Category: Politics

  • Himanta 3rd disgruntled Cong leader to become Chief Minister

    Himanta 3rd disgruntled Cong leader to become Chief Minister

    In October 2016, Singh resigned from the Manipur Assembly and the Congress to join the BJP, rebelling against the then Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh…reports Asian Lite News.

    It is a dream come true for Himanta Biswa Sarma as the BJP on Sunday announced that he will be the next Assam Chief Minister.

    The announcement was made by Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after the legislature party meeting in Guwahati. Sarma will succeed his party colleague Sarbananda Sonowal.

    The disgruntled Sarma, who had left the Congress to join the BJP, will be the 15th Chief Minister of Assam.

    Sarma had quit the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the party in 2015. During the Congress regime in the state, Sarma held several portfolios, such as Agriculture, Planning & Development, Finance, Health, and Education.

    Sources said that Sarma had dreamt of becoming the Chief Minister of the state.

    Opposing Chief Minister Gogoi’s leadership, he switched over to the BJP. Though he did not succeed in becoming the Chief Minister after the BJP’s victory in the 2016 Assembly elections, but this time, considering his hard work in the 2021 Assembly polls, the party decided to give him the post, replacing outgoing Chief Minister Sonowal.

    BJP workers .

    Chief Minister of BJP-ruled Manipur N. Biren Singh has also been in the Congress. Biren Singh became a minister in 2002 after winning the first Assembly election as a Democratic Revolutionary Peoples Party (DRPP) candidate. In 2007, he won on a Congress ticket and then became a minister in the government.

    In October 2016, Singh resigned from the Manipur Assembly and the Congress to join the BJP, rebelling against the then Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

    On March 15, 2017, he became the first Chief Minister of the BJP in Manipur.

    Pema Khandu, a 41-year-old Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, has also served in the Congress. Khandu, who started his career as the party’s Tawang district President in 2010, won the unopposed Assembly elections in 2011 from his father’s seat Mukto.

    He was sworn in as Chief Minister on July 17, 2016 at the age of 37 in the Congress government.

    Himant (ANI)

    However, on September 16, 2016, Khandu left the Congress with 43 MLAs of the party and joined the People’s Party of Arunachal and formed a coalition government with the BJP.

    When the People’s Party started action against Khandu, on December 31, 2016, he joined the BJP along with 33 MLAs of the People’s Party of Arunachal and formed the government.

    In the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections held in 2019, his party won 41 of the 60 seats, to again became the Chief Minister.

    Also Read-Assam CM likely to be decided on Sunday

    Read More-ELECTION UPDATES 2021: NDA leads in Assam

  • 19 grenades seized from J&K’s Poonch

    19 grenades seized from J&K’s Poonch

    Acting on a tip-off, the 16 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched the operation in the general area of Phagla…reports Asian Lite News

    In a joint operation, Army and police have recovered 19 grenades in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Sunday morning, likely averting a major attack on security forces, said an official statement.

    Acting on a tip-off, the 16 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched the operation in the general area of Phagla and recovered the ammunition which was allegedly to target security forces at National Highway 144 A.

    “Relentless development of intelligence by both the agencies led to the discovery of a huge cache of grenades in general area Phagla hidden in a well-concealed natural hideout. A total number of 19 hand grenades have been found from there,” the Army statement said.

    Busting the packet in which the grenades were hidden averted a likely major plan of attack on security forces at the National Highway 144 A, it added. (ANI)

    Also read:Mamata accuses EC of directly helping BJP

  • Saffron party failed to retain Hindu support in Bengal

    Saffron party failed to retain Hindu support in Bengal

    According to some major post-poll surveys conducted in the state, the BJP’s share of Hindu vote rose from 12 per cent in 2016 to 57 per cent in 2019, but surprisingly enough when the BJP was fiercely campaigning now to garner Hindu support, this came down to 50 per cent, reports Saibal Gupta

    Though the BJP has increased its tally in the West Bengal Assembly from three in 2016 to 77 in 2021 – a substantial increase of 74 seats, but down from 121, as indicated by the 2019 Lok Sabha election results. The BJP’s success in the last Lok Sabha elections was a result of extreme polarisation of Hindu votes under Narendra Modi-Amit Shah banner but in the 2021 Assembly polls, the saffron camp failed to retain the level of Hindu support it had secured then, thus ending up faring way below its own expectations and its performance in the last general election.

