Amaravati, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The process for filing of nominations for elections to Urban Local Body in Andhra Pradesh began on Friday on a violent note. Returning Officers in 100 Urban Local Bodies issued election notice, setting in motion the process for filing of nominations for elections scheduled on October 28.

The process was marred by violence in Annamayya district where workers of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) clashed after the convoy of YSRCP floor leader in Lok Sabha, P.V. Mithun Reddy, was attacked allegedly by TDP workers in Punganur when he was accompanying his party's candidates for filing of nominations.

The MP’s security guards were injured in the attack. Workers of both the parties were also injured in the clashes.

In another incident in the same district, a few vehicles near YSRCP office in Rayachoti were set afire, allegedly by TDP men.

Both the parties blamed each other for the violence. YSRCP alleged that there was murder attempt on Mithun Reddy.

Out of 123 Urban Local Bodies, the Election Commission on October 14 issued notifications for conduct of elections to 100 Urban Local Bodies (13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats).

Elections have not been notified now for the remaining 23 Urban Local Bodies (4 Municipal Corporations and 19 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats) as the pre-election activities for them are underway.

The nominations for Urban Local Bodies will be accepted till October 18 while scrutiny of nominations will be undertaken on October 19.

According to the schedule, October 21 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidates. Polling will be held on October 28. Re-poll, if any, will be conducted on October 29 while counting of votes will be taken up on October 30.

The Commission has also announced that elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) on November 3.

The Gram Panchayat elections will be conducted in 3-phases on November 26, November 29 and December 2.

For MPTC and ZPTC elections, the notification will be issued on October 19. Nominations will be received till October 23 while scrutiny of nominations will be taken up the next day. October 27 is the last date for withdrawal of candidates. Polling will be held on November 3 while results will be declared on November 5.

Counting of votes for Gram Panchayats will be taken up immediately after completion of polling in all three phases.

Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has set up a control room in its office to receive any grievances/complaints.

Source: IANS

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Rayachoti (Andhra Pradesh), Sep 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district was rocked by violence on Friday as several vehicles were set afire near YSR Congress Party office in Rayachoti town, while YSRCP MP P.V. Mithun Reddy’s convoy was attacked in Punganur.

Tension escalated in Rayachoti after cars parked near the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) office were torched. The YSRCP blamed the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the attack.

The workers of both parties clashed on the first day of filing nominations for local body elections.

The arson near the YSRCP office occurred after the violence in Punganur town, where the convoy of Mithun Reddy, YSRCP floor leader in Lok Sabha, was attacked allegedly by TDP men.

The vehicles in the convoy were attacked with stones, sticks and iron rods. A mob damaged vehicles and overturned them.

The Rajampet MP, who was reportedly injured in the attack, entered the nomination centre. As the TDP workers barged into the Centre, the police escorted the MP to a room. Police had a tough time controlling the situation as the attackers tried to enter the room.

The MP was seen with blood on his shirt. His security guards also sustained injuries.

YSRCP alleged an attempt on the life of Mithun Reddy. It said the TDP men pelted stones on vehicles in the MP’s convoy and attacked them with sticks and iron rods as he accompanied YSRCP candidates and leaders to file nominations for the local body elections.

YSRCP alleged that TDP leaders and workers blocked the convoy and tried to stop YSRCP candidates from reaching the nomination centre.

Vehicles belonging to YSRCP leaders were vandalised. Police personnel present at the scene failed to stop the attackers or protect the candidates, the party said.

YSRCP condemned the attempt on the MP’s life and accused the TDP government of allowing its workers to use violence to silence opposition candidates and disrupt the election process.

The party demanded that the State Election Commission intervene immediately, direct the police to register criminal cases and arrest those responsible, and take action against officers who failed to prevent the attack. It also sought protection for candidates and their proposers, and arrangements for all affected candidates to file their nominations safely and without obstruction.

Mithun Reddy’s father and former Minister P. Ramchandra Reddy held the TDP government responsible for the attack. He said if Mithun Reddy was not brought back safely, the government and police would be held responsible.

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Partners in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Andhra Pradesh have reached a seat sharing agreement for Urban Local Body elections.

After several rounds of talks among leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the last four days, the allies finalised the seat sharing on Thursday night.

Initially there was a deadlock in the talks between TDP and JSP but both the parties adopted a give and take approach to reach an understanding.

The NDA partners finalised the seat sharing in line with the aspirations of their leaders and cadres at the field level.

As per the agreement for the posts of mayor for 17 municipal corporations, the TDP will contest 11 posts, Jana Sena four and BJP two.

The coalition also reached an understanding for the posts of chairpersons of municipalities/nagar panchayats. The TDP will field candidates for 78 posts while Jana Sena will contest in 21 places. Seven posts have been left for the BJP.

As per the agreement for all Urban Local Bodies, TDP has been allotted 72.35 per cent of the posts. Jana Sena got a share of 20.33 per cent and BJP 7.32 per cent.

If one ally gets the post of mayor/chairman, the other allies will be given the post of deputy mayor/vice-chairperson.

The TDP will contest for the posts of mayors of Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Mangalgiri-Tadepalli, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, Tirupati and Chittoor.

Jana Sena has been allotted Srikakulam, Kakinada, Eluru and Vijayawada while BJP will field its candidates for mayors in Rajamahendravaram and Anantapuram.

The seat adjustment was finalised after several round of talks among top leaders of the NDA partners during the last few days.

Chief Minister and TDP National President N. Chandrababu Naidu, TDP state President Palla Srinivasa Rao, Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, state BJP President P.V. N. Madhav and other leaders participated in the talks.

The seat-sharing in local body polls is largely in proportion to the respective strength of the three allies in the state Assembly.

The NDA, headed by TDP, had stormed to power in 2024 with a landslide majority. The coalition bagged 164 seats in the 175-member Assembly. The TDP has 135 MLAs, while Jana Sena and BJP have 21 and eight seats, respectively.

The State Election Commission has already announced the schedule for the elections to urban and rural local bodies.

Polling for 100 urban local bodies is scheduled on October 28 while Gram Panchayats will go to polls in three phases in November-December.

Out of 123 Urban Local Bodies, the Commission has issued notifications for conduct of elections to 100 Urban Local Bodies (13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats).

Elections have not been notified now for the remaining 23 Urban Local Bodies (4 Municipal Corporations and 19 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats) as the pre-election activities for them are underway.

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) YSRCP Floor Leader in Lok Sabha P.V. Mithun Reddy’s convoy was attacked in Punganur in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district on Friday.

YSR Congress Party alleged that there was a murderous attack on Mithun Reddy, who is the MP from Rajampet constituency, and blamed TDP workers.

It said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) men pelted stones on vehicles in the MP’s convoy and attacked them with sticks and iron rods. The attack took place as he accompanied YSRCP candidates and leaders to file nominations for the local body elections.

YSRCP alleged that TDP leaders and workers blocked the convoy and tried to stop YSRCP candidates from reaching the nomination centre.

Vehicles belonging to YSRCP leaders were vandalised. Police personnel present at the scene failed to stop the attackers or protect the candidates, the party said.

YSRCP condemned the attempt on the MP’s life and accused the TDP government of allowing its workers to use violence to silence opposition candidates and disrupt the election process.

The party demanded that the State Election Commission intervene immediately, direct the police to register criminal cases and arrest those responsible, and take action against officers who failed to prevent the attack. It also sought protection for candidates and their proposers, and arrangements for all affected candidates to file their nominations safely and without obstruction.

Clashes broke out between workers of the two parties on the first day of filing nominations for urban local body elections.

Workers of TDP, which is heading the ruling coalition, and cadres of the main opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) clashed in Punganur municipality.

Both groups pelted stones at each other, and a few workers were injured.

The clashes broke out when leaders of both parties were on their way to file nominations for the Punganur municipality.

The incident triggered tension in the town. Police stepped up security to prevent further violence.

This is the first incident of violence since the State Election Commission announced the schedule for local body elections on October 14.

The process for filing nominations for urban local bodies began across the state on Friday.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Friday attacked the Mahayuti government led by Devendra Fadnavis, labelling its festive financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for farmers and Rs 2,000 for Anganwadi workers as an "insult" to the working class.

It said that amid soaring inflation and widespread drought, the announced package is nothing short of a cruel joke. By announcing these as "Diwali gift, the Fadnavis government has "bankrupted its own intellect".

The Thackeray camp in the party's mouthpiece, 'Samaana', said that over 300 talukas in the state have been officially declared drought-hit, leaving rural families grappling with severe water shortages, failed kharif and rabi crops, and mounting debts. Instead of substantive relief, the administration is merely holding meetings and making empty declarations.

The editorial highlighted that the Rs 5,000 being distributed to farmers is not a special grant, but rather an advance drawn from funds expected from the Central government. It criticised the government for rebranding an advance payment as a benevolent "Diwali gift" to take undeserved credit.

Questioning how a family can celebrate a festival or buy basic essentials and clothing with such a small sum during a massive inflation wave, the editorial labelled the payout a mockery of the hardships faced by the agricultural community and Anganwadi workers. "How to rub salt into the wounds of the poor should be learned only from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The fire of drought is blazing. The lives of people and cattle are being scorched, and the government is making a dry rain of meetings and announcements on drought relief. Moreover, the whole affair is such that the helping hand is a span wide, but its publicity is a cubit wide," remarked the editorial.

