Sanju Samson tops KPL 2025 auction, bought by Kochi Blue Tigers for ₹26.8 lakh
Thiruvananthapuram: Sanju Samson has emerged as the costliest player in the second season of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) after being snapped up by the Kochi Blue Tigers for a record-breaking ₹26.80 lakh.
According to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), the KPL 2025 auction concluded on Saturday with an intense bidding war involving Kochi Blue Tigers, Trivandrum Royals, and Thrissur Titans, all vying for the Rajasthan Royals captain. Ultimately, Kochi secured Samson's signature.
Wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod was signed by Aries Kollam Sailors for ₹12.80 lakh, while all-rounder Jalaj Saxena went to Alleppey Ripples for ₹12.40 lakh. M S Akhil, the Most Valuable Player of the previous season, was acquired by Kollam Sailors for ₹8.40 lakh.
Out of 168 available players, 91 were picked in the auction. Teams from Kollam, Alappuzha, and Kozhikode had retained four players each prior to the auction, while Thiruvananthapuram retained three.
The auction took place in the presence of Kerala’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty. Each team was allowed to spend up to ₹50 lakh. Kochi Blue Tigers exhausted their full budget, while Kollam and Calicut spent ₹49.80 lakh each, Trivandrum Royals ₹49.40 lakh, Alleppey Ripples ₹49.35 lakh, and Thrissur Titans ₹49.65 lakh.
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Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
