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Vijay to contest from Perambur and Trichy East, says Dinamalar report
Politics

Vijay to contest from Perambur and Trichy East, says Dinamalar report

TVK president Vijay has announced that he will contest the upcoming election from two constituencies—Chennai Perambur and Trichy East. Dinamalar said the decision had been reported earlier on March 12 through its newspaper and website, and that the latest announcement aligns with that report. According to the earlier report cited by the publication, Vijay—projected as TVK’s chief ministerial candidate—opted to contest from two seats to avoid the risk of losing if he stood in only one constituency.

EPS says Vijay will understand politics only after elections
Politics

EPS says Vijay will understand politics only after elections

Thoothukudi remarks AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday said actor-politician Vijay was free to contest elections alone if he wished, adding that “only after the election” would he understand the realities of politics. Seat talks with Puthiya Tamilagam Speaking to reporters in Thoothukudi, EPS said the AIADMK had not held direct talks with the Puthiya Tamilagam party. He said the party had conveyed, through an intermediary, that it could not allot the 5 to 10 seats that were sought.

Sengottaiyan to contest Gobi again, now on TVK’s whistle symbol
Politics

Sengottaiyan to contest Gobi again, now on TVK’s whistle symbol

Sengottaiyan will contest the 2026 Assembly election from Gobichettipalayam for the ninth time, this time as a candidate of TVK with the party’s whistle symbol. He had earlier won eight times from the constituency as an AIADMK MLA on the twin-leaves symbol. With major parties stepping up election activity, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has begun campaigning, while Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin is set to launch his campaign on March 31 in Thiruvarur. Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman, who announced candidates earlier, has also intensified outreach.

Premalatha says she has no reply to EPS claim on DMDK status
Politics

Premalatha says she has no reply to EPS claim on DMDK status

Chennai: DMDK leader Premalatha said she had no direct response to AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami’s allegation that DMDK is an unrecognised party, and that he should be asked why he made the remark. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, she described Vriddhachalam as DMDK’s traditional stronghold and the constituency that gave Vijayakanth his first victory. She said the party began this year’s conference activities from Vriddhachalam, adding that the party and the town are closely linked.

TVK releases first candidate list, fields several defectors
Politics

TVK releases first candidate list, fields several defectors

Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which is entering the Assembly election for the first time, released its candidate list on Saturday. The list features several leaders who have joined TVK from other parties, with the party leadership signalling a broad outreach in seat allocation. Among those named are former AIADMK figures including Sengottaiyan (Gobichettipalayam), Sathyabama (Erode North), Nirmal Kumar (Tirupparankundram), K.P. Krishnan (Lalgudi), Thoosi Mohan (Cheyyar), V.S. Babu (Kolathur), JCD Prabhakar (Aayiram Vilakku), Sridhar (Valparai - SC), Reddiyarpatti Narayanan (Nanguneri), Tirupati (Tirupattur), Kavitha Rajendran (Jayankondam), Subramanian (Gandharvakottai), Karuppaiya (Sholavandan) and Lokesh, son of former Speaker Dhanapal (Rasipuram).

Modi alleges Congress, Left pursue vote-bank politics in Kerala campaign
Politics

Modi alleges Congress, Left pursue vote-bank politics in Kerala campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning in Palakkad ahead of the Kerala polls, alleged that the Congress-led alliance and the Left front base their policies on vote-bank politics. Modi travelled from Coimbatore to Palakkad and held a roadshow, where BJP and NDA workers and members of the public gathered along the route to welcome him. Addressing a public meeting, he said Congress and Left parties have a history of “ruining” governance wherever they come to power, and claimed Kerala has also been affected by what he called their “harmful plans”. He pointed to Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh to argue that development works have stalled and that economic stress has increased under Congress rule.

TVK names Mathiyazhagan as Karur candidate despite 41-death case
Politics

TVK names Mathiyazhagan as Karur candidate despite 41-death case

TVK has announced Karur district secretary Mathiyazhagan as its candidate for the Karur constituency, despite his earlier arrest in connection with the Karur crowd-crush incident that claimed 41 lives. The tragedy occurred during a public gathering attended by TVK leader and actor Vijay, and remains one of the most widely discussed incidents in the country. The case is currently being investigated by the CBI. While several party functionaries were named in the case, only Mathiyazhagan and one other office-bearer were arrested, according to the report. Mathiyazhagan is now out on bail, and the legal proceedings are continuing.

