Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Mohammed Salim were among the prominent politicians who tested positive for COVID-19 as a rapid spike in cases took the tally in the country to over 18 lakh on Monday.
In yet another suspected honour killing, relatives of a girl, who eloped with her lover after she was forced to marry against her wishes, murdered the man, besides critically injuring the girl in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district on Tuesday.
The state government held talks with the protesting youth to sort out the matter.
'Tamil Nadu is a paradox. We have more places of Hindu worship per square kilometres than any other place in the world. 'We break more coconuts for religious reasons everyday than any other place in the world.' 'At the same time, we also have a very strong Periyar-infused movement of rationalism.'
India on Monday said Sri Lanka has not done enough to rehabilitate displaced Tamils and asked Colombo to allow the Red Cross to take up relief and give media access to refugee camps in the strife-torn areas.
"At present, there is no reservation for women in government jobs. We will bring forward a bill providing reservation for women in government jobs," he said, addressing a meeting to thank voters in his constituency Sivaganga. Chidambaram also said he was confident that the bill for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and assemblies would be passed.
A petition challenging the election of Home Minister P Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha from Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu was filed in the Madras High Court today by his AIADMK rival Raja Kannappan.
Filmmakers Bharatiraja and Seeman, who have been vocal in their support for Sri Lankan Tamils and the demand for a separate nation, Eelam, are going all out to derail the Congress in Tamil Nadu.
The Centre has asked the states to convert all single-teacher schools into at least three-teacher institutions as there are a large number of qualified teachers in the country who are jobless.
Sharpening his attack on P Chidambaram, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi on Thursday alleged wrist watches with photos of the finance minister were being distributed to voters and demanded a probe by the Election Commission.
Barely hours after the Supreme Court banned the conduct of Jallikattu' (bull fights), villagers at Soorakkudi near Singampunari in Sivaganga district conducted the village sport as part of a local religious festival on Friday.
Referring to the collapse of some financial institutions in the US, the finance minister said banks in India were insulated from the crisis and their financial position was quite strong.
The insurance scheme of the United India Insurance was launched for the first time in the country at Sankarapuram panchayat in Sivaganga district on Sunday. Under the scheme, an individual would be charged Rs 300 a year as premium and Rs 545 for a family not exceeding five members, and Rs 600 for a family not exceeding seven members.
'If there is anyone who is a victim of vendetta politics, it is me.'
The attack comes a day after senior DMK leader and state Electricity Minister N Veerasamy took strong exception to the reported 'fatwa' by Vedanti for beheading Karunanidhi.
DMK working president M K Stalin led a protest in Chennai and sought promulgation of an ordinance to allow holding the sport.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday launched 'Amma Pharmacy', which will sell quality medicines at 'fair price.'
The Congress Jananayaga Peravai is an offshoot of the Tamil Maanila Congress led by late G K Moopanar.
The attempt went awry as the sheets flew in different directions in gusty winds in the river.
Tension prevailed in the town and all shops in and around the bus stand shut down soon after the incident.
The truce, even if it is not permanence peace, will come under stress and test during the pending polls to rural local bodies in nine revenue districts and urban polls across the state, including those for 16 municipal corporations, starting with Chennai, the oldest and largest, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
It does not stop here, though. According to field information, state ministers, AIADMK candidates and campaigners are asking BJP cadres accompanying them not to carry party flags at common rallies and also avoid their saffron shawl on those occasions. BJP cadres are also asked to stay out of the common campaign when it enters a minority-dominated areas, especially of Muslims, and re-join later, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram is Congress nominee from Maharashtra for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha while senior leaders Kapil Sibal and Jairam Ramesh have been named from Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka respectively.
The real story why the finance minister is not fighting the Lok Sabha election.
The party's economic wizard will be fielded from Andhra Pradesh.
Barring a minor incident when some supporters of the dead leader booed DMK's youth wing leader M K Stalin, the funeral procession passed off peacefully.
Braving opposition from a section of villagers, Sottathatti panchayat president K Raju was presiding over a meeting after hoisting the national flag at a school.
In the 2009 election, P Chindambaram the Sivaganga seat by a narrow margin. Then the Congress was in alliance with the ruling DMK. This time his son Karti is battling the seat with the alliance. India abstention at the UNHRC on an anti-Lanka resolution will further fuel Tamil anger against the Congress party. This leaves the finance minster sulking and his son facing an uphill political debut, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
The great Indian election is over and now the wait for the results is shrinking with every passing moment. Though exit polls hint at a cakewalk for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his National Democratic Alliance, there are some battles which will be keenly observed on the result day.
He maintained it is not 'hope' but the 'fact' of a stable government provided by UPA and the numerous measures taken in the last 18 months that have provided stability and strength to the Indian economy.
Former Union minister K V Thangkabalu, a senior Congress leader from Tamil Nadu, has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Special prayers and celebrations were held on Monday by ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party workers across Tamil Nadu on the occasion of the 'star birthday' of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The interesting bit about the Azamgarh poll finding on India TV was the whopping percentage of Muslims backing the SP-BSP alliance, which sort of negates Mayawati's appeal to the community to not split their vote with the Congress, says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
The DMK chief said it was a 'resounding victory' given to his party led alliance by the people of Tamil Nadu.
Brick buildings, drainage system excavated in Keezhadi village are on par with those found in Harappa.
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.
About 200 employees were detained across the state in connection with incidents related to strike
Police said youths were detained at Mudakathan, Alanganallur, Palamedu and Vilangudi in Madurai district, at Nallampatti in Dindigul district and Pottuchavadi in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu for trying to hold the sport defying the apex court ban.
Despite drawing a blank in Tamil Nadu, its leaders in the state claimed they should strike roots without using a crutch at this "most opportune" time, reports Radhika Ramaseshan.
During campaigning, P Chidambaram has been addressing villagers, explaining his efforts to improve life in the constituency and blaming the state government for not supporting him. He has also been introducing his son in the 10 villages across 250 km.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances