State Congress president K. Sudhakaran said, "He (Jayarajan) has the key to the 'palace of corruption'. Had the party taken any action against him for what he did, which all know is true, the 'palace' of corruption would be on fire as Jayarajan has the keys to it," said Sudhakaran.

"The CPI(M) leadership will not dare to touch Jayarajan. All that Jayarajan did was well in the know of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and had his blessings too," added Sudhakaran.

After Jayarajan got the clean chit, all the week-long happenings that had put the CPI(M) in a spot after it was widely reported on the polling day that he had met BJP veteran leader Prakash Javadekar at his son's apartment in March last year.

A known power broker and middleman in the state's power corridors, T.G. Nandakumar had said that a meeting had taken place. Kerala BJP Vice President Shoba Surendran also claimed that she met Jayarajan "three times to discuss his entry into the BJP". Jayarajan did admit that he had met Javadekar, but questioned the timing of raking up the issue as it had happened last year and for just five minutes.

After Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan publicly admonished Jayarajan, speculation was rife that some tough action may be decided at the state secretariat meeting of the party on Monday against Jayarajan. However, this did not happen.

CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan after the meeting informed the media that the party is convinced Jayarajan did not do any wrong and that he should be careful while making friends with people like Nandakumar.

"All saw how Jayarajan walked out of the party meeting. He was walking like a batsman returning after scoring a century. None will dare to touch Jayarajan," added Sudhakaran.

Directed by Prasanna Vithanage and co-written by Prasanna and Anushka Senanayake, 'Paradise', is a tale of emotion, struggle, and resilience.

Produced by Newton Cinemas and presented by Mani Ratnam under the banner of his production company, Madras Talkies, 'Paradise' is the first Indian film shot entirely in Sri Lanka.

The audience award is conferred by pre-selected members of the audience, chosen from among the feature films showcased in the Official Feature Films Section of the festival.

The award was received by the director at the closing ceremony of the festival.

Sri Lankan author Prasanna Vithanage's 10th directorial venture, features a cast, including Darshana Rajendran, Roshan Mathew, Shyam Fernando, and Mahendra Perera.

The crew, including Rajeev Ravi handled cinematography, A. Sreekar Prasad was the editor, Tapas Nayak was the sound designer, and K (Krishna Kumar) was the music director.

The trailer of the film was released by Mani Ratnam and is the debut collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Madras Talkies within the Malayalam film industry.

Recipient of more than 30 international awards, 'Paradise' is the 10th feature directorial of Prasanna Vithanage.

The film delves into the profound narrative of Sri Lanka's economic crisis in 2022.

It was screened in the World Cinema category of the International Film Festival of Kerala and Jio MAMI Film Festival, receiving acclaim from both national and international critics. Distributed by Century Films, 'Paradise' is to be released in June.

The estimate by the committee, headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, V. Naganathan and comprising Forest Department officials, scientists, experts, and conservation organisations, is more than double the number of corridors identified by the Project Elephant division of the Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry.

The Project Elephant division had, in 2023, identified 20 elephant corridors - 15 within Tamil Nadu and 5 interstate corridors between Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

The Elephant Corridor Committee has identified the 42 elephant corridors through ground validation, mapping and surveys. In its report, it also stated that human-elephant conflict has been widespread across 20 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu, with the Coimbatore, Gudalur, and Hosur forest divisions and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve experiencing intense human-elephant conflict.

Meanwhile, environmental activists in Coimbatore said the draft report points to mining by brick kiln owners as one of the major threats to two corridors that fall under the Coimbatore division.

The Melbavi-Pattisalai-Singuli-Kandivalli-Damanur-Sembukarai corridor (Anaiakatty corridor), wedged between forested slopes and human developments along the foothills, is occupied by brick kiln industries and their sand quarry sites.

The report also said that the ecological impact caused by red soil excavation for brick kiln industries in flat lands along the forest boundary has also disrupted part of another corridor, comprising Vellingiri Andavar Kovil Foothillsâ€"Valkaraduâ€"Chinnamalaiâ€"Maruthamalai foothillsâ€"Kanuvai hillsâ€"Mangaraiâ€"Madudanpathiâ€" Kurudumalai's eastern slopes.

The synchronised elephant census in 2017 reported 2,761 elephants distributed across 26 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu, while the 2023 exercise indicated an estimated population of 2,961 elephants in the state.

Elephants are distributed across 20 of the 26 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu, covering 9,217.13 square km.

The film directed by Shashank Khaitan stars Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in the lead roles, marking their reunion after the streaming film ‘Bawaal’.

As per media reports, Rohit and Sanya will be seen playing pivotal roles in the family entertainer film.

Being made with an ensemble star cast, ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ marks Rohit and Sanya’s first project together which will go to the floors in a few weeks. The shooting schedule of the film will start in Mumbai before moving to Rajasthan and other international locations.

On the work front, Rohit is looking forward to the release of the third season of his streaming show 'Mismatched', and his theatrical film 'Ishq Vishk Rebound'.

Sanya, on the other hand, will be seen in 'Mrs', which was showcased at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The film is the Hindi remake of the Nimisha Sajayan-starrer Malayalam film ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’.

MV Govindan pointed out that what EP Jayarajan did was very different from what Revolutionary Socialist Party Lok Sabha MP, NK Premachandran did when he had lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Yes, what Premachandran did was wrong and it has to be seen differently from Jayarajan serving tea to Javadekar. Both are different and what Premachandran did was totally wrong," said Govindan.

Incidentally, the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) had raised a hue and cry when PM Modi invited a handful of MPs, including Premachandran, for lunch in the final session of Parliament.

After this and during Lok Sabha election campaigns, the Left had time and again alleged that Premachandran would soon join the BJP.

Govindan was speaking to the media soon after the CPI(M) brass met to discuss the Jayarajan-Javadekar tea rendezvous at the former's son's residence last year.

The issue had taken the state by storm as Jayarajan disclosed it when the state went to the polls on April 26.

"Jayarajan explained in the meeting what happened between him and Javadekar and we were convinced. We told him that he should be careful when selecting 'friends' and asked him to proceed with legal action against those who spoke against him," said Govindan.

Things went haywire last week, when a known power broker and middleman TG Nandakumar said that there was a meeting between a very tall leader of the CPI(M) and Javadekar after the former expressed his desire to join the BJP.

A day later Kerala BJP Vice President Shoba Surendran named Jayarajan and claimed that she met him three times to discuss his entry into the BJP.

