day 68 kochi l thursday l may 07, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Operation Epic Fury, which began on Feb 28 against Iran, has ended. He claimed the mission has achieved its objectives | p11 Iran operation over: Rubio “The operation is over, as the president notified Congress. We’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio told reporters at the White House According to CNN, US and Iran are moving closer to an agreement on a one-page memo to end the war and begin nuclear negotiations Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is pausing Project Freedom, the military operation to escort stranded ships out of Hormuz In his typical style, Trump also issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying the “bombing starts” again if a deal is not reached CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI It’s experience vs popular choice in CM race Chennithala meets Rahul & Kharge, presents his case for the post; first meeting of new legislators to be held today P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi No bilaterals with Pak, but multi-nation events OK E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai In a major development, India put out a formal sports policy regarding India’s participation or hosting of international events. Though certain provisions were par t of an unsigned document on the sports ministry website in August 2025, this time the signed policy outlined India’s approach involving Pakistan. India and Pakistan will not play in bilateral series but when it comes to international events involving multiple nations, they are free to compete in India or abroad. The May-5 circular said India’s policy of not playing Pakistan in bilateral events will continue. “India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” said the office memorandum. As the race for the chief minister’s post intensifies, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala met Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital on Wednesday to present his case for the top position, according to sources. Chennithala informed the leadership that he was overlooked for the post of leader of the opposition in 2021, despite the backing of a majority of Congress MLAs then, the sources said. He is also said to have highlighted his seniority and vast administrative experience, pitching himself as the ‘most deserving’ candidate for the top post. According to Chennithala, community leaders’ support will also work in his favour. Sources said the meeting was also attended by AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, also a CM contender. The Assembly high command is expectelections ed to make a final call once the central observers, who are currently in Kerala, submit their report. However, it is learnt that Venugopal has emerged as the frontrunner for the post, while V D Satheesan has been projected as the people’s choice. Sources said Venugopal has reportedly told the leadership that voters did not back the Congress or UDF on the basis of projecting any one individual as CM. While Venugopal enjoys the support of the majority of MLAs, he reportedly argued that each constituency’s elected representatives were chosen based on their individual influence, positions, and other factors. “Therefore, their opinions also reflect the broader character of their constituencies. These views must be taken into account while selecting the CM,” he reportedly said. The final call, he said, must rest with the AICC after a comprehensive assessment. He said factors such as administrative experience, organisational skills, and capacity to unite both party and alliance should also be taken into consideration. WHAT’S THEIR PITCH KC, Satheesan camps flex muscles ahead of crucial MLA meet R a j e s h A b r a h a m @ Kochi Ramesh Chennithala V D Satheesan Overlooked for Leader of Oppn post in 2021 despite support of a majority of Congress MLAs then As the leader of opposition, led UDF to a historic win K C Venugopal Backing of 47 newly elected MLAs Admn experience; strategy to back CPM rebels worked in polls Seniority and vast administrative experience Never yielded to pressure from community leaders Support of community organisations like NSS Won minority electorates’ confidence Ensured smooth seat allocation; amicably settled K Sudhakaran’s ‘revolt’ Organisational skills: Longest-serving KPCC president Support of 33 newly elected Congress legislators Provided AICC observers in all seats & ensured election funds Alliance rumours may rain on Vijay’s parade 1st BJP govt to take oath on Tagore birth anniv Chennai: The swearing-in ceremony of TVK chief Vijay, initially scheduled for Thursday, may be delayed even as strong rumours gathered speed of arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK discussing a partnership along with their allies to form a government. Sources said, in such a scenario, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami may assume the CM post with DMK’s support, as part of a larger plan that may extend up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. P7 Kolkata: Preparations are in full swing at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah overseeing the selection of the BJP’s first chief minister in West Bengal on May 8, a day before the swearing-in, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Shah’s role marks a rare and deliberate political move. The BJP’s chief strategist had camped in Bengal for weeks during the campaign. P10 High-stakes lobbying, late-night strategy sessions and intense back-channel negotiations marked the third straight day of the Congress chief ministerial race, with K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala working the phones and numbers ahead of the crucial meeting of newly elected Congress MLAs in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday . AICC observers Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken, who arrived in the state capital on Wednesday, are expected to sound out MLAdesignates individually before conveying their assessment to the Congress high command in New Delhi. At the heart of the power struggle is a fierce battle between organisational clout and public perception. The Venugopal camp has gone on the offensive, claiming the backing of 47 of the 63 Congress MLA-elects. Leaders close to the AICC general secretary said many newly elected legislators owe both their candidature and campaign resources to him. However, Satheesan’s camp remains confident that the mood among legislators and allies favours the current leader of opposition, who spearheaded the UDF’s aggressive antiLDF campaign. “For MLAs and party workers, KC is like Karunakaran and Oommen Chandy — a leader who will never abandon his supporters,” a senior Congress source said. According to party insiders, Venugopal played a decisive role in candidate selection and quietly ensured financial support for several campaigns. “Naturally there is loyalty , ,” ● More on P5 the source said. Suvendu’s PA shot dead in West Bengal S U BHE N D U MAITI @ Kolkata In a major escalation of postpoll violence in West Bengal, a close aide of BJP’s prime contender for chief ministership, Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead on Wednesday night at Madhyagram in North 24 Parganas district. According to locals, the assailants randomly sprayed bullets on Chandranath Rath, personal assistant of Adhikari, and his driver when their car was on the National Highway . Both sustained severe injuries and were rushed to a local hospital where Rath was declared dead. The condition of the driver is critical. Adhikari later visited the hospital. He was not in the car that was attacked. The attackers are said to have followed Rath’s car, intercepted it, shot him through the rolled-up window from the opposite side and fled. He was in the front seat next to the driver. The incident occurred at Chowmatha at Maddhyamgram, hardly 3 km from Kolkata airport. With tension building up in Maddhyamgram, a massive deployment of police forces was ordered. 18 pages, including 4 pages of kochi Express