    According to some major post-poll surveys conducted in the state, the BJP’s share of Hindu vote rose from 12 per cent in 2016 to 57 per cent, or nearly three-fifth of the total, in the last Lok Sabha elections, but surprisingly enough when the BJP was fiercely campaigning now to garner Hindu support, this came down to 50 per cent – a substantial erosion of 7 per cent which prevented it from reaching its desired target.

    BJP national chief JP Nadda

    Interestingly enough, the Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, which had secured 43 per cent of the Hindu votes in 2016 Assembly polls, suffered a loss of nearly 11 per cent and came down to 32 per cent in 2019 Lok Sabha polls but surprisingly enough, it managed to gain the support of 39 per cent of the Hindu votes, including the chunk that the BJP lost.

    This 7 per cent had a significant contribution behind the poll mathematics in the Assembly election. Besides the support of the Hindu vote, the Trinamool was successful in garnering the support of nearly 75 per cent of the Muslim and that gave them this convincing victory in the election.

    West Bengal polls (Twitter)

    The BJP camp might try to find out the possible reasons behind the shift of loyalty of a portion of Hindu vote but one thing is certain that the NRC and the CAA didn’t go down well with the lower Hindu castes of the state.

    Also read:Disquiet in BJP big concern for party in Bengal

    Though BJP was successful in retaining the allegiance of the upper castes but the lower castes like the Matuas, and the Mahishyas and the tribals have defected from the saffron camp. A little example will be easy enough to drive home the point.

    When in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 69 of the 84 SC/ST seats of the state, in 2021, this number came down to 40 – a loss of 29 Assembly constituencies. Though the BJP maintained its dominance in the Junglamahal and north Bengal but they failed to retain their presence in districts like North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia.

    The Mahishyas and the Matuas are mainly refugees who came to Bengal from Bangladesh long back, and the Trinamool was successful in convincing these people that if the BJP comes to power, then they will implement the NRC and the CAA and this will put their life in jeopardy. The fear of going to the detention camp or to another country compelled these people to concentrate under the Trinamool banner and so the BJP’s performance in these three districts was pathetic.

    According to some senior BJP state leaders, the party’s aggressive campaign to polarise the votes on religious lines also didn’t pay well. A senior BJP leader who was also part of the election strategy team had also warned the top BJP leadership not to go for an all-out campaign but he was not heeded.

    “The Left rule in the state for 34 years has some residual effects on the voters and we cannot deny that. The Left Front in their 34 years rule and before has strictly followed a secular and non-religious stance. The Left leaders maintained an equal distance from both Hindu and Muslim religious festivals. We cannot deny the fact a large portion of the educated middle-class Bengalis and large portion of the senior citizens who are above 60 years are product of this Left movement and they certainly chose the Trinamool above BJP,” a senior BJP leader said.

    Also read:Mamata accuses EC of directly helping BJP

  • Shehbaz Sharif barred from leaving country

    Shehbaz Sharif barred from leaving country

    Sharif was stopped and offloaded from a Doba-bound flight during early hours of Saturday…reports Hamza Ameer

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, was stopped from leaving the country despite having court orders to go abroad for medical treatment.

    Sharif was stopped and offloaded from a Doba-bound flight during early hours of Saturday. After arguments with the immigration officials, he was informed that there was a problem with the system update.

    The drama at the airport unfolded after the airline issued Shehbaz Sharif a boarding card. However, after arriving at the immigration counter, he was informed that he cannot board the plane, reason being the system had not been updated yet for him to leave the country.