Meanwhile, after the party meeting on Monday, Jayarajan told the media that all the rumours of him joining the BJP were baseless and the news of his meeting with Javadekar was part of a conspiracy.

"The media should be careful and not give space to people who say baseless things. This was a conspiracy and a fraud perpetrated by some and the media fell for it. People have now come to know everything," said Jayarajan.

Now with Govindan giving a clean chit to Jayarajan, the speculation over the veteran leader being removed from the Convenor's post has been set to rest.

However, according to critic Joseph C Mathew, "I don't think this matter will rest here, as the national leadership of the party will be looking into it."

The temperature in Palakkad, which borders Tamil Nadu's Kovai, has been high for a while and on Saturday, the IMD issued an alert that the mercury will rise to 41 degrees.

Consequent to the directive, all educational institutions have been asked to stay closed till May 2. Apart from this, all residents have been asked to stop all outdoor activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while counters will be opened to provide drinking water.

In the pandemic year 2020, the tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, constituting 8 per cent of the country's total workforce. Talent demand in this sector registered a spike of 44 per cent in August last year, according to the global technology and digital talent solutions provider NBL Services.

Serving as a vital source of foreign exchange, the travel and tourism sector contributed Rs 15.9 trillion ($191.25 billion) to the country's economy in 2022 and was estimated at Rs 16.5 trillion in 2023.

Among the job roles that will continue to be in demand experiencing (year-on-year) surges include sales (18 per cent), business development (17 per cent), chefs (15 per cent), travel consultants (15 per cent), tour operators (15 per cent), wildlife experts (12 per cent), transportation providers (15 per cent), and more, the report mentioned.

From a location perspective, the top five states attracting domestic tourists so far include Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

According to the report, the top cities driving the increase in hiring include Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kochi.

Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Chandigarh are among the tier two cities. In the coming nine years, new jobs are also expected across emerging cities in Gujarat, Lakshadweep, and West Bengal, according to the report.

The incident was reported to have taken place on Sunday night.

On Monday, the driver, Yadu, was asked to report before the District Transport Officer to give his explanation and was told not to join duty.

While the police took immediate action against him, the police are yet to register a case based on his complaint against the Mayor and her husband, CPI(M) legislator Sachin Dev, who according to the driver, waylaid his bus and parked their car in front preventing him from doing his duty.

Speaking to the media here, Rajendran said the incident involved a superfast state-run bus being driven dangerously while they were returning after a private visit.

"The bus was being driven rashly and on a few occasions it nearly hit our private car. We were upset because the driver of the bus showed us a sign which should not have been shown to women and that is why we decided to react," said Rajendran.

"Contrary to media reports, we did not waylay the bus. We saw the bus stopped before a traffic signal and we then got out of the car and our car moved to the parking area. The driver behaved very rudely and we saw him throwing away a packet after putting something in his mouth," added Rajendran.

"We decided to react because we were two women and if this is the way people behave towards ladies and if we don't react, what will happen to our sisters, mothers and other women," said Rajendran and added that this driver has previous cases against him.

However, Yadu denied all these allegations.

"I am only a temporary driver with the KSRTC and they are very big people with power and authority. I never misbehaved with them. It was they who did all that and to cover up their faults, they accused me. I was made to sit in the police station from 10.30 p.m. on Sunday till 10.30 a.m. on Monday. I have now been told that I need not join duty. I have never done any wrong and even the police did not register a case which I gave against them. I have now decided to fight the case, as I am innocent," said Yadu.

Meanwhile, the police reached the home of Rajendran to take her statement on the case that she had given.

Rajendran was in the news after she was sworn in as the youngest mayor in the country in 2020. She later married present Kerala Legislative Assembly CPI(M) legislator Sachin Dev, who is the youngest MLA in the current Kerala Assembly. She was again in the news when she arrived with her newborn baby at her office.

Though related, Traditional and modern wear represent divergent approaches to Indian fashion. Traditional wear reveres the past, preserving ancient techniques and motifs with meticulous care, while modern wear embraces innovation and global influences, reinterpreting classic styles for contemporary tastes.

Despite their differences, both categories contribute to India's vibrant sartorial landscape, offering a tapestry of options for self-expression and cultural celebration. Together, they form a dynamic fusion of heritage and modernity, embodying the enduring allure of India's rich cultural heritage in the ever-evolving world of fashion.

Traditional wear in India is more than just clothing; it is a tangible expression of the country's rich cultural heritage and identity. Spanning across regions and communities, traditional attire serves as a unifying force, transcending geographical boundaries to embody the essence of pan-Indian culture.

Whether adorned with the intricate embroideries of Banarasi sarees or the reflective brilliance of Rajasthani lehengas, each garment tells a story of craftsmanship and tradition passed down through generations. These garments are not mere fabric; they are living testaments to India's historical legacy, carrying within them the artistry and skill of centuries-old techniques.

From the vibrant hues of Gujarat's Bandhani to the graceful drapes of South India's Kanjeevaram sarees, traditional wear celebrates the diversity of Indian craftsmanship while preserving the cultural nuances that make each region unique.

What distinguishes traditional wear in India is its unwavering commitment to authenticity. These garments act as guardians of cultural heritage, carefully conserving ancient techniques and motifs originating from eras long past. From the intricate handloom textiles of Varanasi to the elaborate weaving traditions of Kanchipuram, traditional wear pays homage to the craftsmanship of yesteryears with unparalleled precision.

n an era marked by rapid modernization, traditional wear serves as a timeless link to the past, offering a sense of continuity in an ever-changing world. It embodies a profound reverence for heritage, not merely as clothing but as tangible embodiments of cultural identity and legacy. The revival of ancient techniques and motifs in modern fashion highlights the lasting significance of traditional wear, demonstrating that amid the pursuit of innovation, the treasures of history continue to serve as invaluable wellsprings of inspiration and admiration.

Modern wear in India epitomizes innovation and adaptability, charting a bold new course in the realm of fashion. Unlike traditional wear, which draws inspiration from the past, modern wear embraces contemporary aesthetics and global influences, transcending cultural boundaries to create a fusion of styles. It thrives on pushing limits, experimenting with unconventional silhouettes and materials to redefine traditional motifs in refreshing ways.

From the fusion of Eastern and Western elements in couture to the avant-garde designs that defy categorization, modern wear embodies a spirit of experimentation and individuality. It reflects a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, where designers constantly seek to anticipate and respond to shifting tastes and trends. In a world characterized by rapid change, modern wear serves as a mirror of society's evolving values and aspirations, celebrating diversity, creativity, and the limitless possibilities of self-expression.

