Minister Vanni Arasu met tribal members in the Chinna Mayilaru area near Karaiyar in Papanasam in the Western Ghats. The Minister inspected products grown there, ongoing iron bridge works and the Government Tribal Residential High School in the area.

Acknowledging the demands of Kani tribal students, he said action would be taken after discussions with the District Collector and Forest Department officials concerned to upgrade the school, which currently offers classes up to Class 10, to Class 12.

Pointing out that a total of Rs 32 crore is required exclusively for the education and scholarships of students in residential schools for tribal people in Tamil Nadu, while Rs 466 crore is required for the overall welfare of tribal communities in the State, he said steps are being taken to secure the entire allocation.

Discussions have also been held on streamlining forest products manufactured in Kani settlements and marketing them through modern methods, he said.

Tirunelveli District Collector Anand Mohan, Tribal Welfare Director Annadurai, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Anbu, Cheranmahadevi Sub-Collector Ayush Gupta, District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer Poongodi, Ambasamudram Tahsildar Kumar, Vikramasingapuram Municipal Commissioner Mahadevan, government officials and other prominent persons were also present.

Alleging that the decision appeared to favour the Chief Minister's personal convenience, Seeman termed it a "Tughlaq durbar."

Seeman questioned the need to spend around Rs 1,200 crore on a new Secretariat when the State government was facing financial constraints. He said the government had cited a lack of space and traffic congestion at the existing Secretariat at Fort St George as reasons for considering a shift, but Pattinapakkam itself was facing severe traffic congestion.

He pointed out that the area had several schools, colleges, commercial establishments, places of worship and fishing-related businesses, with thousands of people using its narrow roads every day. The proposed Secretariat, he said, could further worsen congestion and affect schoolchildren and the public.

Seeman also questioned whether adequate space would be available at the proposed site for government departments, the Assembly, accommodation for ministers and MLAs, parking and other public amenities. He asked whether the location could support the government's stated vision of a Secretariat that would meet its requirements for the next 100 years.

He warned that the NTK would mobilise people from the nine fishing hamlets and launch a major protest if the government did not withdraw the proposal.

Seeman assured the fishing communities that the NTK would oppose the project and work with residents to protect their livelihood.

Citing the risk of tsunamis and projections of sea-level rise, Seeman argued that Pattinapakkam was unsuitable for a long-term government complex.

On December 4, 2017, Nomal Gogoi (42), a native of Assam was crossing the road near the Omandurar Multi-Speciality Hospital on Anna Salai when the MTC bus hit him.

The MTC bus (route 221), plying from Kelambakkam to Central had hit the pedestrian, grievously injuring him. Gogoi was shifted to the hospital, where he died the next day. Triplicane Traffic Investigation Wing registered a case and filed a final report. 

Pronouncing the judgment, the Magistrate held that the charges against Sankaran were proved beyond doubt, and convicted him for causing death by negligence. He was sentenced to one year RI and Rs 6,000 fine, with an additional 15 days imprisonment in default of payment.

The Lok Adalat organised by the District Legal Aids Authority was held at the Combined Court premises in Tiruchy.

The Lok Adalat was chaired by the Principal District Judge M Christopher in the presence of the Third Additional Sub Judge J Kannan.

During the Lok Adalat, various categories of cases were taken up and disposed of through amicable settlements benefiting the litigants. Sathya Kumar (46), a forest department official from Needamangalam in Tiruvarur, was one among them.

In 2018, Sathya Kumar met with an accident in which his two-wheeler was hit by a van, and he went into a coma. A case was registered, and it was being heard in the special court.

On Saturday, the case came up for an amicable disposal in which the insurance firm was asked to pay a sum of Rs 2 crore to victim Sathya Kumar.

Accordingly, the Principal District Judge Christopher handed over a cheque worth Rs 2 crore to Sathya Kumar’s wife Dhanalakshmi.

Mohanapriya (36), of Cholavaram in Chengalpattu, was returning from Chennai to her home on a motorcycle with her two children.

When they were nearing Sothupakkam junction near Chengalpattu, a lorry from behind collided with the bike.

Mohanapriya lost control and fell, suffering serious injuries and died on the spot. The two children survived with minor injuries.