    Sharif was granted a one time permission by the Lahore High Court (LHC) to fly abroad on health grounds. He is a cancer patient and had informed the court that he was advised by his doctors to get treatment done in the United Kingdom (UK).


    The LHC granted him permission to go abroad on medical grounds from May 8 to July 3, scheduling the hearing on his petition, seeking removal from the blacklist on July 5.

    At the airport, Sharif showed the court orders to the immigration officials, who insisted that until the system was not updated, Sharif’s name remains on the blacklist or the no-fly list.

    Also read:Pakistan to produce China’s vaccine

    “Shahbaz Sharif was held back at the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahzad Akbar”, said PML-N spokesperson Mariyum Aurangzeb.

    “Restraining him from travelling abroad is in contempt of court. The claim regarding system not being updated is false,” she added.

    Mariyum Auranzeb lashed out at the government for coming down to mean maneuvers.

    Shehbaz Sharif(Wikipedia)

    “The government has come down to outright mean maneuvers, but this does not make any difference to Shahbaz Sharif,” she said.

    On the other hand, the government has decided to seek all legal avenues against the court decision to allow Shahbaz Sharif to travel abroad.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry termed the court decision as mockery of the law.

    “Shahbaz Sharif has been involved in money laundering worth billions. For him to run away like this would be great misfortune for the country,” he said.

    Also read:Poverty in Pakistan linked to rising cases of child marriage

  • Assam CM likely to be decided on Sunday

    Assam CM likely to be decided on Sunday

    BJP Chief J.P. Nadda on Saturday discussed the formation of the new BJP government in Assam with current Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma…reports Asian Lite News

    A week after the assembly poll result, the Assam BJP MLAs are likely to meet on Sunday in Guwahati to choose the new Chief Minister of the state.

    BJP Chief J.P. Nadda on Saturday discussed the formation of the new BJP government in Assam with current Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at his resident in the national capital. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present in the meeting.

    After the meeting, Sarma said, “Assam BJP Legislature Party will probably meet tomorrow in Guwahati. You will get all the answers after the Legislature Party meeting.”

    Earlier, Sonowal and Sarma along with some other leaders from Assam reached Delhi to discuss the formation of the new government in the state.

    The BJP won the Assam Assembly polls for a second consecutive term of which results were announced on May 2.

    Both Sonowal and Sarma are seen as probable candidate for the Chief Minister’s post.

    Also read:Mamata accuses BJP of instigating violence

    Nadda first held a discussion with Sarma and Sonowal separately and then with both of them together.

    The BJP had not announced a chief ministerial candidate before the assembly polls in Assam. The BJP had won 60 seats and its alliance partners AGP nine and UPPL six seats in 126-member Assam Assembly.

    Himanta Biswa Sarma (Twitter)

    Earlier, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday reached the national capital to discuss the leadership issue with the party chief.

    The saffron party this time did not call its parliamentary board meeting after declaration of Assembly poll results, which normally takes a call on who will be the Chief Minister of a state.

    Sarma, a former Congress leader who joined BJP in 2015, had played an important and crucial role in BJP’s victory in 2016 and 2021.

    Sarma has become one of the most prominent face of the party in the state and whole of the North East region. He is also the convener of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and is considered to be the party’s main political brain in the area.

    On the other hand, Sonowal had successfully run the first BJP government for five years in Assam.

    Also read:Deposits of 7 BJP candidates forfeited in WB polls


  • Stalin asks Modi to allocate 500-ton medical oxygen

    Stalin asks Modi to allocate 500-ton medical oxygen

    Stalin also sought an allocation of 500 tons of medical oxygen to which Modi replied that the request will be processed…reports Asian Lite News.

    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for increasing the medical oxygen allocation to 500 tons.

    Stalin and Modi had a telecon on Saturday, said a state government statement.

    According to the statement, Stalin had sought the central government’s cooperation in the state government’s action to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

    Stalin also sought an allocation of 500 tons of medical oxygen to which Modi replied that the request will be processed.

