chennai l Monday l august 18, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION shux returns to India to a rousing welcome A posse of people waving the Tricolour and beating drums welcomed astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at New Delhi airport minister jitendra singh at delhi airport Shukla, who became the second Indian to undertake a spaceflight as part of the Axiom-4 mission, and his back-up astronaut-designate Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair were welcomed at the airport by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, and ISRO Chairman V Narayanan. Shukla’s wife Kamna and son Kiash were present too pic: pti/X special discussion in lok sabha today ■ The government has proposed a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday to mark Shukla’s return to India after ISS stay ■ Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 private space mission that lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the International Space Station on June 26. He returned to Earth on July 15 18 days shukla spent over 2 weeks in the ISS conducting around 60 experiments 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 Maha guv Radhakrishnan is BJP’s pick for next V-P GST: Why Small Can Be Big for Economy I T may be pure chance that the next round of big-bang reforms directed towards India’s internal economy has come at a time of turbulence on the external front. But it’s a happy coincidence all the same that GST is getting pruned and simplified, offering a new impetus to consumption, at a time of very erratic weather for exports. The vexed Goods and Services Tax, which has completed eight years with a complex ziggurat-like architecture, is finally getting rationalised into a slimmer, neater structure. Three Groups of Ministers will be meeting next week, on Wednesday and Thursday, to finalise its blueprint. That will be submitted to the GST Council for a final round of consultations. If all goes well, come Diwali, our domestic bazaars will have an extra bounce to their step, freed from the knotted mass of reins imposed by multiple rates of taxation, which were often seen to be irrational in their very design. The new plan is to account for most items under two slabs — a lightweight 5% for mass goods and the higher one capped at 18%. Only ‘sin goods’ santwana like tobacco etc bhattacharya will cop the special rate of 40%. Editor The benefits are intended to devolve to all sides of the base of India’s pyramid. Compliance should become much easier for businesses. Farmers can hope for input costs to be reduced on vital items like fertilisers and seeds, which should create a vital surplus for millions of small Indians. That will enable them to join the class of ordinary consumers all around who can look forward to items of mass consumption getting cheaper. On both sides, hopefully small will get more , beautiful. On one side, small and medium-sized businesses, the muscles that keep the economic backbone straight and help the body stay bouncy On the other, the non-premium, budget . segment of goods that crores of Indians buy . The best-case scenario will see volumes offsetting revenue loss on account of lower taxes, which is the core doubt that states like Kerala may bring up at the GST Council deliberations. If that happens, it would be an echo of what happened in previous instances of global turbulence, like in 2008, when the buoyancy of our domestic market created a healthy shock absorber. NDA will reach out to Oppn parties to seek their support: Nadda PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Haryana CM Nayab Saini also seen | PTI Need states’ cooperation to implement reforms: Modi Highways inaugurated PM Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II worth `11,000 crore to reduce traffic congestion in the capital For us, reform signifies the advancement of good governance... In the near future, we are set to implement reforms aimed at making life and business operations smoother and more convenient A nu p V erma @ New Delhi prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Centre has circulated the draft of next-generation GST reforms among states and sought their cooperation to implement the proposal before Diwali. He said the move would benefit the poor, the middle class, and businesses of all sizes. Addressing an event after inaugurating two expressways, Modi said the Centre intends to make the GST law simpler and revise tax rates. The GST Council is expected to meet next month to deliberate on the proposal. “For us, reform means the expansion of good governance,” Modi said, adding that continuous focus was being placed on reforms. “This Diwali, citizens will receive a double bonus through the GST reform.” He expressed hope that states would swiftly support the initiative, ensuring the new structure could be rolled out before the festive season. Under the plan, the existing four GST slabs—5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%—will be re- placed with just two: 5% and 18%, along with a special 40% bracket for demerit or ‘sin’ goods such as tobacco and online gaming. Items currently taxed at 12%, like butter, fruit juices, and dry fruits, would move to 5%, while electronics, cement, and other goods from the 28% slab would shift to 18%, as per the proposal. The reform aims to prevent accumulation of input tax credit and reduce demands for further tweaks. While the changes may initially cause revenue loss, the Centre expects increased consumption to offset the impact. Nearly 99% of goods in the 12% category and 90% of goods in the 28% slab are expected to move to lower rates, easing the burden on households and businesses. Alongside GST reforms, the prime minister reiterated his call for “vocal for local.” “To make India stronger, we must take inspiration from Chakradhari Mohan (Lord Shri Krishna) to make India self-reliant, we must follow the path of Charkhadhari Mohan (Mahatma Gandhi),” Modi said. Youth run over by car, partner’s father arrested Teynampet-Saidapet flyover is TN’s costliest at `195 cr/km E x p ress N e w s S ervi c e B A N B U S E LV A N @ Chennai @ Madurai A 57-year-old man was arrested by the Madurai Rural Police on Sunday for allegedly murdering a 21-year-old man, his daughter’s partner, by running a car over the couple at Melur in Madurai, late Saturday night. The deceased was identified as M Sathishkumar of Pottapatti village in Madurai. His partner, Ragavi (24), a widow and mother of two boys, sustained serious injuries and is being treated at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai. Aside from her father Alagar of Thumbaipatti, who is in custody police said at least , eight others were involved in the murder and search is on. According to police, the incident took place around 11 pm when Sathishkumar and Ragavi, who belong to the same community were on their way , to Tiruchy from Melur on a two-wheeler. They had gone to the Melur police station to hold talks with Ragavi’s family  P5 . e x pr e s s r e a d Centre appointed Guv Ravi to defame TN: CM Dharmapuri: The BJP govt has appointed Governor RN Ravi with the sole intention of defaming TN and DMK govt, said CM MK Stalin on Sunday. “Governor Ravi does not approve state schemes, prints out ‘non-existent’ Tirukkural and disrespects our Thamizh Thai Vazhthu,” Stalin said | P4 The Tamil Nadu highways department’s ambitious 3.2 km Teynampet-Saidapet flyover project in Chennai, touted as the country’s first elevated corridor built above a metro tunnel, has come under the spotlight for its high cost. The four-lane flyover, for which work began in 2024, has an average construction cost of a whopping `195 crore per km, bringing the total project cost to `621 crore. In contrast, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which follows stricter design and higher construction standards than the state highways, has estimated the cost of its six-lane elevated projects in TN and in other regions at `120`130 crore per km over the same period, making the Teynampet elevated corridor project costlier by around 50%, according to sources. NHAI’s projects include the The Teynampet-Saidapet elevated corridor, which has emerged as the state’s most expensive flyover construction till date | Martin Louis widening of SriperumbudurWalajah section (revised estimation) and flyover/bridges being built on Grand Southern Trunk road in ChengalpattuVillupuram section. The average per km construction cost of the other recently-completed four-lane flyovers was `95 crore at Koyambedu (opened in 2021) and `100 crore at Medavakkam (opened in 2022). Similarly, NHAI’s 6.9-km four-lane elevated corridor on the MaduraiNatham Road was completed at an average cost of `100 crore per km. As per official documents, the Teynampet project’s estimated cost, fixed at `482 crore in April 2022, was raised to `525 crore in March 2023 before rising by 18% (`96 crore) to reach `621 crore within a year.  P5 RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR & T M uru g anan d ham @ New Delhi / Chennai THE BJP on Sunday named Maharashtra Governor Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan (67) as the NDA’s consensus candidate for the Vice President’s post. BJP president J P Nadda made the announcement following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board. Apart from Radhakrishnan, the governors of Gujarat, Karnataka, and Sikkim were also in the shortlist, sources said. After thorough consultation with the core members of the parliamentary board, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his final approval. “The NDA will speak to Opposition parties on getting their support to ensure the election for this second highest constitutional post goes unopposed. We have been, through our senior leaders, contacting the Opposition leaders and we will remain in touch with them,” C P Radhakrishnan Milestones  Joined Bharatiya Jan Sangh in 1974 at age 17  President of TN unit of BJP between 2004 and 2007  Chairman of the Coir Board, Kochi in 2016  Sabha MP in Lok 1998 and 1999  Governor of Jharkhand on February 18, 2023  Maharashtra governor on July 31, 2024 ECI terms vote theft charges ‘baseless’, says SC fiat complied with Rahul begins ‘Vote Adhikar yatra’ from Bihar’s Sasaram M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi R amashankar @ Patna THE Election Commission of India on Sunday made public the list of 65 lakh omitted voters from the draft electoral roll of Bihar, following a Supreme Court directive on August 14. “Within 56 hours of the SC directive, the names of voters that were not included in the draft electoral roll have been posted on district magistrates’ websites,” Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said at a press conference. Asserting that the ECI is making all efforts to turn Bihar’s poll roll revision into a success, Kumar said those levelling allegations of ‘vote theft’ should either give proof under oath within the next seven days or their insinuations would be considered ‘baseless’. Addressing a press conference for the first time since the ‘vote theft’ controversy erupted, the CEC said if anybody wants to file a complaint without being a voter of that constituency, “he/she can do the same only as a witness under oath”. On July 31, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a press conference and accused ECI of indulging in ‘vote chori’. Gandhi cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and claimed that over 1 lakh votes were “stolen” in Mahadevapura assembly in Karnataka through manipulation, duplicate voters, fake addresses LEADER of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched 1,300-km long ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ from Sasaram in Bihar’s Rohtas district and claimed that ‘vote theft’ was happening across the country . Amid presence of top-notch leaders of INDIA bloc, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Vikassheel Insaan Party’s Mukesh Sahani and CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Rahul said people of Bihar would not allow ‘vote theft’. in their state. “Strength of the poor is their vote. Today, that very strength is being snatched away— a conspiracy to steal votes is underway through SIR. We will stop vote theft at all costs,” he said. RJD leader Lalu Prasad said that a united INDIA bloc would throw out those stealing votes. “I urge you people to stand united, drive out the BJP-RSS combine,” Lalu said. The yatra will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.  P8 Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday | Express and others. He alleged that similar irregularities had occurred in other states. Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, CEC Kumar said, “A lie, if repeated time and again, does not become truth.” The CEC said instances of a person holding multiple voter identity cards arise due to migration or administrative lapses and the poll authority is working to rectify such mistakes. While addressing a rally in Bihar’s Sasaram during the launch of his 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ on Sunday Gan, dhi had asked for a response from the ECI. He said he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference, but no such demand was made from BJP leaders, who had made similar claims in their press conference. The CEC said ECI’s doors are always open to everyone and ECI is working together with everyone in a “transparent manner” as part of SIR. PMK general council recognises Ramadoss as party president Ba g a l avan Perier B @ Villupuram The special general council of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), convened by Dr S Ramadoss on Sunday, passed a resolution recognising the party founder as its president, with ‘full decision-making powers’ including on alliances and other party-related matters. Amid the ongoing tussle between the senior leader and his son, the party’s disciplinary committee also submitted a report to the council listing 16 charges against Dr Anbumani Ramadoss and recommended action. A total of 37 resolutions were adopted in the meeting, which was held in Pattanur near the Villupuram-Puducherry border. Key among them was the recognition of Ramadoss as the party president with effect from May 30, 2025. He has been granted full powers, including the authority to sign nomina- Dr S Ramadoss addressing cadres at PMK’s special general council meeting at Pattanur in Villupuram | sriram r said Nadda. With the nomination of Radhakrishnan, a seasoned leader from Tamil Nadu who belongs to the influential Gounder caste, an OBC community the , BJP hopes to bolster its strength in the southern state. Tamil Nadu, currently governed by the DMK, is scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2026. If elected, Radhakrishan will be the third leader from Tamil Nadu to reach the second-highest constitutional position in the country—after Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (1952-1962) and R Venkataraman (1984-87). Both later became President. Born in Tiruppur on October 20, 1957, Radhakrishnan took interest in the activities of the RSS at a very young age and joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the political wing of the RSS, in 1974 at the age of 17. Radhakrishnan’s nomination will be officially filed on August 21, with all NDA leaders including the chiefs of the TDP and JDU, accompanying the nominee, sources said.  P7 tion papers. The party amended 13 rules and introduced a new Rule 35, which vests the sole authority in Dr Ramadoss to decide on candidates and electoral alliances. The rule specifies that no other officebearer is permitted to hold alliance talks or make electoral decisions. Over 4,000 members, including honorary president GK Mani, general secretary Murali Sankar, Vanniyar Sangam state president PT Arulmozhi, state and district functionaries, executive members, and general council members were present during the meeting. “This meeting has gathered nearly 8,000 people. This is not a hired crowd, this is the true general council. I thank you for the full powers you have given me. You have authorised me to form alliances. I will form a winning alliance that the members desire,” Ramadoss said.  P5 J&K 7 dead in fresh cloudburst in J&K Heavy overnight rains in Kathua district of J&K led to the deaths of seven persons and injuries to five in two separate incidents of cloudburst in Jodh Ghati village of Rajbagh and Janglote early on Sunday; CM Omar Abdullah directed officials to carry out relief, rescue as top priority | P8