Seeman on DMK ‘new faces’: ‘They’re heirs of the old’
Politics

Seeman on DMK ‘new faces’: ‘They’re heirs of the old’

Madurai interaction Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman responded to reporters’ questions in Madurai on Sunday, commenting on recent political developments and candidate selections. On Vijay’s remarks Asked about actor-politician Vijay announcing candidates for his party and saying MLAs should not be “looters” but protectors of the people, Seeman said announcing candidates is a normal part of any election and not a major development. On DMK’s ‘new faces’ claim When reporters pointed to claims that the DMK had given opportunities to new faces as candidates, Seeman rejected the idea, saying they were “heirs of the old” and questioned what was new about it.

Seat-sharing row triggers turmoil within BJP in AIADMK alliance
Politics

Seat-sharing row triggers turmoil within BJP in AIADMK alliance

Tensions have surfaced within the BJP in Tamil Nadu over the seat-sharing arrangement in its alliance with the AIADMK, with the party yet to announce candidates for the allotted constituencies. The delay is being attributed to dissatisfaction among both the BJP’s national leadership and the state unit over the final list of seats. The discontent has spilled into the open, with BJP treasurer S.R. Sekar issuing a statement calling for leaders who can “keep traitors out,” a remark seen as aimed at the party’s state leadership. Party functionaries across regions have also voiced frustration over what they describe as a poor bargain in the allocation.

Pradhan says UGC, NCERT issues should have avoided controversy
Education

Pradhan says UGC, NCERT issues should have avoided controversy

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said controversies linked to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) should have been avoided, referring to recent disputes over higher-education rules and school textbook content. Speaking at a private TV programme in Delhi, Pradhan said the UGC had introduced regulations aimed at promoting equality in higher-education institutions and preventing discrimination against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. He noted that the Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on the rules.

Piyush Goyal tells Modi TN seat-sharing in NDA wrapped up smoothly
Politics

Piyush Goyal tells Modi TN seat-sharing in NDA wrapped up smoothly

New Delhi: Union minister Piyush Goyal, who had visited Chennai for discussions on seat-sharing within the NDA in Tamil Nadu, has returned to Delhi after the talks concluded smoothly. According to the report, Goyal briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Union Cabinet meeting that the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement in Tamil Nadu had been finalised without friction. The Prime Minister is said to have congratulated him. Goyal also conveyed the outcome to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah reportedly sought details on the constituencies allotted to the BJP and asked about the strengths and shortcomings on the ground.

DMK’s ‘BJP slave’ jibe at AIADMK resurfaces amid alliance debate
Politics

DMK’s ‘BJP slave’ jibe at AIADMK resurfaces amid alliance debate

DMK has repeatedly mocked AIADMK as a “slave party” of the BJP, pointing to alliance talks said to have taken place in Delhi and citing political developments in states like Maharashtra and Bihar to warn that BJP could eventually “swallow” AIADMK. The article counters that AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has not conceded key demands. It says BJP’s efforts to bring O Panneerselvam back into AIADMK did not succeed, and Sasikala was not allowed closer to the party’s fold. On seat-sharing, it notes reports that BJP sought higher numbers, but AIADMK settled on 27 seats.

India’s maternal mortality down 77% since 1990: Lancet study
Health

India’s maternal mortality down 77% since 1990: Lancet study

A study published in the international medical journal The Lancet has reported a sharp decline in maternal deaths during childbirth in India. Compared with 1990, India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) fell by 77% by 2023, the study said. The research was carried out by the health metrics division of the University of Washington in the US along with other global health organisations. The findings note that India’s MMR dropped from 508 deaths per 100,000 births in 1990 to 116 per 100,000 births in 2023.

Thirumavalavan drops 'Thol' prefix, signs as Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan
Politics

Thirumavalavan drops 'Thol' prefix, signs as Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan’s father’s name is Ramasamy. In 2002, Thirumavalavan had announced that party members should adopt names without caste or religious markers. Following that announcement, he changed his father’s name to “Tholkappiyan”, and he came to be widely known as “Thol. Thirumavalavan”. Now, sources say he has altered the way he uses his name again, adopting “Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan”. The change is reportedly linked to advice from his astrologer based in Puducherry, who is said to have told him that keeping the “Thol” prefix could invite difficulties.