    The plane carrying the medical aid has reached New Delhi with oxygen concentrators & ventilators from Switzerland(Twitter)

    The Prime Minister had told Stalin that more diagnostic tests, to check the infections, should be carried out, and not so severely infected persons should be advised for home quarantine. Stalin said: “The availability of oxygen in Tamil Nadu is very very critical and there was an unfortunate incident of 13 deaths at Chengalpattu 2 days ago. We request your kind intervention to get revised orders issued and provide full support to Tamil Nadu in this hour of crisis.”

    Drawing the attention of Modi to the severe crisis with regard to the availability of medical oxygen in the state, he said the daily consumption of oxygen is expected to touch 840 MT in the next two weeks from the current consumption of 440 MT.

    Stalin said at the emergency meeting held on Thursday by the officials of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, it was decided to allocate, 40 MT from INOX, Kanjikode, Kerala for the next four days, 60 MT from Praxair, Sriperumbudur (Linde Saint Gobain) of which 20 MT to be provided after two days, and 120 MT from SAIL and Linde, Rourkela to meet medium-term needs.

    “The revised allotment orders are still awaited,” he said.

    Stalin assured Modi of his full support and cooperation in the latter’s efforts to tackle this unprecedented pandemic and save the nation.

    Also Read-Stalin Elected to Lead DMK

    Read More-Will it be Rajini vs Stalin in 2021?

  • First session of TN Assembly on May 11

    First session of TN Assembly on May 11

    The newly elected Members will make and subscribe Oath or Affirmation on that day…reports Asian Lite News.

    The 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has been summoned to meet for its first session on May 11 at the Omandurar Government Estate here.

    The newly elected Members will make and subscribe Oath or Affirmation on that day.

    In a statement issued here K. Srinivasan, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Assembly said the assembly has been summoned at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

    The Members who have been elected are requested to bring the Certificate of Election.

    The election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will be held at 10 a.m. on May 12.

    Elections for the Tamil Nadu assembly was held on April 6 and counting of votes was held on May 2.

    The DMK party won the polls and its President M.K. Stalin was sworn in as Chief Minister on Friday.

    Also Read-Exit polls predict win for Stalin, Pinarayi; cliffhanger in Bengal

    Read More-Stalin era begins in Tamil Nadu

  • Maldives ex-president Nasheed hurt in assassination bid

    Maldives ex-president Nasheed hurt in assassination bid

    The Indian Ocean archipelago’s first democratically elected leader was hurt when a device attached to a motorcycle was detonated as he got into a car late Thursday…reports Asian Lite News

    Former Maldives president and current parliamentary speaker Mohamed Nasheed was recovering in hospital Friday after an assassination attempt left him with shrapnel wounds.

    The Indian Ocean archipelago’s first democratically elected leader was hurt when a device attached to a motorcycle was detonated as he got into a car late Thursday, an official said.

    “Nasheed escaped an assassination attempt,” a Maldivian government official said. “He is injured, but his condition is stable.”

    Images on social media showed a destroyed motorbike at the scene of the attack.

    Armed police units and security forces cordoned off the area in the capital Male where the attack took place, and the Maldivian parliament, which was in recess, called an emergency meeting following the attack.

    President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a close ally of Nasheed, said an investigation was under way as officials rushed to denounce the targeted attack on the country’s second most powerful figure.

    “Strongly condemn the attack on Speaker of Parliament, President Mohamed Nasheed this evening. Cowardly attacks like these have no place in our society,” Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said in a tweet.

    “My thoughts and prayers are with President Nasheed and others injured in this attack, as well as their families,” he tweeted.

    A family member said Nasheed had sustained several wounds.

    “They have put him under anaesthesia. There is a deeper cut on one of his arms,” the family member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    The relative said Nasheed was responsive and spoke with doctors as he was admitted with shrapnel injuries. One of his bodyguards was also taken to hospital.

    The Indian Ocean nation of 330,000 Sunni Muslims is best known around the world for its luxury holiday resorts popular with honeymooners, but it suffers from regular political turmoil.

