Stalin, like his father M Karunanidhi did in 2004, may play the king-maker in a way -- not the king, unless the 2024 post-poll circumstances throws up a situation where he alone becomes acceptable to the rest, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
This time round, even 'petrol coupons' were reportedly distributed for those attending campaign rallies, especially those addressed by top leaders, cutting across party lines. If this owed to the rising cost of petrol and diesel -- which is a poll issue this time -- there were the customary coupons for 'quarter' (liquor bottle size) and non-vegetarian biryani. Some media reports claimed that some of these 'crowds' attended more than one political rally on the same day in the last week, and at times for rival political parties in adjoining constituencies or districts, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Show cause notices have been issued to the publishers of The Hindu, 'Star Dust', 'Overdrive' and cigarette manufacturers -- ITC, Gold Flake and Phillip Morris - for violation of the Tobacco Products Act, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
The government on Wednesday said that the South Asia Free Trade Area Agreement that envisages phased tariff liberalisation will come into force from January 1, 2006.
More than two lakh workers have been affected with the closure of 379 sick textile mills during the past decade, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
India on Wednesday ruled out withdrawing the Most Favoured Nation status given to Pakistan despite Islamabad's refusal to grant the same to New Delhi.
To further boost bilateral economic ties with the US, Confederation of Indian Industry would organise a series of road shows, 'IndiaConnect-USA', from April 8-18.
The government will announce a new foreign trade policy next month aimed at boosting exports especially from agriculture sector.
The government has set up a committee to examine the regulatory structure of the gold industry to make India a gold trading hub, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry K S Elangovan said on Monday.
Starting a business in India takes 152 days compared to just 5 days in the United States, 41 in China and 24 in Pakistan, according to World Bank.
New guidelines and procedures have been laid down for import of metallic scrap and waste in the wake of the recent loss of life and property in explosions caused by live shells in imported scrap, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.
Aiming to take India-Turkey trade to the $2 billion mark by 2009, the two countries on Tuesday set up a joint CEOs' forum which would accelerate mutual investment and address issues hindering the bilateral trade.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi's son and Treasurer M K Stalin is among the five persons named by the party to hold seat-sharing talks with alliance parties for the coming parliamentary elections.
T K S Elangovan has alleged senior bank officials forged documents and faked authorisation from the RBI, to transport huge sums of hawala money during recent elections in the state.
India received Rs 14232.42 crore (Rs 142.32 billion) worth of foreign direct investment in the first nine months of the current fiscal as opposed to Rs 12117.36 crore (Rs 121.17 billion) FDI received in the whole of 2003-04 fiscal.
The export growth target had been pegged at 16 per cent for 2004-05, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
The government has not expressed its willingness to enter into a Free Trade Agreement in services with United States, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and top leaders of the Congress paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 97th birth anniversary but no one from the National Democratic Alliance government was present at the event.
The export of passenger cars increased to Rs 715.95 crore (Rs 7.16 billion) in April-May, 2004-05 as against Rs 484.21 crore (Rs 4.84 billion) in the corresponding period in 2003-04, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.
'The people of Tamil Nadu are fed up of these people, whether it is Panneerselvam or Palaniswami.'
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Chief M Karunanidhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in Hindutva outfits who are making a "mockery of communal harmony" and joined other parties in voicing apprehension that observing Good Governance Day on December 25 could hamper Christmas festivities.
Even as the actor-turned-politician said that it was just 'a courtesy call', speculation about a future alliance between them has been doing the rounds in the national capital, says R Rajagopalan.
"I am going to keep asking exactly the same questions I have been asking. I am going to put pressure on the government and I will continue to do my job," said the Congress leader.
Amid a major political row, former Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Agri Krishnamurthy has been arrested in connection with the alleged suicide of a senior engineering department official S Muthukumarasamy but the opposition remained unimpressed and pressed for CBI probe.
The 94-year-old leader was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital around 1:30 am. The hospital, in a statement, said he was brought there after his blood pressure had dropped.
Vijay had on Friday kicked up a racism row after he appeared to suggest that Indians cannot be called racist as people live with those from south India who are "black".
A three-member team of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Saturday performed the second autopsy on the body of Dalit youth E Ilavarasan, whose death is shrouded in mystery.
The DMK parliamentary party appears to be a house divided, reports R Rajagopalan.
Display of Jayalalithaa's portrait in the Republic Day tableaux in Chennai has stirred up a row
The father of the girl whose husband was brutally hacked to death in full public view in a suspected case of honour killing surrendered on Monday.
Dravida Munetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi was on Thursday reelected to Rajya Sabha with Congress support from Tamil Nadu after a contest with actor Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam candidate.
At 70, going by hospital records made public, most age and health-related arguments put out against super-star Rajinikanth's entry into politics, before he withdrew citing a 2016 kidney-transplant, hold good for Sasikala, too, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Schools and colleges are set to reopen on Monday in three adjoining districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur after remaining closed for nearly ten days in view of the monsoon fury.
Major opposition parties met President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday and put forth their concerns over recent incidents of violence, including attacks by cow vigilantes, and attempts to "muzzle voices of dissent".
The government on Friday said in Rajya Sabha that it is "not in favour" of abolishing the capital punishment considering the "prevailing circumstances" in the country.
It was decided by Tamil Nadu Congress to push for at least 45 seats and in a worst case scenario climb down a few seats and conclude the deal and it has worked out as was expected.
The state government's move comes following stiff opposition.
Banerjee feels that as long as Sonia Gandhi is the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, she should be the undisputed leader of a united front of opposition parties, reports R Rajagopalan.
The delegation comprised DMK leaders R S Bharathi, T K S Elangovan and Tiruchi N Siva.
