Congress MP Karti Chidambaram reaffirms that INDI Alliance is strong in Tamil Nadu
The former Union finance minister had also warned that the INDIA bloc was fighting against a 'formidable machinery', which must be fought on all fronts.advertisementThe Sivaganga MP, too, conceded that the INDI Alliance was not as strong at the national level as the BJP-led coalition. He did, however, insist that in Tamil Nadu, the alliance, led by the DMK, remained firm and well-positioned to win the next state Assembly election.Speaking in Coimbatore, Chidambaram remarked on the state's evolving political landscape. He hinted that several aspects were still in flux while recognising the potential of the newly formed party led by actor Vijay. He noted that the AIADMK, now allied with the BJP, continues to command a significant vote base. 'As per my interaction on the ground, the base level cadres are not happy with the alliance and question what is the change of stance that led to the alliance in a year of exiting the alliance? The newly formed Vijay party has an energy which I accept but moulding it into a political party can only be ascertained after settling. Only enthusiasm can't turn into vote until there is a political formation,' he explained.Addressing the Congress party's current status in Tamil Nadu, the Sivaganga MP noted that the party is in a peculiar position, neither part of the ruling government nor a formal Opposition. He expressed the party's aspiration to be part of the state Cabinet if given a chance, drawing a comparison to other coalition arrangements. advertisement'Every party stands in elections with the expectation to win maximum constituencies and to get a share in the government. If we get a chance, it is our wish to be part of the government and our members becoming ministers, given a chance. In Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu got absolute majority and even then he included Jana Sena and BJP in the Cabinet. Not just Congress party, even VCK and Communist party will have such a wish,' he said.He acknowledged internal challenges within the Tamil Nadu Congress, including factionalism and insufficient focus on local issues. 'There are of course several fundamental issues in the party which have led to various groups which need to be corrected. We are an alliance party for the ruling party in election but are not part of the government nor in an Opposition party. We are in a 'No Man's Land'. We projected GK Moopanar as a CM candidate lastly and after that no one. Congress party is not addressing specific issues of Tamil Nadu and only concentrating on National matters. No matter who is made as a TNCC President, they are only allowed to work in a constrained circle,' he added.
advertisementIN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
5 years on, India resumes tourist visas to Chinese
NEW DELHI: After a five-year hiatus, and ahead of a possible visit by PM Narendra Modi to China next month for the SCO summit, India announced resumption of tourist visas for Chinese nationals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Both sides have looked to facilitate people-to-people exchanges to normalise ties. China, which has been keen to resume direct air services, welcomed the decision as a positive move. The Indian embassy in Beijing announced the decision effective July 24 on Weibo, China's microblogging site, on a day the two countries also held another round of diplomatic talks on border affairs, expressing satisfaction with the "general prevalence of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, leading to gradual normalisation of bilateral relations". India and China have had frequent high-level engagements since Modi's meeting with President Xi Jinping in Kazan last year, following the agreement to complete the disengagement of troops at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh. The decision to restart tourist visa services for Chinese nationals is the second significant step towards normalisation, after the resumption of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. China welcomes India decision on tourist visas The Chinese foreign ministry said, "This is a positive move. Easing cross-border travel serves the interests of all parties. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries." Chinese foreign minister and special representative (SR) for boundary talks Wang Yi is expected to visit India soon for the next round of SR (special representative) talks with NSA Ajit Doval and, with the thaw in ties holding up, Modi himself is likely to visit China for the SCO summit, to be held Aug 31-Sept 1. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If it happens, this will be Modi's first visit to the country in seven years. During his recent visit to China, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said, while citing the complex international situation, that as neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China was very important. In the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) talks on India-China border affairs, according to an Indian readout, the two sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and contacts on issues related to the boundary affairs at the diplomatic and military levels through established mechanisms. The focus was also on the upcoming SR talks for which Wang will be in India. "The two sides also prepared for the next round of Special Representatives' talks on the India-China boundary question to be held in India later this year," the Indian readout said. Doval had travelled to China for the last round of SR boundary talks in Dec 2024. Doval and Wang had then reiterated the importance of maintaining a "political perspective of the overall bilateral relationship" while seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable framework for settlement of boundary question, and resolved to inject vitality into the process.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
2 new OISF battalions to help strengthen industrial security
Bhubaneswar: Govt has decided to create of two additional Odisha Industrial Security Force (OISF) battalions to strengthen security for industrial establishments across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decision follows the BJP govt's increased focus on developing port-based industries in Paradip, Dhamara, Astaranga and Gopalpur, leading to new industrial clusters. The expansion, adding to the existing two battalions, will require the recruitment of 1,944 personnel. This move aims to enhance security infrastructure alongside industrial growth in the state, officials said. Each new battalion will have 675 constables, 128 havildars, 63 assistant sub-inspectors, 27 sub-inspectors and 12 inspectors. They will have one commander and three deputy and four assistant commanders each, besides clerical and other support staff. "These two battalions will be known as the third and fourth battalions," a notification from the home department read. It further stated that the expenditure on account of hiring cost of vehicles shall be charged from borrowing organisations. For both the battalions, armourer staff, communication and stenographers will be included. "The newly created posts will be filled up in a transparent manner following recruitment rules and provisions of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act," the notification read. Paradip port, one of India's major ports on the east coast, which handled 145.38 million metric tonnes of cargo last fiscal, has immense potential for growth, and security could be a huge challenge. With three operational deep-draught ports — Paradip, Dhamra, and Gopalpur — and ambitious expansion plans, the govt is leveraging its 480 km coastline to integrate industrial growth with urban development. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Odisha has more than 50 steel plants now producing 33 million tonnes annually, making it the leading steel-producing state in the country. Odisha produces more than 50% of the country's annual aluminium output of 4.1 million tonnes. "Industrial security is an emerging challenge now, and the state can't afford to earn a bad name by lagging behind in terms of robust and modern security," said a senior police officer.
Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India, UK sign trade deal; unveil Vision '35 for next decade of ties
India and the UK on Thursday inked a free trade agreement (FTA) that is expected to increase trade by £25.5 billion ($34 billion) in the long run and unveiled the India-UK Vision 2035 to reinvigorate their partnership over the next decade at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer. India, UK sign trade deal; unveil Vision '35 for next decade of ties The UK was the first stop in a two-nation tour by Modi, which will also take him to the Maldives to be the guest of honour at the Indian Ocean archipelago's Independence Day celebrations on July 26. Modi said enhancing economic cooperation and strengthening efforts aimed at peace and stability in the Indian Ocean will be the focus of his tour. Starmer hosted Modi at Chequers, the country residence of the British prime minister located 50 km northwest of London, to sign the trade deal, which promises to boost growth across both economies and unlock thousands of jobs, and the leaders unveiled their vision for a reinvigorated partnership over the next decade. The India-UK Vision 2035, a renewed version of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, is aimed at taking relations to new heights in a 'time of rapid global change', the British side said in a readout. The trade deal and the new vision document come against the backdrop of the churn caused by the trade policies of the Donald Trump administration in the US. The trade deal, described as the UK's most economically significant bilateral trade deal since exiting the European Union (EU), will significantly improve market access for businesses in both countries, leading to cheaper products and services for consumers, the readout said. The India-UK Vision 2035 will 'go beyond trade, with reinvigorated mutual commitment to drive prosperity and innovation, deepen defence cooperation through a new Defence Industrial roadmap, work together to secure our borders, tackle climate change and nurture educational connections', the readout said. Under the reinvigorated partnership, India and the UK will strengthen cooperation in tackling corruption, serious fraud, organised crime, and irregular migration through enhanced intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration. A year after India and the UK finalised the Technology Security Initiative (TSI), Modi and Starmer committed to 'strengthen national security by harnessing frontier technologies and shaping the technologies of tomorrow'. The FTA is expected to increase two-way trade from the current level of almost $58 billion by $34 billion in the long run. India will get tariff elimination on 99% of its tariff lines under the deal, covering nearly 100% of trade value. The UK will get reduced tariffs on 90% of British tariff lines, including the cutting of levies on whisky, automobiles, lamb and medical devices. Labour-intensive sectors such as Indian textiles and apparel will get a competitive advantage against countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. Under the Double Contribution Convention, there will be an exemption for employers of Indian workers from paying social security contributions in the UK for three years, making it significantly easier to send workers on posting to Britain. The finalisation of the FTA was announced by Modi and Starmer on May 6. Since then, the two sides have engaged in the legal scrubbing of the deal. Starmer said: 'Our landmark trade deal with India is a major win for Britain. It will create thousands of British jobs across the UK, unlock new opportunities for businesses and drive growth in every corner of the country, delivering on our Plan for Change.' UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who signed the trade deal with his Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, said almost £6 billion in new investments and export wins announced on Thursday shows the strength of the partnership with India. Indian consumers are expected to benefit from improved access to British products ranging from soft drinks and cosmetics to cars and medical devices as average tariffs will drop from 15% to 3%. The UK currently imports £11 billion in goods from India and liberalised tariffs on Indian goods will make it easier and cheaper for British consumers and businesses to buy Indian products, the readout said. Twenty-six British companies have announced new business in India. Airbus and Rolls-Royce will soon begin delivering Airbus aircraft, with more than half powered by Rolls-Royce engines, to Indian airlines as part of around £5 million worth of contracts.
