News and Views

Thiruvananthapuram: The notification for Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry will be issued on Friday.

Filing of nominations begins with the issue of notification in all the three States.

The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 30. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 2. The polling will take place on May 16 and the counting on May 19.

Thiruvananthapuram: The election manifesto of United Democratic Front promises “houses for all, health for all and food for all”.

The manifesto, released on Wednesday, proposes a slew of welfare measures for the poor on the lines of what had already been implemented by the UDF government. Level of unemployment is to be brought down to four per cent and the number of BPL families to one per cent of the population.

Kerala government submitted a memorandum to the Centre on Tuesday seeking assistance for relief and rehabilitation of victims of Puttingal temple fireworks tragedy.

The memorandum notes that the accident, which claimed 107 lives, had caused an actual loss of Rs. 117.35 crores. More than 1000 persons had been injured and experts had opined that the region would require a long term rehabilitation plan including psycho-social care. So, the accident should be treated as a national calamity.

Thiruvananthapuram: The election manifesto of Left Democratic Front, released by convenor of the Front Vaikom Viswan here, proposes review of contributory pension scheme for government employees with a view to reinstate statutory pensions.

Measures will be made for all pensioners aged above 60 to receive their pensions at home.

Kerala government is refusing to provide information on several hundred decisions taken by the Cabinet prior to the declaration of elections in the State.

Several of these decisions, which had been leaked out, have become controversial and the KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran himself had to demand their withdrawal.

Some of these decisions had since been withdrawn while the details of other decisions are kept confidential.