Health workers collect swabs at a fever camp in Chennai. Express Photo: Srinivas K
Tamil Nadu Telangana Assembly Elections COVID-19 Live Updates: Tamil Nadu recorded 1027 positive cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the state tally to 8,12,142. Among these, Chennai reported 292 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,23,799. The state recorded 12 deaths on Friday, putting the state toll at 12,048. The state discharged 1103 patients following treatment, putting the total number of recoveries at 7,90,965.
In a setback for Kamal Haasan ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) general-secretary A Arunachalam Friday joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Prakash Javedkar. Arunachalam, one of the founding members of the MNM, said he took the decision after Haasan refused to support the Centre’s farm laws.
Addressing reporters, Arunachalam said he felt blessed to join the saffron party on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have framed these three agricultural laws. Coming from a farming family, I know the benefits of them. When I urged my leader and the party high command to support the Centre’s decision, they refused,” Arunachalam said.
DMK leader MK Stalin at a gram Sabha meeting.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Friday went ahead with gram sabha meetings despite a Tamil Nadu government’s directive against holding these meetings. The government Thursday issued a circular that legal action will be initiated against individuals/political parties who convene gram sabha meetings as it violates the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. The government claimed that on the pretext of holding gram sabha meetings, the political parties are conducting political rallies.
READ | DMK holds gram sabha meetings violating Tamil Nadu govt’s order
Also Read | Exotic Aldabra tortoise goes missing from TN enclosure, cops suspect inside job
A 36-year-old man, who attempted suicide over alleged harassment by microloan lending app companies, died five days later while undergoing treatment in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, police said. He passed away on the evening of December 23 at King George Hospital. Following a complaint from his friend, NTPC Police Station in Telangana’s Ramagundam has now registered a case under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of IPC and started an investigation.
READ | Instant loan apps: Another suicide in Telangana over harassment for repayment
For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC’s monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24×7)
Chennai Hyderabad News December 23, 24 Highlights
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-andhra-pradesh-telangana-coronavirus-chennai-hyderabad-lockdown-6-0-tamil-nadu-elections-2021-campaigns-edappadi-stalin-chandrashekar-rao-ysr-live-7119247/
