Page 2 - Tamil Nadu Elections

Amit Shah never spoke of coalition government, says AIADMK's Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of a coalition government in the state if the alliance led by his party, in which the BJP is the key constituent, wins the 2026 Assembly election. Speaking to reporters, Palaniswami, answering a question, said that Union Minister Amit Shah had never said that there would be an AIADMK-BJP coalition government in Tamil Nadu. "He did not say that (a coalition government)," Palaniswami said. The relevant issue had been misunderstood by the media, which makes "tricks," Palaniswami alleged and requested the media to drop its "tricks." What was declared on April 11 by Shah was that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will win the polls and a government shall be formed, Palaniswami said, adding it does not denote a coalition government. If effect, Palaniswami ruled out the scope for sharing power with the BJP if the alliance wins polls. The AIADMK top leader said Shah also made it categorical that the alliance woul

Seat-sharing with TTV, OPS for 2026 to be decided together: TN BJP chief

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthran has said that the question of allotting seats to allies Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam led by TTV Dhinakaran and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) for the 2026 Assembly polls would be addressed together by the leadership of the AIADMK and his party. On the remark made by him--when he took over as the BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief on April 12-- that he could only be a breeze while K Annamalai worked like a storm; and against this background how he planned to take on the ruling DMK, Nagenthran said issues that warranted a discussion or debate must be taken up and there is no doubt about it. Issues affecting the people had always been highlighted by him, including in the Assembly, and he would continue to do that, the newly elected BJP leader told PTI in an interview. Sixty four year-old Nagenthran represents the southern Tirunelveli constituency in the 234-member TN Assembly. Asked on his soft spoken image, including in the House and how

Palaniswami vows to build a greater Tamil Nadu with NDA, thanks PM Modi

Tamil Nadu Opposition leader and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami further said that the people of Tamil Nadu deserve a transparent, development-focused government

AIADMK, BJP stitch alliance in Tamil Nadu again for 2026 Assembly polls

Nagendran takes charge of state BJP

BJP joins hands with AIADMK, to contest 2026 Tamil Nadu polls together

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah said the two parties would resolve any differences through dialogue and might even issue a common minimum programme

Tamil Nadu elections: AIADMK triggers talks of a reunion with BJP

A fresh twist came last week when AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, fuelling speculation of a renewed alliance

States accepting Hindi risk losing mother tongue, warns Udhayanidhi Stalin

Tamil Nadu has followed a two-language policy (Tamil and English) and has strongly protested attempts to impose Hindi by the central government, citing concerns over linguistic identity

TN facing worst law, order situation: AIADMK after attack on Chennai doctor

The accused had been coming to the hospital, accompanying his mother for her cancer treatment and she had completed six cycles of chemotherapy, according to the director of the hospital

Vijay's silence on AIADMK shows party's performance: AIADMK's Palaniswami

TVK leader Vijay not criticising AIADMK during his party's maiden state conference shows the opposition party was performing well, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Tuesday. Alliances are formed during elections based on the prevailing political situation and it was premature to talk about a pact with the newly founded Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), he said. Addressing reporters at the party headquarters here, the State Leader of Opposition also charged the DMK and its allies with having no ideology. When pointed out that Vijay had "directly" targeted the DMK and took a veiled dig at the BJP and spared his party of any criticism at the TVK state conference on Sunday, Palaniswami said with a smile, "that means the AIADMK is functioning well." Asked about the possibility of aligning with the actor's party, Palasniswami said Assembly polls in the state are scheduled one and a half years later from now. "As far as the AIADMK is concerned, the alliance is differe

TN politics: Can Thalapathy Vijay deliver a blockbuster as politician?

India's highest-paid actor is eyeing success in 2026 TN Assembly polls. But the plot may have many twists

LS polls: Modi's allegation of insult to UP 'cheap tactic' says Stalin

DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of picking up a "cheap strategy" of stoking confrontation between states as his "propaganda of communal hatred" did not help. Stalin slammed what he called Modi's "imaginary tales and bags of lies" by alleging that leaders of southern states including Tamil Nadu (INDIA bloc constituents) were speaking in a derogatory manner, against the people of Uttar Pradesh. Days ago, PM Modi had alleged in a poll rally that Samajwadi Party and the Congress's southern allies insulted Uttar Pradesh and Sanatana Dharma but the two parties remained quiet. The DMK president alleged that it was the BJP that supported and encouraged fake news items, such as the false claims made by "YouTubers like Manish Kashyap" of assault on guest workers in Tamil Nadu. Such fake claims were hate propaganda aimed at creating divisions in society. Kashyap was arrested last year by Tamil Nadu police for alleged circulation of

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Tamil Nadu voter turnout at 69.46%, says EC

The EC has revised the voter turnout in Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha polls held on Friday to 69.46 per cent, from the earlier 72 per cent. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo had on Friday said the state witnessed a turnout of 72.09 per cent. However, officials had then indicated there could be changes in the turnout figure. Asked about the difference in the figures, officials on Saturday said the earlier "figures were based on sample data from some polling stations," and that the accurate numbers were arrived upon past midnight. Of the 39 constituencies, Dharmapuri topped with an 81.48 per cent turnout while Chennai Central recorded the lowest at 53.91 per cent, according to latest EC data.

