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Alappuzha : Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan sparked controversy after calling a Kerala Muslim journalist a “terrorist” during a press interaction, The remarks were directed at Rahees Rasheed, a Reporter TV journalist from Erattupetta, whom Vellappally claimed was a Muslim Students Federation (MSF) leader and was sent deliberately to the press meet. Vellappally’s remarks came after he was provoked by a question Rahees had asked the previous day, following which Vellappally had pushed away the reporter’s microphone. The comments were made during a press conference convened to explain the microphone-pushing incident and related issues. However, journalists present at the press conference questioned Vellappally’s reference to Rahees as a “terrorist,” asking whether the allegation was based on his name or whether Rahees had any proven links to extremist activities. Vellappally responded by saying “yes” and asserted that...
Thiruvananthapuram: Even as allegations of large-scale exclusion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, not a single application relating to claims and objections to the draft voter list for the 2026 assembly election has been filed by Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties more than a week after the roll was published. BLAs appointed by political parties are empowered to collect Form 6 for claims and Form 7 for objections to the draft electoral roll from the public. They can file these forms directly along with the prescribed declaration. However, no such application has been filed by the 60,061 BLAs appointed by the six national and six state parties in the state as of December 31, according to data from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)-Kerala. “Generic complaints from BLAs, without the prescribed forms or declaration are not officially counted as claims or objections,” CEO-Kerala Rathan U Kelkar clarified. Meanwhile, the...
Ernakulam: In a major accomplishment to the public transport system the state, the Kochi Metro network, the state’s premier metro network comprising the metro rail, water metro and electric feeder buses, closed the year with record-breaking rider-ship numbers. In 2025, over 3.65 crore passengers took the metro rail, while over 23.26 lakh hopped onto the water metro. In the case of metro rail, it marked a 4.2% growth from 2024, and a four-fold rise from 2017, when it completed its first year of operations. Over 17.5 crore passengers have travelled on the metro rail so far. In the case of water metro, the ridership in 2025 was 15% higher from the preceding year and a near 10 lakh jump from 2023, when services commenced. Over 57 lakh passengers have travelled on the water metro in the three years. Meanwhile, the metro rail recorded a total rider-ship of 32.68 lakh passengers in December, a bulk of it in the tail end. On December 30, the rider-ship was 1,24,639 passengers, and on New...
Thiruvananthapuram: Investigation into the gold theft scam in Sabarimala temple is set to take a new turn with the state Intelligence Bureau formally recommending the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the inquiry over the alleged theft of gold from the doors, frames and Dwarapalaka sculptures (Sanctum sanctorum). The IB’s recommendation highlights the necessity of a CBI-led investigation to uncover the full extent of the crime, citing significant inter-state and international connections. The report has already been submitted to the state head of IB on December 29th. Currently, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is handling the case under the supervision of the High Court. It is understood that the State Police Chief will now submit the IB’s findings to the High Court for further consideration. Beyond the criminal theft, the IB has proposed an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), suspecting that the case involves substantial money laundering. In a...
Ernakulam: In a rare occurrence, a venue of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale was temporarily closed after protests by Catholic and other Christian groups against an artwork depicting a version of Jesus Christ’s ‘The Last Supper’. The entire row erupted after a painting by Kerala-based artist Tom Vattakuzhy, exhibited as part of the Biennale’s curated show ‘Idam’. Christian organisations alleged that the artwork hurt religious sentiments and disrespected the traditional depiction of Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. The Kerala Latin Catholic Association demanded the immediate withdrawal of the artwork and sought an apology within 24 hours. Association secretary Biju Josey Karumanchery, in a Facebook post, questioned the use of public funds for what he termed an insult to Christian faith. “Do not think you can show whatever you want in the name of freedom of expression using government money. Are you insulting us with the tax money we also pay? A world-famous mural painted by...
Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a heartfelt letter to the BJP’s newly elected Thiruvananthapuram Mayor VV Rajesh, hailing the party’s first-ever victory in a municipal corporation in Kerala as an “epoch-making" moment and a milestone “written in golden letters" in the political history of the state. In the letter dated December 30, 2025, PM Modi congratulated Rajesh and Deputy Mayor Ashen Nath on taking oath on January 3, describing the BJP’s success in the Kerala capital as a reflection of people’s faith in the party’s vision of development and good governance. “In the midst of the festive season and as we begin the year 2026, history was made in the great city of Thiruvananthapuram when you took oath as the Mayor of the city," the Prime Minister wrote, adding that the occasion would “truly signify" a historic political shift. Recalling his memories of the city, PM Modi said Thiruvananthapuram holds “a place of pride in the minds of...
Sabarimala: In a major breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested former TDB member N Vijayakumar in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case, news agency PTI reported, citing police. According to police sources, Vijayakumar was a member of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) during the tenure of former president A Padmakumar, who has already been arrested in the case related to the loss of gold from the door-frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). During his tenure on the board, approval was granted in 2019 to hand over gold plates to the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, for electroplating purposes. Vijayakumar was summoned to the SIT office in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was interrogated. Following the questioning, his arrest was formally recorded, sources said. He is scheduled to be produced before the Kollam Vigilance Court later. Vijayakumar is the 10th accused in the case With this development, Vijayakumar has become the 10th accused arrested by...
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Agriculture University comes up with a rare, unique certificate course where one can earn in traditional toddy tapping. This is also seen as a new move by the department to promote toddy tapping and the product. The Kerala Agricultural University is joining hands with the Kerala Toddy Industry Development Board (KTIDB) to provide a month-long Toddy Technician Course. With admissions expected to start as early as February next year, the course will combine both theoretical and practical knowledge with the help of qualified faculty and trained experts. The course — set to be rolled out with a stipend of Rs 10,000 and without any fee for the course, food, or accommodation — will be offered at the university campus in Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram. With the age-group being as wide as 18 to 45, and with 30 trainees in each batch, the authorities aim to capture the attention of people of different ages. While the Toddy Board has structured the course, the...
Bangalore: Leading to a direct confrontation between Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his Karnataka counterpart over the latest demolition row in Bengaluru, deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar has advised Kerala chief minister not to interfere in the affairs of the Congress-ruled state after the latter criticised an anti-encroachment drive in Muslim residential areas in Bengaluru. Interestingly, both the Muslim league defended the stance of Karnataka CM saying that those affected by the demolition are not just Muslims, but also from other communities and all those rendered homeless has been assured rehabilitation by the Karnataka government . “North Indian model of bulldozer raj”, says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan In a Facebook post on Friday, Vijayan likened the demolition of 200 houses at Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout at Yelahanka to the “North Indian model of a bulldozer raj". Flaying the "anti-minority" move, Vijayan expressed dismay at the manner in which families who had...
Palakkad: To everyone’s surprise, newly sworn Chittur Municipality chairman Advocate Sumesh Achuthan has come up with an interesting suggestion and an unprecedented declaration that has caught the attention of many cutting across political affiliations. Advocate Sumesh’s declaration on day 2 after his swearing as chairman was to do away with the term ‘honorable’ while addressing himself and other members of the municipality including the members. “From today this municipality will do away with the honorofic ‘Bahumanapetta’ (Honourable) that is used to formally address the municipal chairman and other members of the council and the secretary. It is the municipalities form belief that we the public servants do not deserve any respect or titles denied to the ordinary citizens”, said Advocate Sumesh after assuming charge as Municipality chairman. However, for the new declaration to materialize, the progressive reform encoded in the Chairman’s declaration will have to be...
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