The editorial further stated that CM Fadnavis has done a great favour to the drought-affected people. "This bountiful assistance is being trumpeted so much that people might mistake this five-thousand figure for five lakhs. Fadnavis and his people must think that this five-thousand assistance will bring a tide of joy into the lives of farmers, make farming families happy, and sweeten their Diwali. If they think that 1.25 crore farmers will benefit from this five-thousand assistance, then they do not know the plight of the devastated farming brethren of rural Maharashtra," it commented.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena drew a sharp contrast between the state’s financial allocations, pointing out that while districts receive hefty sums of Rs 50 lakh for events like the Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan, only nominal pittances are doled out to drought-stricken farmers and grassroots workers. "This is not assistance; it is a mockery of their plight and a cruel joke on the ongoing drought," the editorial said, summing up the widespread discontent in rural Maharashtra.

Source: IANS

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Washington, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) US Vice President JD Vance and senior Republican leaders launched a fierce attack on Muslim Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a campaign rally in Michigan, accusing him of sympathising with extremist organisations, questioning his patriotism and portraying his candidacy as a threat to American values.

The attacks came during a rally in Monroe, Michigan, where Vance campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Rogers, a former FBI agent and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, accused El-Sayed of concealing alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"He is the most extreme, dangerous candidate to ever run for the United States Senate in the history of our country and we have to stop him right here in Michigan," Rogers told supporters.

He alleged that El-Sayed had misrepresented his family's associations with the Muslim Brotherhood and questioned his past involvement with Muslim student organisations.

The Republican candidate also referred to a letter El-Sayed allegedly signed in 2012 concerning political developments in Egypt.

Vance subsequently intensified the criticism, accusing El-Sayed of placing foreign political causes ahead of the interests of Michigan residents.

"He is obsessed with the state of Israel and with Gaza he's ten times more interested in what's happening in Palestine than in Port Huron," Vance said.

The Vice President argued that the Democratic candidate's positions on the Middle East reflected misplaced political priorities.

He also accused El-Sayed of making statements hostile to American history and identity, portraying the election as a contest between patriotism and what he described as radical left-wing politics.

Vance questioned El-Sayed's account of his personal background, alleging that the Michigan-born candidate had previously described himself as an immigrant from North Africa and claimed Egyptian citizenship.

The Vice President also referred to an attack on a Jewish institution in Michigan, alleging that El-Sayed had responded in a manner that showed greater sympathy for the perpetrator than for the victims.

Vance cited remarks he attributed to El-Sayed but did not provide their full original context during the rally.

The Republican criticism extended beyond the two Senate candidates.

Congresswoman Lisa McClain, chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, accused El-Sayed of embracing communist ideology and attacked his positions on immigration, public spending and healthcare.

Throughout the rally, Republican speakers repeatedly portrayed El-Sayed as ideologically extreme and sought to connect his candidacy with broader Democratic positions on immigration, policing and government spending.

Vance argued that Michigan's Senate contest would test whether voters were prepared to accept candidates associated with the party's progressive wing.

The attacks also reflected the importance Republicans have attached to Michigan in their efforts to retain congressional control in the November elections.

Michigan is a politically competitive state that has played an important role in recent presidential and congressional elections. Its electorate includes significant Arab-American and Muslim-American communities, particularly in the Detroit metropolitan area, where US policy towards the Middle East has become an important political issue.

El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, has been associated with progressive Democratic politics. Rogers previously represented Michigan in the US House of Representatives and chaired its Intelligence Committee. Their Senate contest is among the races attracting national political attention ahead of the November 3 elections.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) With declining water reserves and soaring demand for electricity, Telangana is heading for a potential crisis due to an unprecedented El Nino situation, warned Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday.

Stating that the next 9-10 months will be very difficult, he urged farmers to defer the ‘Yasangi’ (Rabi) crop to secure the state’s drinking water supply and appealed to people to conserve water.

He also warned that crops across 10 lakh acres are likely to suffer damage during the ‘Vanakalam’ (Kharif) despite all the efforts to prevent withering of crops, he said.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting with the ministers to review the situation caused by El Nino, Revanth Reddy said reservoirs in the Krishna basin have 72% less water compared to last year. Similarly, the Krishna basin has 40% less water. The state had a 23% rainfall deficit during the monsoon.

“No reservoir has enough water to supply both drinking and farming needs. Usually, at this time in a typical year, we have 462 TMC of water across all reservoirs. Today, we have only 200 TMC. This is an unprecedented moment of crisis for all of us," he said.

As the state needs to supply drinking water to 24,000 villages, he said that available reserves must be used carefully.

The Chief Minister said that water for irrigation must be used judiciously, and electricity should be consumed sparingly.

He stressed the need to ensure drinking water and fodder for livestock. Otherwise, animals could perish in large numbers.

The state is also facing the problem due to a rise in electricity demand. The demand has soared to 20,003 MW against the normal level of around 15,000 MW for October.

There has been an increase in electricity demand of 5,000 MW mainly due to increased use of agriculture pump sets. The electricity consumption by the domestic sector has also gone up as the temperatures typically seen in March are being experienced in October.

He pointed out that about 30 lakh agriculture pump sets are functioning across the state.

The Chief Minister revealed that the government was purchasing electricity at prevailing market rates to protect standing crops ahead of the monsoon harvest, expected in about 20 days.

He also appealed to avoid wasting water on activities like washing vehicles.

The Chief Minister announced that the government is preparing an action plan to take up repairs to tanks, lakes and ponds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

He called on the Centre to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by crop losses and those who might skip the next season.

He announced Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikarmarka would organise an all-party meeting after Dasara to explain the situation to all the parties.

The Chief Minister will lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the Union Home Minister and other central ministers.

He said the Central Government should extend its support to the State Government.

Revanth Reddy also appealed to political parties, the media and citizens to cooperate with the government in tackling the anticipated crisis.

He stated that because of global warming, this El Nino disaster is affecting the entire world. Scientists and other experts have been warning us about El Nino. Unfortunately, their worst predictions have come true.

He noted that the United Nations had noted that El Nino would affect people in 100 countries, affecting nearly a hundred crore people directly and indirectly.

Likening El Niño to COVID, he said the crisis demands that all people work together in unison.

"When a natural disaster strikes us, it is everyone's duty to come together. We have to think beyond politics and join our hands in mission mode, so no one is left behind. So, we can take care of everyone. Save Water, Save Power. This is our magic mantra," he said.

The government will organise cultural troupes (kala jathas) to raise public awareness on tackling the situation, he said.

Stating that film actor Vijay Deverakonda has appealed to El Niño, he said the support of other film actors, athletes, and artists will be enlisted in making an appeal to the public.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Deputy Tahsildar, a Village Revenue Officer and an assistant engineer of the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) were caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting bribes in two separate cases on Thursday.

Amanaganti Sandeep Kumar Reddy, Deputy Tahsildar, Keesara mandal, Medchal Malkajgiri district, Village Revenue Officer (VRO) Nannuri Vijay Kumar Reddy and a private person, Kavali Balakrishna, were caught in an ACB trap for allegedly demanding ₹5 lakh.

The ACB said in a press release that the Deputy Tahsildar demanded ₹5 lakh and accepted ₹2.5 lakh from the complainant through Balakrishna to remove agricultural properties belonging to a complainant’s family from the prohibited list.

The anti-graft agency said the bribe was sought for processing and completing the work related to removing agricultural properties registered in the names of the complainant’s mother and other family members from the prohibited list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908.

On the direction of Deputy Tahsildar, VRO Vijay Kumar Reddy allegedly instigated Balakrishna to receive the bribe amount from the complainant.

The ACB officials caught Balakrishna while accepting ₹2.5 lakh. The tainted amount was recovered from his possession at his instance.

The ACB stated that the two revenue officials had acted improperly and dishonestly to obtain an undue advantage. The Deputy Tahsildar, the VRO and Balakrishna were produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases at Nampally for judicial remand.

In another case, an assistant engineer of the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) was caught by the ACB while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹ 1.2 lakh in Hyderabad.

According to ACB officials, the accused, Pandala Sandhaya Rakesh, who works in the Madannapet section under the Santosh Nagar sub-division, demanded the money from a complainant in return for approving an application to install six new electricity meters in place of old, missing meters.

The ACB said its City Range-II officials caught the assistant engineer red-handed. The alleged bribe amount was recovered from his possession at his instance.

The agency said the officer had acted improperly and dishonestly to obtain an undue advantage.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Four different Dalit organisations have accused the Congress party of practising political opportunism and selective social justice in the Ankita Bhandari case.

In an open letter to the leadership of the Congress party on Thursday, these organisations stated that the Congress party’s intervention in the Ankita Bhandari case raises serious questions about its commitment to constitutional morality and the consistency of its politics.

Separate open letters have been released by SC Hakkula Porata Sangham, Hyderabad, Dr B. R. Ambedkar Volleyball Club, Hyderabad, NBCC SC/ST Employees Welfare Association, New Delhi and SAIL SC & ST Employees Federation, New Delhi.

“The participation of senior Congress leaders in the India Gate protest has brought the issue into the national political arena. Yet, the larger question remains: Is social justice a consistent principle for Congress, or a political instrument invoked when it serves partisan interests?” they asked.

Dalit intellectuals, academics and representatives of social-justice organisations believe that constitutional values must never become tools of political convenience.

“Our objection is not to democratic protest, public scrutiny or institutional accountability. It is to the selective invocation of principles that ought to apply universally. A party that routinely lectures the nation on constitutional morality must demonstrate consistency in its own political conduct,” reads the letter.

