‘Hard work, not sycophancy, will help Congress reconnect with people at grassroots level’: Rahul Gandhi tells party leaders
NEW DELHI: In a bid to revive Congress organisational strength, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday told district presidents that hard work and direct public engagement, rather than sycophancy, will help the party grow, as he urged party leaders to reconnect with people at the grassroots level, party sources said. While addressing the concluding session of a 10-day training camp for Congress district presidents from Rajasthan and Delhi in Pushkar, Gandhi praised coordination among Rajasthan Congress leaders and described the working relationship between the Pradesh Congress Committee leadership and the Leader of Opposition as a positive example for the party, according to Congress leaders, PTI reported. He described Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Tikaram Jully as a “Jai-Veeru ki jodi”.The Congress had witnessed internal infighting in Rajasthan involving the camps of Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot before its defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said party workers must remain connected to public issues and stand with the poor and marginalised in cases of injustice. He spent more than five hours at the camp and held interactive sessions on organisational strengthening, teamwork, ideology and public outreach, the sources said. Gandhi urged district presidents not to limit themselves to organisational roles but to build direct contact with citizens. He said rebuilding public trust was essential for strengthening the Congress and expanding its support base. He added that growth within the party should be based on commitment and service rather than personal loyalty to senior leaders. Gandhi also called for focus on issue-based politics and stronger engagement with people to counter what he described as the BJP’s narrative. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Dotasra gave a presentation on organisational work and efforts to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. Leader of opposition Tikaram Jully said the 10-day camp under the “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan” would infuse new energy into the organisation in Rajasthan. The training camp was attended by district presidents and senior Congress leaders from Rajasthan and Delhi. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress leader Shanimol Usman elected as Kerala Deputy Speaker
Shanimol, who contested for the ruling UDF, defeated CPI’s Pattambi MLA Mohammed Muhsin, who was opposition LDF’s pick for deputy speaker. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Shanimol Usman has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of the 16th Kerala Assembly. It’s after close to three-a-half-decades after that the assembly is getting a woman deputy speaker. The Aroor MLA was elected at the election held in the assembly on Tuesday (June 2,2026). Shanimol, who contested for the ruling UDF, defeated CPI’s Pattambi MLA Mohammed Muhsin, who was opposition LDF’s pick for deputy speaker. While Shanimol polled 99 votes, Muhsin got 34 votes. While the three BJP legislators abstained from voting, three MLAs – two from UDF and one from LDF – were absent from the House on Tuesday. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan chose not to cast his vote. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TMC panchayat chief found dead at home in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas
The deceased, identified as Jahidul Haque Baidya, was the chief of Jadurhati Uttar Gram Panchayat in the Baduria area. KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat chief was found dead at his residence in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday, police said. The deceased, identified as Jahidul Haque Baidya, was the chief of Jadurhati Uttar Gram Panchayat in the Baduria area. According to police, Baidya’s body was discovered hanging from the ceiling of a room in his house on Tuesday morning. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. An officer from Baduria police station said an investigation is under way to determine whether the death was a case of suicide or if any other circumstances were involved. The incident has caused concern in the locality, where Baidya had recently faced allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. On 31 May, local residents staged a protest outside his residence, alleging that a battery-operated waste collection vehicle procured under the Swachh Bharat Mission had been sold and the proceeds misused. The protesters had demanded his arrest and called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. Police said all possible angles are being examined and further inquiries are continuing. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Saw potential in a young worker’: DK Shivakumar thanks Gandhi family ahead of Karnataka CM swearing-in
NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister-designate DK Shivakumar on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Gandhi family for playing a defining role in his political journey and vowed to continue working with sincerity and commitment to build a progressive, inclusive and prosperous state. In a post on X, Shivakumar wrote,”The Gandhi family has played a defining role in my political journey, not merely through leadership, but through the faith they placed in me at different stages of my life.” His remarks come as he is set to take oath as Karnataka’s next chief minister tomorrow after the resignation of Siddaramaiah on May 28. Reflecting on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s role in his early political career, Shivakumar said he often thinks about how Rajiv Gandhi recognised his potential when he was still a young party worker. “I often reflect on Shri Rajiv Gandhi avaru, who saw potential in a young worker even before I could see it in myself. His encouragement gave me the confidence to dream bigger and dedicate myself to public service. The greatest leaders are those who identify possibilities in others and inspire them to rise beyond their own expectations. Rajiv Gandhi did exactly that for me,” he wrote. The Karnataka Congress leader also credited former Congress president Sonia Gandhi for standing by him during difficult phases of his political journey and said she taught him an important