Rashtrapati Bhavan to host wedding for the first time with President Murmu’s approval
New Delhi: For the first time in history, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will serve as the venue for a wedding, following approval from President Droupadi Murmu. According to a report by Mint, the wedding will take place at the Mother Teresa Crown Complex within the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises.
The rare honour has been extended to Poonam Gupta, an assistant commandant in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who currently serves as the personal security officer (PSO) to the President. She will marry Avneesh Kumar, also an assistant commandant in the CRPF, currently posted in Jammu and Kashmir. The wedding is scheduled for February 12.
President Murmu is reportedly impressed with Gupta's performance, leading to the decision to host the ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, the guest list will be limited, and there has been no official confirmation from Rashtrapati Bhavan on the event.
Who is Poonam Gupta?
Poonam Gupta ranked 81st in the UPSC CAPF exam and has previously served in Naxal-affected regions of Bihar. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, a postgraduate degree in English Literature, and a B.Ed from Jiwaji University in Gwalior.
If held as planned, this will mark the first time a wedding is hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which serves as the official residence of the President of India and a venue for hosting foreign dignitaries.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
