Page 8 - Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu 2026 elections: A look at key constituencies and candidates

Tamil Nadu heads into 2026 Assembly elections with high-stakes contests across key constituencies and prominent leaders including MK Stalin, Edappadi K Palaniswami and Vijay shaping the race

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

TN polls: 18% candidates face criminal cases; 25% crorepatis, says report

Around 18 per cent of the candidates in fray in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 25 percent have assets worth more than Rs one crore, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Monday. According to the report, out of the 3992 candidates analysed, 722(18 per cent) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. Of these, 404 (10 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases. In the 2021 Assembly elections, out of 3559 candidates analysed, 466 (13 per cent) had declared criminal cases against themselves, and 207 (6 per cent) had declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Among the major parties, 118 (69 per cent) out of 170 candidates analysed from the AIADMK, 92 (40 per cent) out of 231 candidates from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, 70 (40 per cent) out of 175 candidates analysed from the DMK, 16 (48 per cent) out of 33 from the BJP, 14 (50 per cent) out of 28 candidates analysed from t

25 killed, several injured in blast at fireworks unit in TN's Virudhunagar

The accident occurred at the Vanaja firecracker unit, owned by one Muthumanickam, which functions under the Vachakarapatti police station limits

A 1,100-year-long tryst with democracy: Uthiramerur's push for revival

At Uthiramerur, where democracy took root centuries ago, voters now weigh history against present-day issues as Tamil Nadu's election battle heats up

It's 'jobs first' in Panapakkam: Locals push for hiring, better facilities

Industrial projects lift Panapakkam's profile, but locals demand jobs, storage facilities and water security as key election issues

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.