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Railways cancel over 450 trains, reschedule and divert around 100 trains, check full list here

Railways cancel thousands of trains every day due to maintenance work.

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Indian Railways

Railways have cancelled 468 trains today. According to the official notification, the timings for 27 trains have changed and the department has also diverted the routes of 72 trains.

The reasons for the cancellation of the trains can range from maintenance work on the tracks, platforms, stations, and overbridges. Railways cancel thousands of trains every day due to maintenance work.

As per the railway’s cancellation and refund rules, tickets purchased on the IRCTC website will automatically be cancelled, and a refund will be credited to the user’s original payment account. Passengers who purchased their tickets at the ticket counter, on the other hand, would need to visit the reservation counter to process the refund.

Passengers can go through the official website of the Indian Railways to check the list of cancelled trains to avoid any inconvenience.

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Cancelled Trains as of February 23

Rescheduled Trains as of February 23

27 trains rescheduled [ Start Date: 23-Feb ]
Train [Name]
 [SRC-DSTN]
TypeStart TimeResch. DateDelay
02570 NDLS-DBG CLONE SPL
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – DARBHANGA JN (DBG)
TOD23-Feb 12:1523-Feb 14:3502:20
03274 PNBE-JAJ MEMU PASS SPL
 PATNA JN (PNBE) – JHAJHA (JAJ)
PSPC23-Feb 09:5523-Feb 11:3001:35
04353 BLM-STP EXP SPL
 BALAMU JN (BLM) – SITAPUR (STP)
PSPC23-Feb 07:4523-Feb 08:1000:25
04782 RE-BTI SPL
 REWARI JN. (RE) – BHATINDA (BTI)
PSPC23-Feb 09:1523-Feb 09:3500:20
04998 FZR-LDH MEXP
 FIROZPUR CANT (FZR) – LUDHIANA JN (LDH)
PSPC23-Feb 13:5023-Feb 15:0001:10
06874 TJ-MV EXP SPL
 THANJAVUR JN. (TJ) – MAYILADUTURAI JN (MV)
PSPC23-Feb 10:0523-Feb 11:4001:35
11109 VGLB – LJN INTERCITY
 VIRANGANA LAKSHMIBAI RAILWAY STATION (VGLB) – LUCKNOW (LJN)
MEX23-Feb 06:1023-Feb 12:1506:05
11127 BSL KTE EXP
 BHUSAVAL JN (BSL) – KATNI (KTE)
MEX23-Feb 11:1523-Feb 15:1504:00
12222 HWH-PUNE DURANTO EXP
 HOWRAH JN (HWH) – PUNE JN (PUNE)
DRNT23-Feb 05:4523-Feb 17:0011:15
12238 JAT-BSB EXP
 JAMMU TAWI (JAT) – VARANASI (BSB)
MEX23-Feb 14:0023-Feb 15:3001:30
12419 GOMTI EXP
 LUCKNOW (LKO) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
SUF23-Feb 05:4523-Feb 08:4503:00
12420 GOMTI EXPRESS
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – LUCKNOW (LKO)
SUF23-Feb 12:2023-Feb 13:2001:00
12511 RAPTISAGAR EXPRESS
 GORAKHPUR (GKP) – KOCHUVELI (KCVL)
SUF23-Feb 06:3523-Feb 09:3503:00
12568 PNBE-SHC RAJYA RANI EXP
 PATNA JN (PNBE) – SAHARSA JN (SHC)
SUF23-Feb 12:3023-Feb 13:0000:30
12621 MAS-NDLS TAMILNADU SF EXP
 PURATCHI THALAIVAR DR. M.G.RAMACHANDRAN CENTRAL RA (MAS) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
SUF23-Feb 22:0023-Feb 23:5001:50
12724 NDLS-HYB
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – HYDERABAD (HYB)
SUF23-Feb 16:0023-Feb 17:3001:30
12755 COA-BVC EXP
 KAKINADA PORT (COA) – BHAVNAGAR TERMINUS (BVC)
SUF23-Feb 05:3023-Feb 14:0008:30
12791 SC-DNR
 SECUNDERABAD JN (SC) – DANAPUR (DNR)
SUF23-Feb 09:2523-Feb 12:3003:05
12792 DNR-SC EXP
 DANAPUR (DNR) – SECUNDERABAD JN (SC)
SUF23-Feb 12:1523-Feb 14:4502:30
14332 KLK DLI EXP SPL
 KALKA (KLK) – DELHI JN. (DLI)
MEX23-Feb 07:4023-Feb 11:4004:00
15705 CHAMPARAN HUMSAFAR EXP
 KATIHAR JN (KIR) – DELHI JN. (DLI)
SUF23-Feb 07:5023-Feb 15:0007:10
17409 ADB-NED EXP
 ADILABAD (ADB) – NANDED (NED)
MEX23-Feb 08:0023-Feb 09:1501:15
18006 JDB-HWH SAMBALESWARI EXP
 JAGDALPUR (JDB) – HOWRAH JN (HWH)
MEX23-Feb 05:0023-Feb 10:0005:00
18478 YNRK-PURI EXPRESS
 YOG NAGARI RISHIKESH (YNRK) – PURI (PURI)
MEX23-Feb 05:3523-Feb 07:3001:55
22453 RAJYA RANI EX
 LUCKNOW (LJN) – MEERUT CITY (MTC)
SUF23-Feb 14:2523-Feb 18:2504:00
22631 MDU-BKN EXPRESS
 MADURAI JN (MDU) – BIKANER JN (BKN)
SUF23-Feb 11:5523-Feb 14:5503:00
22861 HWH-TIG-KBJ ISPAT EXP
 HOWRAH JN (HWH) – KANTABANJI (KBJ)
SUF23-Feb 06:3523-Feb 11:3505:00

