Political news and analysis from South India
Former MLA and Bapatla district Congress president Amanchi Krishna Mohan has welcomed the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to issue Government Order (GO) No. 278 aimed at regulating illegal sand excavation and transportation across the state. He described the move as a significant development in the fight against unlawful sand mining, particularly in the Chirala constituency
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar travelled on the newly inaugurated Namma Metro Pink Line on Saturday (November 14), interacting with commuters and gathering feedback on their travel experiences during the corridor's first day of passenger operations
Former Karnataka High Court judge Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das has strongly criticised the closure of meat shops during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bengaluru, describing the restrictions as a manifestation of fascism and an infringement on citizens' fundamental rights
Keralam Minister Roji M. John has criticised the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University over restrictions reportedly imposed on media access to the university campus, raising concerns about press freedom and transparency in higher education institutions
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has launched a sharp attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's participation in a government programme, questioning the use of public funds for an event attended by a political leader who holds no position in the State administration
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate launched a sharp personal attack on BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut over her allegedly objectionable social media posts, describing her remarks as offensive and contrary to India's cultural values
Congress MP Jothimani has strongly criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his assertion that nobody could prevent the construction of the Mekedatu dam, declaring that Tamil Nadu's entitlement to Cauvery water is a legally established right that cannot be undermined by any neighbouring state
Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has appealed for reconciliation between the Jacobite Syrian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, assuring both communities that the State government would actively support efforts to resolve their longstanding differences and restore unity
Bharata Chaitanya Yuvajana (BCY) Party president Bode Ramachandra Yadav has announced a statewide political yatra beginning May 9, 2027, with the objective of mobilising Backward Classes and other marginalised communities to secure a BC Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh in the 2029 Assembly elections. The proposed campaign will cover all 175 Assembly constituencies, travelling from Kuppam to Ichchapuram
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi inaugurated Gig Stop, a dedicated rest and refreshment facility developed by the Telangana government for gig and platform-based workers. The initiative aims to improve working conditions for thousands of delivery executives and other gig workers who spend long hours travelling across cities without access to basic amenities
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar unveiled the official logo of the first Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) India Region Conference 2026 at a curtain-raiser ceremony held at the Grand Steps of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The two-day conference, scheduled for November 17 and 18, will bring together women parliamentarians and legislators to discuss leadership, democratic participation and challenges such as cyber safety
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has submitted a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent Union government intervention on six major issues, including Bengaluru Metro expansion, infrastructure financing, drought relief, sugarcane farmers' demands and protection of livelihoods in the Western Ghats
Outgoing Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar has bid an emotional farewell to the city, describing his year-long tenure as an unforgettable chapter in his professional journey. In a heartfelt message titled Thank You Hyderabad, the senior IPS officer expressed gratitude to the Telangana government, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, police personnel and citizens for their support in implementing several policing reforms
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed profound confidence in party president Mallikarjun Kharge, describing him as a leader of gravitas and revealing that she felt an overwhelming sense of relief when he assumed the leadership of the Congress in October 2022
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge marked the 137th birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, with a creatively designed social media tribute celebrating his vision for science, technology and nation-building
BJP national vice-president Ram Madhav has launched a sharp attack on the Congress, describing it as the country's "most untrustworthy party" and cautioning Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay against placing excessive confidence in his political ally
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in Hyderabad to participate in Bharat Summit 2026, with his interaction with gig workers emerging as the principal engagement of his visit. The Congress leader received a grand welcome at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, where Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and senior party leaders greeted him
The Government of Keralam has ordered intensified inspections at petrol pumps across the State following growing consumer complaints and reports of irregularities in ethanol blending detected during inspections in neighbouring Karnataka. The exercise aims to determine whether petrol being sold to motorists contains ethanol beyond the prescribed permissible limits
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has revisited one of the most fiercely contested elections of her political career, recalling how her maiden Lok Sabha contest against BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in Karnataka's Bellary constituency in 1999 became a high-profile battle over nationality, identity and political belonging
Karnataka Congress leader and Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan has reportedly purchased more than 150 copies of Belonging, a book associated with former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and distributed them among party workers, staff members and interested members of the public
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has announced a three-day public awareness campaign titled Hyderabad Walks for Nasha Mukt Bharat, scheduled to take place across Hyderabad on November 25, 26 and 27, as part of efforts to mobilise citizens against drug abuse and promote a drug-free society
The Tamil Nadu government has strongly defended the centuries-old religious practices associated with the Karthigai Deepam festival at the Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple in Madurai, opposing attempts to alter established rituals and transfer control of the temple and surrounding hill to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
Tamil Nadu Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna has raised serious concerns over the planning, cost estimates and execution of two major infrastructure projects initiated under the previous government, questioning a ₹500-crore difference in the estimated cost of the East Coast Road (ECR) expressway project and deficiencies in the planning of the Anna Salai–Teynampet elevated corridor
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has indicated that significant developments could emerge in the ongoing investigation into the alleged phone-tapping scandal, suggesting that the case may witness unexpected revelations in the coming days