O Panneerselvam's crossover adds new complexity to a finely poised electoral battle shaped by shifting alliances and Vijay adding a new variable

O Panneerselvam

Business Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over Rs 4,400 crore and laid foundation stone for four-laning of MarakkanamPuducherry section and ParamakudiRamanathapuram section of key NH routes.
He inaugurated eight redeveloped railway stations in Tamil Nadu and dedicated to the nation Chennai BeachChennai Egmore 4th Line.
Earlier, he arrived here from neighbouring Puducherry and was accorded a rousing reception.
He is scheduled to visit the Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy temple in Tirupparankundram at around 4 pm and offer his worship.

PM Modi peaking at the launch of various infrastructure works in Madurai

He is scheduled to visit the Arulmigu Subramanyaswamy temple in Tirupparankundram at around 4 pm and offer his worship

Press Trust of India

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Friday said parties in Tamil Nadu have suggested holding Assembly polls in a single phase and a decision on it would be taken after considering all the factors.
The Election Commission's decision over 'phases for polls' will be known once the election schedule is announced, he said addressing a press conference here.
On the recently concluded SIR of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu, he lauded it as a model for country and a great success.
The top poll official assured amenities in 75,000 polling stations across the state.
On the vote counting exercise, he said that mandatory VVPAT counting shall take place and even after counting is over, any candidate, on fee payment, can match EVM with VVPAT during next 7 days.
Amongst the new initiatives, one major was that postal ballots will be counted 2 rounds before the EVM rounds.

Gyanesh Kumar, CEC

The Election Commission's decision over 'phases for polls' will be known once the election schedule is announced, he said

OPS, who had functioned as AIADMK Treasurer and also held the erstwhile top position of party coordinator, joined the DMK along with his son, P Ravindhranath Kumar and supporters

The Ministry of Home Affairs has allotted an initial 50 companies of the CAPF to Tamil Nadu as a proactive security measure ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said the initial batch of 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) would be inducted on March 10, 2026.
"50 companies of the CAPF have been initially allotted to Tamil Nadu by Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, for area domination, confidence-building measures in connection with the General Elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly," an official release from the Chief Electoral Officer said on Tuesday.
The Assembly elections are expected to be held in April 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry.

Ministry of Home Affairs. (File Photo: ANI)

The Assembly elections are expected to be held in April 2026 to elect all 234 members of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid glowing tribute to late chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, whose birth anniversary falls two days later, saying she lives in the hearts of people for her efforts towards the welfare of women and maintenance of law and order.
In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said just a mention of "Amma" -- as Jayalalithaa was often called -- brings a glow to the faces of the people of Tamil Nadu.
In India, those who have worked for the welfare of society, those who have prioritised the public in their noble deeds, always remain in the hearts of the people, the prime minister said, paying tributes to the AIADMK leader ahead of her birth anniversary on February 24.
Jayalalithaa was one such popular leader, Modi said, adding that he still feels the deep affection the people of Tamil Nadu had for her when he visits the state.
Modi said the country's 'Nari Shakti's' connection with her has been even more special due to her commendabl

Modi, Narendra Modi

In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Modi said just a mention of 'Amma' -- as Jayalalithaa was often called -- brings a glow to the faces of the people of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday inaugurated the Phase 2 of Global Engineering Centre of Excellence of Pinnacle Infotech here.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion, also laid the foundation stone for a dedicated employee housing facility, Guidance, the state government-backed investment promotion agency, said.
The expansion would see an addition of 1.60 lakh sq ft of advanced workspace and recruitment of 2,000 professionals, taking the overall capacity to 4,000 people, a press release said.
"In a significant milestone for Tamil Nadu's expanding global engineering ecosystem, Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated Phase 2 of Pinnacle Infotech's Global Engineering Centre of Excellence and laid the foundation stone for a dedicated employee housing facility," the release said on Saturday.
The expansion of Pinnacle Infotech reflects the State's continued emergence as a global destination for engineering innovation and digital construction excellence.
"With Phase II the com

MK Stalin, Stalin

The Chief Minister, on the occasion, also laid the foundation stone for a dedicated employee housing facility, Guidance, the state government-backed investment promotion agency, said

On alliances, Raj said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had announced that talks would begin on the February 22, but the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMK) joined earlier than expected

vijay, TVK Flag

The Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, will visit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from February 25 to 27 to assess poll preparedness in the state and the Union territory where assembly elections are likely to be held in April.
Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, assembly polls are due in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal.
The Election Commission (EC) visited Assam this week to assess poll preparedness. CEC Kumar told reporters in Guwahati that the EC would finalise the poll schedule for the northeastern state keeping in mind the festival of Bihu, which falls on April 14.
It is usual for the EC to visit states where polls are due before announcing the election schedule.
The terms of the five assemblies end on different dates in May and June.
While the five-year term of the Puducherry Assembly ends on June 15, the terms of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal assemblies end on May 20, 23, 10 and 7, respectively.
Last time, assembly polls in West

ECI, election commission of india, election commission

Besides Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, assembly polls are due in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said the state government has deposited Rs 5,000 each to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of the government's women entitlement scheme.
Also, he announced to double the monthly grant to Rs 2,000 if his DMK party was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly election.
Noting that Rs 5,000 has been directly deposited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries of Kalaignar Women's Entitlement scheme, he said, "You would have received Rs 5,000 this morning. I have decided to provide the sum in view of an attempt (by vested interests) to freeze the scheme citing upcoming elections."
So, in order to counter the move to prevent the women from receiving the monthly financial assistance due for them, he had decided to provide the sum for three months from February and in addition provide Rs 2,000 to meet their expenses during summer, he said in a video message posted on his social media platform 'X.'
"Further, the monthly entitlement of Rs 1,000 w

Stalin also announced to double the monthly grant to ₹2,000 if his DMK party was voted to power in the upcoming Assembly election

Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections News - Check  Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Date Time,  Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections at Business Standard.

Tamil Nadu Elections

Poll season potboiler in TN: Panneerselvam's crossover adds new complexity

PM Modi inaugurates ₹4,400 crore infrastructure projects in Madurai

Decision will be taken on plea to hold single phase polls in TN: CEC

Expelled AIADMK leader, 3-time Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam joins DMK

Home ministry allots 50 companies of CAPF to poll-bound Tamil Nadu

PM Modi pays tributes to Jayalalithaa, hails her welfare work for TN women

Stalin inaugurates Phase 2 of Pinnacle Infotech Centre in Madurai

TVK rules out alliance with BJP, alleges Centre pressure, CBI action

EC to visit TN, Puducherry from Feb 25 to 27 to assess poll preparedness

Stalin credits ₹5,000 to TN women under Kalaignar Scheme ahead of polls