A blend of traditional and modern wear in India complements each other, creating a vibrant tapestry of fashion that celebrates both heritage and innovation. While traditional wear preserves cultural authenticity, modern wear provides a platform for self-expression and liberation from conventional norms. Together, they offer diverse avenues for individuals to express their identity, bridging the gap between tradition and contemporary style.

This harmonious coexistence underscores the dynamic nature of Indian fashion, where the past and present converge to shape an evolving sartorial landscape. From the classic allure of a traditional Kanjeevaram saree to the modern sophistication of a designer Chikankari lehenga, each garment resonates with tales of resilience, creativity, and cultural pride, serving as steadfast reminders of tradition amidst rapid change. They embody the story of India's rich cultural heritage, inspiring generations with their profound connection to the past.

(Kavita Bajpai is a Fashion Expert and Brand Manager at LIVA)

IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in

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Sobha Surendran, the BJP's candidate from Alappuzha is part of the party's all- India team entrusted with the task of wooing leaders from other political parties.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Sobha Surendran said there were three meetings between her, Jayarajan and TG Nandakumar, a known power broker.

Sobha Surendran alleged that the first meeting was at the home of her sister's son, the second in Delhi and the third at the state-run guest house at Trissur.

"These meetings took place from January 2023. While we were talking in Delhi, Jayarajan got a call and after that he was jittery. I assume that the caller was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. I challenge Jayarajan to file a case against me for these statements I have made," said Sobha Surendran.

Meanwhile Jayarajan who arrived for the CPI(M) meeting on Monday morning told the media that all of Sobha Surendran's claims were false.

"I have never liked that lady (Sobha Surendran) and I have never met her. I have not even spoken to her over the phone. There is a deep-rooted conspiracy in all this I suspect," said Jayarajan.

Now, all eyes are on the ongoing CPI(M) state secretariat meeting's outcome.

Including Chief Minister Vijayan, quite a few top party leaders have expressed their displeasure over the Jayarajan episode, especially after his disclosure that he met senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar.

What has upset the CPI(M) is that he disclosed this on polling day, April 26.

The accused was identified as Mahesh (29) from Udaipur in Rajasthan. He was working as a salesman in a hardware shop in Chennai.

The bodies of Sivan Nair (68) and his wife Prasannakumari (62) were found at their residence at Muthaputhupettil in Avadi on Sunday night.

Sivan Nair and Prasannakumari hail from Erumeli in Kerala and have been living in Chennai for the past several years. While Sivan Nair was a Sidha doctor, Prasannakumari was a retired teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya. Relatives informed police that 800 gm of gold was missing from the residence of the deceased.

Police found a mobile phone in the residence of the deceased and an investigation commenced based on this phone and finally reached the suspect Mahesh.

A senior officer of the Avadi police station told IANS that further investigation is on to check whether robbery was the only motive behind the murder and whether more people were involved in the murder. Since the past few days, there have been several incidents of robbery in Chennai and surrounding areas.

This move comes in light of escalating attacks and threats targeting officials of the federal agency.

According to MHA sources, the initial deployment of paramilitary forces will focus on key cities, including Mumbai, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Jaipur, Ranchi, Raipur and Kochi.

"Discussions are ongoing regarding the extension of CISF cover to ED offices in other states, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhancing security measures across the board," said an MHA source.

With ED operating from 21 zonal and 18 sub-zonal offices spanning 40 cities across five regions -- west, east, central, south and north -- the agency maintains a robust pan-India presence. The headquarters located on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in Delhi already benefits from CISF protection.

The urgency for heightened security measures became apparent following an incident on January 5 this year when a mob attacked a team of ED officers from the Kolkata unit in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. Three officers were injured in the attack.

This incident served as a stark reminder of the risks faced by enforcement officials in carrying out their duties.

The Prime Minister will hold his first public meeting of the day at 12:15 p.m. in Karnataka's Bagalkote. From there, he will proceed to Maharashtra to address a public meeting in Solapur at 2:15 p.m. for BJP nominee Ram Satpute, who is pitted against Congress' Praniti Shinde.

At 4:30 p.m., Prime Minister Modi will hold a rally in Karad for party nominee Udayanraje Bhosale who is contesting against the NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar candidate Shashikant Shinde from Satara constituency.

The Prime Minister's fourth rally of the day is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Race Course ground in Pune's Hadapsar, where he will campaign for BJP nominee from Pune, Murlidhar Mohol; Shiv Sena candidate from Maval, Shrirang Barne; NCP nominee from Baramati, Sunetra Pawar; and NCP candidate from Shirur, Shivajirao Adhalarao Patil.

Major political developments that will unfold across the country today:

• BJP President J.P. Nadda will hold two public meetings and a roadshow in Telangana on Monday. He is scheduled to address public meetings in Kothagudem at 12:15 p.m. and Mahabubabad at 1:55 p.m. After public meetings, he will hold a roadshow in Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency at 5:50 p.m.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in Bihar and Assam on Monday. He will address public meetings in Bihar's Madhubani at 12:30 p.m. and Begusarai at 2:00 p.m. From there, the Home Minister will go to Assam to hold a roadshow in Guwahati at 5:30 p.m.
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold a public meeting in Gujarat's Patan at 10 a.m. on Monday. From Gujarat, the Wayanad MP will proceed to Chhattisgarh to address a public gathering in Bilaspur's Sakri at 4:15 p.m.
• Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will address a public meeting in Karnataka's Gulbarga on Monday at 3:00 p.m.
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will hold a roadshow at 2 p.m. on Monday in Rupnagar for AAP's Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat candidate Malvinder Singh Kang.

The incident involved an attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker Merchant Vessel (MV) Andromeda Star PM on 26 April, in the Red Sea.

The Navy said on Sunday that the Indian Mission deployed in the sea responded and all 22 Indian nationals, who were on board the merchant vessel, are safe.

According to the Navy, the MV was intercepted by the Navy ship and an aerial recce by helicopter was undertaken to assess the situation. The EOD team was deployed onboard MV for residual risk assessment.

A total of 30 crew (including 22 Indian nationals) are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port.

The swift action of the Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region, an official added.

According to some international reports, the attack on the Andromeda Star was claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels. After the attack, Houthi rebels had stated that the missiles targeted the tanker as part of their ongoing support for Palestinians.