Telangana bill proposes 15% salary deduction for those neglecting parents
Politics

Telangana bill proposes 15% salary deduction for those neglecting parents

A new bill aimed at ensuring parental support was tabled in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday. The proposal seeks to deduct a portion of salary from government and private employees found to be neglecting their parents, and remit the amount directly to the parents. The bill, titled the Telangana Employees’ Accountability and Parental Support Monitoring Bill – 2026, was introduced by Social Welfare, Tribal Welfare and Senior Citizens Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar. The Congress government in the state is led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

AIADMK denies Madathukulam MLA ticket; Sengottaiyan link alleged
Politics

AIADMK denies Madathukulam MLA ticket; Sengottaiyan link alleged

AIADMK’s decision to allot the Madathukulam Assembly constituency to alliance partner AMMK has triggered fresh speculation within the party, after sitting MLA and Tiruppur Suburban East district secretary Mahendran was denied a ticket. According to reports, the development is being linked to former minister Sengottaiyan, who recently joined actor Vijay’s newly launched TVK after a fallout with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Palaniswami had also removed several leaders, including a former MP, who were said to be in touch with Sengottaiyan.

TN Housing Board plans dropped after govt orders were later revoked
Politics

TN Housing Board plans dropped after govt orders were later revoked

Several announcements made for the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) have not moved to implementation after government orders issued for them were later revoked. Among the proposals that did not take off were district-level plot development schemes and the construction of commercial complexes in key urban locations to meet public needs. A major redevelopment plan at Lloyds Colony in Chennai, estimated at Rs 451 crore, which included housing, commercial spaces and renewal works, is also listed among the cancelled items. Plans to create a corpus fund from TNHB scheme funds to support residents’ welfare associations were similarly affected.

Fishermen posters urge AIADMK ticket in Ramanathapuram, BJP uneasy
Politics

Fishermen posters urge AIADMK ticket in Ramanathapuram, BJP uneasy

A long-held political belief in Ramanathapuram is that the party winning the constituency goes on to form the government. Against this backdrop, sitting MLA Kadharbatcha has been working to retain the seat by focusing on minority voters and his supportive vote base. According to local accounts, he has sought to consolidate support by distributing household items such as silver bowls, plates, tumblers and spoons in recent days. Within the AIADMK, many cadres and even some from other parties viewed former minister Manikandan as a strong candidate to challenge the incumbent. However, amid internal differences in the AIADMK, the Ramanathapuram seat was allotted to alliance partner BJP.

Senthil Balaji shifts to Coimbatore South, DMK fields ACM Thyagarajan in Karur
Politics

Senthil Balaji shifts to Coimbatore South, DMK fields ACM Thyagarajan in Karur

Former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji, whose name has long dominated political talk in Karur, has shifted constituencies at the last moment and is set to contest from Coimbatore South. Until recently, he had been touring Karur extensively, signalling that he would seek re-election from the seat. Balaji, who earlier served as Tamil Nadu’s Electricity Minister, spent 471 days in prison in an Enforcement Directorate case. Though he resigned his ministerial post, he continued to be active in the constituency, laying foundation stones and completing local works such as drinking water, roads and drainage projects.

Trinamool hits back at BJP’s charge sheet against Mamata govt
Politics

Trinamool hits back at BJP’s charge sheet against Mamata govt

Kolkata: With West Bengal Assembly elections being held in two phases for all 294 seats, the campaign has intensified between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. BJP senior leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday released a “charge sheet” in Kolkata listing 14 major allegations against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year government. The BJP’s document cited issues such as corruption, irregularities, administrative high-handedness, deterioration of law and order, and crimes against women.

DMK, AIADMK spar over freebies and tax hikes in Tamil Nadu
Politics

DMK, AIADMK spar over freebies and tax hikes in Tamil Nadu

K. Natarajan, leader of the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and a DMK ally, said recent tax revisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with Central government norms. He argued that the state’s transport corporations are functioning better now because funds are being released without delay. He pointed to the women’s free travel scheme in government buses, saying it has received strong public response. Citing a study, he said women are saving up to Rs 900 a month, and added that state subsidies for the scheme help transport corporations maintain financial support. He also noted that similar schemes have begun in other states, including Telangana.

T-shirt in Parliament? Shergill post sparks political row in Delhi
Politics

T-shirt in Parliament? Shergill post sparks political row in Delhi

New Delhi: BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, who earlier belonged to the Congress, has triggered a fresh political debate in Delhi with a social media post on parliamentary dress. Calling Parliament a “temple of democracy”, Shergill said some members are attending in “T-shirts and cargo pants” and argued that such attire should be banned. Though he did not name anyone, the post was widely read as a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is often seen in Parliament in similar clothing.