Diverted Trains as of February 23

72 Diverted Trains [ Train Start Date: 23-Feb ]
Click on Train for more details
Train [Name]
 [SRC-DSTN]
TypeStart TimeDivert From
Divert To
 00762 NZM-RU
 HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN JN (NZM) – RENIGUNTA JN (RU)
PEXP10:00MAJRI JN [MJRI]
DRONACHELLAM JN [DHNE]
 02563 BJU-NDLS CLONE SPL
 BARAUNI JN (BJU) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
TOD07:40BURHWAL [BUW]
GHAZIABAD [GZB]
 02564 NDLS-BJU CLONE SPL
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – BARAUNI JN (BJU)
TOD17:55GHAZIABAD [GZB]
BURHWAL [BUW]
 02569 DBG-NDLS CLONE SPL
 DARBHANGA JN (DBG) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
TOD06:30BURHWAL [BUW]
GHAZIABAD [GZB]
 02570 NDLS-DBG CLONE SPL
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – DARBHANGA JN (DBG)
TOD12:15GHAZIABAD [GZB]
BURHWAL [BUW]
 04121 SFG-SC SUF WEEKLY SPL
 SUBEDARGANJ (SFG) – SECUNDERABAD JN (SC)
TOD15:50SEVAGRAM [SEGM]
SECUNDERABAD JN [SC]
 04444 NDLS-GZB MEX SPL
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – GHAZIABAD (GZB)
PSPC09:55NEW DELHI [NDLS]
GHAZIABAD [GZB]
 04713 BKN-BDTS WINTER SPL EXP
 BIKANER JN (BKN) – BANDRA TERMINUS (BDTS)
TOD15:00LUNI JN [LUNI]
MAHESANA JN [MSH]
 09506 UJN INDB PASS SPECIAL
 UJJAIN JN (UJN) – INDORE JN (INDB)
PSPC08:10UJJAIN JN [UJN]
INDORE JN [INDB]
 09507 INDB UJN PAS SPECIAL
 INDORE JN (INDB) – UJJAIN JN (UJN)
PSPC18:00INDORE JN [INDB]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 11059 LTT-CPR CHHAPRA EXPRESS
 LOKMANYATILAK (LTT) – CHHAPRA (CPR)
MEX10:55JAUNPUR JN [JNU]
MAU JN [MAU]
 11060 CPR LTT EXPRESS
 CHHAPRA (CPR) – LOKMANYATILAK (LTT)
MEX05:45MAU JN [MAU]
JAUNPUR JN [JNU]
 11125 RTM GWALIOR EXP
 RATLAM JN (RTM) – GWALIOR JN. (GWL)
MEX17:25RATLAM JN [RTM]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 12415 IND NZM EXPRESS
 INDORE JN (INDB) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
SUF17:20INDORE JN [INDB]
NAGDA JN [NAD]
 12465 RANTHAMBOR EXP
 INDORE JN (INDB) – JODHPUR JN (JU)
SUF06:00INDORE JN [INDB]
NAGDA JN [NAD]
 12466 RANTHAMBORE EXP
 JODHPUR JN (JU) – INDORE JN (INDB)
SUF05:00NAGDA JN [NAD]
INDORE JN [INDB]
 12511 RAPTISAGAR EXPRESS
 GORAKHPUR (GKP) – KOCHUVELI (KCVL)
