DMK-Congress begin formal seat-sharing talks
CHENNAI, Feb 28: The ruling DMK and its major ally the Congress on Saturday began the formal seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Assembly election.The Congress delegation under AICC incharge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar, TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai and AICC co-incharge Niveditha Alva arrived at the Anna Arivalayam, the DMK state headquarters and commenced the talks with the DMK panel led by senior Parliamentarian T R Baalu.“Lets not speculate. We will get back to you with details,” Chodankar earlier told reporters when asked about the number of seats the grand old party would demand from the DMK and whether a Rajya Sabha seat has been promised to the Congress.Congress, which is a key constituent of the DMK-led alliance has high expectation pitching for more number of seats than 25 Assembly seats that it contested in the 2021 Assembly election, a Rajya Sabha seat besides a share in power. (PTI)
BJD expels senior leader Pravat Biswal
BHUBANESWAR, Feb 28: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha on Saturday expelled senior leader Pravat Ranjan Biswal on the charge of indiscipline and anti-party activities.The action came hours after Biswal, a former MLA, raised his voice against party president Naveen Patnaik’s decision to nominate Santrupt Misra as the BJD candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.In an office order, BJD vice-president (headquarters) Pratap Jena said, “Sri Pravat Ranjan Biswal, State Council Member of Biju Janata Dal, is hereby expelled from the party for indiscipline and anti-party activities with immediate effect.” Biswal, a three-time MLA, had gone to Naveen Niwas, the residence of Patnaik, where names of the party candidates for Rajya Sabha polls were announced. He was accompanied by his son Souvic Biswal, a BJD legislator. (PTI)
Man gets life sentence for repeated rape of minor daughter
GUNA (MP), Feb 28: A court here on Saturday sentenced a man to imprisonment for the reminder of his life after finding him guilty of repeatedly raping his minor daughter.The survivor remained firm even after her mother turned hostile during the trial.The judge of the special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act court, noted that “despite being broken”, the child approached the court with courage to seek justice.The girl, then 12 years old, lodged a complaint in October 2024, stating that her father had sexually assaulted her multiple times.He was a drunkard and often assaulted her mother, and after one such incident her mother left home with the youngest daughter, the complaint said.The accused then began to sexually assault the complainant, threatening to kill her if she disclosed it to anyone. Finally, the girl narrated her ordeal to her mother and approached police.A case was registered under the POCSO Act and the man was arrested.Additional District Prosecution Officer Mamta Dixit said the girl’s mother turned hostile during the trial and tried to persuade her to change her statement, but the latter stuck to her complaint.(PTI)