Trailing 1-2 after losing the first leg in Bhubaneswar, Mohun Bagan Super Giant turned things over on Sunday, scoring through Jason Cummings (22nd) and Samad (90+3) as they emerged triumphant against the Odisha FC at the Salt Lake Stadium to become the first finalist of the ISL 2023-24 season.

The Mariners produced a professional and clinical performance to defeat the Juggernauts 3-2 on aggregate and storm into the summit clash of the competition for the second season in a row. Mohun Bagan Super Giant will now play the ISL final on May 4 at their home ground, the Salt Lake Stadium as they were the highest-ranked team from the league stages.

The Antonio Lopez Habas-coached side came into this match after a 2-1 loss to Odisha FC in the opening leg of their last-four match in Bhubaneswar. However, they set any concerns arising from that result aside in a contest that they dominated right from the beginning to the end, offering little to Odisha FC at the bastion of the Mariners in the City of Joy.

Jason Cummings opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, whereas Sahal Abdul Samad sealed the game in the added time of the second half to cap off a compelling victory by Habas’ men.

After becoming the Champions of the ISL 2023-24, Mohun Bagan Super Giant are now marching towards the ISL Cup with equal vigour with all their big stars being at the top of their game lately.

The groundwork of Cummings’ goal was laid out by his striking counterpart Dimitrios Petratos, who has not been immune to producing magical moments aplenty in this campaign. His long-range effort was spilt by Odisha FC custodian and ex-Mariner Amrinder Singh.

Cummings jumped upon the ball and netted it home to get the opener under his belt. Three minutes later, Roy Krishna tried to initiate a solo effort inside the Mohun Bagan Super Giant box, showing quick footwork amidst closed spaces inside the 12-yard area. However, a disciplined defence ensured that those efforts were kept at bay.

Thereafter, the home side had several chances coming up, but there was a lack of decisiveness upfront to bury them and grab the victory with both hands. That moment arrived deep into the game courtesy of attacking midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad, who has endured an injury-ridden season campaign thus far.

Manvir Singh cut into the inside of the left flank and shot in a powerful low cross for Sahal, which the former Kerala Blasters FC player tried to tap in on the first go. Amrinder managed to stop that effort but the deflection landed on Sahal’s head, who then somehow scrapped it into the back of the net and steered the team to the grand finale.

Buying influencers on social media seems to have boomeranged on them to the extent that some filmmakers were compelled to seek judicial intervention.

There was a time when filmmakers as well as film stars wielded influence on film critics.

The critics used to be followed by some because their views and reviews were available in the print media. The opinions of 'trade analysts' were available only from specialist magazines that only the trade folk subscribed to.

There was this system whereby a film was screened for the critics at a special preview a couple of days before its theatrical release. This was a privilege but the makers went a step further as their PR people would pass around what was known in the trade as the 'lifafa' (envelope) with cash for the critics.

Some did not accept these envelopes; others with a conscience tried to write a balanced review even after accepting the inducement.

This was a futile exercise because almost all print media had a very limited readership and nobody in the mass of viewers seemed to care for reviews. What worked was 'word of mouth': public opinion.

When the corporate production houses arrived, everything about filmmaking turned into deal-making. The critics were sidelined and the deals were struck with media houses.

Earlier, the media had renowned film critics; whether people followed them or not, they did their job diligently. After all, their views were personal. One critic may praise a film, the other may not.

Yet, the fact remained that most people did not read reviews and, at best, read the last few lines that summarised the opinion of the reviewer.

So, the media started rating a film with stars. One did not have to read the review; one had only to check the number of stars a film got.

In the new scheme of things, deals were struck between the corporate film promoters and the media. However bad or poor a film may be, the minimum stars to be given to a film would never be less than three.

While the corporate production houses did not want their films to be run down and were happy with the deal of a minimum three-star rating, the same was not enough for the film stars.

The film stars wanted five stars for their films. They started cultivating some critics directly. And, with this, the system of reviews and stars began to command a price tag.

Five lakh rupees was the upper limit. As much as Rs 5 lakh for four to five stars, depending on certain factors. In some cases, even the media management was a part of the deal.

Since the film production budgets had moved to crores from lakhs, Rs 5 lakh to read a good word about your film was good for a star. It was a deal that both parties were happy with -- the film folk as well as the critic.

With the coming of the World Wide Web, the reviews became a part of various portals. They gained importance because the reviews appeared instantly, as soon as the film's first show was over. Print media reports became secondary. Still, not everybody enjoys access to the Net.

The combination of social media, smartphones and affordable phone data followed.

As is their wont, filmmakers, stars and others concerned thought nothing of this new system. Bribes work everywhere and there was no reason why they should not on social media. They started with the ones with trade paper backgrounds. A good review and production house-furnished box office figures earned these trade experts sums of Rs 25,000 to 35,000 per positive post.

What has happened now is that every handle on social media has turned into a film trade expert. All you need is to buy a blue tick costing Rs 600 a month and you become a verified critic; your comments count!

Now, all you need is to be noticed by the people who pay Rs 35,000 to blue ticks. So, you run down a film with some detailed observations. It does not take long for the film folk concerned to approach and pacify you. Your Rs 600 per month starts making thousands for you.

More and more blue ticks seem to be popping up posting views on films. The idea is to write negative posts so that every filmmaker's PR includes you in the payroll and adds you to the influencers list!

The same filmmakers and stars who bred these self-styled film critics and/or analysts now feel trapped. How many blue ticks can you feed?

As things stand now, the film fraternity, which created these Frankensteins, has taken to communicating with social media managers asking them to pull down videos and posts that run down their films. Some such critics, in fact, post elaborate videos on YouTube running down a film.

Recently, producer Vashu Bhagnani had to write to social media to withdraw a certain post relating to his latest film, 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', because the post had violated copyright rules by using the film's posters.

It is another thing that these posters and other such material are provided by none other than the production house in anticipation of a few positive comments.

In the South, especially in Kerala, the issue has even reached the courts. The issue was again about unauthorised people running down a film. The filmmakers argued that this amounted to blackmail.

Legally, there is no law to stop anybody from posting his or her views once a film is in the public domain. All that the court could do was suggest that such social media handles refrain from commenting on a new release till 48 hours after its theatrical release. It was also observed by the court that negative reviews were posted by those to whom the makers did not agree to pay!

Tough Times For Cinemas

Cinema screens are facing a virtual famine of supply. They are either forced to close down totally or to operate just one or two screens and keep the others shut.