SUF06:35BARABANKI JN [BBK]
UNNAO JN [ON]
 12562 SWANTRATA SENANI EXPRESS
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – JAYNAGAR (JYG)
SUF21:15AUNRIHAR JN. [ARJ]
CHHAPRA [CPR]
 12650 NZM-YPR SAMPARKRANTI EXP
 HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN JN (NZM) – YASVANTPUR JN (YPR)
SUF08:20ITARSI JN [ET]
GUNTAKAL JN [GTL]
 12655 ADI-MAS NAVAJEEVAN EXPRES
 AHMEDABAD JN (ADI) – PURATCHI THALAIVAR DR. M.G.RAMACHANDRAN CENTRAL RA (MAS)
SUF21:35AKOLA JN. [AK]
PEDDAPALLI [PDPL]
 12656 MAS-ADI NAVAJEEVAN EXP
 PURATCHI THALAIVAR DR. M.G.RAMACHANDRAN CENTRAL RA (MAS) – AHMEDABAD JN (ADI)
SUF10:10PEDDAPALLI [PDPL]
AKOLA JN. [AK]
 12661 MS-SCT POTHIGAI SF EXP
 CHENNAI EGMORE (MS) – SENGOTTAI (SCT)
SUF20:40TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
 12662 SCT-MS SF EXP
 SENGOTTAI (SCT) – CHENNAI EGMORE (MS)
SUF18:20VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
 12791 SC-DNR
 SECUNDERABAD JN (SC) – DANAPUR (DNR)
SUF09:25SECUNDERABAD JN [SC]
MAJRI JN [MJRI]
 12792 DNR-SC EXP
 DANAPUR (DNR) – SECUNDERABAD JN (SC)
SUF12:15MAJRI JN [MJRI]
SECUNDERABAD JN [SC]
 12919 MALWA EXPRESS
 DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR (DADN) – SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI KATRA (SVDK)
SUF11:50DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR [DADN]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 12920 MALWA EXPRESS
 SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI KATRA (SVDK) – DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR (DADN)
SUF08:40UJJAIN JN [UJN]
DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR [DADN]
 12962 AVANTIKA EXPRESS
 INDORE JN (INDB) – MUMBAI CENTRAL (MMCT)
SUF17:35INDORE JN [INDB]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 13005 HWH-ASR MAIL
 HOWRAH JN (HWH) – AMRITSAR JN (ASR)
SUF19:15JANGHAI JN [JNH]
RAE BARELI JN [RBL]
 13006 ASR-HWH MAIL
 AMRITSAR JN (ASR) – HOWRAH JN (HWH)
SUF18:25RAE BARELI JN [RBL]
JANGHAI JN [JNH]
 13009 HWH YNRK DOON EXP
 HOWRAH JN (HWH) – YOG NAGARI RISHIKESH (YNRK)
MEX20:25VARANASI [BSB]
LUCKNOW [LKO]
 13010 YNRK HWH DOON EXP
 YOG NAGARI RISHIKESH (YNRK) – HOWRAH JN (HWH)
MEX20:55LUCKNOW [LKO]
VARANASI [BSB]
 13151 KOAA-JAT EXP
 KOLKATTA TERMINAL (KOAA) – JAMMU TAWI (JAT)
