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In Saffron ‘Southern Strategy,’ Amit Shah Urges BJP Officials to Target 50 Key Constituencies for Victory

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In a focused effort to strengthen its presence in southern Tamil Nadu, Union Home Minister and BJP strategist Amit Shah met with party officials on Sunday to prioritize 50 constituencies with potential for victory in the 2026 assembly elections. Speaking at a high-level strategy meeting in Madurai, he urged party members to remain optimistic about future prospects and collaborate closely with allies, minimizing any friction. Sources revealed that he emphasized the necessity to pinpoint and concentrate on these 50 winnable seats. Among those present were BJP state president Naininar Nagendran, former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP National Executive member K. Annamalai, and Sudhakar Reddy, the party’s Tamil Nadu in-charge.

To energize the troops, Shah suggested that the 2026 assembly elections could mark a pivotal moment for the BJP, as the party aims to match its Lok Sabha vote share of 19 percent—a formidable challenge, considering it had previously never surpassed 3 percent in assembly elections. In the 2021 assembly polls, the BJP, allied with AIADMK, managed to secure just four seats. With the AIADMK rejoining the NDA and Shah’s determination to target 50 viable seats, the party is gearing up for the upcoming elections with renewed confidence.

The importance of fostering relationships with allies was stressed, particularly following initial tensions between the AIADMK and local BJP factions regarding coalition agreements. Despite the AIADMK’s initial denials about rejoining the NDA, the BJP’s national leadership intervened to address these concerns and maintain unity.

Shah’s visit to Madurai closely follows the ruling DMK’s General Council meeting held in the city, which is often viewed as a political bellwether for Tamil Nadu. The BJP’s interest in southern Tamil Nadu is strategic; in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidate Rama Sreenivsana finished second, unsettling the Dravidian political landscape. Additionally, allies such as former Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) also secured second places in their respective constituencies. With Nainar Nagendran, who represents the influential OBC Thevar community, now leading as state president, the BJP aims to build on these past successes.

Arriving late Saturday night, Shah visited the renowned Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple the following morning. He received a warm welcome from the head of Madurai Aadheenam (a Saivite mutt), Gnanasambanda Desiga Swamigal, who presented him with a saffron shawl and spiritual texts. After a traditional greeting from the temple priests, Shah offered prayers alongside party leaders, including state president Nainar Nagendran.

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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.

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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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