" look at the remains. "They just said, 'This is your mother or father,' and gave us a paper label with an ID number on it. We had to take their word for it," said Blackburn-resident Altaf Taju who lost his parents and brother-in-law. Taju's family members were buried in India, so he was not affected by the mix-up. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
