Tamil Nadu Government

TN CM Vijay slams DMK for 'politicising' Karur stampede, announces memorial

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday slammed the DMK for attempting to gain "political mileage" from the tragic stampede here last year and restraining him from visiting the district. In his first visit here since the 2025 stampede that killed 41 persons, Vijay faulted the police for not alerting him about the swelling crowd at the TVK venue on September 27 last, nor taking any steps to cancel the meeting as the crowd had become unmanageable to control. "The police could have alerted us that the crowd was swelling and become unmanageable to control. The police have all the right to cancel the meeting. Without doing so, the police escorted us on the highway," Vijay said during his first visit here after taking up the reins as chief minister in May. Vijay could not meet the affected 41 families in Karur last year but had those affected families were brought near Chennai and he personally consoled them. At the meeting today, Vijay said "I trusted the police fully and ev

Flawed subsidy targeting, discoms trigger fiscal strain for Tamil Nadu

State's outstanding debt and liabilities reached almost ₹10 trillion in FY26

HD Hyundai's ₹38K cr shipbuilding plan brings TN rivals on same page

Tamil Nadu's ruling TVK and opposition DMK have backed HD Hyundai's proposed Rs 38,000 crore shipbuilding project in Thoothukudi, signalling policy continuity

TVK govt reaches out to industry amid policy continuity concerns

Tamil Nadu government engages industry leaders, expedites approvals and assures policy support as it seeks to retain investor confidence and sustain investment momentum

Fresh setback for AIADMK as four former ministers join Vijay's TVK

In yet another setback for the AIADMK, which faces a severe internal crisis, the party's four former ministers and ex-MLAs have joined ruling TVK at its headquarters in Chennai on Saturday. The AIADMK leaders who joined TVK include Udumalai K Radhakrishnan, M C Sampath, Kadambur C Raju and N R Sivapathi. All of them joined the ruling party in front of TVK General Secretary Anand and General Secretary for election campaign management Aadhav Arjuna. After the April 23 poll debacle, the AIADMK is facing a series of setbacks. First, a rebel group of 25 MLAs supported a motion of confidence moved by CM C Joseph Vijay on the floor of the Assembly, violating the party whip to vote against the motion. Four of those rebel MLAs resigned and joined TVK before the rebel group patched up with General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami. Since then, several AIADMK functionaries have quit their party to join TVK. The four former AIADMK ministers quitting the party and joining TVK is the latest instance

In keeping election promises,Vijay's welfare & fiscal discipline challenge

Tamil Nadu is prosperous but it cannot afford to be profligate with spending

TN CM Vijay announces waiver of loans up to ₹50,000 for marginal farmers

The scheme is expected to benefit 1,422,000 farmers and will result in an additional government expenditure of ₹2,044.46 crore

Cong joins TN govt, CM Vijay expands Cabinet by inducting 23 more ministers

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday expanded his Cabinet by inducting 23 more legislators as ministers, including two from the Congress, which marked the return of the grand old party to governance in Tamil Nadu after almost 60 years. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Lok Bhavan and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the minister-designates. TVK MLAs, including Srinath, S Kamali, C Vijayalakshmi and R V Ranjithkumar were initially sworn-in as ministers. Congress party's S Rajesh Kumar, representing Killiyoor, and P Viswanathan, who won from Melur segment, took oath as ministers. AICC incharge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, said the inclusion of his party MLAs in the Cabinet heralded a "turning point" in the political history of Tamil Nadu. "Congress cadres have been striving for power for the last 59 years and have been working for it with loyalty and dedication. Now, they have got it," Chodankar told PTI ...

TN CM Vijay keeps Home, assigns portfolios; Sengottaiyan gets finance

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has recommended to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar the portfolios to be allocated to the council of ministers who were sworn in along with him on May 10 and it has been approved by the governor, Lok Bhavan said on Saturday. According to the Lok Bhavan press release, Vijay will handle public, general administration, police, women and youth welfare, welfare of children, aged, differently abled persons, municipal administration and urban and water supply. Similarly, N Anand was designated minister for rural development and water resources. Likewise, Aadhav Arjuna will take care of public works (buildings, highways and minor ports) and sports development. Dr K G Arunraj will be the minister for health, medical education and family welfare. K A Sengottaiyan shall be the Finance Minister.

TVK govt wins trust vote in TN Assembly, AIADMK rebel group backs govt

The floor test proceedings to prove the strength of the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government were underway in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday with the Congress and Left parties extending support to the government while the opposition DMK staged a walkout and abstained from voting. BJP with its lone MLA, stayed 'neutral.' Earlier, Chief Minister Vijay moved a resolution seeking the confidence vote. Floor leaders of the respective parties were allowed to speak first. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami opposed the Vijay-led government in the proceedings. The party's rebel leader S P Velumani declared support to TVK government, even as the Palaniswami faction opposed him. The main opposition party, DMK, staged a walkout and abstained from taking part in the voting. Congress, CPI , CPI (M), VCK, IUML and AMMK extended support to the government while the BJP said its stand was "neutral." Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK, which has four MLAs, said it was "abstaining." The vote

