CHENNAI: Reportedly, Udayanidhi Stalin is likely to become the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s son Udayanidhi handles the youth welfare and sports departments in the Tamil Nadu cabinet. It is suggested that Udayanidhi will be appointed Deputy Chief Minister by August 22. Udayanidhi is going to be made Deputy Chief Minister to reduce the workload of Chief Minister Stalin. The DMK government is preparing for a decisive move ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Stalin became the Deputy Chief Minister after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. At present, no one in the cabinet is unhappy with making Udayanidhi the Deputy Chief Minister.

DMK activists say that if the departments handled by other ministers are brought under the control of Udayanidhi, there may be objections.

Mumbai: Until now, railway passengers had a belief that even if the ticket was in the waiting list, they could travel with it in a sleeper coach or AC without cancelling.

But now it’s time to change that belief. Moreover, it is no longer allowed to travel by train with such a ticket. This is the new route proposal of the Railways. If you are caught traveling on a train with a waiting list ticket, you will be fined and let off at the nearest station.

This decision is to avoid overcrowding of passengers in reserved coaches and ensure better travel for those who have secured tickets in sleeper and AC compartment. Over the years there have been two types of booking system in trains in the country. Go to the reservation counter and buy the ticket. Alternatively, book tickets online through IRCTC’s app or website. If you do not get a seat in the ticket booked online, the ticket will be canceled and the money refunded at the time of travel.

But now it is seen that often those who board with the same waiting list ticket do not change the seats to those who have got them or the lives of the railway officials are threatened. Recently, the Lucknow-Dehradun Vande Bharat train was jammed with people due to non-availability of seats. According to the new order, those traveling without a confirmed ticket will be fined at least Rs 440 and will be dropped at the nearest station.

Chandipura virus death toll rises to eight in Gujarat 15 people are undergoing treatment in different hospitals. The state is on high alert as children have died. At the same time, there is no need to panic, said Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel. Several people are under treatment for the Chandipura virus outbreak reported in Gujarat on July 15. In districts like Sabar Kanta, Aravalli and Mahisagar, severe restrictions have been put in place in the state with the death toll including children due to infection. The first cases were reported at a hospital in Himat Nagar, Sabar Kanta.

The virus belonging to the Rhabdo virido genus is transmitted by mosquitoes and flies. Health experts pointed out that the infection seriously affects the central nervous system and the brain, so the risk of death is high and treatment should be provided as soon as possible.

The virus, which affects children above the age of 15, is also highly contagious. Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said that a special team has been appointed to study the virus and take precautions and there is no need to panic. Many people have sought treatment from neighboring states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Blood samples of the patients have been sent to Pune-based National Institute of Virology for confirmation of the disease.

Bengaluru: The Siddaramaiah government has temporarily frozen the bill to ensure job reservation for locals in the private sector in Karnataka. The bill was frozen amid protests from the IT sector. The government has clarified that a final decision on the matter will be taken after conducting further tests.

Following the criticism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s post announcing that the government had approved the bill was deleted from social media X. The cabinet meeting held on Monday had paved the way for fierce opposition from the industrial sector.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill 2024 is likely to be introduced in the current session of the Legislative Assembly. Along with Kannadigas, local people born and brought up in the state and who know how to read and write Kannada will also get the benefit. They should be residing in Karnataka for at least 15 years. Applicants must have passed 10th class examination with Kannada as a subject. Or pass the Kannada skill test conducted by the nodal agency notified by the government. If there are not enough locals as applicants, the institution must apply to the government to relax the rule. The bill also provides for a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for those who violate the law.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the government’s effort is to ensure more opportunities for Kannadigas. However, State Industries Minister Priyank Kharge requested the Chief Minister that the provisions of the bill should be finalized and implemented only after discussing with industry experts and other departments. Kharge said that besides attracting investment, the government also aims to provide employment to the locals. At the same time, the business world raised concerns over Kannada reservation. Bicon Executive Chairperson Kiran Majumdar Shaw responded that this move should not affect the progress of the state as a tech hub. Former Infosys executive Mohandas Pai called the bill unconstitutional and discriminatory. He said that this is a fascist bill. Assocham stated that this is a narrow-minded bill and it can only run the business world. Earlier, the Haryana government had passed a bill to provide 75 percent reservation for locals in the private sector. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court declared it unconstitutional and quashed it.

Chandigarh: The Haryana government has decided to give 10 percent reservation to Agniveers in the state police, forest guard and jail warden posts. There will be relaxation in the age limit as well. Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini has announced that 10 percent of the direct recruitment for Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Department Guard, Jail Warden, Special Police Officer etc. will be reserved for fire fighters.

An interest-free loan of up to five lakh rupees will also be given to Agniveer. There will be a three years relaxation in age limit for Group C and D posts. However, the first batch of Agniveers will be given a relaxation of five years. He also informed that the government will provide a subsidy of Rs 60,000 per annum to industries employing firemen with a salary of more than Rs 30,000 per month. The crucial announcement of the BJP government comes at a time when the Congress is making strong criticisms against the Agniveer project. Assembly elections will be held in Haryana in a few months.