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Palaniswami wins trust vote

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Pandemonium in Tamil Nadu assembly

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Stormy session sees two adjournments, Speaker roughed up by MLAs

By Sujit Bhar

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on February 18 won his trust vote and secured his place as the topmost executive in the state.

In a hugely rumbustious and crazy session, adjourned twice with the Speaker manhandled and the opposing DMK, including its leader Stalin ousted, Palaniswami won with his 122 MLAs. Against him were the votes of 11 MLAs which O Panneerselvam could muster. The Congress, too, had walked out.

Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao had given Palaniswami, the newly-sworn chief minister, 15 days to prove his strength on the floor of the house. But 15 days is a long time, and millions can change hands in a jiffy, purchasing support from MLAs and breaking established formations.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Clever path” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Palaniswami thus chose the clever path: Have his floor test on Saturday itself. That would give interested parties less time to haggle and pay MLAs who were eager to make a quick buck on the side. And there surely were many of them.

This took the opposition—DMK—by surprise. They had announced their desire to vote against Palaniswami in the trust vote, and knowing their strength to be just 89 against Palaniswami’s 124, money was arranged. Here is where a third party came into the picture, probably one with an even larger power base around the country and zilch in Tamil Nadu. What they have is oodles of money and none of the ethical hang-ups that a regional party might have.

Hence the first attempt was to have a secret ballot. That would have enabled quick crossing of floor with promise of huge bounties awaiting outside.

House Speaker P Dhanapal said no. Then there was a clamour to postpone the trust vote. The Speaker said no.

That was when pandemonium broke out. Panneerselvam demanded that his MLAs should be allowed to go back to their constituencies, consult their electorate and return to vote. Guess what? This is solid logic. The people voted for one J Jayalalithaa and not for her accomplices in crime. People should decide.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1487416902136{margin-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #e0e0e0 !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”Who is P Dhanapal?” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Speaker P DhanapalP Dhanapal, currently the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, had been earlier elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Sankagiri constituency in 1977, 1980 and 1984 and 2001. Then again, in 2011 and 2016, he won from Rasipuram and Avinashi constituencies, respectively.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”The catch” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]There was a catch, however. This interregnum can be efficiently used by those who want to bribe the MLAs into switching sides or abstaining. The Speaker said no.

In the ruckus, the Speaker’s shirt was torn—DMK leader Stalin said the speaker tore it himself—and the microphone and chair broke. The table was upturned.

A frustrated Speaker was supposed to have said: “Where do I complain about the harassment that I was subjected to in the house?”

So the assembly was adjourned twice, once at 1pm and the next at 3pm and 88 DDMK MLAs were thrown out of the house on grounds of discipline.

The scene in the House after it was adjourned for the day

The scene in the House after it was adjourned for the day

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Rumours ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:20px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]In the morning it was rumoured that Palaniswami’s support base had dwindled further, to 116 (from the overnight 124) and it was clear which way the wind was blowing.

The media was kept out of the proceedings, with correspondents working only on leaked information. The media room audio and video feeds were cut and the chaos outside was a mirror to what was happening inside.

Leaked video footage soon emerged, showing more than one MLA sitting in the speaker’s chair in protest as marshals trooped in to herd the MLAs out.

When it became too much, the speaker ordered assembly police to evict all 88 DMK MLAs, bringing down the strength of the Assembly for the trust vote.

With nobody willing to listen and DMK MLAs not moving, the assembly was adjourned again till 3pm.

The final outcome was, somehow, expected, though.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

E20 Janta Party set to follow in CJP footsteps

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Excise duty on petrol

After the success of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a new outfit, calling itself the E20 Janta Party, has come into being.

It trended across social media platforms on Thursday after the CJP claimed victory following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with supporters applauding the outcome as a major milestone in the ongoing student-led movement over alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities.

Thousands of posts, memes and videos flooded social media with users celebrating what they described as the growing influence of the CJP-led agitation. The term “E20 Janta Party” quickly gained traction on X and other platforms as motorists worried over the mixing of ethanol in petrol claimed they would themselves stage protests a la CJP.

Motorists all over India have been protesting against the fuel mixture given that their cars and motorcycles bought earlier had not been tuned for such increase in ethanol ratio. Some have claimed damage, ranging from engine damage to lower mileage. The government has not conceded the engine damage claim but has accepted that mileage may be compromised. Further, they have been agitating for a lowered fuel price for E20 since it has 20% ethanol but the government has shown willingness only to lower prices for the E85 blend which is being introduced slowly.

