For Last Village Along LoC In Kashmir, A First This Independence Day
New Delhi: For the first time since Independence, the last village along the Line of Control in north Kashmir will be able to watch the Prime Minister's 15th August speech live from the Red Fort, Reports NDTV.
For the last 72 years, Keran village with 12,000 families had electricity only for three hours in the evening between 6 and 9 pm via a diesel generator set. This is the first time they will have electricity in the morning on Independence Day.
A power grid that reaches the village has not only provided them with electricity for 24 hours but also has rid the residents of noise and pollution.
"Since last one year we had put the work of electrification of this border area on mission mode and now we have accomplished our goal," Kupwara District Collector Anshul Garg told NDTV.
Electrification is not the only project that the local administration has taken up. Even roads are being improved.
Located on banks of river Kishan Ganga, Keran is cut off from Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district for almost six months every year because of its harsh winters.
"This year, BRO (Border Roads Organisation) has given a task to complete macadamised roads before winter sets in," Mr Garg, a young 2013-batch officer, said.
Kupwara shares a 170 km of the Line of Control with Pakistan and is known for its infiltration routes.
It has five assembly segments and 356 panchayats. "In all, elections in this region registers the highest turnout in voting," a senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir administration said.
According to the Home Ministry, not just the border district but the newly-designated union territory has seen a lot of development in the last one year.
The Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) projects that have were languishing for a decade have been revived, the government claims.
According to the Home Ministry, 2,273 projects worth Rs 5,979 crore have been sanctioned out of which 506 projects have been completed and 963 would be completed by March 2021.
"The centre has released Rs 1,400 crore as 14th Finance Commissions grants which were withheld for more than three years," said Sheetal Nanda, Secretary (Rural Development- Jammu Kashmir).
According to her, Rs 65 crore has been sanctioned by centre under mid-day meal scheme. "Joint accounts have been set up now in names of village heads or sarpanches and heads of school to avoid any controversy," she said.
he Home Ministry says that sarpanches have also started making payments for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA scheme under which Rs 1,000 crore has been released by the centre.
The government has also sanctioned plans to construct 100 new panchayat offices and repair another 100, many of which were destroyed in the violence that erupted in the state following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Annamalai left out of BJP’s candidate list for Tamil Nadu polls, party cites High Command decision
Chennai/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, triggering political discussion after the absence of former state president K Annamalai from the roster.
Despite being widely seen as the party’s most prominent face in the state and a key figure in its southern expansion strategy, Annamalai was not fielded in the list. Senior leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union Minister L. Murugan from Avinashi, have been nominated.
Responding to questions on the omission, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership. He expressed confidence that all 27 candidates would emerge victorious in the polls.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020 and rapidly rose to prominence, had earlier been replaced as state chief by Nagendran. Known for his aggressive political style and grassroots outreach, he has been instrumental in amplifying the party’s presence in Tamil Nadu, a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.
In a message posted on X, Annamalai congratulated the candidates and reaffirmed his commitment to the party. He said he would campaign actively for BJP and NDA nominees, expressing confidence in the alliance securing a decisive mandate. He also criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, calling it ineffective and self-serving.
The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Seat-sharing arrangements allocate 169 constituencies to the AIADMK, 27 to the BJP, 18 to the Pattali Makkal Katchi, 11 to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, five to the Tamil Maanila Congress, and one seat each to the Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi and Puratchi Bharatham.
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23 across all 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4. The primary contest is expected between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, although actor-turned-politician Vijay is also positioning himself as a potential challenger, raising the possibility of a multi-cornered contest.
#WATCH | Chennai | Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran says, "A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2026
On Annamalai's name not appearing in the recently released list, he says, "This is a… https://t.co/pDd0HodSAW pic.twitter.com/29gkGK9AaP