The films released in the past few weeks have not been able to sustain at the box office.

At some cinemas, 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' had to be replaced by another feature on Monday, four days after its release. For 'Maidaan', buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer had to be introduced the very next day after its release. There are no major films due for release at least in the next five weeks.

The IPL, upcoming exams and the general elections have made this period unsuitable for a new release. The one film that braved the odds last Friday was 'Ruslan' and the results are for all to see.

A trade source has it that multiplex managements now plan to offload 50 to 60 cinemas that are not lucrative. For the rest, they plan to offer a revenue-share model, instead of the present system of rentals.

Then there were films based on various 'files' that the makers had unearthed after the success of 'The Kashmir Files', like 'The Sabarmati Report' and 'The Diary of West Bengal'.

The makers of these films due for release in May have been directed by the Election Commission to postpone their plans till after the voting gets over, which is on June 4.

The reason is that these films deal with sensitive subjects in the same manner as did their predecessors, 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story'. One shudders to even wonder what made certain entrepreneurs venture into building 14- or 16-screen properties!

Buying influencers on social media seems to have boomeranged on them to the extent that some filmmakers were compelled to seek judicial intervention.

There was a time when filmmakers as well as film stars wielded influence on film critics.

The critics used to be followed by some because their views and reviews were available in the print media. The opinions of 'trade analysts' were available only from specialist magazines that only the trade folk subscribed to.

There was this system whereby a film was screened for the critics at a special preview a couple of days before its theatrical release. This was a privilege but the makers went a step further as their PR people would pass around what was known in the trade as the 'lifafa' (envelope) with cash for the critics.

Some did not accept these envelopes; others with a conscience tried to write a balanced review even after accepting the inducement.

This was a futile exercise because almost all print media had a very limited readership and nobody in the mass of viewers seemed to care for reviews. What worked was 'word of mouth': public opinion.

When the corporate production houses arrived, everything about filmmaking turned into deal-making. The critics were sidelined and the deals were struck with media houses.

Earlier, the media had renowned film critics; whether people followed them or not, they did their job diligently. After all, their views were personal. One critic may praise a film, the other may not.

Yet, the fact remained that most people did not read reviews and, at best, read the last few lines that summarised the opinion of the reviewer.

So, the media started rating a film with stars. One did not have to read the review; one had only to check the number of stars a film got.

In the new scheme of things, deals were struck between the corporate film promoters and the media. However bad or poor a film may be, the minimum stars to be given to a film would never be less than three.

While the corporate production houses did not want their films to be run down and were happy with the deal of a minimum three-star rating, the same was not enough for the film stars.

The film stars wanted five stars for their films. They started cultivating some critics directly. And, with this, the system of reviews and stars began to command a price tag.

Five lakh rupees was the upper limit. As much as Rs 5 lakh for four to five stars, depending on certain factors. In some cases, even the media management was a part of the deal.

Since the film production budgets had moved to crores from lakhs, Rs 5 lakh to read a good word about your film was good for a star. It was a deal that both parties were happy with -- the film folk as well as the critic.

With the coming of the World Wide Web, the reviews became a part of various portals. They gained importance because the reviews appeared instantly, as soon as the film's first show was over. Print media reports became secondary. Still, not everybody enjoys access to the Net.

The combination of social media, smartphones and affordable phone data followed.

As is their wont, filmmakers, stars and others concerned thought nothing of this new system. Bribes work everywhere and there was no reason why they should not on social media. They started with the ones with trade paper backgrounds. A good review and production house-furnished box office figures earned these trade experts sums of Rs 25,000 to 35,000 per positive post.

What has happened now is that every handle on social media has turned into a film trade expert. All you need is to buy a blue tick costing Rs 600 a month and you become a verified critic; your comments count!

Now, all you need is to be noticed by the people who pay Rs 35,000 to blue ticks. So, you run down a film with some detailed observations. It does not take long for the film folk concerned to approach and pacify you. Your Rs 600 per month starts making thousands for you.

More and more blue ticks seem to be popping up posting views on films. The idea is to write negative posts so that every filmmaker's PR includes you in the payroll and adds you to the influencers list!

The same filmmakers and stars who bred these self-styled film critics and/or analysts now feel trapped. How many blue ticks can you feed?

As things stand now, the film fraternity, which created these Frankensteins, has taken to communicating with social media managers asking them to pull down videos and posts that run down their films. Some such critics, in fact, post elaborate videos on YouTube running down a film.

Recently, producer Vashu Bhagnani had to write to social media to withdraw a certain post relating to his latest film, 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', because the post had violated copyright rules by using the film's posters.

It is another thing that these posters and other such material are provided by none other than the production house in anticipation of a few positive comments.

In the South, especially in Kerala, the issue has even reached the courts. The issue was again about unauthorised people running down a film. The filmmakers argued that this amounted to blackmail.

Legally, there is no law to stop anybody from posting his or her views once a film is in the public domain. All that the court could do was suggest that such social media handles refrain from commenting on a new release till 48 hours after its theatrical release. It was also observed by the court that negative reviews were posted by those to whom the makers did not agree to pay!

Tough Times For Cinemas

Cinema screens are facing a virtual famine of supply. They are either forced to close down totally or to operate just one or two screens and keep the others shut.

The films released in the past few weeks have not been able to sustain at the box office.

At some cinemas, 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' had to be replaced by another feature on Monday, four days after its release. For 'Maidaan', buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer had to be introduced the very next day after its release. There are no major films due for release at least in the next five weeks.

The IPL, upcoming exams and the general elections have made this period unsuitable for a new release. The one film that braved the odds last Friday was 'Ruslan' and the results are for all to see.

A trade source has it that multiplex managements now plan to offload 50 to 60 cinemas that are not lucrative. For the rest, they plan to offer a revenue-share model, instead of the present system of rentals.

Then there were films based on various 'files' that the makers had unearthed after the success of 'The Kashmir Files', like 'The Sabarmati Report' and 'The Diary of West Bengal'.

The makers of these films due for release in May have been directed by the Election Commission to postpone their plans till after the voting gets over, which is on June 4.

The reason is that these films deal with sensitive subjects in the same manner as did their predecessors, 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story'. One shudders to even wonder what made certain entrepreneurs venture into building 14- or 16-screen properties!

The deceased were identified as E. Lakshmi, 90, of Palakkad, and U.M. Viswanathan, 53, of Chokli in Kannur district.

