Page 4 - Tamil Nadu

Poll promises set to test Tamil Nadu's finances over welfare race

Tamil Nadu polls see fierce welfare pitch targeting women and youth, even as strong growth contrasts with rising fiscal pressures

9 dead as tourist van falls off hairpin bend in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore

The incident occured when a vehicle lost control at the 13th hairpin bend and plunged to the 9th hairpin bend, according to Valparai Police

Delimitation and proportionality: Why southern states are raising concerns

As the govt considers increasing Lok Sabha seats, concerns are rising in southern states that a population-based delimitation could reduce their share and alter India's federal balance

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin burns copy of delimitation bill, terms it 'black law'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday burnt a copy of the delimitation bill and dubbed it a "black law" and alleged it seeks to make the Tamil people "refugees" in their own land. Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the bill on delimitation circulated by the union government and raised slogans condemning the move, hours before the Parliament was to sit for a special session. The CM burnt the copy of the bill at Namakkal in western Tamil Nadu where he is camping in connection with electioneering. "Poradavom, Velvom ondraga" (Let us struggle, win together) was among the slogans raised by Stalin and others clad in black. In a statement, Stalin said: "Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu. Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down. Then, the fire of resistance against Hindi imposition that rose from Tamil Nadu scorched Delhi. It quietened only after Delhi was forced to yield." He was apparently referring to the anti-Hindi agitation in t

Delimitation in India: How it was done before and why it was paused

India once redrew constituencies regularly, but political concerns over population and regional balance led to a freeze that still shapes representation today

Stalin announces black flag protest against proposed delimitation exercise

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday announced a state-wide black flag agitation on April 16 against the proposed delimitation exercise and warned the Centre of consequences and a "heavy price" if it did not heed to Tamil Nadu's voice. Stalin, the president of the ruling DMK, after chairing an emergency meeting of party MPs and party district secretaries through video conference on the subject of delimitation said, "the sword that hung over our heads has now descended upon us." The DMK is reaching out to MPs across states and devising a coordinated strategy to counter this "grave danger", he said. In a statement, Stalin alleged the delimitation amendment the Union BJP government planned to bring in the Parliament on Thursday was a "massive, historic injustice" against Tamil Nadu and the southern states. He asked if the delimitation exercise which would allegedly be against southern states, was a "punishment for contributing to India's progress." "Is this how Tamil Nadu and the .

Can Thalapathy Vijay turn celebrity appeal into votes in Tamil Nadu polls?

Actor Vijay's political debut may disrupt Tamil Nadu's two-party system, but analysts say converting popularity into votes remains a key challenge ahead of 2026 polls

Sitharaman accuses Stalin of creating 'false narrative' over paddy bonus

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday said that the Centre had asked the state to review its existing bonus policy and consider discontinuing it on paddy and asked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman whether she was willing to place the letter in this regard in public domain. Sitharaman, however, said the chief minister's allegation that the union government directed Tamil Nadu not to provide incentives for paddy cultivation "is factually baseless, politically motivated, and a deliberate distortion designed to mislead the farmers of Tamil Nadu." What was communicated to all state Chief Secretaries - not just Tamil Nadu - was a suggestion to align state bonus policies with national priorities, she said in a post on 'X' citing the letter dated January 9, 2026, asking the states to align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets, in line with the national priorities for nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and sustainable agriculture. "Th

How delimitation debate puts federalism at centre of Tamil Nadu polls

In Tamil Nadu, delimitation is becoming a major poll issue, with concerns over fairness, representation, and whether southern states will lose political weight

The Vanniyars and the vote: A key factor in 70-75 Tamil Nadu seats

The Vanniyars are a "backward class" community largely in north Tamil Nadu, engaged mostly in agriculture. A large section comprises landless labourers

Will Vijay's TVK disrupt Tamil Nadu's Assembly election arithmetic?

