IN a significant setback for the Congress and its legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan, the Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram has dismissed his petition demanding an inquiry against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter T Veena. Congress leaders including Kuzhalnadan sought a direct inquiry by the vigilance court into his allegations concerning Exalogic Solutions Private Limited. Judge M V Rajakumara unequivocally declared the petition as being politically motivated, finding no irregularities under the anti-corruption act.

KARNATAKA went to polls in Phase 2 (14 seats of southern Karnataka on April 19) and in Phase 3 (14 seats of northern Karnataka on May 7), completing the electoral process. With the significant victory in last year's Vidhan Sabha (assembly) elections, Congress is striving to replicate its success. BJP, on the other hand, seeks to emulate its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Voter turnout was notable, with 69.56 per cent recorded in Phase 1 and 70.41 per cent in Phase 2. Unlike other states, there has been no decline in the percentage of votes cast.

IN the 2004 parliament elections, the BJP was defeated and the Congress could not get sufficient majority to form the government.  The Left emerged as a big force with 61 MPs, the CPI(M) with 44 MPs.  The Left offered support to Congress to form the government provided a common minimum programme is adopted. In this background, the UPA-I government was formed with Manmohan Singh as the prime minister duly accepting the demand for a common minimum programme.During that period as part of the common minimum programme, different sections of the people got benefited.

THE All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), in a statement issued on April 28, has unequivocally condemned the recent arrests of university students in the United States who were peacefully protesting against Israeli aggression on Gaza and stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

HEAT waves were forecasted a few days earlier in Chennai and other parts of the state of Tamil Nadu, and the summer heat has already begun. The election-related heat and intense campaigning culminated with the state going to polls in the first phase on April 19.