“For the Dalit community, this question carries particular significance. Generations of Ambedkarite movements have struggled for equality before the law, institutional accountability and the substantive realisation of social justice. These ideals cannot be reduced to convenient political vocabulary. Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy demands more than rhetorical references to the Constitution. It demands intellectual honesty, principled conduct and equal standards of accountability,” they said.

“We therefore call upon the Congress leadership to reflect on the perception that its commitment to social justice becomes most visible when a controversy offers an opportunity to challenge its political opponents. Social justice cannot be selective. Constitutional morality cannot be convenient. And Babasaheb Ambedkar’s legacy cannot be reduced to a

partisan instrument. India deserves a politics guided by consistent principles, institutional responsibility and genuine commitment to equality, not selective outrage dictated by political expediency,” they said.

The letters were signed by Maredu Mohan, Founder President, SC Hakkula Porata Sangham, Kranthi Kiran, President and other office-bearers of Dr B. R. Ambedkar Volleyball Club, S. K. Soni and Manoj Kumar, President and General Secretary, respectively, of NBCC SC/ST Employees Welfare Association and office-bearers of SAIL SC & ST Employees Federation.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of deliberately creating conditions for a coal and power crisis to pave the way for a ₹3,000 crore scam through proposed foreign coal imports.

He charged that the government was weakening Singareni Collieries Company Limited while preparing to facilitate expensive imports through questionable arrangements involving Bhotra Logistics.

In an open letter addressed to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Rama Rao demanded that all details relating to the proposed imports, including discussions, tender documents, draft agreements, pricing and the selection of Bhotra Logistics, be made public.

KTR, as the BRS leader is popularly known, alleged that the proposed arrangement could involve commissions of ₹1,500 per tonne, potentially translating into a ₹3,000 crore scam.

He demanded an independent investigation into the proposals and questioned the basis on which Bhotra Logistics was being considered for the assignment. He emphasised that the proposed imports had not yet taken place and insisted that all decisions and financial arrangements be disclosed before the process advances.

The former minister questioned the decline in Singareni's coal production from approximately 70.02 million tonnes in 2023–24 to around 58 million tonnes in 2025–26. He demanded an explanation for the failure to strengthen domestic production, develop mines and ensure adequate coal supplies despite the predictable rise in electricity demand.

He also sought a comprehensive, institution-wise account of the approximately ₹60,000 crore in outstanding dues reportedly owed to Singareni, asking the government to disclose the amounts due, payments received and pending liabilities.

Referring to Yadadri Thermal Power Station, KTR cited the reported allocation of 14 million tonnes per annum of G9-grade coal from Singareni mines and the supply agreement signed in April 2022. He questioned why domestic supply concerns were not being resolved before foreign imports were proposed.

KTR further demanded transparency in contracts for coal and ash-handling operations at Yadadri and questioned the reported outsourcing of work despite the expertise available within state power utilities. He criticised Union Coal Minister Kishan Reddy for failing to protect Singareni's interests.

The BRS leader demanded an independent probe into the proposed import arrangements, a white paper on foreign coal procurement, disclosure of all Bhotra Logistics-related dealings, a detailed report on Singareni's production decline and audited particulars of outstanding dues.

He warned that the BRS would strongly oppose any attempt to weaken Singareni, undermine domestic coal resources or impose an unnecessary financial burden on Telangana.

He demanded accountability from the state and central governments and called for all relevant documents to be placed in the public domain.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju said on Thursday the impact of El Nino is currently ‘very severe’ and is expected to reach its peak by February 2027.

He noted that the monsoon has been significantly affected due to El Nino, and temperatures have risen by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.

Talking to media persons after a visit to the Singur Dam, he stated that the government is taking measures to address the current situation.

He revealed that the issue will be discussed extensively during the cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday evening.

The Chief Secretary explained that this visit was conducted to assess the outlook for drinking water availability and the status of standing crops.

He urged all departments to work in coordination to protect the standing crops over the next 15-20 days.

Jaju noted that due to a significant decline in groundwater levels, water may not be available even when electricity is supplied; therefore, he has issued directives to prioritise drinking water needs.

He added that nodal officers are being deployed to every district. Under the supervision of the District Collector, officials from the electricity and agriculture departments will remain accessible to farmers on the ground to prepare appropriate plans for the challenges ahead.

The Chief Secretary began a field visit in Sangareddy district to assess changes in weather patterns caused by the El Nino, and their impact on water availability in the state.

As part of this visit, he inspected water levels at the Singur and Manjira reservoirs. He also held a review meeting with senior officials regarding the implementation of the government’s contingency plans, designed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water to Hyderabad, as well as the districts of Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Nizamabad, and Medak.

Given the declining water storage in the Singur and Manjira reservoirs, the Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure the efficient use of available water resources and strictly implement proactive measures to meet future drinking water requirements.

He emphasised the need for careful water management -- especially as groundwater levels are falling -- and instructed officials to assess water availability for the next 15 days and take appropriate operational steps accordingly.

He directed the relevant departments to closely monitor the impact of these climatic changes on crops.

Emphasising that the next 15-20 days are a highly critical period for standing crops, he urged farmers to remain vigilant, and also instructed the Agriculture Department officials to provide necessary guidance to farmers on the ground.

The Chief Secretary stated that instructions have been issued to the Electricity Department to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for agricultural needs. He advised the Agriculture, Electricity, and Irrigation Departments to work in coordination, taking into account the current weather conditions and water availability.

He further directed officials to personally assess the ground-level situation, engage with farmers and local residents to understand their needs, and raise awareness among the public regarding the proactive measures being taken by the government.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Acting tough on power outages, the government of Telangana has suspended chief engineer of Yadadri Thermal Power Station Stage-I for alleged negligence in power generation. The Telangana official was suspended for negligence after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s warning over power outages

Telangana Power General Corporation Limited (TG Genco) suspended B. Suresh, Chief Engineer, Yadadri Thermal Power Station (YTPS) Stage-I.

Dr S. Harish, Chairman & Managing Director, YG Genco, issued the orders suspending Suresh for exhibiting "gross negligence towards duty".

According to the order, he committed supervisory lapses in discharging the legitimate duties in the capacity of Chief Engineer towards planning, monitoring, execution of prioritised works in improving generation of power.

The Chief Engineer has been placed under suspension, pending department enquiry.

The action against him came hours after Chief Minister Reddy warned that he would suspend even the Energy Department Special Chief Secretary Navin Mittal and CMD of TG Genco S Harish if they were found negligent in discharging their duties.

At a meeting with officials on Wednesday evening, Chief Minister Reddy took serious note of the power outages. He questioned why power generation was not being carried out at full capacity in YTPS despite coal linkage from Naini and Mahanadi coal blocks.

He warned that officials acting negligently will face strict action and ordered that the reasons for power cuts be reported to him immediately.

He ordered the officials to ensure round-the-clock power supply to prevent crops from withering due to the prevailing rain-deficit conditions in the state.

Chief Minister Reddy emphasised the need to ensure uninterrupted power supply until the harvest is completed. Noting that the next 20 days are crucial for the crops, he cautioned that farmers should not suffer crop losses due to power shortages under any circumstances. The officials were instructed to identify the areas with high agricultural power demand and increase supply accordingly.

Chief Minister Reddy held a review meeting with senior officials on the deficit rains, the impact of El Niño, and the status of electricity and drinking water supply across the state.

According to the CMO, he was unhappy over power outages across the state. Chief Minister Reddy questioned the officials about the reasons behind the power shortage and not improving the situation despite repeated directives to ensure a smooth power supply.

"I am accountable to the people. The situation has not changed despite my repeated instructions to supply electricity to protect the standing crops. I will not tolerate actions that cause hardship to the public, and I will not spare anyone found acting negligently," Chief Minister Reddy said.

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Andhra Pradesh government has transferred IAS officer Vikas Marmat following a controversy over an alleged altercation with police personnel at a pub in Bengaluru. 

Marmat, who was serving as Project Director of the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA), has been directed to report to the General Administration Department (GAD) for further posting.

According to a government order issued by the Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, the 2019-batch IAS officer has been transferred with immediate effect.

The Chief Secretary has asked the Collector and District Magistrate of Chittoor district to make the necessary in-charge arrangement for the post of Project Director, KADA.

The transfer comes after Bengaluru's Cubbon Park police registered a case against Marmat and three others over an alleged confrontation with police officers during a late-night inspection.

The incident had occurred around 1.30 a.m. on October 10 at a pub on Residency Road in Bengaluru.

A police team conducting checks at bars and restaurants asked customers to produce identification documents to verify their ages. Marmat and his companions allegedly argued with the officers, abused them and assaulted or threatened police personnel while they were on duty.

A case was registered against Marmat and others at Cubbon Park Police Station following a complaint filed by police Inspector Arun Salunke. The other accused were identified as Abhay Uday Singh, Nitesh and Roshan.

According to the complaint, a group of men used foul language, assaulted the inspector and his colleagues, and threatened them, besides obstructing the police from performing their duties.

The FIR was registered under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

A video of the confrontation was widely circulated on social media.

Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly ordered the transfer of the IAS official.

Marmat was serving as the Project Director of the body responsible for the development of Kuppam, the Assembly constituency represented by Chandrababu Naidu in Chittoor district.

Source: IANS

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Washington, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) US President Donald Trump has accused Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood while campaigning for Republican control of Congress ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Speaking to reporters in Arizona before departing for another campaign rally in Montana, Trump claimed that El-Sayed had previously acknowledged membership of the Islamist organisation.