Actor-politician's poll debut is most likely going to split votes. It remains to be seen if DMK or AIADMK benefits

DMK promises ₹2k aid for women, free laptops for students in poll campaign

Addressing a large gathering, Udhayanidhi Stalin outlined a series of welfare promises aimed at strengthening social support systems and boosting educational access in the state

Stalin hits out at Centre over women's quota, flags delimitation concerns

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population. "The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview. "Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added. The Union Cabinet recently cleared the draft bill for the amendments to the law, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, more commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act, that will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 with 273 reserved for women, and its implementation in t

EC transfers Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, appoints K Manivasan immediately

The ECI on Saturday ordered the transfer of Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar and appointed K Manivasan in his place. The 1993 batch IAS officer Manivasan has been directed to join immediately. Further, the release from the Election Commission of India said Kumar should not be posted in any election-related posts till the completion of elections. Earlier, the ECI ordered the transfer of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam and appointed senior IAS officer M Sai Kumar in his place. Similarly, the ECI ordered the transfer of Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun, replacing him with the 1997 batch IPS officer Abhin Dinesh.

Stalin accuses Centre of 'using' women's quota, slams EPS over delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population. "The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview. "Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added. Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K ...

Tamil Nadu polls: A contest shaped by welfare politics, shifting alliances

As Tamil Nadu heads to polls on April 23, the Assembly election will test Dravidian politics, alliance cohesion, and the enduring impact of welfare-driven governance across regions

Jobs, empowerment and more: Unpacking manifestos in poll-bound states

From cash transfers to welfare schemes, women voters dominate poll strategies across five states, with parties competing to secure this electoral bloc

Piyush Goyal releases 'white paper' on TN's finances, flags GST gap

Senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal on Saturday released a document titled "Tamil Nadu Government Financial Crisis - comprehensive multi-perspective whitepaper," prepared by his party's Professional Cell in the state, and sought to know where the money received as GST compensation and the state's borrowings have gone. He sought to know how the state treasury could be empty despite receiving over Rs 80,000 crore in GST collections from the Centre and accused the DMK government of causing a financial crisis. With a debt-to-GSDP ratio of 26.4 per cent - just below the Finance Commission's 28.7 per cent ceiling - the state's fiscal health is deteriorating rapidly due to persistent revenue deficits, skyrocketing interest payments, and systemic payment defaults, the paper said. "The DMK's mismanagement has exacerbated structural imbalances, with off-budget borrowings and bleeding public sector undertakings (PSUs) masking the true extent of liabilities. GST has been a boon to TN finances with t

TVK chief Vijay calls DMK-Congress 'confused', BJP alliance 'exhausted'

TVK chief Vijay on Saturday termed the DMK-Congress combine a "confused alliance" and the NR Congress-BJP tie-up an "exhausted one" in Puducherry. Addressing a rally here for the April 9 polls, Vijay criticised both national parties for failing to grant statehood to Puducherry despite holding power at the Centre for years. He urged voters to support the party's "whistle" symbol in the Union Territory to usher in a "one-finger revolution", an apparent reference to a dialogue from one of his movies. He promised that a TVK government would make a "100 per cent effort" to secure full statehood legally, free from the interference of the Lieutenant Governor. Presenting his party's candidates as those who "stand with the people", Vijay outlined a series of populist welfare measures. He promised that local body elections would be conducted within six months of TVK assuming power. The party's agenda includes providing Rs 25 lakh medical insurance to every family and 200 units of free ...

Defeat hostile Delhi team, ensure Dravidian 2.0 model regime: Udhayanidhi

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday appealed to the people to defeat the Delhi team as it was "hostile" to the needs or development of the state. Addressing a poll campaign in support of the DMK candidate and state Cooperation Minister K R Periyakaruppan in Singampunari in the district, Udhayanidhi, who is the DMK youth wing secretary, said the April 23 Assembly election is very crucial as it is a contest to extend the development and good work done by the DMK and the Delhi team which is "hostile" to the needs or development of Tamil Nadu. "So, we must defeat the Delhi team, the Sanghi group, and prove that they have no space in Tamil Nadu. Ensure Dravidian model 2.0 regime for more development and welfare initiatives," Udhayanidhi said, highlighting the numerous schemes, including free bus travel for women, the monthly grant for women heads of families, and free laptops to college students. "Just as you made Periyakaruppan win for four consecutive terms,