Two days after the Congress won the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, the party on December 10 announced Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as the Chief Minister. Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Mukesh Agnihotri will be his deputy.
After two days of hectic deliberations, the party ‘high command’ decided the name of Sukhu, the party’s campaign chief, a former State president, and the MLA from Nadaun.
After his election as leader of the Congress Legislature Party, party leaders went to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake claim to form the government. The swearing-in ceremony is slated for December 11.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is one of the party’s observers for Himachal Pradesh, announced the decisions of the CLP.
Sukhu said the priority of the government would be to fulfil the promises made to the people of the State.
A party source confirmed that the approval surrounding Sukhu’s name for the CM post was given from the party’s ‘high command’, and the CLP decision was a mere ‘formality’.
Bhupendra Patel meets Gujarat Governor, stakes claim to form government
Gujarat caretaker Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met Governor Acharya Devvrat and staked a claim to form a government after he was elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party, two days after the party won a record mandate in the State elections.
Patel will be sworn in as the 18th CM of the State at a function at the Helipad ground near the new Secretariat in Gandhinagar on December 12. He replaced Vijay Rupani in September 2021 ahead of the Assembly elections.
Five killed, many trees uprooted as Cyclone Mandous made landfall with fierce winds and downpour
Cyclone Mandous that crossed the north Tamil Nadu coast near Mamallapuram during early hours of December 10 with fierce winds and heavy downpour, claimed five lives, uprooted about 500 trees and caused power disruptions till afternoon in many areas in the city. Of the five persons who died, four were electrocuted in different locations.
Heavy rains pounded several areas in north Tamil Nadu and particularly in and around Chennai that came under the cyclone’s track. Vembakkam in Tiruvannamalai received a whopping 25 cm of rainfall during the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on December 10 following by Panapakkam in Ranipet district with 20 cm and Kancheepuram (19 cm). The cyclone had dumped heavy rains in and around Chennai and Avadi recorded the highest amount for the day with 17 cm.
Cyclone Mandous had emerged as a strong cyclone as it maintained a wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph as it entered the land. It moved at a speed of 12-14 kmph and made landfall between 11.30 p.m. on December 9 and 1.30 a.m. on December 10.
The system weakened into a well-marked low pressure area over north interior Tamil Nadu at December 10 evening. It is very likely to move nearly west-southwestwards and weaken further. Rain bands had shifted to north interior parts of Tamil Nadu as the system moved further inland.
While rain intensity largely reduced over north coastal areas on December 10, places like Vellore (3.4 cm); Tirupattur (1.2 cm); Dharmapuri (1.1cm); Kalavai in Ranipet district (2 cm) between 8.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.
On December 11, light to moderate rains may continue over many places with isolated heavy rains over 12 districts.
Bangladesh vs India third ODI | India beat Bangladesh by 227 runs, lose series 1-2
Ishan Kishan smashed the fastest double hundred in the history of ODI cricket as India beat Bangladesh by 227 runs in the inconsequential third and final match.
Kishan blasted 210 off 131 balls, while Virat Kohli (113) also slammed his first ODI hundred since August 2019 to power India to a massive 409 for 8. Kishan, who came into the side in place of an injured Rohit Sharma, slammed as many as 24 fours and 10 maximums. Washington Sundar also chipped in with 37 to take the team past the 400-mark.
In reply, Bangladesh were all out for 182 in 34 overs with Shakib Al Hasan top-scoring with a 50-ball 43 for the hosts.
Shardul Thakur (3/30) did most of the damage, while Axar Patel (2/22) and Umran Malik (2/43) claimed two wickets each.
For Bangladesh, Ebadot Hossain (2/80), Shakib Al Hasan (2/68), Taskin Ahmed (2/89), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1/76) and Mustafizur Rahman (1/66) were among wickets.
Bangladesh Opposition party holds massive anti-government rally demanding PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation
Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party held a “grand rally” in capital Dhaka, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and fresh elections. Seven lawmakers of the BNP announced their resignations to protest against the Hasina government.
Dhaka’s Golapbagh area, the venue of the rally, was under heavy security surveillance. The party activists chanted “Sheikh Hasina is a vote thief” as the party leaders addressed the rally in the eastern part of Dhaka.
Tens of thousands of BNP supporters rallied in Dhaka, Bangladesh, demanding PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and install a caretaker before next general elections expected to be held in early 2024. | Photo Credit: AP
Residents of the capital, including office-goers, faced difficulties and many were seen waiting for public transport on the road since morning. Activists say the rally could attract one million people. The ruling Awami League activists also staged several pro-government processions.
BNP lawmaker Rumin called the incumbent government “autocratic” and alleged it came to power by “rigging the polls”, torturing leaders of the opposition party, carrying out forced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and engaging in corruption.
Meanwhile, police arrested several senior BNP leaders, including secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and scores of activists under various charges ahead of the rally.
The BNP is demanding Hasina’s resignation in favour of fresh elections under a caretaker government instead of ruling Awami League, fearing the polls to be rigged by her administration. Bangladesh will hold its next general election in 2024.
In Brief:
Russian forces have “destroyed” the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while Ukraine’s military reported missile, rocket and air strikes in multiple parts of the country. Zelenskyy said the situation “remains very difficult” in several frontline cities in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk Provinces. “Bakhmut, Soledar, Maryinka, Kreminna. For a long time, there is no living place left on the land of these areas that have not been damaged by shells and fire,” he said. “The occupiers actually destroyed Bakhmut, another Donbas city that the Russian army turned into burnt ruins,” he added.
Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.