"Yeah, he's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Abdul, or as I call him, Mohamed, Mohamed El-Sayed," Trump said when asked whether he was concerned about the candidate's alleged connections to the group.

"He's a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He said that years ago. He was a proud member," the President continued.

Trump offered no evidence supporting the allegation. El-Sayed has denied having ties to the organisation, and no evidence has been established that he was ever a member.

The President also questioned whether someone he accused of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood should serve in Congress, particularly on committees handling national security matters.

"And you can't have a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Congress being on one of our security committees, right?" Trump said.

He then endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former congressman who is challenging El-Sayed in Michigan's closely watched Senate contest.

"And you have, in Mike Rogers, such an amazing candidate. He's all apple pie. And that's what our country needs," Trump said.

The President concluded his response by again linking his opposition to El-Sayed with the Muslim Brotherhood allegation.

"We don't, we don't need the Muslim Brotherhood in, uh, as a senator," he said.

Trump's remarks came during a campaign trip aimed at mobilising Republican voters in several states before the congressional elections.

The President said he planned to visit Michigan within days, along with additional campaign stops in Ohio and Texas.

He argued that Republican candidates needed his personal involvement to generate the turnout necessary to retain congressional majorities.

The latest comments place renewed attention on the Michigan Senate race, where Rogers and El-Sayed have exchanged sharp attacks over national security, foreign policy and their respective political records.

The allegation involving the Muslim Brotherhood has become a recurring issue in Republican criticism of El-Sayed.

El-Sayed has rejected the claims. During an October 11 television interview, he denied that he or his family had ties to the organisation. The denial followed similar accusations raised during his debate with Rogers.

The Democratic candidate has also argued that attacks involving his religion and family background are intended to distract voters from economic concerns.

The controversy comes as Republicans seek to make Michigan a central battleground in their effort to maintain control of the Senate.

The race between Rogers and El-Sayed has attracted national attention because of its potential implications for control of the chamber.

El-Sayed, a former Detroit public health official, is seeking to become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate. The contest has also highlighted wider debates over religious identity, political representation and national security in American electoral politics.

Source: IANS

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Vijayawada, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the national-level SARAS Mela at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Thursday.

SARAS Mela (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) is organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government.

The mela will feature more than 600 stalls showcasing products made by women belonging to self-help groups from across the country.

After the programme, she will attend a luncheon with members of Self-Help Groups and 'Lakhpati Didis'.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Murmu arrived at Gannavaram Airport from Delhi by a special aircraft.

Upon her arrival at Gannavaram Airport, President Murmu was received by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, State Minister for Mines, Geology, and Excise Kollu Ravindra, Andhra Pradesh Home and Disaster Management Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, State Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, Krishna District Collector D.K. Balaji, and District Superintendent of Police V. Vidya Sagar Naidu.

The President then travelled by road to Indrakeeladri and offered prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga. She offered prayers at the Kanaka Durga Temple on Wednesday night.

Following the darshan, temple priests rendered Veda Ashirvachanam and presented her the sacred offerings.

On arrival at Indrakeeladri, Home Minister V. Anitha, MP Kesineni Chinni, temple chairman Radhakrishna, Executive Officer Sheena Naik and other temple officials welcomed President Murmu.

She moved ahead while greeting devotees standing in queues with folded hands. The priests performed various rituals.

After the pujas in the sanctum sanctorum, Vedic scholars and temple officials offered Vedic blessings to the President and presented her with silk sarees, a shawl, and a portrait of the Goddess.

Source: IANS

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Nissan is quietly buying back thousands of Leaf electric cars over a battery defect that can cause fires during fast charging — and owners are comparing notes online about what the payouts really look like.

The buybacks stem from two safety recalls covering certain 2019–2022 Nissan Leaf vehicles. Recall campaigns R24B2 (2019–2020 models) and R25C8 (2021–2022 models), tracked by US regulators as NHTSA 24V700 and 25V655, involve excessive lithium deposits inside battery cells. The deposits increase electrical resistance and can cause rapid battery heating during Level 3 DC fast charging — in the worst case, a fire.

Nissan's interim fix was to tell owners simply not to use fast charging. For an EV sold with a fast-charge port as a headline feature, owners say that restriction gutted the car's usability — and with replacement batteries backordered for months, many were left with cars they couldn't fully use.

Two very different offers

Owners going through the process, administered by third-party firm Morley, report encountering two distinct types of offers — and the difference can be worth thousands of dollars.

The first is Nissan's voluntary program, widely described by owners as Kelley Blue Book value plus 40%. On a 2022 Leaf SL Plus with average miles, that works out to roughly $19,000–$22,000.

The second is a statutory lemon-law repurchase, available in states like California under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. That formula refunds everything the owner paid — down payment, monthly payments, taxes and registration fees — minus only a mileage-based usage fee. Owners and attorneys report this number is frequently higher than the voluntary offer, particularly for buyers who paid near sticker price.

One California owner who hired a lemon-law attorney after an initial claim rejection recovered roughly 95% of the purchase price, with Nissan covering the legal fees — a common outcome, since the law requires the manufacturer to pay the owner's attorney costs.

Real numbers from owners

In the large Nissan Leaf Owners and BayLeafs Facebook groups, owners have been openly sharing their buyback figures:

• A 2019 Leaf SL+ owner with 68,000 miles settled for approximately $28,000 on a car originally priced near $40,000 — after waiting eight months for a replacement battery that never arrived.
• A 2019 Leaf SV owner posted this week that Nissan offered $11,648, and asked the community whether to accept or push for more.
• Multiple owners in the buyback pipeline say they're hoping for $14,000–$18,000 based on the KBB-plus-40% math.
• One owner reported a $1,168 usage-fee deduction after 57,000 miles — the mileage offset Nissan applies to account for use before the defect surfaced.

The mood is mixed. Some owners defend the Leaf as reliable and blame bad luck or hot climates; others are on their third or fourth buyback. One owner, after his fourth Leaf was repurchased, announced he was leaving the brand for a Chevrolet Bolt.

The process: what to expect

Once Nissan approves a buyback, Morley takes over the paperwork. Owners describe the timeline as roughly:

1. Document submission — title or loan details, registration, ID, and vehicle photos, typically requested within a few business days.
2. Offer letter — usually arrives within about five business days of completed paperwork.
3. Surrender appointment — scheduled at a dealership, generally one to two weeks out.
4. Payment — issued at or shortly after vehicle turn-in.

The full journey from first complaint to check commonly runs three to six months, though the Morley stage itself is typically two to four weeks. Owners say the biggest delays come from document rejections and back-and-forth over missing paperwork.

Watch-outs owners flag

• Rental cars: Several owners report being bounced between the dealer, Nissan corporate, and Morley over who covers a rental while the car sits awaiting surrender — with each party denying responsibility.
• The usage fee: Deducted from the payout based on mileage at the first repair visit for the defect, not current mileage. Complaining early matters.
• Don't sign the first offer blind: Lemon-law attorneys — who cost the owner nothing, since Nissan pays their fees — will review an offer for free. Multiple owners say they regretted accepting quickly.
• Used buyers have fewer rights: One owner of a used 2022 Leaf was told buyback protection may not apply since the car wasn't certified pre-owned.

Lawsuits add pressure

In May 2026, Quebec owners filed a class action against Nissan Canada alleging the software-based recall fix cannot resolve the underlying battery defect, demanding full battery replacements or buybacks for 2019–2022 Leafs. Separately, even the redesigned 2026 Leaf was recalled in the US and Japan over battery modules that could short-circuit — 51 vehicles in the US were flagged, with owners told not to drive, charge, or park near buildings.

What to do if you own an affected Leaf

Check whether your VIN falls under recalls R24B2 or R25C8. If you've experienced battery warnings, "Service EV System" messages, or charging restrictions, document every dealer visit with dates and mileage — that paper trail determines both your eligibility and your payout. And when the offer letter arrives, compare it against the statutory formula before signing: the voluntary number and the legal number are not the same thing.

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Amaravati, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that the arrests of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka will only aggravate the situation.

The YSR Congress Party President took to social media platform X on Wednesday to react to the arrests of the CJP leaders in Delhi for trespassing into Jantar Mantar.

"A proactive approach always yields better results than a reactive stance. The system has a flaw that needs to be corrected. Trust in the electoral process must be restored," Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

"The arrests of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka do not solve anything; it only aggravates the situation. I empathise with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka," the former Chief Minister added.

A Delhi court sent the CJP leaders to judicial custody for five days.

Earlier, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao had criticised the arrest of CJP leaders. He termed the five-day judicial custody a new level of Emergency.

"If there is one group of people really fighting for this country's future, it is the youth, the Gen Z of this nation. To imprison them because they are trying to clean up the system reeks of insecurity," the former Telangana Minister said in a post on X.

"Slapping trespassing cases on Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka is absolutely uncalled for. Five-day judicial custody for waving Indian flags at Jantar Mantar is a new level of Emergency! Don't forget that the country attained its freedom through protests and movements like these. Dissent is the cornerstone of any democracy," Rama Rao said.

CJP founder and Convenor Abhijeet Dipke thanked Rama Rao for speaking out against the 'illegal arrests' of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.

"We are all in this together brother. Let's fight for a better India. Jai Hind," BRS leader Rama Rao said.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao on Wednesday demanded an independent investigation into the alleged Rs 10,000-crore scam in Singareni Collieries Company Limited and warned that the BRS would intensify its agitation to protect workers’ rights and prevent privatisation of the public sector enterprise.