He cited MDMK general secretary Vaiko’s repeated references to the episode, saying Vaiko had travelled from Tirunelveli and visited Stalin in prison. Nehru also recalled the torture Stalin underwent in custody, saying former MP C Chittibabu had shielded Stalin during the assault and later died, while Stalin’s jaw was broken.

He said TVK chief and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was only a year old when Stalin was arrested under MISA and accused him of now claiming that the detention was not politically motivated. “There is adequate evidence available in the government records on the arrest of Stalin, and the minister R Nirmalkumar can refer to them and get clarification,” he said.

Nehru dared the TVK to declare Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate and “wait for the consequences” from the BJP.

Addressing DMK cadres at a protest in Tiruchy against Vijay’s alleged remarks ridiculing Stalin’s MISA arrest, Nehru said the episode was well documented.

Nehru further warned Vijay that he could reveal details of the Chief Minister’s treatment at Apollo Hospitals but had refrained from doing so in the interest of public dignity. He accused Vijay of diverting questions raised by the Opposition in the Assembly and focusing instead on delivering “cinematic dialogues.”

Former minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that “demeaning the sacrifices of the leaders during MISA is just an agenda of RSS”, which, he claimed, was being pursued by Nirmalkumar because of his “RSS roots”.

The DMK leader said the history of the Dravidian movement was not something written in an air-conditioned room or created for social media reels, but a history shaped by the sacrifices and bloodshed of its leaders.

In his petition, Suthan said six MLAs elected in the 2026 Assembly elections had resigned from their posts and joined the TVK, resulting in vacancies necessitating the by-elections. The MLAs are S Jayakumar (Perundurai), Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam), P Sathyabama (Dharapuram), Esakki Subbaya (Ambasamudram), C Vijaya Bhaskar (Viralimalai) and MR Vijayabhaskar (Karur).

The petitioner contended that when an elected representative resigns shortly after an election for personal or political reasons, a statutory restriction should be considered to prevent the person from contesting elections to Parliament or a State Legislative Assembly for five years from the date of acceptance of the resignation.

He submitted that public money is spent on elections and by-elections and that its economical and responsible use is a matter of public interest. He also argued that the electorate’s mandate cannot be abandoned without considering the consequences for voters and the public exchequer.

He contended that TVK candidates Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama should not be allowed to contest, as they resigned for political reasons, causing additional public expenditure.

The petitioner has sought a directive restraining the ECI from accepting the nomination papers of the two candidates until disposal of the writ petition.

The CPM state committee will meet in Tiruchy at 10.30 am on Sunday, while the CPI will announce its decision at a press conference in the afternoon after its state committee meeting.

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the party’s state executive committee held a detailed discussion on the political approach to be adopted in the two constituencies on Saturday. Since an important political decision had to be taken, the matter would be placed before the state committee for approval, he said.

The CPM's final decision would be announced by 2 pm on Sunday.

Shanmugam said the party had already criticised the MLAs' resignations that led to the vacancies, describing them as 'unhealthy politics and political opportunism.' “There is no change in our view,” he said.

On whether the CPM would support any party or extend outside support to the ruling party, Shanmugam said all options would be discussed at Sunday’s state committee meeting.

The CPI too deferred its announcement after its state-level deliberations on Saturday. State secretary M Veerapandian said a TVK functionary had contacted the party seeking its support, but the CPI had asked them to wait until its meeting concluded.

Asked whether supporting TVK candidates would amount to joining the alliance, Veerapandian said the party had yet to decide. “We consider DMK, AIADMK and TVK as democratic forces. We will decide what stand to take in the bypoll based on the political situation,” he said.

Regupathy alleged that Vijay was now “spitting venom” at Stalin, despite the latter having shown him consideration after the Karur tragedy.

Regupathy, who led a DMK protest in Pudukkottai against the TVK government, said he had urged Stalin, who was then Chief Minister, to register a case against Vijay soon after the tragedy.

However, Stalin refused, citing humanitarian considerations, he said.

“As the Minister of Law, I appealed to our leader Stalin to register a case against Vijay, but he did not accept it. Despite repeated requests, Stalin said a party leader never likes his cadres to die and that, on humanitarian grounds, we should leave him,” Regupathy said.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy, Durai Vaiko noted that it was late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran's dream to make Tiruchy the second capital of Tamil Nadu.