    The government has cracked down on extremism and preaching is highly regulated, but violent attacks have been rare. However, a dozen foreign tourists were wounded by a bomb blast in Male in 2007.

    The Islamic State claimed a boat arson attack last year but there is little evidence the group has a presence in the archipelago.

    Also read:Malaysia ousts N.Korean diplomats

    Nasheed rose to become the Maldives’ first democratically elected leader in 2008 in the country’s first multi-party elections after 30 years of autocratic rule.

    But the pro-democracy pioneer is maybe best known internationally for holding a 2009 underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat of global warming, signing documents as officials wore scuba gear against a backdrop of coral reefs.

    “What we are trying to make people realise is that the Maldives is a frontline state. This is not merely an issue for the Maldives but for the world,” he said at the time.

    He resigned three years later after protests against his rule and has failed to reclaim the presidency despite several attempts. Instead, he secured the position of parliamentary speaker in 2019, retaining his influence in political life.

    Nasheed is a former Amnesty International prisoner of conscience after being sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2015 on terrorism charges slammed as politically motivated by civil rights groups.

    S.-Jaishankar
    Jaishankar expresses concern

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday expressed concerns over the attack on Maldivian former President Mohamed Nasheed and said that the Majlis speaker will “never be intimidated”.

    “Deeply concerned at the attack on Speaker @MohamedNasheed. Wish him a speedy recovery. Know that he will never be intimidated,” Mr Jaishankar tweeted.

    Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid “strongly condemned” the attack and said that cowardly attacks like these have no place in our society.

    “Strongly condemn the attack on Speaker of Parliament, President @MohamedNasheedthis evening. Cowardly attacks like these have no place in our society. My thoughts and prayers are with President Nasheed and others injured in this attack, as well as their families, as Abdulla Shahid wrote in a tweet on Thursday.

    Also read:UK reopens quarantine-free travel to select countries

  • Advantage Boris As Labour Withers

    Advantage Boris As Labour Withers

    Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer, for whom this election was a major test after assuming the top party position, said he was taking “full responsibility” for the defeat, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

    With more English election results are set to be announced today, the ruling Conservative Party has already made significant gains, with Labour losing control of several local authorities, according to reports.

    Prime Minister ad Conservative Leader Boris Johnson called the results so far “encouraging”, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer promised to lead a fightback and set out a “bold vision”, the BBC reported.

    On Thursday, people in England voted in elections for 143 councils, 13 mayors and 35 police and crime commissioners. The results are set to continue coming in over the weekend, with pandemic restrictions causing delays and counting centres working according to different timetables.

    Meanwhile, the Conservatives have already snatched a historically left-wing seat from the opposition Labour in a tense by-election in England.

    Conservative party candidate Jill Mortimer won the north-east England seat of Hartlepool with a large majority, beating opposition Labour party candidate Paul Williams, reports dpa news agency.

    She described it as a “truly historic” result. It is the first time since its creation in 1974 that the seat has been won by a Conservative politician. Previously it had only been held by Labour, at one point, a candidate who ran as an independent.

    Also Read – Labour Suffers Big Blow As Tories Win Hartlepool

    Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was “bitterly disappointed” with the result, adding: “I take full responsibility for the results. And I will take full responsibility for fixing things.”

    Conservatives also picked up control of several councils, including Maidstone, Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Basildon, while Labour lost some, including Sheffield and Plymouth, to no overall control.

    Labour
    Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks at the House of Commons. (UK Parliament_Jessica Taylor)

    They have managed to keep the Tees Valley mayoralty – in an area once considered a Labour stronghold – with Ben Houchen increasing his share of the vote to 73%, according to BBC report.

    The party also gained new police and crime commissioners, for Cleveland, Avon and Somerset and Dorset.

    The result is a boost for Prime Minister Boris Johnson despite a rocky few months for the premier, with the country’s successful vaccine campaign appearing to be a key factor.

    It is equally a blow for Labour party leader Keir Starmer, who has only been chief for a year.