Lakshmi was found in a canal in Elapully with burn injuries on Saturday and was taken to a nearby hospital where she succumbed. Her post-mortem examination conducted on Sunday revealed that she died of sunstroke.

Viswanathan was admitted to a hospital due to uneasiness and nausea after he suffered burn injuries while he was digging a well. He also died on Sunday and the death was also attributed to sunstroke.

A heat wave warning was announced for Palakkad, Kollam, and Thrissur districts till Monday evening.

In Palakkad, the temperature rose by 5.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

The Kerala government has announced a week's holiday for Anganwadi centres in the state due to the high temperatures in the state, and the State Disaster Management Authority has advised the people to guard themselves from heatstroke and asked people to stay indoors.

Off-spin all-rounder Alice Capsey, though, brought a twist by removing Pooja Vastrakar and Harmanpreet Kaur with five deliveries. With five runs needed off the last ball, debutant all-rounder Sajeevan Sajana walked in, with many wondering which way the game would end.

For the last ball, Capsey fired in a full delivery and Sajana danced down the pitch to heave over the long on fence for six, sparking jubilant scenes in the MI dugout. Sajana screamed in delight over making her team win in an intense under-pressure situation and announcing herself in style on the biggest stage for women's cricket in India with a victorious last-ball six.

Cut to now, and Sajana, on the back of her good WPL showing for MI, is on the verge of potentially playing for India when their five-match series against Bangladesh begins at Sylhet from Sunday afternoon.

Apart from chipping in with some overs of off-spin, Sajana's skillset as a hard-hitting finisher is something which India have been looking for in terms of lower-order muscle, considering she had a strike rate of 158 in WPL 2024, which was the highest by an Indian batter in the tournament.

Kiran More, the former India men's wicketkeeper-batter who served as MI women's General Manager in WPL 2024, recalled how Sajana's last-ball unforgettable finish and her excelling as a finisher was a result of the team's support staff enhancing her abilities and attitude in the lead-up and during the tournament.

"Specific roles are given to each individual in the team and the coaches we have, they do a wonderful job. We had to change Sajana's mindset a little bit because when players represent their state teams, they have a different set up, and mindset there. But here we decided, 'Ok you can go, and hit the first ball for six or boundary. If you get out, doesn't matter'."

"She was a little bit hesitant initially when this mindset change came, but a lot of credit goes to the support staff for putting in a lot of efforts. They put in her mind that you have to be positive from the word go. They talked to her about the mindset when needed to hit a boundary or six on the last ball, or winning the match by scoring 15-20 runs in the last over."

"She was also made to practice a lot for scenarios like this in the nets before the WPL began. Once Sajana started believing in herself on this, we as support staff gave her a lot of positive inputs. We told her, 'It doesn't matter if you score two or three zeros. We want you to go and hit first ball for six or boundary'."

"At MI, we give a lot of specific roles to individual players and that's how they do well. Once you trust them, you have to believe in them because they have the abilities to do well and they will definitely deliver when it matters the most, which is what Sajana did for us in the opening match," said More in an exclusive conversation with IANS, facilitated by the franchise.

More, also an MI talent scout, noticed Sajana, who represents Kerala in domestic cricket, in the trials before the WPL auction happened in December 2023, where she was picked up by the franchise for INR 15 lakhs. His first impression was that Sajana was different from other players at the trials, and more importantly, a team person first apart from having that tall built for smashing sixes.

"She is a lovable person and is always ready to help anyone. Basically, when people come at the trials, they have more individual thoughts and think about their own things. But Sajana was different, ready to help people, running around and very talkative on the field. She wanted to do well for herself and for the team as well."

"When you look at a player, you recognise their character very quickly as we always look them from a team player perspective. Definitely, it was not an easy call to straight away get Sajana in the team, but there was always something different about her."

"We were looking at a player who can come and hit a six or boundary from the first ball, which most of the Indian girls don't do. A couple of players do it and Sajana is a player who does that. We saw it and made a call that she can be a part of Mumbai Indians team," he added.

In MI's last league match of WPL 2024, Sajana was promoted to open the batting alongside Hayley Matthews, where she smashed a 21-ball 30, before being castled by a jaffa from Ellyse Perry. More said the MI support staff had analysed how Sajana can be used in the opening role when she was brought on board for WPL 2024.

"We believed in her and that's why we said that day, 'Okay, she should be sent to open the innings and give us a good start'. In T20s, a person goes, plays some shots and gets a good 30-40 runs in power-play, which we felt she can do that for us."

For years, MI has successfully unearthed domestic talent through its intense and wide scouting team who made a successful transition to playing international cricket like, like Pandya brothers – Hardik and Krunal, and Jasprit Bumrah. Suryakumar Yadav earned an India call-up after doing well for MI in three-four seasons.

The same scouting model is now being replicated for women's cricket, where six members in India's squad, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Sajana, for Bangladesh T20I tour come from the MI set-up in the WPL. Last year, MI unearthed left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque, who became the breakout star of WPL 2023 with 15 scalps and is now in Indian team.

"When we go for scouting, we always believe local talent is very important for us. When you have local players in the team who are match winners, that becomes the key for us to be champions. We look at the local players and groom them. Our job is not to just select them; we take care of them all around the year."

"MI is a nursery of Indian cricket. I don't want to talk much about the men's, as we have produced a lot of cricketers. But for women's, we have started off, like Amanjot and Saika have made a huge impact in Indian women's team. We look and create a player who will perform for MI, where the standard is so high, as getting into the team is very difficult."

"If someone gets into MI team and does well, I think she has got a good opportunity to walk straight away into Indian team. That's what happened to Saika and Amanjot. Now with Sajana in Indian team, it's a beginning for Mi as we'll produce a lot more players for the national side. There are a couple of players who we have in the team and you will see them in future playing for India," stated More.

Hailing from a humble family in Mananthavady, a village in Kerala's Wayanad district, Sajana's journey to entering the national set-up hasn't been a smooth ride. But faith in herself, motivation and commitment to excel in the game despite facing numerous challenges has been a phenomenal ride.

In a 2018 Tamil sports-drama movie Kanna, Sajana had played a cameo role of a player nursing the ambition to play for India alongside actor Aishwarya Rajesh and was even in the playing eleven which played against Bangladesh. If Sajana is handed her India debut in Bangladesh, it will be the case of reel turning into reality.