“It was the right choice. Tiruchy would be appropriate as the second capital due to the surge in traffic and skyrocketing prices in real estate in Chennai. The middle-class people are unable to lead a life in Chennai, but Tiruchy would be comfortable for them," Durai Vaiko said.

He also pointed out that the geographical proximity to Tiruchy from all places across the State would ensure easing of commuting for people within stipulated travel time.

“While people from Southern districts would take more than a day to reach Chennai, it would take only a three-to-four-hour journey to Tiruchy," he said.

He further noted that districts like Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Karur, Perambalur and Ariyalur would witness growth if Tiruchy is made the second capital.

On the proposed secretariat plan in Pattinapakkam, he said Chief Minister Joseph Vijay cancelled the airport project in Paranthur for the welfare of the farmers, and he will also take a possibly good decision by cancelling Pattinapakkam for the welfare of the fishers.

The Port Authority has floated a Rs 6.78 crore tender for the work, which is expected to establish the ground and seabed conditions at the proposed site before the next stages of planning and development.

The proposed Rs 38,000 crore shipyard is planned with an annual capacity of 2.5 million gross tonnes and is expected to function as the anchor facility for the wider 2,500-acre Thoothukudi shipbuilding cluster.

The port authority will undertake a detailed study of its land and seabed, including drilling of 127 boreholes and offshore surveys across around 10 sq km.

The study will cover 57 boreholes onshore and 70 offshore. It will involve collecting soil and rock samples and carrying out tests to assess the nature and strength of the ground, including 1,407 standard penetration tests and soil sampling operations to understand the sub-surface conditions.

The offshore exercise will examine the seabed and the conditions below it. The surveys include multibeam echo sounder, side-scan sonar, magnetometer, sub-bottom profiling and ultra-high-resolution seismic surveys. These studies are intended to provide information on seabed levels, underwater features, sub-surface layers and other conditions relevant to the proposed development, and the work is expected to be completed in 210 days.

The feasibility study is intended to provide information on seabed levels, underwater features, subsurface layers and other conditions relevant to the proposed development. The work is expected to be completed in 210 days.

The port authority has issued a work order for Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparations that will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of the project, including capacity and configuration of the shipyard, shipbuilding and ship-repair potential, production facilities and the types of vessels that could be targeted.

The DPR will be based on Indian and global demand, competing shipyards and potential customers, with the study also focusing on annual vessel output, Compensated Gross Tonnage (CGT) capacity and steel throughput.

The proposed cluster is being developed through National Shipbuilding - Heavy Industries Park Tamil Nadu Ltd (NSHIP-TN), a 50:50 joint venture between VOC Port and SIPCOT. The two entities signed an MoU in September 2025 to develop a mega shipbuilding cluster at Thoothukudi as part of India's broader strategy to emerge as one of the world's top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.

Beneficiaries under the central schemes have been anxious over the past few days following the non-crediting of pension to their bank accounts.

"I receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 on the 5th of every month without fail. But I have not received the amount for August yet. Living alone without any support, this sudden delay has left me deeply worried," said a beneficiary from Karur.

Explaining the delay, Director of Social Security Schemes Gayathri Krishnan said the Union government had issued directives to implement pension schemes through a unique portal, SNA-SPARSH, adding that the State government had already released its share.

"Owing to a technical glitch and three bank holidays, the amount could not be credited to the beneficiaries' accounts on time. The pension will be credited to their accounts starting Monday," she assured.

The State government also issued a clarification urging pensioners not to panic, assuring them that payouts would resume from Monday.

"In Tamil Nadu, 35,37,372 beneficiaries receive pensions under 12 different schemes. Of them, 15.56 lakh receive pensions funded entirely by the State government," the release noted.

SCHEME & BREAKDOWN

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension:

Age group | Central share | State share | Total

60 to 79 | Rs 200  | Rs 1,000 | Rs 1,200

80 & above | Rs 500 | Rs 1,000 | Rs 1,500

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension:
Total pension: Rs 1,500 | Central share: Rs 300

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension:
Total pension: Rs 1,200 |  Central share: Rs 300

Biopioneer was recognised for developing a thermostable broad-spectrum protease inhibitor intended to preserve protein biomarkers in blood, serum and plasma. The technology is designed to reduce dependence on uninterrupted refrigeration in diagnostic settings.