    The win will make no difference to Johnson’s influence in the British parliament, however, as his party already holds a majority.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Photo: No 10, Downing Street)

    On Friday, the prime minister had travelled to Hartlepool to celebrate his party’s win, hailing the backing of “the fantastic people of the north-east” and saying it gave his government a renewed mandate, the Guardian reported.

    The by-election was held on Thursday, the same day as local and mayoral elections across England, and votes for the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments.

    The London mayoral result will be announced today, although if it is close it could take longer, it was reported.

    SNP majority on knife edge

    Though the Scottish National Party has won three key seats but the hopes of securing an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament election remain on a knife edge, the BBC reported.

    Scotland First Minister and and Leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

    The party has taken both Edinburgh Central – where former MP Angus Robertson was standing for the SNP – and Ayr from the Conservatives, according to the report.

    The party also won the East Lothian seat from Labour.

    No other constituencies have changed hands so far, with the SNP currently on 39 seats, the Liberal Democrats four, Tories two and Labour one.

    Labour retains Wales

    There is nothing much to worry for Labour in Wales as the party is set to stay in power after matching its best-ever Senedd election result, with exactly half of the 60 seats in the Welsh Parliament, the BBC reported.

    However, the Conservatives took the Vale of Clwyd from Labour, and Brecon and Radnorshire from the Liberal Democrats. And Labour took Rhondda back from Plaid Cymru.

    So far 52 of the 60 seats are declared, and Labour has won 30; Conservatives 12, Plaid Cymru 9 and the Liberal Democrats one, it was reported.

  • MNM Vice President Mahendran quits

    MNM Vice President Mahendran quits

    The MNM suffered a rout in the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with Kamal Haasan himself losing the poll in Coimbatore (South)….reports Asian Lite News

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-x29VjYzY8

    The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), floated by actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, was being converted into a fan club at the instance of the party’s campaign consultancy organisation and its founder’s advisor, Vice President R.Mahendran said on Thursday as he quit the party.

    In his resignation letter from the party post and primary membership, Mahendran said from June 2020 onwards, the multi-faceted MNM was being converted into a fan club by Sankhya Solutions (political campaign consultants) and Kamal Haasan’s advisor and ex-TV media person Mahendran.

    The MNM suffered a rout in the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with Kamal Haasan himself losing the poll in Coimbatore (South).

    Mahendran recalled the suggestion made to Kamal Haasan to contest in Chennai or in two seats – Coimbatore (South) and in Chennai, but he ignored it.

    According to him, there is a decline in Kamal Haasan’s tenacity of purpose “which is buried under a style of operation that reeks of non-democratic manner of running a political party”.

    Mahendran said after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party engaged political strategist Prashant Kishor’s IPAC but later Kamal Haasan had brought in Sankhya Solutions to manage the party’s assembly poll campaign.

    Sankhya Solutions and Kamal Haasan’s advisor did not know or understand how to enhance “Brand Kamal”, he claimed.

    Also read:Complete lockdown in Rajasthan from May 10 to 24

    Mahendran said Kamal Haasan’s failure and the party’s failure in the Assembly polls can be road mapped to the suggestions made by the poll consultants and the actor’s advisor.

    According to Mahendan, many other office bearers of the party were of the same view but did not voice them fearing consequences.

    Mahendran, in his resignation letter, also told Kamal Haasan that senior party officials were not consulted on electoral alliances and the decision to give away 100 seats to allies was a shocker, damaging the party’s image in the minds of people.

    Bluntly telling Kamal Haasan that he can teach anyone in the party about honesty and integrity, Mahendran added that he is quitting the party with his head held high.

    Meanwhile several office bearers of MNM submitted their resignations to Kamal Haasan so as to enable him to rejig the party.

    A party spokesperson told IANS that except Mahendran, none of the other office bearers have exited the party and they have resigned their positions so that reorganisation can be carried out.

    He added that Kamal Haasan will decide on the resignation of Mahendran.

    Also read:MP shocker: Patients treated in fields