NEWS

VK Sasikala, a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK president J Jayalalithaa, was taken to a hospital in Bengaluru today after she complained of fever. Sasikala is currently lodged in the Parapana Agrahara Prison. She was taken to Bengaluru's Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital for treatment.

Speaking to India Today TV, sources close to Sasikala and her family said she had been suffering from fever for the past few days.

"Her saturation level today, following which she was taken to a hospital. We have been informed about it," a source said, adding that they suspect she has contracted Covid-19 in the prison but are awaiting confirmation from the doctors.

Earlier, doctors who examined Sasikala said her condition was not serious but she had fever and cough.

Mamata Banerjee's decision to contest the upcoming Assembly election from Nandigram has set off a political storm in the state. While the decision has been hailed by some as a smart tactical move, it can also be read as a tacit acknowledgment that the Trinamool Congress will face a tough contest from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

In deciding to contest from Nandigram, Banerjee has set herself up for a bitter battle with Suvendu Adhikari, the TMC turncoat who has now joined the BJP.

Adhikari, on his part, accepted the challenge thrown by the West Bengal chief minister, asserting that he will defeat her in the election or quit politics.

He, however, said the final decision to field candidates will be taken by the BJP leadership after a thorough discussion and not in an 'arbitrary' way like in the ruling TMC.

Ahead of Assembly polls in Assam, Congress and Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have joined hands to offer an alternative to the ruling BJP in the state. Congress and the AIUDF, along with four other political parties, declared the formation of a 'Grand Alliance' on Tuesday.

In a joint press conference held in Guwahati, the leaders of Congress, AIUDF, CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML) and Anchalik Gana Morcha said all six political parties have decided to form a 'Grand Alliance' for the greater interest of the people of the state and to "save Assam".

The leaders of the alliance have appealed to other opposition parties to come forward and join ranks to present a united front against the ruling BJP. Doors are open for all like-minded parties, they added.

Elections for the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly are scheduled for April-May this year.

Food served in Parliament canteens for Members of Parliament (MPs) and others will become costlier as a subsidy given for it has been stopped, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Tuesday. While Om Birla did not specify the financial implications of the move, sources told to a news agency that the Lok Sabha Secretariat can annually save more than Rs 8 crore with the subsidy coming to an end.

Talking to reporters about preparations for the next Parliament session, beginning January 29, Birla also said the Parliament canteens will now be run by ITDC in place of Northern Railways. Birla said all MPs will be requested to undergo the COVID-19 test before the start of the Budget session.

While Rajya Sabha will sit from 9 am to 2 pm, Lok Sabha will function in the second half from 4-8 pm. The Question Hour will be allowed during the session for an already fixed time of one hour. He said all arrangements have also been made for RTPCR COVID-19 tests of MPs near their residence.