States Focus
Envoys of 4 nations present credentials to President
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday accepted credentials from envoys of four nations, including Congo and Namibia, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, her office said. Those who presented their credentials were Vithaya Xayavong, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wing Commander Alex Lunyazo Tukuhupwele (Retd), High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia and Antonio Serifo Embalo, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, it said in a Statement.
Naidu kicks off Rs 5,400 cr solar plant in Anakapalli
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday laid the foundation for a Rs 5,400-crore ReNew solar manufacturing facility here.
The 6 GW solar ingot and wafer manufacturing unit at Rambilli in Anakapalli district is expected to be a key step toward building a resilient domestic solar supply chain, an official press release said earlier.
Addressing a public meeting, he said, “Anakapalli district is attracting development through big-ticket investments. It will reach the top position in investments in India. ReNew is setting up a 6.5 GW ingot solar wafer plant at an investment of Rs 5,400 crore.”
According to the CM, the solar manufacturing unit is being established by the son of former Union Minister Yashwanth Sinha and Sumanth Sinha.
Ettayapuram Villagers Boycott Polls Over Pathway Dispute
In Ettayapuram, famous for revolutionary poet Subramania Bharathi, a different kind of revolt is unfolding. The villagers of Kulathuvaipatti and Kumaragiri of Ettayapuram, which comes under Vilathikulam constituency, have sworn themselves off the polling booth over a “pathway dispute”. For many years, the villagers have been fighting with the residents of a Sri Lankan refugee camp in the area over public access to the pathway that cuts across the camp to the agricultural lands. The tension reached a breaking point on April 18, when a stone-pelting clash left the community scarred and the path further obstructed.
PM Modi appeals for record turnout in TN, Wb elections
The Tamil Nadu Assembly election on Thursday turned out to be a kaleidoscope of tidbits, tense moments and curiosity. Incidents like AIADMK leader and former Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan reportedly pressing the ‘red light’ on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) instead of the button to cast a vote amused people. Later, the polling official pointed to the button and he cast his vote. Polling was on across 234 Assembly segments in the State with over 4,000 candidates in fray. In Coimbatore, Vellore and Dharmapuri districts, ‘Robo Tina,’ dressed like a cute little girl, welcomed voters to the polling station and gave flowers and chocolates to the people. Some, working in foreign countries, including Singapore and in cities outside of Tamil Nadu, arrived in their hometowns, including Chennai, to cast their votes.