More believes this is just the beginning for a terrific talent like Sajana to leave her mark at the international level. "She's a very hardworking and very disciplined player; manages herself very professionally and is an outstanding bowler. When you go and play at the top level, you cannot remain at that level only. You have to keep on improving and your graph has to be really be on top all the time, because now a lot of people will be watching her."

"They will be thinking, what are her positives and weaknesses? What she has in batting and bowling? It's a good start for her, but she'll have to really work extra hard, and put her mind in areas to improve in the game and take it forward from there. I don't want to put any pressure on her. She has to just go and perform in the way she has done for Mumbai Indians."

More also thinks Sajana fits in well into the requirements of Indian team who are now on the road to preparing for the Women's T20 World Cup, to be held later this year in Bangladesh. "Whatever specific role is given to her by Indian team coach Amol Mazumdar, she has to perform in that for the team. Performing for India is a different ball game altogether as you're representing your country.

"That feeling of playing for India gives one goosebumps, which is something all of us dream for. When I look at the Indian team batting order, Sajana fits in very well, as they need a player at number six or seven who can go and hit boundaries and sixes. Plus she can give you a couple of bowling overs and fields very well."

"That's why the coach and selectors must have thought, 'Oh wow, she can be a good X-factor for Indian women's cricket team and can deliver for us'. So with Sajana coming in, the team will definitely look stronger in that area. You'll see their performances will improve and hopefully India becomes champion in this year's (T20) World Cup."

The senior CPI(M) leader said that the meeting with Prakash Javadekar took place casually a year ago -- to be precise on March 5, 2023, "but the subject has been maliciously raked up now for vested political motives targeting him".

Speaking to media persons here, Jayarajan, who is facing flak from the CPI(M) and CPI, has categorically denied any political overtures in the meeting.

The CPI(M) leader, who was the industries minister earlier, said that Javadekar had reached his son’s flat accidentally and he (Jayarajan) was surprised at the visit. He said that the incident took place in 2023 and it was during the birthday celebration of his grandson at his son’s flat in Thiruvananthapuram.

Jayarajan said that bringing out in the open his one-year-old casual meeting with the BJP leader now was a planned conspiracy.

It may be recalled that on Lok Sabha polling day (April 26) in Kerala, the news of Jayarajan’s meeting with the BJP leader had surfaced and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly came out against this.

CM Vijayan had said that Jayarajan had earlier also entered into such friendships which were not good.

A high-profile power broker from Kerala, T.G. Nandakumar had earlier said that he had accompanied Prakash Javadekar during the meeting with Jayarajan. This infuriated the Chief Minister who said that Jayarajan should be careful in entering into relationships with "such tainted individuals" without naming anyone.

Meanwhile, the CPI has come out against Jayarajan. The party state secretary, Benoy Viswam said that Jayarajan should not have met Javadekar. The CPI state committee has also called for the removal of Jayarajan from the post of Left Democratic Front (LDF) convenor.

The CPI(M) unit in Kerala is in an unprecedented situation and allegations of a senior leader of the stature of Jayarajan entering into confabulations with the BJP national leadership have put the party on the back foot.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Congress appears to lack a coherent national mission and, instead, is rife with confusion, contradiction and internal division.

Poonawalla further said that Lovely's resignation reflects a growing discontent among the Congress leaders and workers towards the party's high command.

"Today, many within the Congress feel insulted by their leadership's attitude, leading to a wave of resignations. The irony is that the same Congress, which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had previously sought to cleanse, is now being pardoned by its high command, evidenced by the alliance formed with the AAP in Delhi," said Poonawalla.

The BJP spokesperson criticised the Congress' stance towards the AAP, highlighting contradictions between their approach in Punjab and Delhi. "While the Congress in Punjab accuses the AAP of associating with extremists and being corrupt, in Delhi, they have allied with the same party, suggesting inconsistency in their principles," he said.

Moreover, the BJP leader expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of candidates fielded by the Congress in Delhi, alleging that many of them lack local connections and electoral viability.

The BJP leader further criticised the lack of achievements by the AAP government in Delhi, suggesting that even Congress leaders acknowledge this fact. However, he said that the Congress high command appeared deaf to the concerns of its leaders, leading to a series of defections from the party across the country.

"The cracks within the party's alliances, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala, further underscore the disarray within the Congress ranks," he claimed, while adding that the root cause of these issues lies in the Congress high command's self-serving focus, neglecting the welfare of its workers.

Sreekanth (47) was found murdered in his autorickshaw.

Elathur police told media persons that Sreekanth, according to neighbours, was seen drinking with the accused Nithin and another person on Saturday night.

Sreekanth was found murdered in his auto early Sunday. Nithin has been taken into custody

A car belonging to Sreekanth was gutted a few days before.

In another incident, a person Libin Jose (26) was stabbed to death at Pala in Kottayam district.

Libin, hailing from Ernakulam, reached Pala along with his friends to attend a family function and during a drunken brawl, he was stabbed with scissors.

Accused Abhilash was also severely injured during the brawl and was admitted to a hospital in Pala in serious condition.

In the third incident, a person Manish was stabbed to death at Ernakulam. Another person Ajith was seriously injured during the attack.

In a post on social media platform X late Saturday, BJP Information & Technology cell chief Amit Malviya shared a video of the Congress leader and said: "Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the Rajput community, for this offensive comment."

In the video, the Wayanad MP was heard saying: "It was the rule of kings and Maharajas, they could do whatever they wanted. If they wanted someone's land, they took it away. The Congress party and our workers, along with the people of the country, achieved independence, brought democracy and gave the Constitution to the country."

The video was reportedly from a Lok Sabha poll campaign rally in Karnataka during which Rahul Gandhi made the remarks.

The state, which went to the polls on Friday, recorded 71.16 per cent voter turnout -- down from the 77.67 per cent recorded in 2019.

Congress General Secretary and the party candidate at Alappuzha K.C.Venugopal on Saturday attributed the decline in voter turnout to "poor" management, saying that the elections were conducted in a "worst-ever" manner and "voters faced troubles due to the poor management of the polling".

"...polling got delayed much beyond the scheduled time and it has now come to our notice that 90 per cent of the booths where the polling got delayed were those where the Congress-led UDF had a clear edge," said Venugopal.

Claiming that pro-Left personnel "hijacked" the entire poll process, he said: "The voters' list was prepared by these staff members and many voters after coming to the polling booths realized that their names are not included in the list. Despite all such negative tactics, the Congress-led UDF will win all the 20 seats."

Reacting to Congress' allegations, Kaul said the entire poll process went smoothly.

