Two Cong Councillors Of KMC Join TMC
Kolkata: In a jolt to beleaguered state Congress, two councillors of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, including the party’s South Kolkata district committee president Mala Roy, on Saturday joined ruling Trinamool Congress, ahead of the elections to the civic body. Roy was earlier associated with TMC during its formation in 1998. Besides Roy, Arun Das, another Congress Councillor and local party leader in Central Kolkata, also joined TMC. Das had once been suspended from Congress in May, 2005 after the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was heckled by partymen over distribution of tickets for the Kolkata civic polls. Flanked by the two councillors, TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee told a press conference “Two Congress leaders, Mala Roy and Arun Das have been inducted as Trinamool members”.
TN Minister Dropped From Cabinet
Chennai: Two days after he was stripped of key party posts in the AIADMK, Agriculture Minister ‘agri’ S S Krishnamoorthy was on Sunday dropped from the state cabinet by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Governor K Rosaiah accepted the recommendation of the chief minister and dropped Krishnamoorthy from the council of ministers, a Raj Bhavan statement said. Housing Minister R Vaithilingam will hold additional charge of the Agriculture portfolio, it added.
Rain, Hailstorm Grip Delhi
New Delhi: Sudden rains accompanied by cold winds and hailstorms lashed several parts of the city today, causing a major dip in the mercury which brought back chilly conditions in the national capital and adjoining areas. The Met department has forecast similar weather conditions for at least two more days. “Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms in Punjab, Harynana and Delhi today is due to a western disturbance. The impact of the disturbance will continue till Sunday and similar weather conditions will prevail. From Monday, however, the skies will clear up,” IMD director B P Yadav said.
J-K School Vacations Extended
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir government has extended the winter vacations till March 14 for the students upto class VIII in all the educational institutions in Kashmir division due to inclement weather. Due to the inclement weather, the government has extended the winter vacations till March 14 for the students upto class VIII in all the government educational institutions and recognised private schools, falling in Kashmir division and areas under winter zone in Jammu province, an official spokesman said here on Saturday.
Avalanche Threat In Himachal
Shimla: Avalanche threat loomed large over high altitude tribal areas and higher hills of Chamba following heavy snowfall during the past two weeks while severe cold wave conditions persisted in mid and higher hills. The Himachal State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) has issued warning against avalanche threat on March 8 and asked people living in high altitude tribal areas and higher hills of Chamba not to venture out.
