CM VD Satheesan to meet top Congress leaders in Delhi on May 23
“Efforts are on to get an appointment with the prime minister. However, there’s no confirmation yet,” an official with the Chief Minister’s Office said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In his first visit to the national capital after assuming office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan is set to meet senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday. Though there are reports that Satheesan will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said there is no confirmation on the same. “Efforts are on to get an appointment with the prime minister. However, there’s no confirmation yet,” an official with the Chief Minister’s Office said. Satheesan, who left the state capital on Friday night, is scheduled to stay at the Kerala House. He will meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi as well. However, no official programme has been charted for the Kerala chief minister in Delhi during this visit. He is expected to return to Kochi later in the day. Though Satheesan planned to meet the Congress’ central leadership soon after taking oath as the chief minister, the prolonged discussions on cabinet formation and portfolio allocation delayed his visit to Delhi. In his meeting with the top party leaders, the chief minister is expected to discuss about the future plans for the state. 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
Vijay expands TN cabinet with 23 ministers; Congress joins state government after 60
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has executed a massive Cabinet expansion and portfolio reshuffle, inducting 23 new ministers. In a politically historic move, the Congress party makes a comeback to the TN Cabinet after nearly six decades. The expansion also signals a futuristic administrative reset with the creation of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) ministry under R Kumar. Watch the video for a complete breakdown of the major shifts, including N Marie Wilson taking over Finance from senior leader K. A. Sengottaiyan, new portfolios retained by CM Vijay, and updates on alliance partners like IUML and VCK joining the government. 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
Modi making reels in Italy, while our youth tormented by paper leaks: Rahul Gandhi
In a post on X in Hindi, he said the Congress will not stop till Pradhan resigns and a robust system to prevent paper leaks is put in place. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the NEET-UG paper leak, saying he had neither accepted responsibility nor removed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the post. In a post on X in Hindi, he said the Congress will not stop till Pradhan resigns and a robust system to prevent paper leaks is put in place. Taking a swipe at Modi, he said while the prime minister was making reels in Italy, the youth of India were taking to the streets seeking justice over the paper leak. “When Modi ji was making reels while handing out candies in Italy – youth in India, tormented by paper leaks, were taking to the streets demanding justice,” he said in his post. “Because the NEET Paper Leak has ruined the futures of lakhs of students. Many children have even lost their lives. And Modi ji neither took responsibility, nor removed Dharmendra Pradhan, nor uttered a single word,” he said. With students, NSUI and INC workers seeking justice, BJP’s state governments are ‘raining lathis’ down on them, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said. “A government that answers students’ questions with batons doesn’t run on accountability – it runs on fear. But we will not be scared. We won’t stop until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and a strong, secure system is put in place to stop paper leaks in the country,” Gandhi said. This fight, the former Congress chief said, is for every such student whose future this “failed” government has stolen. Gandhi tagged a post from the Rajasthan Congress where, in a purported video, water cannon was used to disperse protesting students and NSUI workers protesting outside the BJP headquarters in Jaipur. The Congress had organised a protest seeking the removal of Pradhan as education minister over the paper leak. 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
Telangana CM Revanth demands a special Parliament session to pass women’s quota bill
He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday demanded that the Union government immediately convene a special session of Parliament to introduce and pass the women’s reservation Bill for providing 33 per cent quota in the legislative bodies. Addressing the gathering after paying floral tributes to a statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary near the Secretariat, the CM said that the INDIA bloc is ready to support the women’s reservation bill in Parliament. He emphasised that women’s reservation in legislative bodies should be enacted Revanth asked the Centre to take inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi, who he said introduced women’s quota in local bodies during his tenure as prime minister to empower them politically, and ensure implementation of 33 per cent women’s reservations in the legislative bodies. He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. Recalling the “yeoman services rendered by great visionary Rajiv Gandhi who introduced information technology to the nation and earned it global recognition”, he said: “It was Rajiv Gandhi who ushered in the era of technology in the country. He also steered the country onto the path of development through liberalised policies.” He also recalled that Sonia Gandhi took a courageous decision of fulfilling the statehood dream. “Telangana is maintaining an inseparable bond with the Gandhi family. People will remember and cherish the Gandhi family as long as Telangana exists,” he added. 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
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan elected Speaker of 16th Kerala Assembly
Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was elected Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday. Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. While the LDF’s AC Moideen received 35 votes, the BJP’s BB Gopakumar polled three votes. Radhakrishnan, 76, has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 1991. An eight time MLA, he served as Home Minister in the 2011-2016 Oommen Chandy government. He later handled the Forest, Transport, Sports, Cinema and Environment portfolios for the remainder of the ministry’s tenure. In the 2026 Assembly election, he won from Kottayam with a margin of nearly 36,000 votes. 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
Who is Veera Pasi, the “unsung hero” of the 1857 revolution, whose statue Rahul Gandhi unveiled in Rae Bareli?
