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Annamalai Set to Meet Shah as BJP-AIADMK Alliance Gains Momentum

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Speculation around the increasing momentum of alliance discussions between the BJP and AIADMK ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections is on the rise. This follows the visit of BJP’s state president K. Annamalai to the national capital on Thursday, just a day after the meeting between Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), the general secretary of the AIADMK, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

A faction within the Tamil Nadu BJP, including former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, is advocating for the re-integration of AIADMK into the NDA. Recently, Annamalai has also softened his previous stance regarding the Dravidian party. His visit to Delhi, where a meeting with Shah is anticipated, has sparked heightened interest in political circles.

Although EPS claims that the revival of the alliance was not discussed during his talks with Shah and that only state-related issues were on the agenda, he continues to assert that the DMK remains the AIADMK’s primary adversary, welcoming those who aim to unseat it from power. Unlike in previous situations, EPS has adopted a more nuanced approach, not entirely ruling out the possibility of rejoining the NDA, noting that any alliance could be formed closer to election time. Despite having exited the NDA before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he has refrained from criticizing the Union government or BJP’s national leadership, viewing Annamalai as his rival. Both hail from the influential OBC Goundar community in the Western Tamil Nadu region, particularly the Kongu Belt, where both are vying for influence within the historically AIADMK-dominated area, according to analysts.

Annamalai’s efforts to assemble a BJP-led coalition and position his party as a viable alternative to the DMK may lead to collaboration with smaller parties like PMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress, led by former Union Minister GK Vasan, for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, even potential allies are urging the inclusion of AIADMK to enhance their chances against the ruling DMK in the assembly elections. The BJP faced challenges in 2024, failing to secure any seats despite numerous campaign visits from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In light of this, the national leadership of the party seems to be reevaluating its strategy for Tamil Nadu.

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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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