Blow to YSRCP, boost for BJP as Andhra’s first woman Muslim MLC Zakia Khanam switches sides
Amaravati: In a political shift, Mayana Zakia Khanam, the first Muslim woman member of the Andhra Legislative Council, has resigned from the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Though her move caught many in the YSRCP off guard, the Andhra Pradesh BJP unit turned out in full strength to welcome Zakia Khanam into the party. Among those present were state BJP president and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari, state Health Minister and BJP MLA Y Satya Kumar, along with several other senior leaders, as reported by The Indian Express on Thursday.
Purandeswari stated that Zakia Khanam was inspired to join the saffron party by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She emphasised that the BJP is committed to “delivering welfare beyond the lines of caste and religion” with a focus on uplifting the underprivileged and marginalised. "Khanam’s induction reflects a major shift and strengthens our commitment to inclusive leadership, while signaling a growing trust for the party among minorities,” TIE quoted Purandeswari as saying.
With her exit, the total number of MLCs who have resigned from YSRCP has risen to six. The other MLCs who have resigned from the party so far include Karri Padmasri, Pothula Sunitha, Jayamangala Venkataramana, Balli Kalyan Chakravarthy, and Marri Rajasekhar.
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Mangaluru to host international workshop on clinical neuroimmunology
Mangaluru: An international workshop on clinical neuroimmunology will be held in Mangaluru on March 7 and 8 at Avishkar Hall of KS Hegde Hospital, ABSMIDS.
The two-day academic programme is being organised by the Centre for Advanced Neurological Research of Nitte (Deemed to be University). The event is expected to bring together neurologists, clinicians and researchers from India and several other countries.
According to the organisers, the workshop aims to improve the diagnostic skills of practising neurologists through exposure to advanced imaging methods, visual diagnostic tools and biomarker analysis used in the diagnosis of neuroimmunological disorders.
The programme will feature hands-on training sessions and demonstration-based learning. Activities will include live Optical Coherence Tomography workshops, video-assisted demonstrations and interactive discussions with experts from Canada, the United States, South Asia and the UAE.
The workshop is being conducted under the leadership of Dr. Lekha Pandit, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Centre for Advanced Neurological Research at KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (Deemed to be University), who is serving as the course director for the programme.
Dr. Asha Kishore, Director of the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Centre at Aster Medicity, Kochi, will inaugurate the workshop as the chief guest. The inaugural function will be presided over by Prof. M. S. Moodithaya, Vice-Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed to be University).
Registrar Dr. Harsha Halahalli and Dr. Sandeep Rai, Dean of KS Hegde Medical Academy, will also be present at the inaugural ceremony.
