LIVE: Sasikala, Ilavarsi sent to jail in disproportionate assets case

She visited Jayalalithaa's memorial before leaving for Bengaluru

Over 500 police officials can be seen a t the Golden Bay resort, wheer the MLAs are staying. The police battalion has reached with Kuvathur village.

Sasikala visits MGR Memorial House before heading to Bengaluru.

AIADMK MLA Saravanan files complaint against Sasikala and Edappadi Palaniswami for allegations including kidnapping, says report

Sasikala and two others have started their journey to Bengaluru to surrender before the court. She will visit Jayalalithaa's memorial at Marina Beach before going to Bengaluru.

Sasikala asked for two weeks time to surrender from the Supreme Court, but apex court turns down.

She has now filed a plea before Bengaluru Special Court seeking two weeks time to surrender citing ill health.

Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Thambidurai says soon review petition will be filed against the SC order.

He said, "I am sure Chinna Amma (Sasikala) will come back soon and will rule the State."

He also welcomed the appointment of Dinakaran as Deputy General Secretary of AIADMK.

Sasikala will be driven down to Bangalore to surrender.

Pannnerselvam camp led by Minister Pandiarajan planning to visit the private resort, where Sasikala supporting MLAs are staying, to urge them to rethink decisions taken yesterday and stay united. Read more

Also Read:

Jaya, Sasikala had jewellery worth Rs 2.51 crore: Supreme Court

Sasikala back in jail, AIADMK infighting rages

Sasikala surrenders at Bengaluru court after adverse SC order

Sasikala loyalist vs OPS: Dynasty politics gripped TN in a matter of hours

Uttarakhand Elections: The odds of a new chief minister

In the 2007 polls, BJP came out as largest party with 35 seats, while the Congress won 21 seats

Amid tight security, the polling for the single-phase Uttarakhand assembly elections 2017 began on Wednesday and the one question in everyone’s mind is whether this Himalayan state, which was carved out from the gigantic Uttar Pradesh in 2000, is going to have a new chief minister or the incumbent supremacy will continue.

The rebel party leaders, certainly, hold the key in the outcome in the hilly state where two prominent parties – the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Congress — are trying every bit to seek the favour of every section of voters. Both parties expelled many leaders ahead of the elections, who then walked into the rival camps. While the BJP has fielded candidates, who have served the Congress, from 13 seats, the grand old party is trying its luck with seven erstwhile-BJP MLAs.

In the last leg of the election campaign, the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi asked to waive off loans worth crores which were taken by some 50 rich families, instead of an initiative against black money as Prime Minister Narendra Modi projected.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi, in his last rally in Pithoragarh, tried to strike an emotional chord where the majority of people are in the Army and other security forces. Starting from OROP and surgical strike, he went on to announce many schemes for the betterment of Army personnel.

Reports of the cold war between Uttarakhand Elections 2017 Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kishore Upadhyay emerged as the polls drew near. Besides fighting with the BJP, Harish Rawat is also combating for power within the state unit of his party.

The results of the polls will be out on March 11, 2017.

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Win at all costs? PM Modi's reforms meet realpolitik in Uttar Pradesh polls

Maurya, BJP UP President, said his party is moving towards cleaner and transparent politics

Elections 2017 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to clean up politics. The man running the ruling party's campaign in a crucial state election, who is facing 11 criminal cases, says it will take a while.

"At a time of elections, one has to forget every other aspect and just focus on victory," said Keshav Prasad Maurya, as his three-vehicle convoy carrying police with automatic rifles sped through the countryside.

Polls open on Saturday in Uttar Pradesh, with a population of some 220 million, and on the ground Modi's loftier aims for a new India seem far away.

Maurya, the state's president for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says the charges against him are false and politically motivated; unless he is convicted, they do not prevent him from holding office.

His bosses are not concerned.

An official at the prime minister's office referred questions about Maurya and his criminal cases to the BJP, where an aide to party president and Modi confidant Amit Shah said there was no problem.

The charges are related to Maurya protesting on behalf of Hindu causes, said the aide, and anyone who does so "is not a criminal in the party's eyes."

"Slowly," Maurya told Reuters, "the BJP will be moving towards a direction where it will only have politicians who are absolutely clean and have no cases of corruption against them." (Read More)

Yes, Sasikala will be Tamil Nadu's CM. For how long is the real question

When the 61-year-old V.K. Sasikala – ‘chinnamma’, as she has anointed herself – is sworn in as the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu this week, she will be the third woman to hold the state’s top political job. But whether she will have a long innings in office, like her mentor, the late J. Jayalalithaa, or a short one like Janaki Ramachandran, will depend upon her ability to ensure the continuing loyalty of her party legislators.

On Sunday afternoon, all 136 MLAs attending the ruling AIADMK party legislature meeting in Chennai lined up to unanimously choose her as chief minister. In the best traditions of authoritarian politics, her name was proposed by none other than the serving – and now outgoing – chief minister, O. Panneerselvam or OPS. But Sasikala’s show of strength amongst AIADMK legislators cannot hide the fact that the party’s rank and file cadres, and the wider public in the state, do not approve of the manner in which the reins of government have been placed in chinnamma’s hands.

