QChennai: EC Rejects Dhinakaran’s Plea; 3 Trans People to be Cops

Here’s your morning news brief from Chennai.

1. AIADMK Symbol Case: EC Rejects Dhinakaran's Plea for More Time to File Affidavits

The Election Commission has rejected a plea of sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran to grant 15 days additional time to submit affidavits in the party symbol dispute case and said the hearing would take place on 6 October as scheduled. The poll panel had, last week, set 29 September as the deadline for all parties concerned to submit documents ahead of the hearing.

The commission has directed all involved in the dispute to submit the list of general council members and central executive committee members of the party as on 5 December 2016.

(Source: Times Of India)

Also Read: C Freezes AIADMK Logo, Grants New Symbol to OPS & Sasikala Camps

2. 'Disrespectful of CM to Skip Memorial Inaugural'

Disappointed by the fact that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will not be attending the inaugural of the memorial for yesteryear actor actor Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan, his actor-son Prabhu sent a letter to the Information and Broadcasting Minister Kadumbur Raju, expressing the same.

“Through his movies, he has contributed so much for Tamil culture and language. We feel that a small function for our father is tantamount to disrespecting him,” the actor said in the letter, which was sent on behalf of Ganesan’s family and fans. A ‘manimandapam’ dedicated to the late actor, which was built by the government at a cost of Rs 2.8 crore is scheduled to be inaugurated on 1 October, which happens to be his birth anniversary.

(Source: The Hindu)

Read more: Remembering the Sivaji Ganesan In All Of Us

3. CM Announces Samba Package

Aiming at giving a boost to the water-starved farmers in the Cauvery delta, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced that the Mettur dam would be opened for irrigation on 2 October and announced a package scheme for cultivating samba crops in these areas.

He said that the package for samba crops in delta districts, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, and delta areas in Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Karur, Pudukkottai and Tiruchi districts would be at a total cost of Rs 41.15 crore. While a subsidy of Rs 500 an acre would be granted to farmers for direct cultivation, a subsidy of Rs 10 a kg of certified seeds for farmers would be given.

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: To Survive Drought, Tamil Nadu Farmers Switch to Organic Farming

4. Three Transgender Indiviuals Set to Don Police Uniform

Three transgender persons have finally made their way into Tamil Nadu police force. In a first, the State government had cleared the decks for the third gender to join the force early this year. Of the 50 applicants from the third gender, three have qualified for appointment to the post of police constable.

In the first formal recruitment that opened up the gates to the third gender this year, Dhakshayini of Cuddalore, Prabha Mohan of Krishnagiri and Jagadeeswaran alias Nazriya of Ramanathapuram qualified for appointment. Training for the newly recruited police constables is expected to commence on 1 November. K Prithika Yashini, 25 years, was the first transgender individual to join the police force in India as a sub-inspector based on a court order.

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: Transgender Defeats Prejudices To Become India’s First Policewoman

5. 'BJP Will Contest All Seats in Civic Polls'

At a time when the role of BJP in State politics and its chances of finding a toehold in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu are being debated, the party’s national general secretary of the party in charge of Tamil Nadu Muralidhar Rao, said the BJP is working independently and has no formal or informal alliance with either the AIADMK or any other party. He said BJP is going to contest all the seats and local body elections have become a very convenient avenue to create leadership at the grassroots level.

When asked if the AIADMK seems to be in a trap of its own creation which actually helps the BJP, he responded, “It is not a trap, it is a strength. It is the sole reason of its sustenance. If someone in the AIADMK is seen as helping the DMK, gone. Gone for a six. Unless they are united, they cannot enjoy power. Do you think they have become saints? They are appearing as united because they can bargain this way. This is a game within the party.’’

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: After Jayalalithaa’s Death, BJP May Do an Arunachal in Tamil Nadu

6. 36-Year-Old Gets Second Transplant on the Eve of World Heart Day

Eight years ago, Reena Raju suffered a viral infection that affected her heart, leading to severe heart muscle dysfunction. The Bangalore resident underwent a heart transplant at Frontier Lifeline Hospital. Since then, she motivated other heart transplant recipients, founded a charitable trust for organ transplantation, and this June participated in the World Transplant Games in Spain.

Eight days ago, however, her condition deteriorated — she had cardiac allograft vasculopathy — the blood vessels of her transplanted heart had narrowed. She was brought to Frontier Lifeline in an unstable condition. Her only option was another heart transplant and she was registered as an ‘urgent candidate.’ Five days ago, she underwent a repeat heart transplant. On Thursday, speaking on the eve of the World Heart Day at Frontier Lifeline Hospital, she said, “Never give up. If you can breathe, you can do anything.”

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: World Heart Day FB Live: 20-Somethings Must Care for Their Hearts

7. Woman Dies in Accident, 25 Injured

A woman died and 25 people were injured in an accident involving three State Transport Corporation buses on the Chengalpattu by-pass road on Thursday night.

According to the police, the driver of Nagapattinam-bound bus lost control of the vehicle after hitting a Tiruchi-bound bus proceeding in the same direction. The vehicle jumped the median and plunged into a roadside ditch on the other side.

In the impact, a 35-year-old woman occupying the single seat near the engine died. Meanwhile, a third STC bus proceeding to Tiruchi from Chennai came to a halt after colliding with the Tiruchi-bound bus.

(Source: The Hindu)