"Compared to the previous polls, this time the functioning of the EVMs was excellent. In 95 per cent of the 25,231 booths, polling got over at 6 p.m. and by 8 p.m., polling was completed in 99 per cent of the booths. It was in a few booths at the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency, where polling continued beyond 8 p.m.," said the CEO.

"The delay occurred because of the arrival of a good number of voters and the poll officials took time to verify their documents. Every voter who arrived at the booth before 6 p.m. was given a coupon and everyone was allowed to vote," he added.

Kaul further said that the deployment of poll officials this time done through a software to avoid any external influence. "Like always, this time too, all the poll officials were given extensive training. Considering the unfavourable climatic conditions and also the political events, the turnout was excellent," he added.

The film also stars Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani.

The makers of the film made the announcement about the release of the film on Saturday precisely two months before the scheduled date.

Not long ago, the makers gave a glimpse to Big B's character of Ashwatthama in the film. The Bollywood icon was seen covered in bandages in the clip. The clip impressed the fans with the stunning de-aging transformation of the legendary actor.

The character reveal video, a true pan-India teaser, also showcased a blend of languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and English.

Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, 'Kalki 2898 AD' is being directed by Nag Ashwin.

"The humanitarian issue of the release of the ship's crew is of our serious concern and we have announced consular access, release, and extradition to their ambassadors in Tehran," Abdollahian was quoted as saying by the Iranian Foreign Ministry during his discussion with Rangel on MSC Aries - the seized Israeli ship carrying the Portuguese flag.

Last week, Deck Cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, one of the 17 Indian crew members on board the seized vessel, returned home as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had spoken to Abdollahian on the matter, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee works not just within the country, but also outside.

Joseph, who is from Kerala's Thrissur, reached the Cochin International Airport on April 18.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it is in constant touch with not just the Iranian authorities, but also the Indian crew and their family members.

On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the crew's return depends on "some technicalities" and "contractual obligations" that need to be fulfilled first.

"We had requested consular access for the 16 people, which we got. Our officers went there and met them. They have been in continuous contact with their families. They are in good health, and not facing any problems on the ship. As for their return, there are some technicalities involved in it. They have some contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled first, so their return depends on when those are completed," said Jaiswal.

Portugal's new government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro had also demanded the immediate release of the ship MSC Aries, trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The release of the crew was also demanded, which must be treated with dignity while the ship remains imprisoned, as the explanations provided so far are not considered consistent," said the Portuguese Foreign Ministry as it summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Lisbon on April 16.

"The humanitarian issue of the release of the ship's crew is of our serious concern and we have announced consular access, release, and extradition to their ambassadors in Tehran," Abdollahian was quoted as saying by the Iranian Foreign Ministry during his discussion with Rangel on MSC Aries - the seized Israeli ship carrying the Portuguese flag.

Last week, Deck Cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, one of the 17 Indian crew members on board the seized vessel, returned home as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had spoken to Abdollahian on the matter, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee works not just within the country, but also outside.

Joseph, who is from Kerala's Thrissur, reached the Cochin International Airport on April 18.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it is in constant touch with not just the Iranian authorities, but also the Indian crew and their family members.

On Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the crew's return depends on "some technicalities" and "contractual obligations" that need to be fulfilled first.

"We had requested consular access for the 16 people, which we got. Our officers went there and met them. They have been in continuous contact with their families. They are in good health, and not facing any problems on the ship. As for their return, there are some technicalities involved in it. They have some contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled first, so their return depends on when those are completed," said Jaiswal.

Portugal's new government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro had also demanded the immediate release of the ship MSC Aries, trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The release of the crew was also demanded, which must be treated with dignity while the ship remains imprisoned, as the explanations provided so far are not considered consistent," said the Portuguese Foreign Ministry as it summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Lisbon on April 16.

Addressing a Press meet here, Kharge said, "People of Wayanad wanted Rahul Gandhi as their MP. That is why he has chosen to fight from that seat."

He mentioned that the names of the Congress candidates for both Amethi and Raebareli seats will be announced sometime later.

"Wait for a few more days. We will announce our candidates in both the seats," the senior Congress leader said, adding that two BJP stalwarts Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani also changed their Lok Sabha seats many times.

Meanwhile, Kharge also took a jibe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks that "if Congress President wants, he can also join the BJP".

Reacting to this, the Congress President said, "I am the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha and my opponent is Modi and not the CM of here. So, I will speak to Modi and let him (Assam CM) face our people here."

State Congress President, K.Sudhakaran said it was Chief Minister Vijayan himself, who admitted that he had met Javadekar.

"Vijayan said they (he and Prakash Javadekar) met during a public meeting, we (Congress) wish to ask when and where did that public meeting take place. Did you (media) ever cover any event where both Vijayan and Javadekar took part. Vijayan should explain where and why they met," Sudhakaran added.

In reply to a query about Javadekar's statement that he has met leaders from CPI-M, Congress and the CPI and when asked if he (Sudhakaran) has met him came the reply, "I just do not know if Javadekar is black or white, I have never met him."

"Vijayan knows that he requires the help of the BJP in light of a few cases that he (Vijayan) and his daughter is presently involved in," the State Congress President added.

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan said last month that he had asked a query if Jayarajan is the Convenor of LDF or the BJP-led NDA.

"Now with Jayarajan's own admission, what I have said is now clear. This clandestine meeting that Jayarajan had with Javadekar was with the knowledge of Vijayan, but now Jayarajan has been turned into a villain. We have been saying for long that there is a secret pact between the CPI-M and BJP and it has now surfaced out in the open," Satheesan added.

"In this issue, the main accused is Vijayan and now it appears Jayarajan has been made the scapegoat," the Opposition leader said and asked CM Vijayan to come clean on the meetings with Javadekar.

Addressing a Press meet here, Kharge said, "People of Wayanad wanted Rahul Gandhi as their MP. That is why he has chosen to fight from that seat."

He mentioned that the names of the Congress candidates for both Amethi and Rae Bareli seats will be announced sometime later.

"Wait for a few more days. We will announce our candidates in both the seats," the senior Congress leader said, adding that two BJP stalwarts Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani also changed their Lok Sabha seats many times.

Meanwhile, Kharge also took a jibe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks that "if Congress President wants, he can also join the BJP".

Reacting to this, the Congress President said, "I am the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha and my opponent is Modi and not the CM of here. So, I will speak to Modi and let him (Assam CM) face our people here."