Prantae Solutions was awarded for Proflo-U, a portable point-of-care platform designed to measure kidney-health markers. Its system is intended to support early screening for chronic kidney disease and preeclampsia, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

EF Polymer won for Fasal Amrit, a biodegradable water-retention polymer made from fruit and agricultural waste. The product is mixed into the crop root zone to absorb surplus irrigation or rainwater and release moisture as the soil dries.

Music Temple's Gamaka Box, a patented notation method for documenting the intricate oscillations and curves known as gamakas in Indian ragas, won the Special Jury Award.

The Innovation category winners received Rs 1 lakh, a trophy and a citation each. They will also have access to CavinKare's expertise in marketing, finance, design, packaging, research and development, and human resources. The Special Jury Award carried a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

The awards, instituted in 2011 in memory of R ChinniKrishnan, received more than 850 nominations from across India this year. The Innovation category was evaluated on uniqueness, problem-solving potential, feasibility, scalability, social impact and sustainability.

After meeting DMK president MK Stalin, Sathya told reporters that the two MLAs had resigned from their posts due to their selfish interests.

Appealing to voters, he said they should understand the situation that led to the bypolls being announced.

He said a major anti-incumbency wave was prevailing in the Madurantakam constituency.

Mallai Sathya is an ousted functionary of the Vaiko-led MDMK. He floated a new outfit named the Dravida Vettri Kazhagam (DVK).

He has strong pockets in northern districts, which may help DMK's performance in the Madurantakam constituency.

The clarification came amid reports of power cuts lasting nearly an hour in various areas. Protests were also held in several parts of the State over the unannounced load-shedding.

Electricity Minister R Nirmalkumar said the State had faced a power shortage for two days due to the disruption in wind power generation. He said the shortage was not limited to Tamil Nadu, but was being experienced in most States.

He said the electricity required by Tamil Nadu had been procured from the common power supply pool on Friday evening and that stable power supply had been provided across the State since then.

In a statement on Saturday, the TNPDCL said the summer had continued unexpectedly for a prolonged period this year, resulting in increased electricity demand.

At the same time, lower wind speeds had affected wind power generation, leading to technical issues such as voltage fluctuations at times.

The TNPDCL said the additional procurement had helped stabilise the power grid, which was currently in a stable and reliable condition.

A team of senior officials at the TNPDCL headquarters was continuously monitoring changes in the power system and distribution conditions and issuing necessary instructions, it said.

Special teams are ready to restore power supply immediately in areas affected by outages. Field officials have been instructed to rectify interruptions without delay.

Consumers and members of the public can contact the Minnagam consumer service centre, which operates 24 hours a day, for electricity-related complaints at 94987 94987.

TNPDCL said field staff have been instructed to avoid scheduled power cuts for routine maintenance work as far as possible, keeping public welfare in mind.

The corporation said it was continuing to remain vigilant to ensure stable, reliable and uninterrupted power supply throughout the day, particularly during night hours.

A senior TNPDCL official said the steep increase in power demand in September had coincided with the wind power generation season showing signs of withdrawal.

"The forecast for wind power generation itself was lower compared to last month, but the error has gone up. Along with it, the countrywide demand for power has led to difficulty in procuring power from the power exchange during the peak hour," the official said.

The core issue is over the circular allegedly ordering the implementation of the scheme from the headmaster's own purse or through the respective local bodies. The district administration and local bodies have been instructed to coordinate with schools and provide essential items, including plates and tumblers, needed to serve breakfast.

The threat of disciplinary action follows a circular issued by the Cuddalore district Chief Educational Officer (CEO) to government-aided schools on September 9 regarding the implementation of the breakfast scheme for students in the higher classes.

There was reportedly some opposition, with the argument that school teachers can't pay out of pocket for the arrangements in the absence of proper funds from the government.

The department said disciplinary action has been advised against employees who acted in such a "negligent manner." The officials had allegedly asked school management to make arrangements, such as providing utensils, to serve breakfast. The action has been recommended based on the instructions of the Minister for School Education, A Rajmohan.

The department has also taken steps to ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme at the school level.

The department's latest action comes amid efforts to ensure that the breakfast programme is implemented effectively in classes 6 to 8 schools, with adequate infrastructure and basic serving facilities in place.

