New Delhi, Nov 12: In a significant organisational overhaul, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday, approved the appointment of nine new All India Congress Committee secretaries and the reallocation of five existing ones, effective immediately.

The announcement, made through a press release by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, comes as part of the party’s ongoing efforts to strengthen state units and streamline coordination ahead of crucial electoral battles.

The newly appointed AICC secretaries include Srinivas B.V. for Gujarat, TN Prathapan for Puducherry and Lakshadweep, Sanjana Jatav for Madhya Pradesh, Sachin Sawant for Telangana, Rehana Rayaz Chisti for Maharashtra, Hina Kaware and Suraj Thakur jointly for Punjab, Jetti Kusum Kumar for Odisha, and Nivedith Alva for Tamil Nadu.

These leaders will work closely with respective state in-charges and general secretaries to oversee party activities, campaign strategies, and grassroots mobilisation.

Simultaneously, the Congress high command has reallocated existing secretaries to optimise operational efficiency.

Usha Naidu, previously handling other responsibilities, has been reassigned to Madhya Pradesh.

Bhoopendra Marawi moves to Jharkhand, Devendra Yadav to Gujarat, Pargat Singh to Jammu and Kashmir, and Manoj Yadav to Uttarakhand.

These changes reflect a strategic recalibration of leadership roles to address regional challenges and bolster organisational depth.

The appointments signal the Congress leadership’s intent to inject fresh energy into state units, particularly in opposition-ruled or electorally critical regions.

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, both BJP strongholds, receive focused attention with dedicated secretaries, while Punjab gets dual representation to manage internal factionalism and prepare for potential early Assembly polls.

The inclusion of young and women leaders like Hina Kaware, Sanjana Jatav, and Nivedith Alva underscores the party’s emphasis on diversity and generational renewal.

Party insiders view the reshuffle as a precursor to intensified political activity in 2026, with Assembly elections due in Tamil Nadu, Assam, and West Bengal.

The reallocation of experienced hands like Pargat Singh to Jammu and Kashmir indicates heightened focus on the Union Territory following recent Assembly formation.

Similarly, placing Srinivas B.V. in Gujarat aims to revive Congress fortunes in a state where it has struggled to counter the BJP’s dominance.

The AICC has directed all appointed secretaries to immediately assume charge, conduct district-level reviews, and submit action plans within a fortnight.

Regular performance assessments will be instituted to ensure accountability.

This restructuring follows a similar organisational reset in Uttarakhand earlier on Tuesday, where 27 district presidents were named under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, highlighting a systematic approach to rebuilding the party apparatus from the booth to the national level.

The latest appointments are expected to enhance coordination between the Congress high command and state units, enabling sharper electoral strategies.

Mumbai: The Dindoshi sessions court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of 27-year-old student Parul Rana, accused of extorting Rs 1.50 crore from a city-based advocate. The complainant, known for representing India internationally, alleged that Rana threatened to make compromising photographs viral if he failed to pay. The court, while dismissing the plea, observed that sexual relations between consenting adults are not an offence in India.

It noted that partial receipt of money through online transactions was undisputed and that specific allegations of extortion existed. The FIR prima facie showed that Rana possessed compromising photographs and threatened to make them public. According to the complainant, he met Rana in May 2024 through a mutual friend and stayed in touch. On June 6, while attending a conference in Geneva, Rana allegedly sought financial help for a medical emergency, prompting him to transfer Rs 2.5 lakh.

He paid another Rs 2.5 lakh in July and Rs 5 lakh from a friend’s account on July 9. The two travelled to Bali later that month, with expenses borne by him, during which Rana allegedly demanded Rs 20 lakh. Suspecting deceit, he began distancing himself. The advocate further alleged that on July 31, Rana and her sister stayed at his house, taking Rs 10 lakh while leaving. He claimed to have given Rana Rs 1.50 crore in cash and Rs 50 lakh online. As he withdrew from the relationship, Rana allegedly threatened to implicate him in a false rape case and make his photographs viral.

He also reported threats from Rana and her family to him and his wife, leading to a complaint at Goregaon police station. Rana denied receiving Rs 1.50 crore and argued that no cheating offence was established. She claimed inadequate time to attend a police summons due to residing in another state. However, the court noted her refusal to appear, citing fear of arrest in another case, and concluded that her conduct showed unwillingness to cooperate. Citing her criminal antecedents and role as the prime accused, the court refused anticipatory bail, stating her absence could impede the investigation.

Chennai, Nov 12: With the state’s daily electricity demand averaging 16,000 megawatts (MW), Tamil Nadu is gearing up for a massive power procurement exercise worth over Rs 25,100 crore over the next five years to ensure uninterrupted supply during both regular and peak hours.

According to the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), the state currently generates an average of 3,000 MW from thermal plants, 1,000 MW from hydropower stations, and around 150 MW from gas-based plants.

The remaining demand is met through central generating stations and private power companies. To address the increasing consumption, particularly during high-demand periods, the state has floated tenders to procure 500 MW of electricity every day during peak hours for the next three years. In addition, a five-year tender has been issued to purchase 1,000 MW of power round the clock from private producers.

The peak hours, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and again from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., are the most expensive period for electricity procurement. Even if the maximum tariff is capped at Rs 8 per unit, the daily expenditure for 500 MW would amount to nearly Rs 3.2 crore, translating to about Rs 3,500 crore over three years.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour supply agreement for 1,000 MW over five years is projected to cost approximately Rs 21,600 crore. Together, the total outlay for both arrangements will reach Rs 25,100 crore.

Officials noted that the decision was made to prevent outages during the upcoming northeast monsoon season and to maintain grid stability as the state’s demand continues to rise steadily.

The government is also exploring renewable energy integration, with a focus on solar and wind sources, to gradually reduce dependence on costly thermal and imported power.

The new procurement strategy is expected to provide crucial support to Tamil Nadu’s industries and domestic consumers alike, ensuring a stable and reliable power supply despite fluctuating generation levels from hydel and renewable sources.