Panneerselvam will submit his resignation to governor C. Vidyasagar Rao as soon as the latter returns to Chennai from Mumbai. Read more

Infosys founders raise a stink on governance, question Vishal Sikka's pay

Board told about Sikka's pay hike, generous severance packages, disclosures

Founders of Infosys have flagged concerns over transparency and corporate governance at second-largest software exporter in the country. They have questioned the compensation package of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vishal Sikka and the severance package to its former chief compliance officer David Kennedy.

The founders, led by N R Narayana Murthy, have asked how the company would achieve the $20-billion target by 2020, as set by Sikka, in an uncertain global environment, said sources. Last month, Murthy, Nandan Nilekani and Kris Gopalakrishnan raised their concerns with the board.

The current projections are contrary to how Murthy built the company, with his mantra of “under promise over delivery”. Murthy and the five founders had stepped down as promoter-shareholders to ensure that their influence over the company reduced after they moved away from executive roles.

Since taking over as CEO in August 2014, Sikka has pushed the company to adopt design thinking, brought in automation and invested in artificial intelligence platforms, anticipating a shift in customer spending from traditional services to cloud. The shift in culture towards a less-people more-software-driven business approach also has seen several executives quit.

It includes former chief financial officer Rajiv Bansal and Kennedy, who resigned on December 31.

“There is a question mark on disclosures. Infosys was a gold standard in corporate governance. It doesn’t have that premium now,” said a person familiar with the developments.

Since Sikka took over as the company’s first non-founder CEO, several questions have been raised at Infosys that, analysts say, have not been answered satisfactorily. Read More

After SP-Cong pact; BSP, BJP rework strategy in western UP

Western UP has 140 Assembly seats spread over 26 districts which will vote in first two phases

With the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance going strong after initial hiccups, Bahujan Samaj Party and Bharatiya Janata Party have been forced to rework their strategies in the western belt of UP Assembly Elections 2017 where Muslim voters are a major force to reckon with.

Western UP has 140 Assembly constituencies spread over 26 districts which will go to polls in the first two phases on February 11 and 15.

BSP, which was expecting a cake walk in the wake of feud in the Yadav family, to provide a strong alternative to BJP, got a blow with the coming together of two young faces of Indian politics - Akhilesh and Rahul - who do not have any previous record of hobnobbing with the saffron party.

To win over Muslims, BSP fielded has fielded as many as 50 Muslim candidates in the first two phases as it felt that Muslim vote along with its own core Dalit vote bank would see its candidates through.

Also Read : UP polls 2017: Mulayam backs Akhilesh, to campaign for SP-Cong alliance

However, with the coming together of SP and Congress, the community got an option to choose between the two dispensations sending BSP knocking the doors of Muslim leadership and drum up the Muzaffarnagar riots with renewed vigour.

The fact that Muslims are important in the scheme of things for SP too can be seen in the party fielding Muslims on 42 of the 140 western UP seats. Interestingly on 28 seats in the first two phases, both BSP and SP have fielded Muslim candidates.

If the Mayawati-led party is focussing on providing a "riot-free" and "crime-free" state on coming to power, the SP alliance is reopening the pages of BSP's history, especially its (BSP's) alliance with the saffron party.

"Can the community ever pardon Mayawati for 'falsely' implicating 43 youths on terror charges during her regime which is yet to be proved," posed a Samajwadi Party leader.

BSP is also out to tar Akhilesh Yadav as "anti-Muslim" with the new entrant in the party Afzal Ansari, brother of mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, recalling a statement by Mulayam Singh Yadav in this regard that Akhilesh was working against the interest of Muslims.

Ansari has resolved to campaign all over the state against the "anti-Muslim" Akhilesh. Read More

UP Inc welcomes Union Budget 2017

Industrialists laud focus on agriculture, MSME sectors and its objective to maintain fiscal prudence

Uttar Pradesh Inc has welcomed the Union Budget Of India for its purported focus on the agricultural and Micro, Small and Medium (MSME) sectors and its objective to maintain fiscal prudence.

The general opinion among the industrialists and industry chambers was the Budget had primarily focused on the farm sector, rural population, youth, poor and underprivileged health care, infrastructure, financial sector for stronger institutions, speedy accountability, public services, prudent fiscal management and tax administration.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) UP State Council chairman and Tasty Dairy Specialties Limited managing director Atul Mehra said the Budget had accorded highest priority to rural and agricultural sectors due to its large employment potential.

"The Budget would certainly boost the Indian economy as all the key sectors have been considered and provided for therein," he said.

"Reduction of corporate tax for MSMEs with turnover of less than Rs 50 crore is a major relief for more than 96 per cent of the assesses," senior CII office bearer and CP Milk & Food Product Ltd director Jai Agarwal underlined.

