Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay honoured Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa with a Rs 50 lakh incentive after his historic Norway Chess title win. The Chief Minister also played a friendly game of chess with the 20-year-old Grandmaster, where he was checkmated by the young prodigy.
This is the first meeting between Stalin and Sonia Gandhi after the DMK-Congress alliance was elected to power in the just-concluded assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.
The DMK has criticised its ally Congress for supporting Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government, calling the decision a 'backstab'. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai accused Congress of being an 'unstable partner' and betraying the INDIA alliance.
Exit polls suggest significant shifts in Indian state assembly elections, forecasting BJP gains in West Bengal and Assam, a DMK comeback in Tamil Nadu, and a tight race in Kerala.
Actor Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The ceremony included a selfie with Rahul Gandhi and a 360-degree video of the cheering crowd. Vijay's party achieved a historic debut, ending the duopoly of DMK and AIADMK.
Stalin is preparing the DMK to go the whole hog in making 'federalism', 'Tamil self-respect' and 'communal cohesiveness' the party's poll plank next year, and package the BJP and its possible allies, as 'divisive' and 'reactionary', predicts N Sathiya Moorthy.
The MDMK general council, led by Vaiko, has announced its decision to withdraw from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. The party accused the DMK of attempting to prop up an AIADMK government, which they claim goes against the people's mandate and the alliance's secular ideology.
AM Shahjahan and Vanni Arasu from IUML and VCK respectively were sworn in as ministers in Tamil Nadu, increasing the number of allies in the TVK government. This marks the first time representatives from both parties have been inducted into the state cabinet, signifying a shift in Tamil Nadu's coalition dynamics.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that the death toll from rain-related incidents has reached 15, with seven people still missing. He confirmed that the overall situation is under control, except for a few areas in Pathanamthitta, as the state intensifies rescue and relief operations. The CM detailed the deployment of rescue teams, functioning relief camps, and immediate compensation measures for victims and affected families, while also cautioning against rumours regarding dam water release.
Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar journeys through villages and towns, districts and cities for a reality check.
Before assuming office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay submitted his resignation letter from the post of member of the legislative assembly representing the Tiruchirappalli East constituency.
The Madras High Court's Madurai Bench has set aside a government order providing jobs to relatives of those who died in a stampede at Karur last year, citing violations of constitutional rights and existing compassionate appointment rules. The court highlighted that such appointments overlook others on waiting lists and could open "floodgates" for similar demands.
The state would be approaching the Centre for a relief package.
The recent 'revelation' by TN fishers freed by Sri Lanka after they had paid up Lankan rupees 50,000 each in fines, that their hair was tonsured in prison and they were forced to remove their garments other than the underpants, and were also made to clean toilets, as if with vengeance, has touched a raw nerve this time, just as another issue or issues had done it ahead of the Jallikattu protests, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered the closure of 717 retail liquor outlets across the state, responding to public demand, particularly from women and political parties.
A 34-year-old 'differently-abled' man, SabariVarman, arrested for selling tobacco products, died in judicial custody in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district, prompting his family to allege police brutality and stage protests demanding an investigation.
'Once the numbers come out, they fear that the OBCs would start to demand, and articulate what they are lacking, why they are lacking and what should be done to go forward.'
The BJP state unit hailed Vasan and said his advice will be used in the coming days to guide the alliance.
Tamil Nadu -- often dubbed as India's own Detroit due to its thriving automobile manufacturing ecosystem -- is in no mood to miss the EV bus either. Recent developments attest to it. Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast has promised a $2 billion plant in the southern state. And as promised earlier, the work on Tata Motors-JLR plant will kick off next week, on September 28, after the foundation stone laying ceremony.
TVK's chances of forming a government in Tamil Nadu are uncertain as it seeks support from Left parties and VCK after winning its maiden Assembly election. The Left parties are deliberating, while VCK will announce its decision on Saturday, adding suspense to the political situation.
'...the enormous responsibility and faith the youth has put on his shoulders, that he is going to solve their problems.'
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday slammed the Congress and DMK over the defeat of the amendment bill regarding the Women's Reservation Act in Parliament but said the government was determined to implement it and that "no power in the world can stop us," from doing so.
TVK national spokesperson Felix Gerald expressed confidence that the party would form the government in Tamil Nadu with an absolute majority as initial election trends showed the party 'scaling high'.
The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Kerala government on Tamil Nadu's plea that the security of Mullaperiyar Dam should be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force.
The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Kerala government on Tamil Nadu's plea that the security of Mullaperiyar Dam should be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force.
DMK Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu told reporters in New Delhi that Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy, who led a delegation, handed over to the President what state Chief Minister M K Stalin has 'written', but repeatedly insisted the content of the communication was only known to the CM.
Stalin's personal intervention in the Adheenam row may have contained the avoidable political damage and social tensions at least for now, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has made a historic debut in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, securing a landslide victory in the Perambur constituency and leading his party to a strong performance across the state, with congratulatory messages pouring in from fellow film personalities.
TVK chief Vijay convened a meeting with newly elected legislators to discuss the election of the legislature party leader and strategies for government formation after securing 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
The Tamil Nadu leg of the 'Pass the Ball' Trophy Tour, a crucial part of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 build-up campaign, came to a successful conclusion on Monday.
Be aware of a set of costs that never appears on a college's fee page. They sit as clauses near the end of the state counselling body's prospectus and, in many states, not even there, warns Ashok Hegde, founder, neet2seat.
Former YSRCP MLA Bolla Brahma Naidu has been arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to illegally grab 10 acres of government land in Telangana. Police claim he was involved in financial transactions worth Rs 12 crore to create fake documents for the land.
The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday said that all consignments of relief material for tsumani victims in the state should be sent to Joint Commissioner (Relief) A Chatteree.
Following up on an announcement made on the floor of the state assembly, 500 retail liquor outlets in Tamil Nadu will stop functioning from June 22 onwards, the state government-run TASMAC said on Wednesday.
The Tamil Nadu government has opened the field office of the Rs 1330 crore Hogenakkal water project in Dharmapuri, formally commencing work on the integrated scheme to provide water for the two districts bordering Karnataka.
The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, an invocation sung in praise of mother Tamil, as the state anthem and directed that all present during its rendition should remain standing.
Heart-breaking stories of sorrow and shock began emerging from various parts of Kerala as people learned about the death of their loved ones.
'Present day youth are not interested in the past. They want to see what you are going to do now.'
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay, buoyed by the support from the Left parties, on Friday called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai in connection with securing an invite from him to form the government.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have been fiscally stressed for a considerable period of time, and there are no easy ways to mobilise revenues to meet the cost of the promised freebies, particularly in the prevailing difficult economic scenario, points out M Govinda Rao.
