53-year-old woman, daughter killed in mishap in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A woman and her 19-year-old daughter were tragically killed when a vehicle crashed into a crowd in this district, police said on Monday.
Two others were injured in the incident occurred in Kallambalam police limits around 10 pm on Sunday.
The victims have been identified as Rohini, 53, and her daughter Akhila, both natives of Perettil. They were returning home after participating in a temple festival when the mishap occurred.
A recovery vehicle heading from Varkala towards Kavalyoor crashed into the crowd returning from the event, police added.
The vehicle hit several objects before ploughing into the crowd. The driver fled the scene, police said. People suspect that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
However, the police stated that an investigation is going on attempts are made to apprehend the driver, identified as Tony, a resident of Cherunniyur.
The injured were admitted to a private hospital in Varkala.
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SP has ended contract with I-PAC due to fund constraints: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party has severed its association with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to a lack of funds.
He dismissed speculations that the termination of contract was because of recent election results.
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the party had engaged I-PAC for a brief period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but could not continue the arrangement.
"Yes, we had an association. They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.
The I-PAC is a political consultancy firm known for managing major election campaigns across the country.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has also been associated with the organisation in the past and has worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and the Congress.
In a lighter vein, Yadav took a swipe at the ecosystem of political consultancies. "We thought that if we have to work with a 'winning agency', then there are several big companies."
He said that some people suggested conducting surveys, hiring another firm, keeping a social media company, and even engaging agencies for negative campaigning against other parties.
"There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known. I can get those for you as well," Yadav said.
Yadav rejected the suggestion that the decision to end the deal was influenced by recent election outcomes in states such as West Bengal.
"There is no such thing. Do not ask questions based on baseless reports. That is not true," he said.
"This is not the reason for ending the agreement. We simply do not have enough funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
