Congress MP's proposal to shift Kerala capital to Kochi rejected by everyone including party

Vartha Bharati | 02-07-2023 | 19:21:00 IST

Thiruvananthapuram, July 02: Congress MP Hibi Eden's move to propose shifting of Kerala's state capital to Kochi from Thiruvananthapuram has been widely criticised across political lines, including his own party which rejected it and termed it as ''illogical'' and ''impractical''.

The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala also made it clear that Thiruvananthapuram would remain as the state capital and termed Ernakulam MP Eden's move as ''immature'' and aimed at improving his chances in the general election next year.

The Left party said that no one in his right mind would make such a suggestion in view of all the government departments and facilities available in Thiruvananthapuram. Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, said he completely rejects the proposal by Eden as it is ''illogical''.

He also said there was some ''mischief'' on the part of the Centre in seeking views on the Bill by Eden to shift the state capital even before he was given permission to table it in the House.

''Hibi Eden has the right to move such a Bill, but it is an illogical decision. I completely reject it,'' he said.

He also tweeted -- ''Some light relief for the weekend! Kerala: Congress MP ⁦@HibiEden wants the state capital shifted to Kochi, @CMOKerala notes its impracticality, @ShashiTharoor says 'wholly without merit'.'' K Muraleedharan, Congress MP and son of late party leader and former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, too shared similar views when he said Eden's move without consulting the grand old party was ''unacceptable''.

He said that Thiruvananthapuram was the state capital ever since Kerala came into existence. There were a lot of facilities, like an international airport and places of worship of all faiths, within the city and therefore, there was no question of moving the capital to Kochi.

''I do not know what prompted Eden to make such a proposal, but the state capital cannot be shifted on someone's wish. He should have consulted the party before such a move,'' he said.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly V D Satheesan said that while Eden was like a younger brother to him, the moment he came to know about the proposal, he immediately conveyed his ''strong dissatisfaction'' to the Ernakulam MP.

Speaking to reporters in Kochi, Satheesan said that Eden has been asked to not press the Bill in the Lok Sabha and to withdraw it.

''He will not press the Bill and will withdraw it,'' the LoP said.

Satheesan said that it was a private member's bill and does not indicate the stand of the party which does not approve of the proposal.

''Congress does not want shifting of the capital to Kochi which is pressed for space as it is. Thiruvananthapuram is the best place for it,'' he added.

CPI(M) leaders and state Ministers P Rajeev and V Sivankutty too criticised Eden's move.

Sivankutty said that the state government has already indicated its disagreement regarding the suggestion to the concerned authorities.

''The suggestion is impractical and immature. It will not be allowed,'' he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

Rajeev said the proposal was an indication of Eden's decision to contest the general elections from Ernakulam and nothing more than that. ''His party leadership has criticised his move and rejected it,'' he said.

CPI(M) leader M M Mani was of the view that no one in his right mind would make such a suggestion.

Eden has not yet reacted to the criticism of his decision.

Meanwhile, some members of the BJP's youth wing Yuva Morcha held a protest march to the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram against Eden's decision and also burned his effigy there.

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Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested

26-04-2026 ¦ 26-04-2026 IST

Photo: @realdonaldtrump/Truth Social

Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.

The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.

Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.

Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.

Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.

Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.

“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.

Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.

The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.

Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”

“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.

Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.

“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.

“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.