MEX11:45ZAFARABAD JN [ZBD]
LUCKNOW [LKO]
 13238 KOTA – PNBE EXPRESS
 KOTA JN (KOTA) – PATNA JN (PNBE)
MEX18:10LUCKNOW [LKO]
ZAFARABAD JN [ZBD]
 13307 GANGASUTLEJ EXP
 DHANBAD JN (DHN) – FIROZPUR CANT (FZR)
MEX21:50VARANASI [BSB]
LUCKNOW [LKO]
 13308 GANGASUTLEJ EXPRESS
 FIROZPUR CANT (FZR) – DHANBAD JN (DHN)
MEX16:15LUCKNOW [LKO]
VARANASI [BSB]
 13484 DLI-MLDT FARAKKA EXP
 DELHI JN. (DLI) – MALDA TOWN (MLDT)
MEX21:40LUCKNOW [LKO]
ZAFARABAD JN [ZBD]
 14008 SADHBHAWNA EXP
 ANAND VIHAR TERMINAL (ANVT) – RAXAUL JN (RXL)
MEX16:30AUNRIHAR JN. [ARJ]
CHHAPRA [CPR]
 14304 HW-DLI EXP SPL
 HARIDWAR JN (HW) – DELHI JN. (DLI)
MEX08:10TAPRI [TPZ]
DELHI JN. [DLI]
 14311 ALA HAZRAT EXP
 BAREILLY(NR) (BE) – BHUJ (BHUJ)
MEX06:35PALANPUR JN [PNU]
SAMAKHIALI B G [SIOB]
 14803 JSM SBIB SF EXP
 JAISALMER (JSM) – SABARMATI BG (SBIB)
MEX15:10LUNI JN [LUNI]
MAHESANA JN [MSH]
 14804 SBIB JSM SF EXP
 SABARMATI BG (SBIB) – JAISALMER (JSM)
MEX23:00MAHESANA JN [MSH]
LUNI JN [LUNI]
 14806 BME YPR AC EXP
 BARMER (BME) – YASVANTPUR JN (YPR)
MEX22:00SAMDHARI JN [SMR]
MAHESANA JN [MSH]
 15045 GKP – OKHA EXPRESS
 GORAKHPUR (GKP) – OKHA (OKHA)
MEX05:00BARABANKI JN [BBK]
UNNAO JN [ON]
 15716 GARIB NAWAZ EXPRESS
 AJMER JN (AII) – KISHANGANJ (KNE)
MEX12:00BARABANKI JN [BBK]
CHHAPRA [CPR]
 16105 MS – TCN EXP
 CHENNAI EGMORE (MS) – TIRUCHENDUR (TCN)
MEX16:05TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
 16106 TCN – MS EXP
 TIRUCHENDUR (TCN) – CHENNAI EGMORE (MS)
MEX19:10VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
 16128 GUV CHENNAI EXP
 GURUVAYUR (GUV) – CHENNAI EGMORE (MS)
MEX23:15VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
 16210 MYS-AII EXPRESS
 MYSORE JN (MYS) – AJMER JN (AII)
MEX19:10HUBLI JN [UBL]
MIRAJ JN. [MRJ]
 16352 NCJ-CSMT EXP
 NAGERCOIL JUNCTION (NCJ) – CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ TERMINUS (CSMT)
MEX06:15VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
 16507 JU-SBC EXPRESS
 JODHPUR JN (JU) – KRANTIVIRA SANGOLLI RAYANNA (BENGALURU STATION) (SBC)
MEX06:05MIRAJ JN. [MRJ]
HUBLI JN [UBL]
 16788 SVDK-TEN EXP
 SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI KATRA (SVDK) – TIRUNELVELI JN (TEN)
MEX22:30TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