Accusing CM Vijay of failing to answer questions raised in the Assembly, he accused the ruling side of attempting to undermine the DMK president's political history.

Raja also hit out at Minister R Nirmalkumar over his remarks questioning whether Stalin was arrested under MISA. Recalling Stalin's imprisonment during the Emergency, Raja said the DMK would not accept any attempt to deny or belittle the sacrifices made by its leaders.

Raja also made certain uncouth remarks about Minister Nirmalkumar raising doubts about Stalin's MISA arrest, which led to condemnation.

At a protest in north Chennai, former Minister PK Sekarbabu claimed that the Assembly was the safest place for CM Vijay to make such false remarks. He said the DMK was like a wounded tiger and would give a fitting reply.

In south Chennai, the DMK staged a protest near the Kalaignar Arch in Saidapet, with more than 1,000 party cadres raising slogans against Chief Minister Vijay.

The container truck had reportedly broken down and was stranded on the road while travelling from Poonamallee towards Red Hills, police said. 

Upon impact, Muthu’s truck cabin was severely mangled, trapping him inside. Personnel from Avadi Fire and Rescue Services used gas cutters and other equipment to retrieve his body after a six-hour operation. The body was sent to Tiruvallur GH for post-mortem. Avadi Traffic Investigation Police registered a case and are conducting an inquiry. 

In another accident near Red Hills, Mohanapriya (36) of Sholavaram was killed after a truck rear-ended her two-wheeler. Police said that her two children, Rithika (8) and Sanjay (6), survived with injuries. They were admitted to a private hospital for treatment while Mohanapriya’s body was sent to Stanley GH for post-mortem. The truck driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.

Red Hills TIW (Traffic Investigation Wing) have registered a case and are investigating. 

What rituals are being held ahead of the Maha Kumbabhishekam?

Preliminary and special pujas have been underway since September 6, while the 12-year Yagasala pujas are being conducted at the specially constructed Yagasala on the temple premises.

The Yagasala rituals will continue until September 16, with regular darshan inside the sanctum restricted during this period. Devotees will be allowed entry through the outer areas.

The main ceremony will be held between 7.40 am and 8.10 am on September 17. Holy water will first be poured over the golden vimanas of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar, followed by the Rajagopurams, according to a Maalaimalar report.

What arrangements have been made for devotees?

Extensive security arrangements have been made across Madurai, with thousands of police personnel deployed for the event. More than 200 facial recognition and CCTV cameras have been installed, while surveillance cameras have been installed on major roads. Round-the-clock control rooms have also been set up.

Temporary bus stands, special transport facilities and parking spaces for around 8,000 vehicles have been arranged at various locations. The HR&CE Department will also live-stream the ceremony, with LED screens installed at Periyar bus stand and Mattuthavani integrated bus stand.

Entry passes for the main ceremony will be issued through a lottery system to prevent overcrowding, with around 2,000 passes earmarked for the public through an online allotment system.

What facilities are being provided?

Basic amenities, including drinking water and temporary toilets, have been arranged for devotees.

For the first time, pipes have also been laid to provide drinking water, Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said after inspecting the arrangements with temple officials. About 6,000 staff have been deployed for the event, he added.

Why has Madurai declared a local holiday?

With several lakh devotees expected to arrive from across Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country to attend the Maha Kumbabhishekam, the Madurai district administration has declared September 16 and 17 as local holidays to facilitate their movement, ensure safety and ease traffic.

The holidays apply to government and private schools, colleges and government offices in the district. Quarterly and semester examinations scheduled for these dates have been postponed and will begin from September 18.

To compensate, two Saturdays in October will be working days, while September 24 has also been declared a working day, the Maalaimalar report added.

(With extra inputs from PTI)

The 32-year-old coconut harvester lost his hand after he was brutally attacked with a sickle following a dispute over work at an agricultural farm near Dharapuram on Friday, the police said.

The victim, identified as Muniyandi, hailing from Dindigul district, had recently joined work at an agricultural farm owned by Easwaran near Goundachipalayam, according to the police.

Ranjith (32), a resident of Vellode near Perundurai, had been working as a coconut harvester at the same farm for several years.

A dispute broke out between Ranjith and Muniyandi over coconut harvesting work. Enraged during the altercation, Ranjith attacked Muniyandi with a sickle, severing his hand.