lesson about leadership. “Smt. Sonia Gandhi avaru taught me another important lesson in leadership. True leaders do not stand by you only during moments of success; they stand beside you during your most difficult times, offering strength, encouragement and unwavering support. Her faith in me during challenging phases of my journey is something I will always cherish,” Shivakumar said. Praising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shivakumar described him as a constant source of inspiration and guidance who has motivated leaders through his commitment to democratic values and inclusive politics. “Shri Rahul Gandhi avaru has been a constant source of guidance and inspiration. His willingness to listen, his conviction in democratic values, and his vision for a more inclusive and compassionate India continue to motivate leaders like me. His support has been a strong pillar throughout my public life,” he wrote. Shivakumar also acknowledged Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying her approachable nature and encouragement had always been deeply valued. “Smt. Priyanka Gandhi avaru has always been approachable, warm and encouraging. She has treated every worker with respect and dignity, reminding us that politics is ultimately about connecting with people and understanding their aspirations. Her guidance and encouragement have always been deeply valued,” he said. “As someone who began as a grassroots worker and has been entrusted today with the responsibility of leading Karnataka, I remain profoundly grateful for their trust and encouragement. Under their leadership and with the blessings of the people of Karnataka, I will continue to work with sincerity and commitment to build a progressive, inclusive and prosperous Karnataka that reflects the values we collectively stand for,” he added. Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan. Karnataka Congress working president G C Chandrashekhar recently confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony would be held in a simple manner. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Now, Congress may focus on Telangana Cabinet rejig
According to party sources, three to four MLAs are expected to be considered for induction into the Cabinet. HYDERABAD: After successfully overseeing the formation of its government in Kerala and managing a leadership transition in Karnataka, the Congress high command is now likely to focus on the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle in Telangana. According to party sources, three to four MLAs are expected to be considered for induction into the Cabinet. The names being widely discussed include Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, Vemulawada MLA Aadi Srinivas, Deverakonda MLA Balu Naik, and Dornakal MLA Ram Chander Naik. Political discussions intensified after the Speaker reportedly met senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Party leaders believe these interactions have further strengthened speculation regarding his possible inclusion in the Cabinet. Similarly, Rajagopal Reddy is optimistic that the party leadership may honour commitments made to him during his return to Congress from the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. Sources also suggest that two to three ministers may be dropped from the Cabinet and assigned organisational responsibilities either at the state or national level. Currently, there are two vacant Cabinet positions, and the leadership is reportedly considering a broader reshuffle involving both vacant and outgoing roles. There is also discussion within Telangana Congress circles over who could become the next Assembly Speaker if Gaddam Prasad Kumar is inducted into the Cabinet. Sources indicate that the party leadership may prefer an MLA or a Cabinet minister from the SC community for the post as part of its social representation strategy. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is also believed to favour retaining the position within the same community. Adluri likely choice for Speaker post Among the names being discussed, minister Adluri Laxman Kumar is said to be emerging as a strong choice of the party for the Speaker’s post. Sources suggest that his candidature is also being viewed in the context of concerns raised by a section of party leaders over the concentration of Cabinet representation from the Peddapalli parliamentary constituency, from which three ministers currently hail. While Dornakal MLA Ram Chander Naik was previously considered for the Deputy Speaker role, sources indicate that he may be more interested in a Cabinet berth. If that happens, the party might consider appointing a woman legislator, with Kodad MLA N Padmavathi Reddy among the candidates being discussed. In addition to Cabinet appointments, several senior MLAs are believed to be under consideration for chairperson positions in key government corporations. Party leaders are reportedly weighing options to accommodate aspirants who may not secure ministerial roles. The Chief Whip position, which carries Cabinet rank, has also emerged as a significant role garnering considerable interest. According to sources, second-term MLAs from either forward or backward communities could be considered for this position. Discussions are also reportedly underway regarding a possible reshuffle of portfolios, including Home, Education, Finance, Revenue, Power, Civil Supplies, Forest, Endowments, Transport, and Excise. Sources suggest that any decision on Cabinet restructuring is likely to be taken after consultations between the Telangana leadership and the Congress high command. Senior leaders, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC leaders, and other key ministers, are expected to hold discussions in Delhi before any final announcement is made. Reshuffle of portfolios also likely Discussions are also reportedly underway regarding a possible reshuffle of portfolios, including Home, Education, Finance, Revenue, Power, Civil Supplies, Forest, Endowments, Transport, and Excise. The chief whip position, which carries Cabinet rank, has also emerged as a significant role garnering considerable interest. Ireddy Srinivas Reddy Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah to meet Congress high command in Delhi, bat for cabinet berths for loyalists