He accused Telangana's Congress Government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of encouraging corruption, commission-driven contracts and financial mismanagement in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

Addressing the Singareni Karmika Garjana public meeting organised by the BRS at Godavarikhani in Peddapalli district, he alleged serious irregularities in the Naini coal block tenders, site visit certificates, opencast mine contracts, machinery procurement and other operations. He demanded a probe by the CBI or a sitting judge and questioned why the Centre had failed to initiate an independent investigation despite the serious allegations.

Referring to claims that cancellation of the Naini tenders had saved Rs 30,000 crore, the BRS leader asked who had allegedly sought to benefit from the deal and why the tender process had been repeatedly delayed. He alleged that the site visit certificate system was being misused and that tender decisions were benefiting contractors at the expense of Singareni.

Rama Rao accused the Congress Government of failing to safeguard the company’s financial interests. He claimed that Rs 6,317 crore had been diverted over two financial years and alleged that approximately 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal had gone missing. He demanded a comprehensive audit of the company’s accounts and disclosure of coal production, stock and transportation records.

The BRS leader further claimed that the State Government owed nearly Rs 60,000 crore to Singareni and demanded immediate clearance of the outstanding dues. He alleged that delayed payments were affecting the company’s operations and its ability to maintain essential mining equipment.

KTR strongly defended Singareni workers, accusing the Congress Government of failing to honour its commitments on profit-sharing benefits. He recalled that the KCR Government had increased workers’ profit share from 16 per cent to 32 per cent and demanded the release of their rightful share, bonuses and other pending benefits. He also called for the speedy resolution of issues concerning dependent employment, medical boards and land pattas.

“If the government fails to release the workers’ rightful profit share and bonus, we will lay siege to the residences of Congress MLAs and Ministers,” KTR warned.

Accusing both the Congress Government in Telangana and the BJP-led Central Government of failing to protect public sector interests, KTR cautioned against attempts to privatise Singareni. He said the company was built on generations of miners’ sacrifices and must remain a public sector institution serving Telangana and its people.

KTR declared that the BRS would continue its fight until the allegations of corruption were investigated, workers received their rightful benefits, and Singareni’s future was secured.

He called upon workers to unite against policies that threaten their livelihoods and the interests of the historic coal mining company.

Source: IANS

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Tadepalli, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) With Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on Wednesday announcing the schedule for local body elections, YSR Congress Party State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said no seat should go uncontested.

He directed Parliament and Assembly constituency observers to remain in the field until the process is completed and ensure full support to party candidates from nominations to polling and counting.

As directed by YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, no local body seat should go uncontested due to the absence of a YSRCP candidate, he said.

Addressing a teleconference with observers and coordination teams, he said the compressed election schedule requires candidate selection, documentation, nominations and campaign preparations to proceed simultaneously.

Observers must remain available round-the-clock for the next 15 to 20 days, resolve coordination issues and connect candidates with legal, media, digital and organisational teams. Candidates should apply immediately for caste certificates, No-Dues certificates and other mandatory documents, while delays must be reported to the central office for legal intervention where necessary, he said.

Sajjala asked candidates to file nominations early and document any obstruction, police intervention or administrative irregularity through video evidence. Observers should also monitor campaign activity, polling-station arrangements, CCTV coverage, counting centres and other election-related arrangements.

A daily reporting mechanism will connect field teams with Parliament observers, regional coordinators, district presidents and the central office. Sajjala said observers would be assessed on their field presence, problem-solving, coordination and support to candidates throughout the election process.

Meanwhile, YSRCP General Secretary Lella Appi Reddy submitted a representation to the State Election Commission seeking an immediate mechanism for prospective local body election candidates to obtain complete details of cases registered against them anywhere in the State.

The representation said several YSRCP leaders and prospective candidates were facing cases at different police stations and, in many instances, were unaware of the case numbers, police stations or districts concerned. This, Appi Reddy said, could create difficulties in making complete and accurate disclosures while filing nomination papers.

He requested the SEC to direct the Director General of Police, District Superintendents of Police, Commissioners of Police and Station House Officers to provide, through local police stations, a consolidated and authenticated statewide list of cases registered against any prospective candidate who approaches with Aadhaar-based identity verification.

Where no cases are found, the police should issue written confirmation to that effect. Appi Reddy also sought acknowledgement of every application and supply of the information within 24 hours, with the facility made available uniformly to all prospective candidates.

He urged the SEC to intervene immediately so that candidates can comply with nomination disclosure requirements without uncertainty or procedural disadvantage.

Source: IANS

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Vijayawada, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at the Kanaka Durga Temple in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada on Wednesday night.

After arrival at Gannavaram Airport from Delhi by a special aircraft, the President travelled by road to Indrakeeladri and offered prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga.

Following the darshan, temple priests rendered Veda Ashirvachanam and presented her the sacred offerings.

On arrival at Indrakeeladri, Home Minister V. Anitha, MP Kesineni Chinni, temple chairman Radhakrishna, Executive Officer Sheena Naik and other temple officials welcomed President Murmu.

She moved ahead while greeting devotees standing in queues with folded hands. The priests performed various rituals.

After the pujas in the sanctum sanctorum, Vedic scholars and temple officials offered Vedic blessings to the President and presented her with silk sarees, a shawl, and a portrait of the Goddess.

Earlier, on arrival from Delhi at Gannavaram Airport, President Murmu was received by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, State Minister for Mines, Geology, and Excise Kollu Ravindra, Andhra Pradesh Home and Disaster Management Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, State Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, Krishna District Collector D.K. Balaji, and District Superintendent of Police V. Vidya Sagar Naidu.

Subsequently, the President departed for Vijayawada by road in a special vehicle, escorted by security forces.

President Murmu will inaugurate the national-level SARAS Mela at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada on Thursday.

SARAS Mela (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) is organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government.

The mela will feature more than 600 stalls showcasing products made by women belonging to self-help groups from across the country.

After the programme, she will attend a luncheon with members of Self-Help Groups and 'Lakhpati Didis'.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Janata Dal (Secular) on Wednesday accused the Karnataka government of prioritising political interests over the welfare of farmers by allegedly releasing Krishna River water from the Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs in North Karnataka to Telangana when farmers in the state, particularly in North Karnataka, are grappling with drought and drinking water shortages.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, the JD-S questioned whether the government was giving greater importance to the political interests of the Congress leadership in neighbouring states while farmers in Karnataka were suffering due to the drought.

“Is the political agenda of the high command in a neighbouring state more important to the government? When farmers in the state are reeling under drought, and people in North Karnataka are struggling even for drinking water, is secretly releasing Krishna water from the Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs to Telangana not an unforgivable betrayal?” the party asked.

The JDS alleged that the interests of Karnataka's farmers were being sacrificed on the verbal instructions of the Chief Minister.

The party further accused the Congress government of allegedly diverting the state's water resources to benefit neighbouring states governed by the Congress, referring to the Mekedatu project on the Cauvery and the alleged release of Krishna water to Telangana.

“Karnataka's taxpayers, Karnataka's resources and Karnataka's water, but the benefits go only to states that have political alliances with the Congress party,” the JD-S said.

The party also criticised the government for allegedly providing water to neighbouring states while failing to adequately compensate farmers in Karnataka for their crop losses.

Condemning what it described as an anti-farmer approach, the JD-S demanded that the government immediately stop releasing water to Telangana and give priority to the drinking water needs of people and the irrigation requirements of farmers in North Karnataka.

The party warned that farmers could take to the streets and teach the government a lesson if it failed to address their concerns.

The allegations come amid concerns over drought conditions and the availability of water for agricultural and drinking purposes in parts of Karnataka.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) After a 72-year-old woman in Hyderabad lost Rs 2.20 crore to fraudsters who threatened her with money laundering charges and displayed fake arrest warrant, Hyderabad Police has issued a fresh advisory cautioning citizens to stay alert against digital arrest fraud.

The woman, a resident of Nampally, received a video call from someone claiming to be a CBI officer, alleging that a parcel containing illegal drugs has been booked in the victim's name and that a bank account linked to the victim is involved in money laundering.

The caller displayed a fake arrest warrant and threatened to arrest her. On the pretext of security deposits, the victim was forced to transfer multiple amounts to different mule accounts. The victim suffered a total financial loss of Rs 2.20 crore.

After this and a couple of other cases in which the victims lost Rs 3.15 crore, the police have strongly advised the general public to remain vigilant and not fall prey to cyber criminals.

M. Srinivasulu, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes & SIT), said in a press release on Wednesday that the Cyber Crime Police Station Hyderabad City, in coordination with the local police stations, has conducted several awareness programmes and door-to-door campaigns to educate citizens on digital arrest scams and their modus operandi, which contributed to a reduction in the number of reported digital arrest cases. However, a few such cases continue to be reported.

Digital arrest is a scam designed to extort money from victims using fear, deceit, and intimidation. Cyber criminals impersonate Police Officers, CBI, ED, Customs, TRAI, or other government authorities and threaten innocent citizens with arrest, criminal prosecution, or account freezing to coerce victims into paying a "fine" or "security deposit" to avoid legal action.

According to the police official, fraudsters contact victims through phone calls, WhatsApp, SMS, or video calls. They may claim that a mobile number, bank account, Aadhaar, parcel, or identity document has been linked to a criminal activity. The caller poses as an officer of the police, CBI, ED, NCB, customs, or another government agency. Fraudsters may use fake identity cards, forged notices, official-looking letterheads, logos, and fabricated case documents. They set up a fake police station with uniforms for video call backgrounds.