The public outpouring of support for the anti-NEET protests seems to have egged the anti-E20 people to come out of the woodwork though they have been vocal on social media. The Delhi taxi drivers association is also believed to have lent support to this cause. Transporters are also expected to join the protest slated on August 4 year since there are moves afoot to introduce isobutanol-diesel blend this year.

During the protests at Jantar Mantar, many activists had raised the ethanol issue time and again targeting Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, an overzealous advocate for ethanol blending.

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India News

Parliament Monsoon Session 2026: Bill against paper leaks to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

The Lok Sabha will introduce and consider the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing stricter punishment, fast-track courts and stronger safeguards against paper leaks.

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The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage on Monday as the Centre moves to tighten laws against paper leaks and examination-related fraud.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will seek the House’s permission to introduce the Bill before moving it for consideration and passing during the day’s legislative business.

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are scheduled to begin at 11 am with the Question Hour, during which ministers will respond to listed oral questions.

Bill proposes stricter action against paper leaks

The proposed amendment aims to strengthen transparency and integrity in the public examination system through stricter legal provisions while safeguarding the interests of students.

Among its major provisions are:

  • Imprisonment of up to 10 years for those found guilty.
  • A fine of up to Rs.10 crore.
  • Confiscation of assets of convicted offenders.
  • A mechanism to ensure verdicts in such cases are delivered within three months through fast-track courts.

The proposed changes follow the Union Cabinet’s approval of the legislation and related measures aimed at tackling paper leaks and examination fraud with stricter punishment and expedited trials.

Supreme Court judges amendment Bill also on agenda

Apart from the anti-paper leak legislation, the Lok Sabha is also scheduled to consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move the Bill for consideration. It seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

Ministers to present implementation reports

Several Union ministers are also expected to place statements before the House on the implementation of recommendations made by various Parliamentary Standing Committees.

Among them:

  • Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will present an update on recommendations related to the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Jayant Chaudhary will report on recommendations concerning the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • Pankaj Chaudhary will table a statement on recommendations relating to the Ministry of Finance.
  • Suresh Gopi will present implementation updates on recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas.

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India News

Who are the experts in Nandan Nilekani-led PM Modi’s exam reform task force?

PM Modi has constituted a six-member task force led by Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms for the National Testing Agency. Here’s a look at the experts on the panel.

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Following the announcement of a high-powered task force to reform India’s examination system, the Centre has brought together experts from technology, space research, intelligence, education, cybersecurity and logistics to recommend structural changes for the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The panel, led by Infosys co-founder and technology expert Nandan Nilekani, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.

In a video message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said the government aims to make examinations more reliable, transparent and technology-driven. He said the task force would submit recommendations to improve the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest.

Nandan Nilekani to lead the panel

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys, will head the task force. Widely recognised for leading the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and playing a key role in the development of Aadhaar, Nilekani is expected to contribute his expertise in technology, digital infrastructure and data security to the examination reform process.

Former ISRO chief S Somanath

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath, an aerospace engineer, is also part of the panel. During his tenure, ISRO successfully carried out the Chandrayaan-3 mission. His experience in executing complex, high-precision missions is expected to help strengthen quality control and multi-layered verification processes in examinations.

Former IB director Tapan Deka

Former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka has been included for his experience in intelligence and security. A former IPS officer with a postgraduate degree in Physics, he is expected to provide inputs on strengthening intelligence gathering and cyber monitoring to curb organised examination fraud and paper leak networks.

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti

V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, is another member of the panel. A computer science academic, he has led initiatives related to microprocessor development and information security at the institute. His expertise is expected to support measures aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and protecting examination software and digital infrastructure.

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal brings administrative and academic policy experience to the task force. A retired IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, she is expected to contribute recommendations on examination policies, answer-key mechanisms, evaluation standards and improvements in the functioning of examination centres.

Logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena

Retired bureaucrat Amrit Lal Meena, who previously served as Bihar’s Chief Secretary and as Special Secretary (Logistics) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, completes the six-member panel. His expertise in supply chain management is expected to help strengthen the secure printing, storage and transportation of question papers through tamper-resistant logistics systems.

The multidisciplinary panel has been tasked with recommending structural reforms aimed at improving transparency, security and reliability in India’s examination system.

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