Centre plans fine instead of jail under Real Estate Act
Business

Centre plans fine instead of jail under Real Estate Act

New Delhi: The Union government is planning to amend provisions in the Real Estate law that currently allow imprisonment for allottees who fail to comply with orders of the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada told Parliament that, until now, non-compliance with the tribunal’s directions could lead to a jail term. Under the proposed change, the penalty would be converted into a monetary fine. The fine could be up to 10% of the value of the plot, apartment or building purchased by the allottee.

Assam win tough for Congress, Shivakumar tells Priyanka: report
Politics

Assam win tough for Congress, Shivakumar tells Priyanka: report

Assam goes to Assembly polls on April 9, with the BJP in power under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a former Congress leader. Priyanka Gandhi is overseeing the Congress campaign in the state. To strengthen the party’s prospects, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was appointed as an observer. The report says the move was linked to expectations that he could support candidates and campaign expenses. After arriving in Guwahati, Shivakumar is said to have assessed the ground situation and found the state unit in poor shape. Several key Congress leaders had already moved to the BJP, while others were reportedly considering switching sides.

Former AIADMK MLA protests after being denied Namakkal seat
Politics

Former AIADMK MLA protests after being denied Namakkal seat

Namakkal witnessed internal friction in the AIADMK after the party announced state trade wing secretary Sridevi Mohan as its candidate for the Namakkal constituency. Former MLA Bhaskar, who had expected the ticket, said the opportunity was denied due to the intervention of district secretary and former minister P. Thangamani. Bhaskar, along with his supporters, went to Thangamani’s residence at Govindampalayam near Pallipalayam and staged a siege. Speaking to reporters, Bhaskar alleged that Thangamani was functioning in an authoritarian manner and demanded that the Namakkal district unit be split into two. He also made sharp remarks comparing his own influence with that of the former minister.

Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer at Secretariat
Politics

Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer at Secretariat

TVK leader Vijay visited the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai on Saturday afternoon to meet Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik and submit a petition, according to party sources. Vijay arrived around 2.50 pm along with senior party functionaries, including Sengottaiyan, and more than 20 security personnel. His sudden visit drew a large number of television and newspaper camera crews to the Secretariat premises. After handing over the petition, Vijay spoke to the Chief Electoral Officer for about three minutes and left the Secretariat soon after.

Puducherry CM Rangasamy prays with candidate list at Pollachi temple
Politics

Puducherry CM Rangasamy prays with candidate list at Pollachi temple

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy visited the Azhukku Samiyar temple at Vettaikaranpudur near Pollachi in Coimbatore district and took part in a special pooja. During the worship, he placed a paper listing the names of his NR Congress candidates and the alliance parties’ candidates contesting the Puducherry Assembly election before the deity’s image and prayed. After sitting in the temple for a few minutes in meditation, Rangasamy left the premises. Speaking briefly to reporters, he said the alliance’s prospects of victory were “bright.”

Stalin wants only to make Udhayanidhi CM, says Palaniswami
Politics

Stalin wants only to make Udhayanidhi CM, says Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister M K Stalin’s only intention is to make his son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the next chief minister. Campaigning in Chennai’s R K Nagar and Tiruvottiyur constituencies, Palaniswami recalled that R K Nagar was a seat won by late former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. He said several projects, including a Metro Rail link and an arts and science college, were brought to the constituency during her tenure, and promised more benefits if AIADMK returns to power.

BJP’s TN poll plan hinges on alliance and funding, report says
Politics

BJP’s TN poll plan hinges on alliance and funding, report says

The BJP leadership is said to be more focused on ensuring the DMK’s defeat in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election than merely securing its own wins. The report links this approach to the DMK’s prominence within the INDIA alliance, where it is described as a key force after the Congress. According to the report, the BJP set three priorities early: build a broad alliance, attempt to weaken the DMK-led front if possible, and prepare to counter the DMK’s financial strength. With these goals, the party is said to have begun election groundwork as early as January 2025.

TN’s low-cost helicopter service plan remains only an announcement
Business

TN’s low-cost helicopter service plan remains only an announcement

Tamil Nadu has 79 helipads across the state, primarily meant for the travel of key dignitaries such as the President and the Prime Minister. Many of these facilities are not in regular use. To cut travel time for tourists and pilgrims, the state government had announced a plan to start low-cost helicopter services to major temples and tourist destinations, including the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. The proposal also envisaged framing guidelines for helicopter operators through government departments.

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