The victim is falsely accused of involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, terror financing, illegal transactions, identity theft, or a money-laundering investigation. In some cases, the fraudster claims that a parcel containing illegal substances has been intercepted in the victim's name.

The victim is instructed to remain on a continuous video call, stay alone in a room, keep the camera switched on, and avoid contacting family members, lawyers, or other persons. The fraudsters threaten immediate arrest, handcuffing, or harm to the victim's reputation if instructions are disobeyed, the Additional Commissioner said.

Fraudsters demand bank statements, account balances, identity documents, and details of investments. They may send fabricated arrest warrants, court orders, or account-freezing notices to make the allegations appear genuine.

The victim is instructed to transfer money to designated bank accounts under the pretext of security deposits, verification of legitimate funds, bail, or temporary transfer of funds for investigation. If the funds are short, they coerce the victim to break the Fixed Deposits/Security bonds/apply for bank loans, etc. Fraudsters may promise to return the money after verification.

After receiving the money, the fraudsters may demand additional payments by inventing new charges or allegations. Eventually, they disconnect communications, block the victim, and become unreachable.

Additional Commissioner said citizens should educate their family members, particularly senior citizens and other vulnerable individuals, about digital arrest scams and their modus operandi. Family members should be advised to immediately inform a trusted family member whenever they receive such threatening calls or video calls and never transfer money or share financial or personal information under pressure.

Citizens have been urged not to panic if they receive threatening video calls or messages claiming to be from CBI, RBI, ED, Customs, Judiciary, Cyber Crime Police, Narcotics Bureau, FedEx, BSNL, TRAI, or similar agencies. No government agency or law enforcement authority will demand money over phone or video calls. There is no concept of “digital arrest” or online enquiry in the system.

They should end the suspicious call and contact the concerned agency through its officially published contact details. Do not allow the caller to isolate you or prevent you from seeking independent assistance. Always take support from your family members or a trusted person.

Save phone numbers, call logs, WhatsApp chats, video-call details, bank account information, transaction IDs, and screenshots to be taken immediately.

“If you fall victim to any such cyber fraud, immediate reporting can help in freezing and recovering part or all of your lost amount,” added the official.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday affirmed that the state would be promoted as the best destination for global investments.

"Our resolve is to transform Telangana into the best destination for global investments. Our aim is to increase the Telangana's contribution to India's GDP to 10 per cent from the present five per cent," Revanth Reddy said while participating in the global summit organised by SAMAKHYA Chamber of Commerce here.

The Chief Minister highlighted the 'Telangana Rising: 2047 Vision Document' and the main objectives of the state government to roll out CURE, PURE and RARE regions.

"Our goal is to transform the Telangana State into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034 and a three-trillion-dollar economy by 2047. To achieve this goal, we envisaged plans to develop the state by dividing it into three zones: CURE, PURE, and RARE," he said

The Chief Minister explained Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) area within the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR) is being developed as the hub of IT, service sectors, as well as cutting-edge technology and innovation.

"The Peri-Urban Region Economy (PURE) between the ORR and the Regional Ring Road (RRR) will promote manufacturing industries, industrial parks, and the logistics sector. The RARE—the Rural Agriculture Region Economy - will focus on agriculture, food processing, agro-based industries, and rural employment."

Saying that India will complete 100 years of independence by 2047, the Chief Minister mentioned Prime Minister Modi is working towards the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) by 2047.

He emphasised that cooperation from the states is important to achieve the goals set by the Centre.

"Our main focus is on development and politics should be confined during the elections only," the Chief Minister remarked.

CM Revanth Reddy highlighted how the city of Hyderabad transformed into a world-class city.

He said 400 years ago, the famous Charminar became a landmark for entrepreneurs from India and abroad.

"After the Charminar, HITEC City emerged as the destination for the world of investments."

Appealing to the investors to join hands with the state government to achieve the goals of Telangana Rising, the Chief Minister assured that the state government will provide necessary support and protection to the investments by pursuing friendly policies.

CM Revanth Reddy stressed that the local entrepreneurs should also become partners in the new industrial policy.

"Until now, our investors have primarily focused on providing services to corporate companies. People from our region should make investments and grow globally," he said.

He added that role of the Chambers is important in understanding the business practices and embracing new methods in the modern times.

Listing the women empowerment schemes launched by the people's government (referring to Telangana government), the Chief Minister suggested the Chamber of Commerce to encourage youth and women entrepreneurs to strengthen the country economically further.

"We have provided bank linkage loans worth Rs 61,000 crore to women and also empowered women to become owners of Regional Transport Corporation buses, petrol bunks, and solar plants," he added.

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Elections for 100 Urban Local Bodies in Andhra Pradesh will be held on October 28, while Gram Panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases in November-December.

The State Election Commission on Wednesday announced the poll schedule for the Urban and Rural Local Bodies.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha announced that the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.

The announcement of the schedule came after the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department furnished the Gazette Notifications containing the particulars of reservations to the seats and offices in Urban Local Bodies to the State Election Commission, along with readiness for the conduct of the elections.

Out of 123 Urban Local Bodies, the Commission has issued notifications for conduct of elections to 100 Urban Local Bodies (13 Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats).

Elections have not been notified yet for the remaining 23 Urban Local Bodies (4 Municipal Corporations and 19 Municipalities/ Nagar Panchayats) as the pre-election activities for them are underway.

Polling will be held for Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Vizianagaram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapuram Municipal Corporations and 87 Municipalities/Nagar Panchayats.

The Commission also announced that elections to Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) will be held on November 3.

The Gram Panchayat elections will be conducted in 3 phases – November 26, November 29 and December 2.

The State Election Commission issued the notification for elections to 100 ULBs. The nominations will be accepted till October 18, while scrutiny of nominations will be undertaken on October 19.

According to the schedule, October 21 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidates. Polling will be held on October 28, while counting of votes will be taken up on October 30.

For MPTC and ZPTC elections, the notification will be issued on October 19. Nominations will be received till October 23, while scrutiny of nominations will be taken up the next day. October 27 is the last date for withdrawal of candidates. Polling will be held on November 3, while results will be declared on November 5.

Counting of votes for Gram Panchayats will be taken up immediately after completion of polling in all three phases.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal government will set up Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) under the public-private partnership (PPP) model at 16 state-run medical colleges and hospitals to provide quality medicines to patients at affordable prices.

Sources in the State Health and Family Welfare Department said the decision to adopt the PPP model was aimed at ensuring the efficient operation and proper maintenance of the centres, apart from making medicines available to patients at lower prices.

“Besides setting up and running these PMBJKs, proper maintenance of the centres is another important consideration. This is also one of the reasons behind the decision to adopt the PPP model,” a Health and Family Welfare Department official said.

The tendering process to select private organisations for setting up and operating the centres has already begun, the official said.

“Instructions have been issued to complete the tendering process quickly and select private organisations that meet the prescribed standards so that the centres can be launched at the earliest,” the official added.

In the first phase, the 16 PMBJKs will be established at medical colleges and hospitals across the state, including 11 in Kolkata. The remaining five centres will come up at one medical college and hospital each in Nadia, Murshidabad, North 24 Parganas, West Midnapore and Howrah districts, according to the department.

It is learnt that several other state governments have adopted the PMBJK model in the past, while the previous Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal did not take any initiative to introduce the scheme in state-run medical colleges and hospitals.

Sources at the state secretariat, Nabanna, said the process of involving the state government in various welfare initiatives of the Union government had gathered pace after the new government assumed office under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The decision to establish Janaushadhi Kendras at state-run medical colleges and hospitals is part of that broader exercise, the sources added.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Wednesday launched a blistering attack against the Centre, accusing it of institutionalising authoritarianism and systematically muzzling public dissent.

The Thackeray camp's criticism comes in the wake of the Delhi Police's decision to strip Jantar Mantar of its decades-long status as a designated demonstration venue.

The Thackeray camp in an editorial in the party's mouthpiece, 'Samaana', noted that under new police orders, protests have been pushed far away from the seat of power to remote locations -- Ramlila Maidan (4 km away), CBD Ground in Shahdara (12 km away), and Burari Ground (20-21 km away). The party argued this is a deliberate strategy to ensure public agitation creates no ripples in Parliament or the national consciousness.

Highlighting the commercialisation of democratic rights, the editorial pointed out that venues like Ramlila Maidan cost upwards of Rs 1.5 lakh per day, require months of advance booking, and are frequently tied up for religious or ruling-party events. Contrasting this with the accessible, fee-free nature of Jantar Mantar, the editorial labelled the new financial hurdles an exorbitant "Jizya tax" levied on those daring to voice opposition.

Drawing comparisons to India’s freedom struggle -- where historic movements thrived around Chandni Chowk, Daryaganj, and near Parliament -- the editorial stressed that peaceful assembly is a constitutionally protected right. Pushing voices outside city limits, it argued, signals deep-seated administrative fear. The administrative clampdown follows heightened political friction surrounding demonstrations by groups like the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding accountability over electoral integrity, which triggered heavy security deployments and mass preventive detentions in the capital, the editorial added.

The Thackeray faction asserted that opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have strongly condemned the crackdown, while legal challenges against the de-notification of Jantar Mantar have rapidly moved to the Delhi High Court.

Firing a stern warning at the Central government, the editorial said, "Jantar Mantar has become a living memorial of agitations. The BJP rule converted a symbol of democracy into a memorial. This memorial of Jantar Mantar will become the tomb of dictatorial tendencies. Naturally, Jantar Mantar will not stay quiet; the present rulers themselves will have to run away."