LS elections: Polling begins in 39 TN seats, voting delayed in some booths

Polling began at 7 AM on Friday in all the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 general election, amid tight security arrangements. People arrived at the polling stations enthusiastically and waited for their turn to vote, with personnel of the state and central police forces standing guard. The fate of 950 candidates will be decided by about 6.23 crore voters who are set to exercise their franchise in nearly 68,000 polling stations. DMK's Dayanidhi Maran (Central Chennai), A Raja (Nilgiris) and Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), BJP's K Annamalai (Coimbatore), L Murugan (Nilgiris) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (South Chennai), former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (Ramanathapuram), Congress party's Karti Chidambaram (Sivaganga), AIADMK's J Jayavardhan (South Chennai) and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran (Theni) are among the prominent candidates. Polling also began in neighbouring Puducherry where the Congress and BJP are in a direct fight. Voting was delayed by an hour in some ..

BJP fires up campaign in Tamil Nadu as state prepares to vote for LS polls

Tamil Nadu is all set to vote on April 19 for the Lok Sabha polls, that was marked by fierce campaigns and acrimonious debates, and a never seen before kind of spirited fight put up by the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to gain a foothold in the Dravidian land in 2024 was a striking feature. Elections to 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on Friday and the fate of 950 candidates will be decided by about 6.23 crore voters who are set to exercise their franchise in nearly 68,000 polling stations. The election mood set in pretty early in the state, in January, with the commencement of repeated visits by Modi who combined development and honour for Tamil language and culture as his main election plank that also had the key element of denouncing DMK-Congress over alleged corruption and 'parivarvad' politics. The state witnessed intense campaigning for nearly a month starting from March. Coimbatore, the hub of western Tamil Nadu is the most keenly watched constituency

INDIA bloc will deliver sweet victory on June 4, says TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Saturday said the INDI alliance will deliver a sweet victory on June 4. Stalin who was pleasantly surprised over receiving Mysore Pak from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the latter's visit to the state on Friday, expressed that he was touched by his brother's sweet gesture." The two leaders had addressed a poll rally in Coimbatore. Posting a video of Gandhi jumping over a road divider and rapidly walking towards a sweet shop in Coimbatore to purchase Mysore Pak for him, Stalin said in a post on the social media platform X quoting a couplet from Thirukkural on the possession of love: touched and overwhelmed by the 'sweet gesture' from my brother @RahulGandhi. On June 4th, #INDIA will surely deliver him a sweet victory! the DMK president said. In the video that went viral on social media, Rahul Gandhi could be seen jumping over a road divider, crossing the road and walking swiftly into a sweet shop. When asked what he w

Case booked against BJP TN prez Annamalai over alleged poll violation

A case has been booked against BJP state President and Coimbatore candidate K Annamalai and a few members of his party over an alleged poll campaign time violation, police said here on Friday. DMK workers and their allies, the Left parties, objected to BJP members campaigning beyond the Election Commission's stipulated time on Thursday night and this led to a quarrel between the two parties at Avarampalayam area, police said. Following a complaint lodged by a DMK member, Peelamedu police booked cases against four BJP functionaries under various sections of the IPC. Meanwhile, local DMK functionaries petitioned the district collector seeking action against the BJP candidate for allegedly campaigning beyond the deadline set by the Election Commission.

Annamalai Kuppuswamy: Will 'Singham' deliver a blockbuster for BJP in TN?

Annamalai quit the police service in September 2019 and joined the BJP in 2020. Despite losing the 2021 Assembly polls from Aravakurichi, he was elevated to the post of state party chief the same year

LS elections 2024: TN CM Stalin to launch campaign from Trichy on Friday

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will launch his party's campaign for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls, from this central district on Friday. Stalin, a key leader of the opposition INDIA bloc, will canvass votes for the party-led bloc's Tiruchirappalli candidate, MDMK leader Durai Vaiko and the DMK's Arun Nehru in nearby Perambalur, according to the tour schedule of the ruling party chief. The DMK leads the multi-party Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which had swept the 2019 elections. It had won 38 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu then, besides the neighbouring Puducherry segment. Durai is the son of MDMK founder Vaiko and the Tiruchirappalli constituency has been allotted to the party by the DMK as part of the poll pact. Congress' Su Thirunavukkarasar represents the segment in the outgoing House. After launching his poll campaign from here, Stalin will embark on a state-wide tour, covering all 39 LS seats in the state, besides Puducherry, in the comin

After Madras HC's nod, PM Modi to hold roadshow in TN's Coimbatore today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow here on Monday, days after Madras High Court green-flagged the event, asking the police to allow it with reasonable conditions. The PM will take out the roadshow in the city's Mettupalayam Road and is likely to end it at RS Puram later today. This will be his first political engagement in the state after the announcement of the seven-phase schedule of the Lok Sabha polls. The district BJP unit had on Friday moved the HC against the local police denying permission to the PM event, citing, among others, the "communally sensitive" nature of the area, and the ongoing public exams. However, the court had dismissed the contentions and asked the police to allow the roadshow with "reasonable conditions", such as erecting no flex boards by the organisers. The BJP, with a newfound vigour under its aggressive state unit president K Annamalai, is making all efforts to make significant inroads into Tamil Nadu, the Dravidian heartland that has ..

PM has changed nation's outlook, policy towards women, says TN Governor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the nation's outlook and policy towards women from empty slogans of empowerment to women-led development and governance, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said on Friday. The PM thus fulfilled nationalist poet Subramania Bharati's dream on women's liberation, he said, while speaking on the occasion of International Women's Day at the Raj Bhavan here. I pay tributes to our mothers and sisters and we reaffirm our commitment to create an inclusive, equitable and secure environment for women, Ravi said. Paying floral tributes to Sangam-era Tamil saint-poetess Avvaiyar, he said that she was more appropriate as an example of women leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the nation's outlook and policy towards women from empty slogans of women empowerment to women-led development, and women-led governance, the Governor told reporters. Major initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and building toilets in every school, college and every ...