Jagan Mohan Reddy resigns from Congress

It's official. YSR's son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has announced his resignation from the Congress in the first step towards launching his own party. Jagan was the MP from Kadapa. His mother, Vijayalaxmi, has also resigned as MLA from Pulivendula Assembly seat. Jagan has sent a five-page resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi in which he reportedly expresses his "hurt" over the party trying to divide his family - his father's younger brother, Y S Vivekananda Reddy, has been offered the position of Home Minister. In doing so, the Congress wants to force YSR loyalists to choose between the party and Jagan Mohan. The new cabinet headed by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in later this week on Wednesday. Jagan has been at war with the Congress over the last few weeks. He has used his TV channel, Sakshi, to attack senior Congress leaders including the PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. In turn, the Congress has made it clear that it will not tolerate his habitual dissidence.more

India beat New Zealand by 40 Runs in 1st ODI

Virat Kohli's first century batting first, his fourth overall and second in a row, set up an eventually comfortable win for India, who are yet to lose an international in the current home season. India did lose their way in the last 10 overs of both innings. They lost their last six wickets for 26, and were given anxious moments by a 67-run stand ninth-wicket stand between Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum.

Gautam Gambhir, leading India for the first time, soothed the nerves when 41 runs were needed in five overs with a lovely catch running backwards to remove McCullum. R Ashwin provided reasons why he can replace Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian line-up in the longer run with the big wickets of Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor. Ashwin showed he could be an attacking option, operating inside the Powerplays, bowling big offbreaks, and slipping in the carrom balls. With the asking rate climbing, he got his wickets regularly.

The pitch had little of the early-morning demons it is famous for, and all the Indian batsmen got starts. Kohli wasn't as flashy as the others, but only he converted the start. Not flashy didn't equate to not quick in his case. Just that he hit only 10 boundaries in his 104, as opposed to Yuvraj Singh's seven in 42, Gambhir's six in 38, and Murali Vijay's five in 29. And Kohli ran hard. And he placed the ball well, creating opportunities to run hard.

It took Vijay and Gambhir a couple of overs of caution to realise this was an easier pitch than the one that had them at 27 for 5 in the last ODI here. Vijay started off by cover-driving what was called a no-ball for four, and then pulling the resultant free-hit for another. Gambhir matched him in aggression, charging at the bowlers, creating his own driving length, and getting two fours off Daryl Tuffey in the sixth over.

Inexplicably, though, Vijay switched from classical shots to a slog that ended his knock in the eighth over, with the score at 44. Eight overs later Gambhir flirted with what would have been called a wide, and perished with India 92 for 2.

Yuvraj took time getting started. India's run-rate dipped below six as he scored seven off his first 28 balls. Then he started timing well, hitting boundaries at will. By the time he fell to Tuffey's remarkable knack of picking up wickets in the first overs of new spells, India were 179 in the 35th over. Unnoticed, Kohli had reached 63 off 73.

Unlike the others, Kohli didn't need periods of dramatic acceleration, nor did he need time to settle in. The only hiccup was the big shout for an inside edge from Kyle Mills. There was a sound, but no deviation. If we were not sure after watching replays, it is fair to assume the umpire couldn't have been either.

Soon Kohli started finding gaps, using his wrists to play into the on side. The pull to cow corner off deliveries not really short remained his favourite shot, getting four of his boundaries. Upon Yuvraj's dismissal, he did take charge, but didn't seem to make any drastic change, getting 42 off the last 31 balls he faced.

Kohli hit two boundaries in the 90s. The Powerplay had been taken, and it had to be made use of. The celebration upon reaching the century was representative of the growth of Kohli the batsman. There was no anger in his reaction on making the landmark, unlike in the past. He just had the smile on, enjoying the moment, more sure of his place. That the century would come seemed just as sure.

Andy McKay and Mills, though, were fantastic in the Powerplay, bowling the slower bouncers - and the quicker ones - well. McKay, in particular, got the ball to leave the right-hand batsmen from round the stumps. When Martin Guptill beginning the chase with five boundaries in the first six overs, it seemed New Zealand had shifted the momentum.

Ashish Nehra responded by shortening his length, getting Jamie How's wicket with one that got a bit big. Gambhir introduced Ashwin early, and the bowler delivered. He beat Guptill in the flight, getting him to hit straight to the deep fielder, signalling a start of a period where India choked the run flow.