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that when a government begins to "fear its own public, the countdown to its end has officially begun".

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Telangana government on Tuesday announced that the employees of state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) will be paid Rs 596 crore as a bonus for Dasara.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka declared a 34% profit share for permanent employees as a Dasara gift.

Permanent employees of the company will be paid an average profit share of Rs 1,53,912 each, while contract employees will get Rs 5,500 each.

Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who also holds the Energy and Finance portfolios, announced that a total of 38,737 permanent employees and 29,717 contract workers would benefit from this decision.

Like in the past, the government decided to allocate 34% of Singareni's profits as a share for the workers. The deputy CM explained that out of the Rs 1,754 crore net profit earned by Singareni this year, 34%—amounting to Rs 596 crore—would be distributed to the workers as their profit share.

Last year, the government had paid Rs 819 crore as a bonus. Each permanent employee was paid Rs 1,95,610.

The company had earned a profit of Rs 6,394 crore in 2024-25.

The Deputy CM explained various reasons behind the decline in Singareni's profits this year. He criticised the previous BRS government for failing to secure additional coal blocks over the past decade.

Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that the organisation suffered significant losses because it was prevented from participating in the coal block auctions conducted by the Central Government.

He noted that the failure to utilise the opportunity to participate in the auction of approximately 141 coal blocks hindered the company's business expansion. The Deputy CM mentioned that the closure of some existing coal blocks was impacting both production and revenue. With nearly 14 blocks having shut down, there is an urgent need to acquire new blocks, he said.

Bhatti Vikramarka stated that the government is focusing on acquiring new coal blocks to strengthen the Singareni. He stated that measures to secure new coal blocks were initiated after the Congress government assumed office.

He claimed that efforts were underway to expand the company's business by acquiring these new blocks.

The Deputy CM stated that there is currently intense competition in the coal market. He explained that coal is being supplied by entities such as Mahanadi Coalfields, Coal India, and Western Coalfields, while private companies are also offering coal at lower prices.

He noted that due to the high price of Singareni coal, some companies are inclined to purchase coal from other sources. Under these circumstances, he said, there is a need to rationalise Singareni's coal prices to align with market rates. He warned that failure to adjust prices could lead to the loss of coal buyers, potentially resulting in a further decline in the company's revenue.

Bhatti Vikramarka announced the government would issue pending dependent employment orders within 15 days. The announcement is expected to bring relief to families awaiting employment under the dependent employment scheme.

He said instructions have been issued to complete the processing of about 250 to 300 pending dependent employment orders and other related legal formalities within the next 15 days, and to hand over the appointment orders to eligible candidates.

Source: IANS

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Vijayawada, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday participated in Vijayawada Utsav 2.0 along with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Vijay briefly spoke in Telugu, drawing loud cheers from the participants in the annual festival at Punnami Ghat on the banks of the Krishna River on Tuesday night.

“I am very happy to meet all of you. I consider it a privilege to participate in these Navaratri celebrations,” said Vijay, who was in Vijayawada to hold talks with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart on water supply to Chennai and river-linking proposals.

“I have come to Vijayawada to discuss the interlinking of rivers with CM Chandrababu. It brings me great joy to see you all,” he said while extending Navaratri greetings to people.

Vijay, who also offered prayers at Kanaka Durga Temple soon after his arrival from Chennai, thanked the people for their hospitality.

Vijay and Chandrababu Naidu watched colourful cultural performances and traditional dances.

An initiative of Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), the annual festival is aimed at showcasing Vijayawada’s hospitality, culture, traditions and spiritual heritage nationally.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu stated that Vijayawada is buzzing with excitement due to Vijayawada Utsav 2.0.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate the organisers and the committee. This is Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Thalapathy's first visit to Vijayawada since assuming office. It was Goddess Durga herself who brought him here,” he said.

Chandrababu Naidu stated that Vijay is working with the goal of developing Tamil Nadu. He noted that Vijay became Chief Minister within just two years of launching his party.

“Seeing the enthusiasm of the youth gives me confidence that the youth of our country can achieve anything in the world. Although our states are different, our objective is the same: the nation must prosper, and states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka must all develop,” he said.

“Anything is possible under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. The interlinking of the Godavari and Cauvery rivers will take place. If the Penna, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery rivers are connected, four states will benefit,” Chandrababu Naidu added.

CM Naidu said he had no doubt that India will become number one in the world by 2047.

Source: IANS

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay participates in Vijayawada Utsav 2.0

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Vijayawada, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Tuesday held talks with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu on river water sharing and interlinking proposals

In his first visit to the neighbouring state since taking over as Chief Minister, Vijay’s programme included a visit to the temple and discussions with Naidu.

Vijay travelled to Andhra Pradesh aboard a private aircraft, landing in Vijayawada at around 3.45 pm.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was accorded a warm reception on arrival. Andhra Pradesh ministers personally received him on behalf of the state government before he proceeded with the engagements planned for his one-day visit.

Vijay visited the Kanaka Durga Amman temple and offered prayers to the presiding deity. Following the temple visit, he proceeded to meet Naidu in Vijayawada, where the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister welcomed him with a bouquet.

The two Chief Ministers discussed the sharing of river waters between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Krishna water sharing was among the subjects taken up during the meeting, alongside proposals for linking rivers and the proposed Godavari–Cauvery interlinking project.

The discussions brought water sharing and river-linking proposals into focus during Vijay’s first visit to the neighbouring state as Chief Minister. The account provided, however, did not detail either government’s position on the individual proposals discussed.

Andhra Pradesh’s Water Resources Minister, the Chief Secretary and other officials attended the meeting. Tamil Nadu ministers Anand and Aadhav Arjuna accompanied Vijay and participated in the discussions with Naidu and the Andhra Pradesh delegation.

The presence of ministers and senior officials from both states formed part of the engagement. However, no agreement, decision, or timetable for implementing the proposals was specified in the account of the meeting. While the leaders discussed the Godavari–Cauvery link and other water-related matters, details of any follow-up measures or further consultations between the two state governments were not provided.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Comprehensive measures have been taken to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in the Hyderabad Core Area in view of the anticipated El Nino impact, Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju said on Tuesday.

He appealed to people to conserve water and extend their cooperation to the measures being undertaken by the government.

The Chief Secretary on Tuesday chaired a review meeting to assess drinking water supply preparedness in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) areas within the Hyderabad Core Area.

The Chief Secretary directed the officials to effectively utilise the available water resources and take all necessary measures to ensure that the public does not face any inconvenience in drinking water supply, despite reduced water availability in reservoirs due to the El Nino phenomenon.

The Chief Secretary explained that drinking water is supplied to the Hyderabad Core Area primarily from Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, Manjeera, Krishna and Godavari water sources. The available water in these sources is around 560 MGD.

To meet the city's drinking water requirements, a plan has been drawn to utilise an additional 60 MGD of water, comprising 15 MGD from the Krishna River, 20 MGD through Mission Bhagiratha, another 20 MGD from Mission Bhagiratha and 5 MGD from Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar, he said.

Officials informed the meeting that 5 TMC of water is available at Mallannasagar. With the pipeline project to transport water from Mallannasagar to the city expected to be completed in November, an additional 20 MGD of water is expected to become available for utilisation.

The Chief Secretary observed that groundwater levels in the city had declined significantly over the past two to three months compared to last year, resulting in increased demand for water tankers.

Sanjay Jaju directed officials to ensure that sewage treatment plants (STPs) in gated communities and apartment complexes function at full capacity. He emphasised the need to create awareness among residents about using treated wastewater for gardening, vehicle washing and other non-domestic purposes.

Hyderabad Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) officials informed that special green tankers were being arranged to supply treated wastewater for such purposes.

Alternative plans would be implemented to ensure drinking water supply in Medak, Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Sangareddy districts, which depend on the Manjeera and Singur reservoirs, in view of the limited availability of water in these reservoirs.

The Chief Secretary said that borewells and other alternative water sources had already been identified in the respective districts. The government is according highest priority to drinking water supply, and there is no shortage of funds for the purpose, he asserted.

He stated that conserving just 20% of water across the three municipal corporations in Greater Hyderabad could save around 80 MGD of water every day.

Sanjay Jaju directed officials to take stringent measures to prevent the wastage of water, particularly the use of HMWSSB-supplied drinking water for washing vehicles.

He further instructed the authorities to conduct an extensive 60-day public awareness campaign on water conservation and prevention of wastage. Film stars, celebrities and other prominent personalities should be involved in these campaigns to encourage public participation and promote responsible water use.

Calling upon citizens to treat every drop of water as a valuable resource, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju urged everyone to conserve water and actively participate in the collective effort to effectively address the challenges posed by El Nino.

Source: IANS

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Tadepalli, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) With the schedule for local body elections in Andhra Pradesh likely to be announced anytime, YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday held detailed discussions with senior party leaders on the party’s preparedness for the polls.

YS Jagan met district teams, including the regional coordinators, district presidents and parliamentary observers. They discussed candidate selection and preparations to face the elections effectively.

With reservations finalised for various corporations and municipalities, the leaders also reviewed their implications for selecting candidates.

YS Jagan asked the leaders to assess the situation in each area and select strong candidates, keeping in view the State’s “Red Book rule” and the alleged lawlessness under the coalition government.

He said officials were being used to create difficulties for proposed candidates in obtaining caste and No-Dues certificates.

