Arun Lakshman

Stories by Arun Lakshman

We will make Kerala committed to fight terror: BJP

We will make Kerala committed to fight terror: BJP

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2011

Announcing the party manifesto at the state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata party said that the BJP will focus on the poor and the downtrodden in the state. He added that the party will be providing homes to the homeless if elected to power in the state.

2G chargesheet has left out core issues: Jaitley

2G chargesheet has left out core issues: Jaitley

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2011

The Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at the Central Bureau of Investigation for procrastinating the filing of the chargesheet in the 2G spectrum scam. Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior leader Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley alleged that the chargesheet in the 2G spectrum case had left out "core issues" without significantly dealing with loss to the exchequer and alleged that the timetable of investigation was influenced by the TN polls.

'UDF to win more than 100 seats in Kerala'

'UDF to win more than 100 seats in Kerala'

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2011

Former Kerala Pradesh Congress committee chief and son of late chief minister K Karunakaran, K Muraleedharan, who has just been given a party membership after a long gap of six years when he was expelled from the party, is now the United Democratic Front candidate from Vattiyoorkavu constituency in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

'No stopping UDF from coming to power in Kerala'

'No stopping UDF from coming to power in Kerala'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2011

Union Defence Minister and senior leader of the Congress party AK Antony said on Thursday that no force can stop the Congress-led United Democratic Front from coming to power in Kerala and forming a government in the state.

Achuthanandan files nomination papers

Achuthanandan files nomination papers

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2011

Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan filed nomination for contesting the assembly elections from his sitting seat Malampuzha in Palakkad district on Thursday. Achuthanandan filed his papers before joint registrar (co-operatives) A N Pradeepraj, who is the returning officer for the segment.

UDF yet to finalise candidate list for Ker polls

UDF yet to finalise candidate list for Ker polls

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2011

With the Congress still pruning its final list of candidates and the Kerala Congress - Mani and the Socialist Janata Dal sulking over seat sharing arrangements, the United Democratic Front is yet to finalise its list of candidates."There are several issues in the Congress party and the party is now reduced to a pocket organisation of Oomen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala.These two leaders have become so powerful that nobody can challenge them" said a source.

With no Achuthanandan, UDF eyes victory in Kerala

With no Achuthanandan, UDF eyes victory in Kerala

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2011

With the Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretariat deciding not to provide Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan a seat to contest in the coming assembly elections, sources say that the Congress-led United Democratic Front is all set to emerge as a clear winner.

CPM denies election ticket to Kerala CM

CPM denies election ticket to Kerala CM

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2011

The Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretariat meeting which went on for a marathon four hours on Wednesday, denied seat to the patriarch of the party, and the Chief Minister of Kerala, VS Achuthanandan, to contest the ensuing assembly elections slated for April 13.

Congress bullies allies before Kerala polls

Congress bullies allies before Kerala polls

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2011

The Kerala unit of the Congress has made it clear to its allies that it would not succumb to their pressure tactics while finalising a seat sharing deal for the party-led coalition United Democratic Front in the forthcoming assembly polls. One of the Congress's allies in the state is Janadipathya Samarakshana Samithi, a political outfit floated by veteran Communist leader K R Gowri, who became part of the UDF fold after being expelled from the Communist Party of India.

BJP top brass to camp in Kerala for poll campaign

BJP top brass to camp in Kerala for poll campaign

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2011

Bharatiya Janata Party's national secretary in-charge of Kerala, Muralidhar Rao, on Monday said that the national leaders of his party, including the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushama Swaraj, will be camping in the state for the electioneering of the BJP candidates.

Why A K Antony will be kingmaker in Kerala

Why A K Antony will be kingmaker in Kerala

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2011

The fight for chief ministership in the next United Democratic Front government has begun in the Congress party ,albeit in a subtle and subdued way. The recent report of the Intelligence Bureau that the Congress-led UDF would win around eighty five seats and head the ruling coalation has set the ball rolling in the Congress party for the post of chief minister.

'Pillai's case a warning to those looting public'

'Pillai's case a warning to those looting public'

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2011

The Supreme Court on Thursday awarded one-year rigorous imprisonment to former Kerala power minister and senior most member of the Opposition United Democratic Front R Balakrishnan Pillair in the Idamalayar dam corruption case. Two others --Rajendran Nair, the then chief engineer of electricity and V K Sanjeevan, the contractor of the Idamalayar -- were also given the same sentence.

Kerala CM orders probe against ex-CJI's son-in-law

Kerala CM orders probe against ex-CJI's son-in-law

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2011

Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has ordered a probe into the complaint filed by one Shameer from Mattanchery, Kochi against PV Sreenijan, the son-in-law of Justice KG Balakrishnan, the former Chief Justice of India, for allegedly amassing property at worth Rs 7 crore in the last four years.

Kochi to be Air India Express headquarters

Kochi to be Air India Express headquarters

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2010

Kochi will be the new headquarters of Air India Express, while Thiruvananthapuram will be the main engineering centre of the airline.

PM pays his last respects to Karunakaran

PM pays his last respects to Karunakaran

Rediff.com   25 Dec 2010

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday paid his last respects to former chief minister of Kerala and Congress Working Committee member K Karunakaran at the Thrissur townhall.

Former Kerala CM Karunakaran cremated

Former Kerala CM Karunakaran cremated

Rediff.com   25 Dec 2010

Congress stalwart and four-time chief minister K Karunakaran was on Saturday cremated with full state honours as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a large number of people paid adieu to the colossus of Kerala politics. After the family members performed the last rituals, a gun salute was accorded and Seva Dal volunteers paid their respects.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had paid his last respects to the departed leader at the Thrissur town hall earlier in the day.

Sonia pays homage to veteran leader Karunakaran

Sonia pays homage to veteran leader Karunakaran

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2010

A steady stream of mourners led by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday paid homage to veteran Congress leader K Karunakaran at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram where his mortal remains are kept.

2G scam largest in history, says Jayalalithaa

2G scam largest in history, says Jayalalithaa

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2010

Jayalalithaa termed the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu as a corrupt party, pointing out that the CBI was carrying out raids on the residences and offices of people close to the party's leadership. "The 2G spectrum scam, which has caused a loss of one lakh eighty thousand crores, has been the largest scam in the history of the world .The DMK has always been a corrupt party and this scam has revealed the heights which the DMK leadership can reach in corruption," she said.

'Babri Masjid, Urdu status are non-issues'

'Babri Masjid, Urdu status are non-issues'

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2010

In an interview with rediff.com's Arun Lakshman, scholar, writer, teacher and social activist Professor Hameed Chendamangalur says that the people of the state have given a befitting reply to such organisations in the recently held local body polls.

New generation churches 'poach devotees' in Kerala

New generation churches 'poach devotees' in Kerala

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2010

Religious sentiments are simmering God's own country Kerala. The Episcopal churches and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam of the backward Ezhava community in the state are crying foul, claiming that the new generation Pentecostal churches are poaching their believers.