 16848 SCT-MV EXPRESS
 SENGOTTAI (SCT) – MAYILADUTURAI JN (MV)
MEX07:00VIRUDUNAGAR JN [VPT]
TIRUCHCHIRAPPALLI JN. [TPJ]
 18205 DURG NTV EXP
 DURG (DURG) – NAUTANWA (NTV)
MEX20:10PRAYAGRAJ JN [PRYJ]
GORAKHPUR [GKP]
 18309 SBP -JAT EXPRESS SPECIAL
 SAMBALPUR (SBP) – JAMMU TAWI (JAT)
MEX11:00GARWA ROAD [GHD]
CHUNAR [CAR]
 18310 JAT-SBP EXPRESS
 JAMMU TAWI (JAT) – SAMBALPUR (SBP)
MEX14:35CHUNAR [CAR]
GARWA ROAD [GHD]
 19037 AVADH EXPRESS
 BANDRA TERMINUS (BDTS) – BARAUNI JN (BJU)
MEX22:00BAYANA JN [BXN]
AGRA FORT [AF]
 19045 TAPTI GANGA EXPRESS
 SURAT (ST) – CHHAPRA (CPR)
MEX10:10JAUNPUR JN [JNU]
MAU JN [MAU]
 19225 JU – JAT EXP
 JODHPUR JN (JU) – JAMMU TAWI (JAT)
MEX06:45JALANDHAR CITY [JUC]
PATHANKOT [PTK]
 19226 JAT – JU EXPRESS
 JAMMU TAWI (JAT) – JODHPUR JN (JU)
MEX21:00PATHANKOT [PTK]
JALANDHAR CITY [JUC]
 19303 INDB BHOPAL EXP
 INDORE JN (INDB) – BHOPAL (BPL)
MEX23:15INDORE JN [INDB]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 19305 DADN-KAMAKHYA EXP
 DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR (DADN) – KAMAKHYA (KYQ)
MEX12:45DR. AMBEDKAR NAGAR [DADN]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 19309 GNC INDORE EXP
 GANDHINAGAR CAPITAL (GNC) – INDORE JN (INDB)
MEX18:00UJJAIN JN [UJN]
INDORE JN [INDB]
 19329 VEER BHUMI EXP
 INDORE JN (INDB) – UDAIPUR CITY (UDZ)
MEX17:40INDORE JN [INDB]
RATLAM JN [RTM]
 20483 BGKT DDR EXP
 BHAGAT KI KOTHI (BGKT) – DADAR (DDR)
SUF19:50LUNI JN [LUNI]
MAHESANA JN [MSH]
 20803 VSKP-GIMB WEEKLY EXP
 VISAKHAPATNAM (VSKP) – GANDHIDHAM BG (GIMB)
SUF17:35GOPALA PATNAM [GPT]
BADNERA JN. [BD]
 20805 VSKP-NDLS AP EXP
 VISAKHAPATNAM (VSKP) – NEW DELHI (NDLS)
SUF22:00GOPALA PATNAM [GPT]
NAGPUR [NGP]
 20806 NDLS-VSKP SUF
 NEW DELHI (NDLS) – VISAKHAPATNAM (VSKP)
SUF20:00NAGPUR [NGP]
GOPALA PATNAM [GPT]
 22114 KCVL-LTT BI-WEEKLY SF EXP
 KOCHUVELI (KCVL) – LOKMANYATILAK (LTT)
SUF00:55KAYANKULAM JN [KYJ]
ERNAKULAM TOWN [ERN]
 22184 AYC-LTT SAKET EXPRESS
 AYODHYA CANTT (AYC) – LOKMANYATILAK (LTT)
SUF14:00AYODHYA CANTT [AYC]
PHAPHAMAU JN [PFM]
 22944 INDORE – DAUND EXPRESS
 INDORE JN (INDB) – DAUND JN (DD)
SUF16:30INDORE JN [INDB]
UJJAIN JN [UJN]
 22969 OKHA – BSB EXPRESS
 OKHA (OKHA) – BANARAS (BSBS)
SUF14:05NAGDA JN [NAD]
KANPUR CENTRAL [CNB]