The accurate Munaf Patel, and the spinners - Ashwin and Yuvraj - hardly bowled a bad ball for the next hour or so, and Taylor had to take his chances against Yusuf Pathan, hitting back-to-back sixes in the 23rd over - a pull and a slog-sweep.

However, the asking rate read 6.4 even after that over. Gambhir immediately brought back Ashwin, and New Zealand had to now attack Yuvraj, who was bowling well. A middle-overs collapse ensued, and when Taylor fell to another carrom ball in the 32nd over, he had left the tail too much to do for too long. more

Congress in no mood to act against Jagan

With his television channel showing no signs of relenting on sniping at Congress leadership, criticism mounted against rebel Andhra Pradesh MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy but the party appears to be in no hurry to take any action.

The new Andhra chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was in the capital today for discussions with the high command on constituting his new cabinet and the issue of Jagan's revolt came up in the meetings.

Senior party leader from Andhra Pradesh and union minister S Jaipal Reddy today said Jagan was violating party discipline but added it was for the high command to decide any action against him. more

High Court allows Mass chanting of Hanuman Chalisa today

Justice R Subhash Reddy of the A P High Court on Friday directed police to permit mass chanting of Hanuman chalisa under the supervision of Tridandi Swamy China Jeeyar Swamiji on Saturday at NTR Stadium in Hyderabad.

The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by B Ramaraju on behalf of the organisers. The petitioner complained that the police, citing incidents of riots in March 2010, the recent Ayodhya judgment by the Allahabad HC and anniversary of Babri masjid demolition on December 6, expressed fear that so many persons chanting Hanuman chalisa and speeches on Ram, Ayodhya and Hanuman may create communal tension.

The judge brushed aside these objections and asked the police to suggest restrictions. The proposed restrictions were submitted by the police.

Permitting the event to be held, the judge made it clear that the function would have to end by 7 pm. Speeches should not be provocative and hurt sentiments of other religion or region. Lathis or weapons would not be allowed in the stadium, the judge said.

30,000 Indian students have left Australia

A spate of attacks, tough visa norms and denial of permanent residency have caused around 30,000 Indian students, mostly based in Melbourne, to leave Australia in the past year, claims the Federation of Indian Students in Australia (FISA).

The figure is quoted in the latest issue of Indian Student, published from Melbourne, a copy of which is available with IANS. The magazine in its editorial says it appears Australia is no more a favourite destination for Indian students with this huge exodus in a year's time.

The magazine quoting Gautam Gupta, spokesperson of FISA, said race attacks is one of the major reasons behind the exoduse more

Kiran Kumar sworn in as Andhra New CM

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Kiran Kumar Reddy - New CM for AP

Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh today after K Rosaiah resigned on Wednesday citing health reasons.

The two big challenges for the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, a rebellious Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Telangana issue, will now be tackled by the new Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy whose name was announced late on Wednesday night as K Rosaiah's replacement.

The change of guard took most by surprise including the new Chief Minister himself. A four-time MLA from Rayalseema region and a YSR loyalist, Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in today. The swearing in ceremony will take place at 12:15 pm. After this, Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to go to Delhi this evening or tomorrow morning.

K Rosaiah stepped down on Wednesday afternoon citing personal reasons. Senior Congress leaders from Delhi, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who is also the General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, met with Congress MLAs in Hyderabad. A resolution was passed asking Sonia Gandhi to select the new leader.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead of me. I think with the cooperation of all the legislators and my party and the officers of the state I think, we can overcome all the problems," said Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Reddy is the speaker of the current assembly, and was the chief whip of the Congress in the previous government of YS Rajashekhar Reddy.

Rosaiah Resign

As senior Congress leaders headed to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister K Rosaiah has announced his resignation.

The party in Andhra Pradesh has faced a public and massive attack from one of its own against the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi.

On Friday, Sakshi TV, owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy, broadcast a program that was scathing in its assessment of both leaders. The channel's management said Jagan Mohan was not aware of the show's contents. Re-runs of the same show did not carry the controversial parts.

Rosaiah has seen massive resistance within his party from supporters of Jagan, whose father, the immensely-popular YSR, died in a helicopter crash last September. Rosaiah was picked to replace him as chief minister - Jagan and his camp have challenged this decision through campaigns like the Odarpu Yatra which saw Jagan touring the state in a show of strength, in open defiance of the party which had ordered him to cut short the road show.

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