Rahul Gandhi unveils Veera Pasi’s statue in Rae Bareli: Learn about the glorious history of the unsung Dalit hero of 1857 and the full dynamics of Dalit vote bank politics ahead of the UP Assembly elections. Uttar Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday unveiled the statue of Veera Pasi, the “unsung hero” who fought the British during the 1857 rebellion, in Rae Bareli. This is not the first attempt by political parties in Uttar Pradesh to woo the Pasi community through their legends. However, Gandhi’s move in his constituency is considered significant ahead of next year’s UP Assembly elections. On the same day, he also addressed a “Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha” in memory of Veera Pasi. At the event, Gandhi said that while we remember Veera Pasi and Dr. Ambedkar, their ideology is not being properly defended, as the Constitution is being constantly attacked before our eyes. Who was Veera Pasi? In the 19th century, Veera Pasi was the most trusted companion and commander of Rana Beni Madhav Bakhsh Singh, the ruler of the Shankarpur estate in modern-day Rae Bareli. This Dalit warrior, belonging to the Pasi caste, was born on November 11, 1835, into a poor family in Lodhwari village, Rae Bareli district. After losing his parents in his childhood, he went to live with his sister. In the local dialect, a brother living with his sister’s family was called “Veerna,” which later changed to “Veera.” Impressed by his extraordinary physical strength, Singh recruited him into his army. With his loyalty and bravery, he soon became one of his most trusted associates. According to local folklore, when Singh was captured by the British during the 1857 rebellion, Pasi displayed indomitable courage and rescued him safely from prison. The British government, in a panic, announced a hefty reward of 50,000 rupees for Pasi’s capture or information about his whereabouts. Although Veera Pasi’s name is not prominently recorded in history books, his legacy lives on in Rae Bareli and its surrounding areas. The Pasi community lives in large numbers in these areas, and their oral traditions have preserved this hero. Folklore also says that Pasi attained martyrdom while protecting Singh from the British army. Dalit History and Politics in Uttar Pradesh In recent years, political parties in Uttar Pradesh have begun to prominently commemorate Dalit icons of the past and their contributions to the freedom struggle. A clear example of this was provided by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Faizabad (Ayodhya) Awadhesh Prasad, while taking oath in the Lok Sabha after the 2024 general elections. During his oath, he specifically mentioned two prominent figures from the Pasi (Dalit) community: “Veerangana” Uda Devi and “Maharaja” Bijli Pasi. Uda Devi was part of the royal guard of Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh and actively participated in the 1857 rebellion. She is credited with mobilizing the common people to take up arms against the British. In recognition of this historical contribution, the Samajwadi Party celebrated Uda Devi’s death anniversary on a grand scale at its party headquarters in November 2022. The Bijli Pasis, who ruled parts of Uttar Pradesh during the medieval period, are considered one of the most prominent Dalit symbols. The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has announced plans to develop Bijli Pasi’s fort in Lucknow as a tourist destination. In December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid a heartfelt tribute to Maharaja Bijli Pasi. Chief Minister Adityanath echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, describing him as a brave warrior from Lucknow who openly challenged foreign rule to protect India’s eternal traditions. Dalit leaders and academics in Uttar Pradesh clearly believe that historians have largely “ignored” the community’s great men. Ajay Kumar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, says that mainstream history writing has often neglected the contributions of Dalits, tribals, and other marginalized communities. According to Professor Kumar, these communities have long strived to reclaim their historical and cultural heritage in response to this neglect. This process is not limited to rediscovering the past, but is also a powerful means of reviving identity, self-respect, and political consciousness. He further explained that since these communities traditionally had very few written records, their history was passed down from generation to generation through folklore, folk songs, memories, and oral traditions. These oral traditions became the most important carriers of their social experiences, struggles, and collective consciousness. SP leader Manoj Paswan, who belongs to the Pasi community, also openly supported Professor Kumar’s views. He said that it was Kanshi Ram who brought Dalit heroes to the forefront and appealed to the community to learn to be proud of their history rather than be ashamed of it. Paswan believes that Dalit leaders played a vital role in the country’s freedom struggle. Despite this, unlike upper caste heroes like Mangal Pandey, they did not receive the place they deserved in history books, and now there is a dire need to correct this historical mistake. The Pasi Community and Uttar Pradesh’s Dalit Vote Bank The Pasi community constitutes approximately 7 percent of the state’s total Scheduled Caste population. This figure makes them the second largest and most influential group among Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, after the Jatavs. Although they also have a significant presence in other Indian states, their largest population resides in Uttar Pradesh. When the Samajwadi Party (SP) performed remarkably well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 37 seats, the party benefited significantly from this community. Five Pasi candidates fielded by the SP won, while only three Pasi candidates from the BJP managed to win their seats. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), once a strong force in Uttar Pradesh politics, is now steadily losing its support base. The BSP’s total vote share in the 2017 assembly elections was 22.23 percent, which fell to 12.88 percent in the elections held exactly five years later. Interestingly, this remaining vote share is roughly proportional to the Jatav-Ravidasi Dalit population, which has been
Kerala CM VD Satheesan again uses full name in MLA oath amid row over ‘Menon’ surname
At his oath-taking ceremony on Monday, Satheesan had used his complete name, triggering criticism from sections of social media and some Congress leaders. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Thursday took oath as an MLA of the 16th State Legislative Assembly, once again reading out his full name, Vadasseri Damodara Menon Satheesan, days after drawing criticism for using the caste surname ‘Menon’ during his swearing-in as chief minister. At his oath-taking ceremony on Monday, Satheesan had used his complete name, triggering criticism from sections of social media and some Congress leaders. Defending his decision at a press conference on Wednesday, Satheesan said he had merely mentioned his father’s name and saw nothing wrong in doing so on such an occasion. “Why is it wrong if I mention my father’s name. Shouldn’t I remember him,” Satheesan had asked while speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting here. He had also said that he wanted to mention his mother’s name too, but there was no scope for that. The controversy surfaced after social media users compared his recent oath as chief minister with the one he took as a legislator in 2021, when he had identified himself simply as “V D Satheesan”. On Thursday, while taking oath again as an MLA, Satheesan repeated his full name 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
Rahul Gandhi makes Constitution jibe at top BJP leadership, party seeks apology
The Congress MP also called upon the people to describe PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the RSS as “traitors”. LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: Firing a fresh salvo at the BJP and the RSS over the alleged threat to the ‘Constitution of India’ from them, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, questioned the silence of the people when the “Constitution is torn” while exhorting them to protect it as their duty. The Congress MP also called upon the people to describe PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the RSS as “traitors”. Attacking the BJP and its parent organisation, the RSS, in Rae Bareli, Gandhi on Wednesday said that the Constitution carried the voice and blood of the people. While addressing a ‘Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha’ in his parliamentary constituency on the second day of his two-day visit to Raebareli and Amethi, Gandhi said, “You all are clapping… but when RSS functionaries tear and throw away this Constitution right in front of you, you remain silent.” Since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi has been reiterating that the Constitution of India is under attack by the BJP and RSS. It has been one of the main elements of his speeches against rival BJP, which, he says, have destroyed the values of the document. Meanwhile, BJP president Nitin Nabin launched a sharp counterattack on Rahul Gandhi over his “traitor” remarks allegedly directed at the PM and Amit Shah, calling them “unfortunate” and reflective of Gandhi’s “anarchic mindset and character”. Nabin said Gandhi had insulted 140 crore Indians by targetting the PM and demanded a public apology. “The tradition of Indian politics has always been one of dialogue, decorum and mutual respect, but this state of his goes against that very propriety,” he said. Escalating the attack, Nabin accused the Congress of compromising national interests for political gains. “Those whose ancestors kept this country’s land and conscience mortgaged for years have lost the moral right to lecture on patriotism and democracy today,” he said. He further alleged that Congress never worked to boost soldiers’ morale and instead prioritised politics during critical moments. UP CM Yogi Adityanath described Congress as the “mother of divisive and appeasement politics” and demanded an apology for his “objectionable, unparliamentary and frustration-driven statement”. Namita Bajpai, Rajesh Kumar Thakur 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
UP Congress serves notices to two Dalit leaders over outreach to Mayawati
The UP Congress leadership, reportedly upset over the unauthorised visit, issued show-cause notices to both leaders while describing the visit as a personal attempt to enquire about Mayawati’s health. LUCKNOW: Amid growing political buzz in Uttar Pradesh, two senior Dalit leaders of the Indian National Congress were served show-cause notices after they allegedly led a delegation of party leaders to the Lucknow residence of Mayawati on Tuesday evening. According to sources, the delegation, which included Barabanki MP Tanuj Punia and Congress Scheduled Caste Department national chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam, was denied an audience with the BSP chief and returned without meeting her. The UP Congress leadership, reportedly upset over the unauthorised visit, issued show-cause notices to both leaders while describing the visit as a personal attempt to enquire about Mayawati’s health. The development came at a time when Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was in Rae Bareli for two Dalit outreach programmes, including a “Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha” and the inauguration of a statue of freedom fighter Veera Pasi. Congress general secretary and UP in-charge Avinash Pande and UP Congress chief Ajay Rai clarified that the delegation had no authorisation from the party, prompting the issuance of notices seeking explanations from the leaders. Denying any political motive behind the visit, Tanuj Punia, son of senior Congress leader P. L. Punia, said the issue of Mayawati’s health had come up during a meeting of the party’s SC cell. He said he and Rajendra Pal Gautam decided to visit her residence as it was located close to the Congress office. Punia said the delegation failed to meet Mayawati because they had not informed BSP leaders in advance. Political observers, however, see the episode as a reflection of unease within sections of the Congress over its alliance with the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Despite assurances from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav about continuing the alliance, some Congress leaders are reportedly concerned about the number of seats the SP may allocate to the party. Differences between the two allies have also surfaced repeatedly on various issues. According to political analysts, a section within the Congress has started exploring alternative alignments, including a possible understanding with the Bahujan Samaj Party, to strengthen its position against the BJP on issues related to the Constitution, Dalits and minorities. The same section also believes that an alliance with the BSP could help consolidate Dalit votes in favour of the opposition across the country. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-SP alliance had made gains in Uttar Pradesh by campaigning around the issue of protecting the Constitution and Dalit rights against the BJP. Mayawati, however, has repeatedly ruled out alliances with other parties, maintaining that the BSP gained little from its 2019 alliance with the Samajwadi Party. She has argued that while the BSP’s Dalit vote transferred to its ally, the reverse did not happen in adequate measure. Namita Bajpai 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
21 TVK MLAs, two Congress legislators take oath in Vijay’s historic TN cabinet expansion
With the latest expansion, the strength of the Vijay-led Cabinet has risen to 33, while the total sanctioned strength of the Council of Ministers stands at 35. Nearly two weeks after assuming office, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday expanded the Cabinet of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), inducting 23 new ministers, including two legislators from the Congress, marking the party’s return to the Tamil Nadu ministry after nearly six decades. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan at 10 am, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers. With the latest expansion, the strength of the Vijay-led Cabinet has risen to 33, while the total sanctioned strength of the Council of Ministers stands at 35. Among those inducted into the Cabinet are Srinath (Thoothukudi), Kamali S. (Avinashi), C. Vijayalakshmi (Kumarapalayam), R.V. Ranjithkumar (Kancheepuram), Vinoth (Kumbakonam), Rajeev (Thiruvadanai), B. Rajkumar (Cuddalore), V. Gandhiraj (Arakkonam), Mathan Raja P. (Ottapidaram), Jegadeshwari K. (Rajapalayam), and M. Vijay Balaji (Erode East). The new ministers also include Logesh Tamilselvan D. (Rasipuram), Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A. (Salem South), Ramesh (Srirangam), Kumar R. (Velachery), Thennarasu K. (Sriperumbudur), V. Sampath Kumar (Coimbatore North), Mohamed Farvas J. (Aranthangi), D. Sarathkumar (Tambaram), N. Marie Wilson (Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar), and Vignesh K. (Kinathukadavu). In a significant political development, Congress MLAs S.Rajesh Kumar (Killiyoor) and P. Viswanathan (Melur) were also sworn in as ministers, making it the first Congress participation in a Tamil Nadu Cabinet in nearly 60 years. Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League has agreed to join the government but is yet to finalise its nominee for a ministerial berth. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is still deliberating on whether to become part of the ruling dispensation. 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