Those who left Congress nakara: Gehlot

Jaipur: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday called leaders who left the party ahead of Lok Sabha elections “nakara” and “nikamma”, adding that some of them were still within the ranks of the party. The former Rajasthan CM did not take names but his remarks recalled the row when he used the terms – meaning “worthless” – to describe Sachin Pilot, who had rebelled against his leadership, but remains within the party. PTI

412 ‘crorepatis’ in fray for Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: As many as 412 “crorepati” candidates are contesting the Odisha Assembly elections which are being held from May 13 to June 1. The Association for Democratic Reforms and Odisha Election Watch have analysed the affidavits of 1,283 of 1,285 candidates, who are contesting for the 147 MLA seats in Odisha. Assembly elections in Odisha are being held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. PTI

Will make Cong cadre-based: shivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Monday stressed on the need to convert his party into a “cadre-based party”, and said that a programme would be launched in the state to achieve this. Shivakumar, who is also the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, said preparations were on to dissolve all the block units of the Karnataka Congress, aimed at giving opportunity to new faces. PTI

BJD will sweep polls in odisha: Pandian

Bhubaneswar: BJD leader VK Pandian expressed his confidence in the Biju Janata Dal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, securing a majority with 85 per cent of the votes, leading to a stable government in the state. He highlighted that the CM’s plan in the manifesto for the middle class and the Youth Budget were significant factors in the elections, resulting in higher voter turnout in the state. ANI

Don’t reopen schools on June 4: Goa Oppn

Panaji: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Monday demanded to defer the date of reopening of schools from June 4 to any other day as the counting of the Lok Sabha election is also scheduled on the same day. GFP general secretary Durgadas Kamat, while speaking to mediapersons, said they were seeking intervention from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant regarding this issue. IANS

Row over bid to ‘change’ Thiruvalluvar Day

Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK on Monday lashed out at Governor RN Ravi over the Raj Bhavan holding “Vaikasi Anusham Valluvar Thirunaal”, the Thiruvalluvar Day festival days ago and alleged that he was trying to change the official date of celebration to honour the great Tamil poet. DMK’s Tamil mouthpiece ‘Murasoli’ said the Governor showered flowers on a portrait of Thiruvalluvar that was ‘stained’ by saffron. PTI