Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday expanded his Cabinet, inducting twenty-one legislators alongside two representatives from the Congress party. This marks the national party's return to the state government after nearly sixty years. The cabinet features a young demographic, including professionals and actors, with the youngest minister aged twenty-eight. However, the expansion has triggered significant political controversy. The opposition has questioned the credentials of the newly appointed finance minister, citing an old video to allege a criminal background. Further friction emerged during the swearing-in ceremony regarding the order of anthems. The national song, Vande Mataram, was played before the state anthem, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, in the presence of the governor. Opposition leaders claim this sequence violates state tradition and compromises linguistic pride. Supporters of the administration and the national party defend the protocol, citing official guidelines for events attended by the governor. Meanwhile, Congress leadership maintains the alliance respects the mandate for a secular government, dismissing allegations of betrayal by former political allies.
Just days after it was formed, the Cockroach Janata Party has gained traction on social media following a remark by the Chief Justice of India and has amassed over fourteen million followers on Instagram, surpassing the follower counts of Congress and BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be chairing a Council of Ministers meeting shortly to address the economic impact of the West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz deadlock.
The Indian government has postponed the upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit due to a new Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. Originally scheduled to take place from May 28 to May 31, the summit was expected to host nearly fifty-four heads of state and government from African nations. The decision to delay the event was made in consultation with the African Union and African leadership to prevent any public health risks. The Ebola outbreak is currently restricted to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where hundreds have been infected and dozens have died. The World Health Organization has classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. Authorities emphasized their continued commitment to engaging with the African Union, but prioritized precautionary health measures. New dates for the summit will be decided based on mutual convenience and consultation, though no official timeline has been announced yet.
The Calcutta High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to form a three-member Special Investigation Team to probe allegations of evidence tampering in the RG Kar doctor assault and murder case.