Citing the case of Shashikala, a former corporator from Visakhapatnam, YS Jagan said that although she belongs to a Scheduled Caste, she had been issued a certificate identifying her as an OC Kapu.

He said such practices could delay candidates’ efforts to secure justice until the election period was over. He accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of encouraging these unfair methods and asked party leaders to remain alert, including in agency areas.

YS Jagan asked regional coordinators to respond promptly to developments and directed constituency and parliamentary observers to remain available locally.

He said party leaders should regularly question the alleged misuse of official power and bring such matters to the public’s attention.

He also asked them to keep the party’s legal teams ready to seek timely relief through the courts.

Whenever candidates or party workers face difficulties, leaders should immediately bring the matter to the Election Commission and the relevant senior officials, he said. He directed them to document the entire process.

He said reports of police harassing YSRCP leaders and workers by asking them to sign preventive bond papers were coming from across the State. He said the party would not tolerate action that violates the rules or the law and called for legal action against those responsible.

He further directed party leaders to give priority in candidate selection to people who have shown strong commitment and loyalty to the party.

Source: IANS

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Vijayawada, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay offered prayers at the Kanaka Durga Temple here.

After his arrival at Gannavaram Airport by a special aircraft from Chennai, Vijay drove to the famous hill shrine and offered prayers on the eve of Dasara.

The temple priests and officials accorded a warm welcome to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister as per the temple traditions.

Following the darshan, the priests rendered Veda Ashirvachanam and presented him the sacred offering.

Vijay later left for his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu’s official residence in Amaravati for talks on water sharing.

Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh warmly welcomed Chief Minister Vijay on his arrival at the Chief Minister’s residence.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu introduced Ministers P. Narayana and Nimmala Ramanaidu, along with MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, to his Tamil Nadu counterpart.

The bilateral discussions are likely to focus on inter-state water management, specifically expediting the release of Krishna River water to Chennai under the Telugu Ganga Project.

They are also likely to discuss the proposed interlinking of Godavari and Cauvery rivers.

The discussions come amid concern over the limited quantity of water received under the Telugu Ganga project. Andhra Pradesh is required to supply 12 tmc annually to meet Chennai’s drinking water needs, but Tamil Nadu had received only 2.251 tmc by the beginning of October this year.

CM Vijay is expected to raise the shortfall with CM Naidu and discuss measures to improve supplies.

Vijay, along with Chandrababu Naidu, will also participate in Vijayawada Utsav 2.0.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was received by Municipal Administration P. Narayana and senior officials at Gannavaram Airport.

A large number of the actor-politician’s fans had gathered outside the airport to welcome him. Vijay waved at the crowd before getting into the car.

Police had made tight security arrangements at the airport and along the route from the airport to Kanaka Durga Temple.

Some overenthusiastic fans were seen running behind Vijay’s convoy to catch a glimpse.

This is Vijay’s first visit to Andhra Pradesh after assuming office as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Tuesday appointed observers for the enrolment of graduate voters in connection with the ensuing elections to the Telangana Legislative Council from two Graduates’ Constituencies.

TPCC President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud named 43 observers for Hyderabad- Rangareddy- Mahabubnagar Constituency and 34 observers for Warangal- Khammam- Nalgonda Constituency.

The TPCC chief asked appointed observers to coordinate and consult with all concerned leaders and stakeholders across the respective districts and ensure that the enrolment of graduate voters is carried out effectively, in the true letter and spirit of the party's objectives.

The observers for Hyderabad- Rangareddy- Mahabubnagar Constituency include Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s brother Anumula Thirupathi Reddy, ministers Vakiti Srihari, Jupally Krishna Rao, senior leader and government advisor V. Hanumantha Rao, MPs Anil Kumar Yadav and Mallu Ravi.

The observers for Warangal- Khammam- Nalgonda Constituency include Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, P. Srinivasa Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.

Voter enrolment in the two constituencies began last month with the issue of public notice under Rule 31(3) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The electoral rolls will be prepared afresh with November 1, 2026, as the qualifying date. Those who previously registered as voters must also register afresh.

The Election Commission of India has announced that two vacancies are due in March 2027 and must be filled by conducting biennial elections.

An applicant must have completed a degree or an equivalent diploma at least three years before the qualifying date. The applicant must also be an ordinary resident of the area covered by the relevant Graduates constituency.

As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission, draft electoral rolls will be published on November 25, 2026. Final electoral rolls are due for publication on December 30, 2026.

The ruling Congress party has already announced candidates for both constituencies.

Sama Rammohan Reddy will be the party candidate from the Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituency, while Ramreddy Sarvotham Reddy will contest on the Congress ticket from the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda constituency.

Source: IANS

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Vijayawada, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The schedule for local body elections in Andhra Pradesh will be announced after the departments concerned issue gazette notifications, State Election Commissioner (SEC) Anil Chandra Punetha said on Tuesday.

The SEC added that the poll schedule will be announced once the state government communicates its readiness for the elections.

Punetha said the elections would be conducted in an effective manner.

He assured all security measures in the sensitive and hyper sensitive areas.

He held a meeting with representatives of 20 political parties here on Tuesday.

He told media after the meeting that the political parties sought security for the contesting candidates.

They also submitted various suggestions to the SEC, including timely issuance of caste certificates.

The state government on Monday announced reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), Backward Classes (BCs) and women for the posts of Mayors in 17 municipal corporations and chairpersons in 106 municipalities and nagar panchayats.

The state government has earmarked one Mayoral seat for STs (Mangalagiri Tadepalli), two seats for SCs (Kurnool Women and Rajamahendravaram General), five seats for BCs (Kakinada Women, Machilipatnam Women, Eluru General, Anantapuram General, and Chittoor General).

Five Mayoral seats have been reserved under Women (General) for Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Guntur, Kadapa, and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC).

Mayor seats in Tirupati, Vijayawada, Ongole, and Nellore remained unreserved.

Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, P. Sampath Kumar, issued an official notification determining and finalising the ward-wise reservation of seats for STs, SCs, BCs and women across 13 major municipal corporations in the state.

The state government has capped overall reservation for all categories at 50 per cent after the High Court struck down its order for 34 per cent reservation for BCs.

The Supreme Court on October 9 dismissed its plea challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The apex court questioned the legal basis of the data relied upon by the state government to justify the enhanced BC quota, particularly the findings of a Unified Family Survey.

On October 1, the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down two government orders providing 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local body elections, saying that the quota breached the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations.

The High Court said that the aggregate reservation for all categories in local bodies should not exceed 50 per cent in accordance with the Supreme Court's guidelines.

The court judgment came as a setback to the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, as increasing BC reservation in local bodies from 20 per cent to 34 per cent was one of its key promises during the 2024 Assembly elections.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had announced the enhanced quota on August 18, saying that BCs would get 34 per cent reservation in rural local bodies and 33.33 per cent in urban local bodies.

Source: IANS

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Amaravati, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hectic parleys were on among NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday to finalise seat sharing for the upcoming local body elections.

Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President, N. Chandrababu Naidu, intensified efforts to reach an agreement with his allies Jana Sena and BJP.

State BJP President, P.V.N. Madhav met Chandrababu Naidu and discussed the seat sharing among partners in the ruling NDA.

This is the second round of talks between the two leaders in as many days.

Chandrababu Naidu wants to decide the number of seats to be allotted to Jana Sena before holding further talks with the BJP on the number of seats to be left for the saffron party.

Chandrababu Naidu, who is the national president of the TDP, also held talks with TDP state president Palla Srinivasa Rao and minister Nimmala Ramanaidu.

Later, Srinivasa Rao and Ramanaidu went to Jana Sena office and held talks with Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.

Minister Nadendla Manohar, Vamsi Krishna Yadav and other Jana Sena leaders were also present.

Jana Sena and TDP leaders will be meeting Chief Minister Naidu at his residence on Tuesday night to finalise seat sharing. The meeting is also likely to discuss the candidates for key local body elections.

The talks will be crucial as all the three parties will be keen to secure seats in proportion to their strength. The deal is likely to be finalised based on their electoral prospects.

Jana Sena and BJP have reportedly submitted to Chandrababu Naidu lists of seats they seek based on their respective strengths.

The ruling coalition is keen to finalise seat sharing before the announcement of the poll schedule, which is likely on October 14.

Last week, Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan discussed seat-sharing among the alliance partners, the constituencies and local bodies to be contested by each party, and the selection of mayoral candidates for key municipal corporations.

The two leaders also reportedly discussed the election strategies to be adopted and the need for coordination among the alliance partners.

The meeting also focussed on evolving a coordinated strategy to project unity among the alliance partners and secure strong results at all levels in the local body elections.

Pawan Kalyan on October 11 called for adequate representation for his Jana Sena Party in the local body elections in recognition of what he called sacrifices of the party cadres for the formation and success of the ruling coalition.

He said that the Jana Sena Party and Janasainiks (party cadres) have made many sacrifices for the formation and success of the alliance, and in recognition of their sacrifices, they should be given adequate representation in the local bodies in accordance with alliance dharma.

He stated that they had fought for the future of the state in the 2024 general elections and expressed the hope that the upcoming local body elections would ensure a secure future for the 'Janasainiks'.

Pawan Kalyan also mentioned about the sacrifices of Janasainiks in 2014.

"When we stood in support of the alliance in 2014, not a single Janasainik aspired for a political post. They worked selflessly, prioritising the state's interests above all else. They made numerous sacrifices for the party and the alliance, setting aside their personal interests,” he said.

Source: IANS

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