Though it is not confirmed yet, some 15-20 are likely to be sworn in and veterans who were part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet are keeping their fingers crossed. BENGALURU: Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and caretaker CM Siddaramaiah will be in Delhi on Monday to finalise the list of council of ministers with the Congress high command, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Though the power transition went off smoothly, the two leaders are likely to butt heads over the induction of their loyalists into the cabinet and prove their sway over the high command. They are expected to present their own list of legislators to take oath along with Shivakumar at Lok Bhavan’s glass house at 4.05 pm on Wednesday. Though it is not confirmed yet, some 15-20 are likely to be sworn in and veterans who were part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet are keeping their fingers crossed. They include Dr G Parameshwara, HK Patil, KH Muniyappa, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre, Ramalinga Reddy, Priyank Kharge, Krishna Byre Gowda, Santhosh Lad, Zameer Ahmed Khan, K Venkatesh, Shivaraj Tangadagi and Dr HC Mahadevappa. The names of a few new faces, including AS Ponnanna, Saleem Ahmed, Speaker UT Khader, NA Haris, BK Hariprasad, TB Jayachandra, Basavaraj Rayareddy and Puttaranga are doing the rounds. “I met CM-designate Shivakumar. I interacted with him on a few issues. It was cordial … I came here to congratulate him and wish him all the best. The cabinet formation will be done after the chief minister goes, discusses with the high command and key leaders,” former law minister HK Patil told reporters after meeting Shivakumar. MB Patil, Bangarpet MLA SN Narayanaswamy, Malavalli MLA PM Narendra Swamy and former chief whip in the Assembly Ashok Pattan also met Shivakumar. After the swearing-in, a partial cabinet will be in place and the remaining vacancies are likely to be filled after the June 18 polls to four Rajya Sabha and seven MLC seats, sources said. On Sunday, scores of ministerial berth aspirants, including former ministers identified with the Siddaramaiah camp, like Santhosh Lad and Mahadevappa, met Shivakumar. First-time MLAs Basavaraj Shivaganga from Channagiri and Darshan Dhruvanarayana from Nanjangud also met their mentor. Asked who would take oath as ministers along with him on Wednesday, Shivakumar said, “I don’t know that. The party high command will decide. I will not comment on it.” Yathindra meets Shivakumar Siddaramaiah’s MLC-son Dr Yathindra, who is most likely to be sworn in as minister in the Shivakumar cabinet, called on Shivakumar at the Kumara Krupa Guest House on Sunday evening. “I am a ministerial aspirant. The high command has also assured me that I will be made a minister. I am waiting in anticipation. First, let the high command decide on inducting me as minister. I am ready to handle whichever portfolio assigned to me,” he told reporters. “I had only met Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha and somewhere on the way. I wasn’t able to come to his office or home to congratulate him. So, I came to convey my wishes. No (major) discussions happened. Just a little talk about SIR and our Mysuru district politics,” he added. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Sitting inside CBSE’: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘beware of pickpockets’ warning amid OSM row; flags re-evaluation fees
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi Monday targeted the CBSE for charging students a range of fees for re-evaluation, even when discrepancies stem from the board’s own errors. Targeting the entire process of charging the students, the Congress leader said: “When education is turned from a service into a business, mistakes aren’t corrected. They’re multiplied. And our children are paying the steepest price for it.” “Beware of pickpockets – today they’re sitting inside CBSE. If marks come out wrong due to CBSE’s mistake, what do you get? A bill: Digital scan copy: Rs 100/subjec, Re-totalling: Rs 100/paper, Re-evaluation: Rs 25/question. A child might have to shell out up to Rs 2000 just to get their own answer sheet properly checked,” he wrote on X. He futher wrote: “Think about it: when 4 lakh kids have filed such applications, how much is CBSE raking in. When scanning was done with a phone, wrong marking is a given. And the child is footing the bill to get it fixed. The mistake is CBSE’s. The punishment is the child’s. The earnings are the government’s. When education is turned from a service into a business, mistakes aren’t corrected. They’re multiplied. And our children are paying the steepest price for it – with their time, their self-confidence, and their future.” Gandhi on Sunday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the CBSE OSM controversy, accusing him of ignoring the concerns of 18.5 lakh students allegedly affected by irregularities in the board’s answer-sheet scanning process. In a post on X, he said the Prime Minister found time to speak on a range of issues during his monthly Mann Ki Baat address, but not about students whose answer sheets were allegedly not assessed properly. “This morning, the Prime Minister had time to speak about mangoes. He has not had time to speak about 18.5 lakh children whose answer sheets were scanned with phones. Dharmendra Pradhan ji still sits in office. Modi ji’s silence is no longer indifference. It is complicity,” Gandhi wrote. Sharpening his criticism of the government, Gandhi also shared a video of his interaction with a group of students and praised them for raising questions about the controversy. “Vedant and his friends are brilliant, brave young Indians who asked CBSE and the Modi govt simple questions – but got insults instead of answers,” he said. The row began after Vedant, a Class 12 student, claimed in a post on X that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by the CBSE under its copy-scanning process did not belong to him. The allegation quickly gained traction online, with several other students making similar claims on social media. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that CBSE Class 12 answer sheets had been exposed in the public domain, describing it as a serious breach of student privacy. Claiming that the data of millions of students could be at risk, Ramesh said, “this is a data breach of monumental proportions and it compromises the privacy of 2 million students.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
In another blow to Mamata Banerjee, 9 TMC councillors quit, Diamond Harbour municipal board dissolved
KOLKATA: In yet another setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following its rout in the recent Bengal assembly elections, the board of Diamond Harbour municipality was dissolved on Sunday. This came after nine of the party’s councillors resigned, leading to the municipality going under administrative control. Diamond Harbour sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ayan Dattagupta has taken over as administrator of the civic body. It is the parliamentary constituency of Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banrejee. Eight of the nine councillors of the 16-ward municipality had sent in their resignations on May 25, while the ninth resigned on Sunday, leading to the dissolution of the board. They cited financial irregularities within the civic body, police harassment and intimidation as reasons for resigning. Administrative sources said municipal chairman Pranab Das forwarded the resignations to the state urban development and municipal affairs department, which then ordered the dissolution of the board. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CBSE ignored Globarena track record in Telangana: KT Rama Rao
Expressing support for Class 12 students protesting the marks fiasco, Rama Rao said students and parents had every right to seek transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. HYDERABAD: Pointing out that Globarena, the company at the centre of the ongoing CBSE marks controversy, was the same firm responsible for the Telangana Intermediate results debacle in 2019, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday accused the CBSE authorities of ignoring warning signs despite its track record. “It is unfortunate that Globarena, the same company that botched the Telangana Intermediate results in 2019, appears to have merely changed its name and gone on to secure an even bigger contract from the CBSE, only to create much larger chaos affecting students across the country,” he said. Expressing support for Class 12 students protesting the marks fiasco, Rama Rao said students and parents had every right to seek transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. Recalling the 2019 Intermediate results controversy, he said the then BRS government had constituted a three-member committee, removed officials concerned and initiated legal action against Globarena based on the panel’s findings. Rama Rao further alleged that despite its controversial history, the CBSE Board continued to accommodate the company. Meanwhile, the BRS working president also accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil promises made to unemployed youth and students under its ‘Youth Declaration’ and urged them to question the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the unfulfilled assurances. Addressing party functionaries in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency, Rama Rao alleged that promises of jobs, a job calendar and support for youth facing injustice remained unfulfilled even after the Congress came to power. He also asked party workers to remain alert during the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Telangana, warning of possible irregularities in voter registration and verification by the Congress and BJP. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘A chat with anti-national Soros agents’: Rahul Gandhi’s dig at BJP as he meets CBSE students
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a swipe at the BJP-led central government as he met CBSE class 12 students, who were labelled “anti-national”, “Pakistani” and “Soros agents” on social media after they raised concern over incorrect answer sheets. A massive uproar erupted after a student claimed that an answer sheet uploaded by CBSE under his roll number did not belong to him, which later prompted the board to acknowledge an error and intensified scrutiny of its evaluation process. The remarks come days after the Central Board of Secondary Education acknowledged that an incorrect Physics answer sheet had been uploaded under Vedant’s roll number and subsequently shared the correct answer book with him. Sharing a video of his interaction with Class 12 student Vedant Shrivastava and his friends, Rahul Gandhi criticised those who had targeted the student online after he raised concerns about discrepancies in his CBSE Physics answer sheet. “A revealing chat with my fellow “anti-national Soros agents.” Vedant and his friends are brilliant, brave young Indians who asked CBSE and the Modi government simple questions – but got insults instead of answers. They deserve a bright and secure future. We will make sure they get it,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X. The remarks come days after the Central Board of Secondary Education acknowledged that an incorrect Physics answer sheet had been uploaded under Vedant’s roll number and subsequently shared the correct answer book with him. In the video shared by Rahul Gandhi, Vedant recalled the backlash he faced after publicly raising the issue. “They started calling us anti national and Pakistani,” the student said. He added that some people believed “that we are some deep state agents that are trying to create a rest in India.” Responding to the student’s account, Rahul Gandhi criticised the attacks directed at him. “And your students, I mean, you’ve got nothing to do with anything. You’re asking for your answer sheet, that’s all. Now suddenly you become anti nationals. You have to accept the problem if you want to solve the problem,” Rahul Gandhi said. “You’re just refusing to accept that the problem. You’re blaming the poor kids and saying, you know, you’re deep state, you’re spies or terrorists,” he added. The controversy began after Vedant claimed that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE under his roll number did not belong to him. His posts on social media gained widespread attention, triggering a debate over the board’s newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the process for accessing evaluated answer books. Following a review, CBSE acknowledged the error and informed the student that the correct answer sheet had been sent to his registered email address. The board also said that steps were being taken to update his result, if required. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights