Skip to content

Tamil Nadu News

Latest news from Tamil Nadu - Politics, Business, Sports, Entertainment and more

India signs deal to buy 60 million barrels of Russian crude
Business

India signs deal to buy 60 million barrels of Russian crude

India has signed an agreement to purchase 60 million barrels of crude oil from Russia, as the government moves to secure energy supplies amid heightened tensions in West Asia. The report said the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz sea route, disrupting the movement of oil cargo ships and affecting regular supply lines. With shipping constraints impacting imports, the Centre has begun steps to source crude through alternative routes and suppliers to ensure the country’s energy security.

Iran turns back oil tanker headed to Pakistan via Strait of Hormuz
General

Iran turns back oil tanker headed to Pakistan via Strait of Hormuz

Iran has intercepted and turned back a crude oil tanker heading to Pakistan through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for global energy shipments. According to reports, the tanker named Selen was sailing toward Pakistan’s Karachi port when Iranian authorities denied passage and ordered it to return. The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply and runs along Iran’s coastline. Following US–Israel attacks on Iran, Tehran has shut the route, disrupting crude supply and pushing up international prices.

Union Cabinet clears 100 new airports, 200 helipads under UDAN
Politics

Union Cabinet clears 100 new airports, 200 helipads under UDAN

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, has approved an upgraded UDAN scheme aimed at strengthening regional air connectivity across India. Under the plan, 100 new airports and 200 helipads will be created nationwide. Priority will be given to hill regions, the North Eastern states, island areas and other backward regions. The government has earmarked ₹28,840 crore for the programme. To support airline operations, the Centre will provide financial assistance covering around 80% to 90% of losses, with this support to be reduced gradually over five years. Budget allocations include ₹12,000 crore for airport construction and ₹3,600 crore for helipads, with implementation planned for 10 years from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.

Home Ministry urges states to reserve 20% jobs for Agniveers
Politics

Home Ministry urges states to reserve 20% jobs for Agniveers

The Union Home Ministry has written to all state governments, urging them to provide a 20% reservation in employment for Agniveers who will complete their four-year tenure from next year. The Agnipath scheme recruits youth into the armed forces on a four-year contractual basis. At the end of the term, 25% of those who perform well are retained as permanent soldiers, while the rest are released from service. The Centre has already announced reservations for Agniveers in several central forces, including the Border Security Force. The latest communication seeks similar measures from states to support their rehabilitation and re-employment.

Govt tells all-party meet: India’s energy supplies safe amid West Asia war
Politics

Govt tells all-party meet: India’s energy supplies safe amid West Asia war

The Union government told an all-party meeting in New Delhi that India’s energy security has not been affected by the escalating conflict in West Asia. Officials said there is no immediate need for public concern, adding that petroleum products and cooking gas stocks are currently adequate. The meeting was convened after opposition parties sought a discussion on the impact of the regional war and fears of disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the session, attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, among others.

DMK uneasy as minister rejects 'mountain thief' tag, calls self nature lover
Politics

DMK uneasy as minister rejects 'mountain thief' tag, calls self nature lover

Chennai: Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj has sparked fresh political chatter by publicly rejecting the “mountain thief” label and describing himself instead as a “nature lover” as the Assembly election season approaches. In Kanyakumari, incidents over the past five years—including transfers of officials who tried to stop mineral resource plunder and reports of threats—had fuelled allegations that the minister and his son were behind the illegal activity. Thangaraj has consistently denied the claims.

Headmasters say exam invigilation has become a no-win situation
Education

Headmasters say exam invigilation has become a no-win situation

Chennai: Headmasters have voiced concern that monitoring malpractice during Class 10 and Class 12 public examinations has turned into a “no-win” situation for schools. The Class 12 public examinations, written by about 8.27 lakh students, conclude today, while the Class 10 examinations, taken by around 9 lakh students, will continue until April 6. To prevent irregularities, more than 50,000 teachers and over 5,000 flying squad personnel have been deployed. Despite this, allegations have surfaced that invigilators, flying squads and headmasters are not taking firm action. Headmasters claim that the government has instructed the School Education Department to achieve a higher pass percentage than last year, and that officials have allegedly issued verbal directions to flying squads not to be strict with students who attempt to copy.

Stalin says DMK ‘Rising Sun’ will contest in 175 seats
Politics

Stalin says DMK ‘Rising Sun’ will contest in 175 seats

Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in a letter to DMK party workers, said seat-sharing in the DMK-led alliance has been concluded after consultations with all partner parties. He noted that the entry of new parties into the alliance has created a need to allocate constituencies appropriately. Stalin said agreements were finalised after discussions with leaders of VCK, CPI, CPM, MDMK, the Indian Union Muslim League and other allies. Stalin welcomed a statement by Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal, who said the alliance’s victory is what matters most. He also alleged that critics who expected a split in the alliance are now attempting to spread commentary to suit their imagination.

DMK leaders seek truce as Communist transport unions turn upset
Politics

DMK leaders seek truce as Communist transport unions turn upset

Virudhunagar: Rising discontent in transport unions Communist-affiliated trade union members in the state transport corporation are said to be deeply dissatisfied, prompting DMK functionaries in Virudhunagar to begin reconciliation efforts. Anger over unfulfilled promises Union members allege that the DMK government has not delivered on key promises, and that the anti-government sentiment within the workforce continues. Fear of electoral fallout DMK leaders are reportedly concerned that the Communist unions could vote against the DMK-led alliance in the upcoming Assembly election, affecting the coalition’s prospects.

PMK leader critiques ‘image politics’ and DMK’s alliance narrative
Politics

PMK leader critiques ‘image politics’ and DMK’s alliance narrative

A PMK office-bearer has argued that Tamil Nadu’s electoral politics has moved away from welfare-driven public service and into what she calls “image politics”. She says the era when governance performance shaped a party’s reputation ended after the Kamaraj period. In the article, she claims the DMK historically used emotional slogans to build political narratives and later relied on cinema, literature and stage platforms to reinforce them. She also alleges that instead of competing on welfare measures, personal attacks were used against MGR to weaken his public standing.

Ex-minister Mastan stages vote-seeking demo, falls at elder’s feet
Politics

Ex-minister Mastan stages vote-seeking demo, falls at elder’s feet

Former minister and DMK Villupuram North district secretary Mastan is known for using unusual methods during election campaigns, often trying new ways to connect with voters. According to the report, he has previously been seen entering tea stalls to make and serve tea, preparing parottas at eateries, buying stick ice creams for people, and even offering milk at a snake mound as part of outreach. At an advisory meeting in Gingee for branch secretaries and booth agents, Mastan conducted a live demonstration on stage on how party workers should ask for votes.

AIADMK holds on to Thiruparankundram amid BJP seat demand
Politics

AIADMK holds on to Thiruparankundram amid BJP seat demand

AIADMK has decided to retain the Thiruparankundram Assembly constituency in Madurai district, despite BJP pressing for the seat as part of alliance seat-sharing talks. The party has once again fielded sitting MLA Rajan Chellappa. According to the report, BJP believed it had gained goodwill among Hindu voters following the Thiruparankundram hill “Deepa Thoon” issue, and wanted to convert that momentum into votes. On that basis, it sought allocation of both Thiruparankundram and Madurai South.

DMK cadres tell Stalin DMDK has only 5,000–7,000 votes in Dharmapuri
Politics

DMK cadres tell Stalin DMDK has only 5,000–7,000 votes in Dharmapuri

DMK functionaries in Dharmapuri have told Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has only a limited vote base in the Dharmapuri Assembly constituency. The assessment was shared during an interaction held on March 20, according to party sources. During the discussion, Stalin reportedly asked why the DMK lost the constituency in the previous election. Party representatives said the 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars influenced voting across five Assembly segments in the district, benefiting the AIADMK-led alliance.

Iran Embassy deletes posts thanking India; Pakistan pressure suspected
Politics

Iran Embassy deletes posts thanking India; Pakistan pressure suspected

Iran’s embassy in India has reportedly deleted social media posts in which it thanked India for humanitarian assistance sent from Kashmir, triggering speculation over the reason behind the move. According to the report, as Iran faces severe hardships due to a war involving Israel and the United States, Muslims in Kashmir came together to support Iranian civilians. Donations included gold chains, household items, cash, food and medicines, which were collected and dispatched as relief.

TN withdraws order on registering temple properties, tells Madurai HC
Politics

TN withdraws order on registering temple properties, tells Madurai HC

The Tamil Nadu government has told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that a government order issued to facilitate registration of properties belonging to temples has been withdrawn. The submission came during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Salem resident Radhakrishnan. The petition said many temple properties are under encroachment and are being recovered based on court directions, and challenged a Revenue Department order dated September 30, 2025 that sought to enable registration of temple and Waqf Board properties.

Why AIADMK did not contest in Perambur
Politics

Why AIADMK did not contest in Perambur

A short video published by Dinamalar focuses on a key political question: why the AIADMK did not contest in Perambur. The clip flags public interest around the party’s decision, as Perambur is often seen as a politically significant area in Chennai. However, the available source material does not provide further details such as the timeframe, the specific election, or an official explanation from the AIADMK. With limited information in the accessible content, the report remains centered on the question raised by the video rather than confirmed reasons behind the decision.

Gold price jumps again in Chennai; sovereign up by Rs 2,800
Business

Gold price jumps again in Chennai; sovereign up by Rs 2,800

Chennai saw a fresh spike in gold prices on Tuesday (March 25). The rate for 22-carat jewellery gold increased by Rs 2,800 per sovereign, taking the price to Rs 1,08,800. In gram terms, gold rose by Rs 350 to Rs 13,600 per gram. The update comes after sharp fluctuations over the past few days, including multiple intraday changes reported on March 24. Silver prices also edged higher on March 25. Silver was quoted at Rs 260 per gram, while the kilogram rate rose to Rs 2.60 lakh.

Delhi Police bust transnational arms racket; 21 foreign pistols seized
Crime

Delhi Police bust transnational arms racket; 21 foreign pistols seized

New Delhi: Delhi Police’s crime branch has busted a transnational arms smuggling network with links to Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, arresting 10 key suspects. During the operation, officers recovered 21 high-end foreign-made weapons. The seizure includes PX-5.7 pistols said to be used by special forces, along with PX-3 pistols. Investigators say the weapons were smuggled into India from Pakistan via the India–Nepal border and then supplied to criminal gangs operating in Delhi and other states.

Stalin says AIADMK is ‘a lid that fits the BJP jar’
Politics

Stalin says AIADMK is ‘a lid that fits the BJP jar’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched a sharp attack on the AIADMK, calling it “a lid that fits the BJP jar” and accusing it of staying silent on people’s issues while questioning what the state government is doing. In a statement, Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks invoking the Covid period have heightened public anxiety at a time when people are already struggling due to an LPG supply shortage. He claimed many restaurants have been forced to shut and workers are facing the risk of losing jobs.

EC allows carrying over ₹50,000 for medical needs with WhatsApp proof
Politics

EC allows carrying over ₹50,000 for medical needs with WhatsApp proof

Chennai: The Election Commission has said people can carry more than ₹50,000 in cash for medical expenses during the election period, provided they can show supporting proof through WhatsApp. With elections under way, surveillance teams have been deployed in every constituency, including flying squads, video surveillance units and static monitoring teams. Each team includes five officials, including police and revenue personnel. Officials said that if a vehicle is found carrying more than ₹50,000 in cash without proper documents or evidence, the amount is seized and deposited in the treasury. Large sums of cash and jewellery are being detected daily through these checks.

Bharat Petroleum denies rumours of petrol, diesel shortage
Business

Bharat Petroleum denies rumours of petrol, diesel shortage

New Delhi: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has rejected claims circulating about petrol and diesel shortages in certain parts of the country, calling them completely unfounded. In a statement, the company said there is no fuel shortage anywhere in India. It also noted that India is a country that exports petrol and diesel. BPCL said it has sufficient inventories of crude oil, petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, and that supplies are continuing without disruption.

AIADMK allots 2 seats to Parivendhar’s IJK in alliance
Politics

AIADMK allots 2 seats to Parivendhar’s IJK in alliance

AIADMK has allotted two seats to Parivendhar’s India Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) as part of its alliance seat-sharing arrangements. The AIADMK alliance has already finalised allocations for key partners, with 27 seats for the BJP, 18 for the PMK and 11 for the AMMK. Talks have been continuing for the remaining parties. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) said a decision on seat-sharing for other parties would be taken soon.

Stalin says attempts to split DMK alliance have failed
Politics

Stalin says attempts to split DMK alliance have failed

Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said that those hoping to create a rift in the DMK-led secular progressive alliance have been left disappointed, and are now trying to spread criticism and rumours about seat-sharing. In a letter to party members, Stalin said seat-sharing talks are a normal part of alliance politics, where parties stake claims and the lead party considers and allocates seats in a democratic manner. He said the DMK-led alliance has followed this process.

DMK and Congress set for head-to-head fight in 5 Puducherry seats
Politics

DMK and Congress set for head-to-head fight in 5 Puducherry seats

Puducherry’s Assembly election has thrown up an unusual situation, with the DMK and Congress facing each other directly in five constituencies—Thirubhuvanai, Mangalam, Nellithope, Raj Bhavan and Kalapet. The election is being fought mainly between the NDA alliance comprising NR Congress, BJP and AIADMK, and the INDIA alliance comprising Congress, DMK, Left parties and VCK. Seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc continued until the last day for filing nominations, after which the parties announced a split of 16 seats for Congress and 14 for the DMK out of the 30 constituencies.

Heavy rain triggers landslides in Sikkim; 200 tourists stranded
Environment

Heavy rain triggers landslides in Sikkim; 200 tourists stranded

Continuous heavy rainfall in Sikkim has triggered multiple landslides, disrupting normal life in parts of the state. The impact has been severe in North Sikkim, where road connectivity has been hit. Officials said a major landslide occurred at Munshithang on the Lachen–Chungthang road, a key route to popular tourist destinations. Traffic on the stretch has been completely halted. With rain continuing in the area, restoration work has become difficult. As a result, around 200 tourists were stranded in Chungthang, and rescue operations are currently in progress.

Rahul Gandhi cancels Kerala campaign visit as Sonia admitted to hospital
Politics

Rahul Gandhi cancels Kerala campaign visit as Sonia admitted to hospital

Rahul Gandhi has cancelled his scheduled campaign visit to Kerala after his mother, Sonia Gandhi, was admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to health concerns. The Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was expected to campaign in Kozhikode and Malappuram as part of the Kerala Assembly election outreach. A large public meeting had been planned in Kozhikode at 4.30 pm. Congress workers in the state had made arrangements to receive him, but the programme was called off at the last minute. Party sources said the cancellation was linked to Sonia Gandhi’s hospitalisation.

Fuel crunch triggers curbs worldwide as Hormuz disruption hits supplies
General

Fuel crunch triggers curbs worldwide as Hormuz disruption hits supplies

New disruptions in global oil flows have triggered a fuel crunch across several countries, with governments raising petrol and diesel prices and rolling out emergency curbs to reduce consumption. The situation has been linked to the ongoing war involving the US and Israel against Iran, now nearing a month. Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil trade, disrupting shipping and tightening crude availability. The impact has spread beyond Asia to parts of Africa and Europe that depend heavily on Gulf supplies. The report said Pakistan has sharply increased fuel prices, while Sri Lanka has raised charges by 25%. Gas shortages have also been reported.

EPS announces seat-sharing in AIADMK alliance for Tamil Nadu polls
Politics

EPS announces seat-sharing in AIADMK alliance for Tamil Nadu polls

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Tuesday announced the seat-sharing arrangement among parties in the AIADMK-led alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election, scheduled for April 23. Speaking to reporters at Royapettah in Chennai on March 25, EPS released the constituency-wise list of seats allotted to alliance partners. As per the announcement, the BJP has been allotted 27 constituencies, the PMK 18, and the AMMK 11. The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) has been given five seats, while John Pandian’s IJK has been allotted two.

Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa alleges sexual harassment by film director
Entertainment

Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa alleges sexual harassment by film director

Kochi: Monalisa Bosle, who became widely known after the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela, has alleged that film director Sanoj Misra sexually harassed her during the making of her first movie. Speaking to reporters in Kochi, Monalisa said her debut film was The Diary of Manipur and claimed that the director approached her repeatedly with “wrong intentions” during the shoot. She alleged that incidents occurred on multiple occasions in places including Nepal and Dehradun, and said she resisted his advances.

Centre gives Congress 3-day deadline to vacate Akbar Road office
Politics

Centre gives Congress 3-day deadline to vacate Akbar Road office

The Union government has issued a notice to the Congress party to vacate its old headquarters at 24, Akbar Road in New Delhi by March 28, sources said. The party has continued to occupy the premises even after inaugurating a new headquarters. The Akbar Road bungalow has served as the Congress’ main office since 1978. The report notes that the premises were made available after the party split in 1977, when MP Venkatasamy offered the bungalow allotted to him for the party’s use.

Latest Updates