TN govt revokes order appointing astrologer Radhan Pandit as OSD to CM

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday revoked its order appointing Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, an astrologer, as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD - Political) to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The decision to withdraw the Government Order (GO) comes less than 24 hours after the appointment was made on Tuesday, following a wave of sharp criticism from political opponents and allies of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) alike. The appointment had sparked a heated debate in the State Assembly earlier in the day. Opposition leaders, including DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, strongly condemned the move on the floor of the House, questioning the induction of an astrologer into a key political administrative role. Facing mounting pressure and backlash from various quarters, the Vijay-led administration moved quickly to rescind the appointment. Vettrivel, widely known as an astrologer, had been designated to handle political affairs in the Chief Minister's Office before

Tamil govt appoints two IAS officers as secretaries to CM Vijay

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed two IAS officers to serve as official secretaries to the new Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay, who assumed office on Sunday. A state government order said that Dr P Senthil Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Additional Chief Secretary-Secretary I to the CM. Similarly, the order stated that G Lakshmi Priya, Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Secretary II to the CM. Although Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam did not secure a majority on its own in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, its leader managed to secure support from the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and IUML, bringing together 120 MLAs and crossing the 118-seat majority mark to form the government. Vijay also introduced three public welfare schemes related to electricity, women's safety and drug eradication in the state.

Vijay to become next Tamil Nadu CM as VCK backs TVK, oath on Sunday

Ending days of political suspense in Tamil Nadu, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Saturday extended unconditional support to Vijay-led TVK to form the government in the state

TN Cong MLAs shift to Hyderabad as TVK seeks numbers to form govt

With uncertainty continuing over government formation in Tamil Nadu, five Congress MLAs from the state were camping in Hyderabad on Saturday in an apparent move by the party to prevent any poaching attempts. Congress MLA P Viswanathan from Melur, who was formerly the AICC in-charge of party affairs in Telangana, was leading the group of five MLAs during their stay in Hyderabad, party sources said. The Congress has already declared its support for TVK, and Viswanathan is likely to become a minister if a TVK government is formed, the sources added. Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which won 108 seats-10 short of a majority-had earlier reached out to the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK parties that had been allied with the DMK, seeking their support to form the government after emerging as the single largest party in its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, held on April 23. The VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties, is expected to formally announce its support for the

AMMK chief files complaint against Vijay's TVK over 'forged' support letter

The AMMK has lodged a complaint with the Guindy police against the TVK, alleging the use of a "forged" support letter to stake claim for government formation, police said on Saturday.According to Guindy police, a petition has been received from AMMK General Secretary T T V Dhinakaran. However, officials confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the matter as of Saturday morning. The development followed a high-drama midnight visit by Dhinakaran to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Guindy Range. Speaking to reporters, the AMMK chief accused the Vijay-led TVK of submitting a forged photocopy of a letter to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, falsely claiming the support of AMMK's lone MLA-elect from Mannargudi, S Kamaraj. "The TVK, which claims to be a 'pure force,' has indulged in forgery and horse-trading," Dhinakaran stated. He alleged that the party attempted to bypass the anti-defection law by fabricating support. He also reveal

VCK's X handle suspended amid TVK attempting coalition govt in Tamil Nadu

This development comes after a purported post by the VCK in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form a coalition government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly

TN poll campaign ends today as high-stakes Assembly battle set for April 23

The high-intensity poll campaign for the April 23 election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly will end at the close of the day on Tuesday, bringing the mandatory silent period. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and former Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal besides Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, and Deputy CM son Udhayanidhi crisscrossed the state holding roadshows and campaigning for the AIADMK-led NDA and DMK-led SPA candidates in fray from 234 assembly constituencies. Though issues like development, central fund allocation, family rule, and corruption allegations dominated the nearly month-long electrifying campaign, apart from mutual personal attacks, the countdown to the election date saw the delimitation exercise assuming the centre stage. Two powerful alliances - the Secular Progressive Alliance

Permit 5 people named for prayers atop Tirupparankundram hill: HC to govt

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has suggested to the administration to permit five persons named by the court to offer symbolic prayers for 15 minutes near the stone pillar atop the Tirupparankundram hill. Hearing a contempt petition filed for non-compliance of an earlier direction on lighting Karthigai Deepam atop the Deepathoon, the court said the symbolic prayers (not lighting the lamp) could be allowed if the government wanted to show respect to the earlier orders of the court. Also, the Bench comprising Justice G R Swaminathan remarked that state Minerals and Mines Minister S Regupathy had "given a mischievous political spin" to the Tirupparankundram issue when he stated that the government would not permit the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam at the Deepathoon (stone pillar). Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar had filed an additional affidavit stating that he promulgated the prohibition orders on December 1, 2025, in order to prevent law and order situation and not

Maruti Suzuki commissions 7 automated driving test tracks in Tamil Nadu

Maruti Suzuki India on Friday said it has partnered with the Tamil Nadu government to commission seven automated driving test tracks in the state. The initiative is part of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between Maruti Suzuki and the Transport Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, to automate a total of ten driving test tracks across the state. The company said with the latest addition, it has automated all ten automated driving test tracks (ADTTs) in the state. "Equipped with high-definition cameras and advanced analytics, these ADTTs enable a comprehensive, efficient, and transparent assessment process. It eliminates any human bias and ensures that only skilled drivers are awarded a license," Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti said in a statement. According to data shared by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, India witnessed 1.77 lakh road accident deaths in 2024, he noted. Promoting disciplined driving practices and ensuring

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

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