1. Lok Sabha Polls: Kamal Haasan Announces Makkal Needhi Maiam’s First List of Candidates
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan Wednesday announced the first list of candidates who will be contesting on the ‘Torch Light’ symbol for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. The candidate list for the rest of the Lok Sabha constituencies as well as for bypolls to the 18 assembly constituencies in the state shall be announced on 24 March at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
While releasing the list of candidates, Haasan said veteran actor Nassar’s wife, Kameela Nassar, will contest from Chennai Central, whereas retired IPS officer A G Mourya would be contesting from North Chennai constituency, Dr M Loganathan will contest from Thiruvallur (R) and Dalit Munnetra Kazhagam’s Anbin Poyyamozhi has been allocated Villupuram constituency.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Did Tamil Nadu CM’s Official Twitter Handle Violate Poll Code?
On Wednesday, a day after the ruling AIADMK in the state released its election manifesto for the General Elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami made an impassioned plea to party cadres: “We need to get into election work in such a way so as to remind everyone that we, the AIADMK, are matchless in doing diligent electoral work across south India... Our one-and-a-half crore cadres need to take a vow to uphold Amma’s last wish that even a hundred years after her demise, the AIADMK should be in power.”
There was just one problem: the letter was published from the chief minister’s official Twitter handle, despite the Election Commission calling for a scrupulous avoidance of eulogising personal achievements on official government social media in its Model Code of Conduct.
(Source: The News Minute)
3. HC Refuses to Quash Charges Against Maran Brothers
In a setback to former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi Maran, the Madras High Court dismissed their petition seeking quashing of charges filed against them by a trial court in the illegal telephone exchange case. Justice N Anand Venkatesh also directed the CBI special court to complete the trial in four months.
In the two-year-old case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had accused the Maran brothers of causing a loss of ₹1.78 crore to the exchequer. Interestingly, the court order comes just three days after Dayanidhi Maran was announced as DMK’s candidate for the Chennai (Central) Lok Sabha constituency.
(Source: The Hindu Business Line)
4. Stillborn Baby’s Head Dismembered During Delivery in Tamil Nadu Village
In a tragic incident, the head of a baby that had died in its mother’s womb got separated during delivery at the primary health centre in Koovathur village in the Kancheepurm district, officials said on Wednesday. According to officials of the Directorate of Public Health, the baby had died in the womb. During the delivery, the head got separated while the torso got stuck in the mother’s body.
The woman was later shifted to Chengalpattu Medical Hospital where the baby’s torso was removed. Her condition is stated to be normal. She was admitted to the health centre for delivery on Sunday after she developed labour pain. While the woman’s relatives alleged medical negligence, the officials denied the charges.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. 24 Districts Declared as Drought-Hit, Number to Rise in Coming Months
Due to the widespread Northeast monsoon failure, Tamil Nadu will be facing tough times during the summer this year. The State government has declared 24 districts as drought-affected. Moreover, 38 blocks in seven districts have also been declared drought-affected.
The storage level in the reservoirs which provide water to Chennai, is also depleting. Against the full capacity of 12,722 mcft, only 2,441 mcft was available as of January 28. The storage during the same period during January 2018 was 5,352 mcft. With the surface water and groundwater resources fast depleting, the district/blocks are already experiencing drinking water problems and would be affected further due to hydrological drought in the ensuing summer.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
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