Racer K E Kumar dies following crash at national championship
Chennai (PTI): K E Kumar, a well-respected racer, died on Sunday following a crash in the second round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship at the Madras International Circuit here. He was 59.
The incident occurred when Kumar's car came in contact with that of a competitor during the saloon cars race this morning. The car slid across the track and landed on the roof after slamming into a fence.
The race was immediately stopped (red flag). Within minutes, Kumar was extricated from the wreckage and transferred into an ambulance before being shifted to a nearby hospital after a preliminary examination at the track's medical centre. Despite the best efforts of the hospital's doctors, he succumbed to his injuries.
Chairman of the Meet Vicky Chandhok said: "It is a most unfortunate incident. Kumar was an experienced racer. I have known him for several decades as a friend and competitor. The MMSC and entire racing fraternity mourn his passing away and convey heartfelt condolences to his family."
Chandhok added that the national governing body for the sport FMSCI and the organisers, MMSC, have launched an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, as a mark of respect to Kumar, who was a life member of MMSC, the remainder of the day's schedule was cancelled.
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BJP declares 3 candidates for Maharashtra council bypolls
Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI): The BJP on Sunday announced the names of three candidates, including a close aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a former MLA, for the March 27 by-elections to five seats in the state legislative council.
The by-elections have been necessitated due to the victory of the five sitting MLCs in the November 2024 assembly polls.
Three of the MLCs who entered the assembly were from the BJP, followed by one each of the Shiv Sena and the NCP. All three parties are constituent of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in the state.
The BJP on Sunday announced the names of Sandip Diwakarrao Joshi, former mayor of Nagpur and a close aide of Fadnavis, Sanjay Kishanrao Kenekar, general secretary of the state BJP unit, and former MLA Dadarao Yadavrao Keche, for the council bypolls.
Keche won the 2009 and 2019 assembly elections from Arvi constituency in Wardha district of the Vidarbha region. He was denied ticket for the 2024 polls as the BJP then fielded Fadnavis' former personal secretary Sumit Wankhede from the Arvi seat.
The last day for filing nominations by candidates is March 17.
The byelections of the MLCs are from the MLA quota in the 288-member legislative assembly.
The BJP has 132 MLAs, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41, making them comfortably placed to win all the five seats, given their dominating presence in the lower house.
The last date of scrutiny of nominations is March 18, while candidates can withdraw from the contest on March 20. If needed, voting will take place on March 27 with the MLAs forming the electoral college.