After Alia Bhatt, Jahnvi Kapoor shares account of snoopy media

Supreme Court refuses to stay election commission decision alloting Shiv Sena name, symbol to Shinde faction

India News

MK Stalin predicts frequent PM Modi visits to Tamil Nadu before assembly election

MK Stalin has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Tamil Nadu more often ahead of the Assembly election, calling the tours politically motivated and questioning the Centre’s support to the state.

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MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will increase his visits to the state as the Assembly election, expected in April or May, draws closer.

Speaking ahead of the polls, the DMK president said the Prime Minister has already begun touring Tamil Nadu and is likely to visit frequently in the coming months. He claimed that such visits could create discomfort within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as alliance partners may fear the political impact of repeated appearances.

Stalin calls visit politically motivated

The Chief Minister described the Prime Minister’s scheduled programmes in the state as “politically motivated”. PM Modi is set to attend various events in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu, including the inauguration of the first phase of the AIIMS hospital project. He is also expected to visit the Thiruparankundram Temple amid the Karthigai Deepam-related controversy and participate in a public meeting organised by the NDA.

Stalin said he has been working for all sections of the population, including those who did not vote for his party. In contrast, he remarked that some leaders are visible in the state only during election time and increase their visits as polls approach.

Criticism over Union Budget allocations

The DMK leader also criticised the BJP-led central government, accusing it of neglecting Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that while approval was recently granted for the Gujarat Metro project, there were no major announcements or allocations for Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget.

Stalin asserted that voters would remember the lack of significant measures for the state. He framed the upcoming election as a contest between Tamil Nadu and the NDA, stating that the state should be governed from Fort St George in Chennai rather than from Delhi.

The ruling DMK is currently allied with several smaller parties and, at present, the Congress, as it seeks a third consecutive term in office. Its principal rival, the AIADMK, is aligned with the BJP as part of the NDA.

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India News

Shashi Tharoor questions Centre over Kerala name change to Keralam

Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre’s decision to approve renaming Kerala as Keralam, questioning its impact and pointing to the lack of major projects for the state.

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shashi tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the central government over its decision to approve the renaming of Kerala as ‘Keralam’, arguing that the move prioritises symbolism over development.

Reacting to the Union Cabinet’s approval, Tharoor said that the state’s name has always been ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam and questioned the practical impact of introducing the Malayalam term into English usage.

“It has already been ‘Keralam’ in Malayalam. So now, a Malayalam word is coming into English. I don’t know what difference it makes,” he said, adding that the state has not received major projects such as an AIIMS or new institutions from the Centre. He also pointed out that no significant allocations were made for Kerala in the Union Budget.

In a separate post on X, Tharoor raised what he described as a “small linguistic question” about what residents of the state would be called if the name change is implemented. Referring to existing terms such as “Keralite” and “Keralan”, he remarked that alternatives like “Keralamite” sounded like a microbe and “Keralamian” like a rare earth mineral.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the proposal on Tuesday. The move comes ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections, in which 140 members of the legislative assembly are to be elected. The poll schedule is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India.

The state assembly had earlier passed a resolution seeking the change in official records. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had moved the resolution in 2024, urging the Union government to adopt the name ‘Keralam’ in all languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

He had stated that the demand for a united Kerala for Malayalam-speaking people dates back to the national freedom movement.

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India News

Tamil Nadu potboiler: Now, Sasikala to launch new party ahead of election

Sasikala has announced the launch of a new political party ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, positioning herself against AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.

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In a significant political development ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, expelled AIADMK leader V. K. Sasikala has announced that she will float a new political party and contest the polls by fielding her own candidates.

Speaking in Madurai before heading to Pasumpon for a public event, Sasikala said she would unveil her party’s flag later in the evening. She indicated that more details regarding the party’s structure and plans would be shared at the gathering.

The event venue carries political symbolism. Pasumpon is the birthplace of Thevar leader Muthuramalinga Thevar, and Sasikala herself belongs to the influential Thevar community in southern Tamil Nadu. The programme was held as part of birth anniversary events of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Direct challenge to EPS

Sasikala’s move is being viewed as a direct political challenge to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Sasikala briefly took control of the party and had appointed Palaniswami as Chief Minister. However, following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case, she served a four-year prison term, and during that period, she was expelled from the party.

Palaniswami later aligned with O. Panneerselvam, whom Sasikala had earlier removed from the Chief Minister’s post. The two leaders subsequently adopted a dual leadership arrangement within the party and government.

Sasikala remains disqualified from contesting elections until 2027 due to her conviction. Nevertheless, she has stated that she intends to field candidates under her new party banner.

Fragmented Thevar vote base

Over the years, expulsions within the AIADMK — including Sasikala, her nephew TTV Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam — have led to divisions within the Thevar support base. Political observers have linked this fragmentation to the party’s weakened electoral performance in the elections following Jayalalithaa’s passing.

While Dhinakaran has returned to the NDA fold, reports suggest Palaniswami is opposed to any arrangement that includes Sasikala or Panneerselvam. OPS, meanwhile, has exited the NDA.

Sasikala has repeatedly criticised Palaniswami, describing him as a betrayer, while he maintains that his leadership stems from the support of AIADMK legislators rather than her backing.

The AIADMK has not issued an official statement on Sasikala’s announcement. However, a senior party leader questioned her political standing, pointing out her disqualification from contesting elections and referring to legal issues linked to Jayalalithaa’s death.

With the Assembly polls approaching, Sasikala’s re-entry into active politics could further complicate the opposition space in Tamil Nadu and influence electoral calculations, particularly in the southern districts.

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