Thomas Chandy elected NCP's Kerala unit chief
Kochi, April 28: Former state Minister and three-time legislator Thomas Chandy was on Saturday unanimously elected the new President of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Kerala unit.
Chandy replaces acting President T.P. Peethamabaran, who was holding the post after the sudden demise of Uzhavur Vijayan last year.
Senior party leader Praful Patel, who was present on the occasion, told the media that the new set of office-bearers of the NCP state unit was elected unanimously.
Owner of a business empire in Kuwait, Chandy first entered politics through the Democratic Indira Congress, a party floated by Congress veteran K. Karunakaran in 2005.
In the 2006 Assembly polls, DIC was an ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front. After the polls, the DIC merged with the NCP.
NCP has two legislators in the Kerala Assembly -- Thomas Chandy from Kuttanad and A.K. Saseendran from Elathur. Both were re-elected from their seats in the last Assembly polls.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