Meanwhile, MSME chamber Indian Industries Association (IIA) national president Manish Goel welcomes Income Tax (IT) reduction for companies with annual turnover of Rs 50 crore to 25 per cent. Read More...

England loses eight wickets for eight runs as India wins T20 series

By winning the third Twenty20 international, India also secured the series 2-1. England thus ended their subcontinental tour battered, befuddled and beaten in all three formats.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's maiden six-wicket haul turned things around for India as the hosts beat England by 75 runs in the third and final Twenty20 International to clinch the series 2-1 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Chasing a mammoth 203, India vs England were on track till the 13th over scoring 119/2, before Chahal's magical spell (6/25) put the visitors on the back foot as they surrendered meekly to lose their last eight wickets for just eight runs and end on 127.

England started well with opener Jason Roy (32) and Joe Root (42) putting on 47 runs for the second wicket before the latter combined with skipper Eoin Morgan (40) and added 64 runs for the third wicket to put them in a commanding position.

But thereafter it was Chahal all the way, who triggered a collapse by sending back Morgan and Root off consecutive deliveries before pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) added to their woes by striking in the very next over to dismiss wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler for a duck.

England's batsmen were in such a hurry that it hardly took Chahal another over to take three more wickets of Ben Stokes (6), Moeen Ali (2) and Chris Jordan (0) and dash any hopes of a recovery.

Tottering at 127/9, Bumrah dismissed tail-ender Tymal Mills (0) to seal the deal in India's favour.

India's biggest wins in Twenty20 Internationals

MARGIN	OPPONENT	VENUE	YEAR
90 runs	England	Colombo RPS	2012
75 runs	England	Bangalore	2017
73 runs	Australia	Mirpur	2014
69 runs	Sri Lanka	Ranchi	2016
54 runs	Zimbabwe	Harare	2015

From 119/2 to 127 all out - England lost their last 8 wickets for only 8 runs in 19 balls. This is the second worst 8-wicket collapse for any team in international cricket across all three formats. New Zealand lost 8 wickets for only 5 runs in a Test match way back in 1946.

Worst 8 wicket collapses in international cricket

COLLAPSE	FOR	VS	VENUE	YEAR	FORMAT
5/8	New Zealand	Australia	Wellington	1946	Tests
8/8	England	India	Bangalore	2017	T20Is
8/10	New Zealand	Pakistan	Auckland	2001	Tests
8/10	Sri Lanka	West Indies	Sharjah	1986	ODIs
8/10	Australia	South Africa	Cape Town	2011	Tests
8/11	England	West Indies	Lord's	1979	ODIs

Young India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal initially became the first Indian bowler to record a five-wicket haul and then went on write his name in the history books by finishing with figures of 6 for 25.

Chahal is now only the second bowler after Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis to snare six wickets in an innings in T20 Internationals.

Best bowling figures in Twenty20 Internationals

FIGURES	PLAYER	VS	YEAR
6/8	Ajantha Mendis	Zimbabwe	2012
6/16	Ajantha Mendis	Australia	2011
6/25	Yuzvendra Chahal	England	2017
5/3	Rangana Herath	New Zealand	2014
5/6	Umar Gul	New Zealand	2009

 Best bowling figures by an Indian in Twenty20 Internationals

FIGURES	PLAYER	VS	YEAR
6/25	Yuzvendra Chahal	England	2017
4/8	Ravichandran Ashwin	Sri Lanka	2016
4/10	Barinder Sran	Zimbabwe	2016
4/11	Ravichandran Ashwin	Australia	2014
4/12	Harbhajan Singh	England	2012

This was India's second highest total in T20Is batting first.

India's highest totals in Twenty20 Internationals (batting first)

TOTAL	VS	VENUE	YEAR	RESULT
218/4	England	Durban	2007	Won
202/6	England	Bangalore	2017	Won
199/5	South Africa	Dharamshala	2015	Lost
196/6	Sri Lanka	Ranchi	2016	Won
192/5	Pakistan	Ahmedabad	2012	Won
192/2	West Indies	Mumbai	2016	Lost

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India Vs England T20 final: 6-yr-old boy injured by Suresh Raina's six

The child returned to watch the remaining match after he was treated at a medical centre

A six-year-old boy, sitting in the stands of Chinnaswamy Stadium during the final of T20 series between India and England, was injured when a six off

s bat hit him, but returned to watch the remaining match after he was treated at a medical centre at the venue.

"Satish was injured after one of Raina's sixes landed on his left thigh. He was rushed to the Karnataka State Cricket Association's medical centre at the stadium for treatment," Dr Mathew Chandy told PTI.

"He complained of minor pain. We gave him the first aid and after 10 minutes, he requested to be relieved to watch the rest of the match. We had to give in his demand," the doctor said.

He said it could have been fatal had the ball hit him on the head or neck "because a six-year-old is not that strong to sustain such an injury".

In April 2012, a 10-year-old girl was hit in the face during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors. Read More