Writhing in pain, Muniyandi placed his severed hand inside a plastic cover and rushed to the Dharapuram government hospital via a private ambulance.

However, due to the lack of adequate surgical facilities for reattachment at the Dharapuram hospital, doctors placed the severed hand in an ice box and urgently referred him to the Coimbatore Government Hospital for advanced treatment.

The Mulanur Police have registered a case and are further investigating the incident.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the former union minister welcomed the state’s directive ordering all public servants, teachers, and judicial staff to submit their asset returns by October 31 as a commendable step toward curbing corruption.

However, he emphasized that restricting this rule to government staff while exempting political leaders will fail to eliminate corruption from public administration.

He said under the amended Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, staff are required to submit detailed disclosures of both movable and immovable assets, as well as liabilities, registered in their names or under family members through the Integrated Financial and Human Resource Management System (IFHRMS).

Calling for complete political accountability, Anbumani said politicians must set an example for civil servants, as administrative corruption will naturally decline if elected leaders remain transparent.

He demanded that the state enforce mandatory annual asset disclosures in the public domain for all elected representatives every January 1 for social auditing.

Furthermore, he urged the government to frame rules requiring representatives to publicly explain any year-on-year asset growth exceeding a set threshold, and to bring top leaders under the Lokayukta framework to ensure true public integrity.

In a statement, Anbumani highlighted that the scheme originally launched for Classes 1 to 5 in government primary schools in September 2022 and later extended to government-aided schools in August 2023 is set to be expanded up to Class 8 on September 17.

"However, the government has mandated that headmasters arrange basic necessities without allocating any financial support," he alleged.

Citing department circulars, he said schools have been asked to install new nameboards mounted on steel frames, resolve infrastructure deficiencies in kitchens and storage spaces, and arrange drinking water, lighting, and utensils, including plates and glasses for students.

Depending on student strength, these requirements are expected to cost between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 per school, the former union minister said.

"It is shocking that the government, which has allocated hundreds of crores for the breakfast scheme, has not provided a single rupee for these initial arrangements," Anbumani said, adding that forcing headmasters to bear the financial burden is unjust and unmanageable.

Drawing parallels with direct procurement centers and state-run liquor outlets where lack of government funding for basic operations led to corruption, the PMK leader warned that extending such practices to educational institutions would compromise integrity and discipline.

The PMK leader also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular issued by District Educational Officers (DEOs) and urged the state government to directly fund all initial setup costs, including utensils and signage.

The three election observers are N Anand, KA Sengottaiyan and CTR Nirmal Kumar.

For Madurantakam (Reserved), Aadhav Arjuna has been appointed in-charge, with B Rajkumar, K Thennarasu and R Vinoth as co-in-charges. P Saravanamurthy, S Thiagarajan, B Vijayaraj, Kamatchi and M S Balaji alias Manikandan have been appointed deputy in-charges.

For Dharapuram (Reserved), KG Arunraj has been appointed in-charge, with M Vijay Balaji, C Vijayalakshmi and Lokesh Tamilselvan as co-in-charges. S Balamurugan, V Sathyabhama, K Ramkumar, CS Dileep and M Sathya have been appointed deputy in-charges.

The party said the teams would carry out election-related work in their respective constituencies, while the observers would oversee the work across both seats. It urged party cadres to extend their cooperation to the teams, as per an official statement.

Vijay also called on party members to work towards securing victory for TVK candidates under the party's 'Whistle' symbol and achieving the largest victory margin in the history of by-elections.

The party said it would soon organise public outreach programmes in the two constituencies in support of its candidates.

TVK fields Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama for Madurantakam, Dharapuram bypolls

The ruling TVK has named former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama as its candidates for the October 6 bypolls to Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) Assembly constituencies, respectively, fulfilling the assurance given to the two leaders when they resigned their Assembly seats and joined the party.

Maragatham Kumaravel, who represented Madurantakam, and Sathyabama, who represented Dharapuram, had quit the AIADMK and resigned as MLAs on May 25 before joining the TVK. Their resignations led to the two constituencies falling vacant.

When will the 2 TN bypolls be held?

The bypolls are politically significant as they will be the first electoral test for the three-month-old TVK government. The Election Commission has fixed October 6 as polling day, with counting scheduled for October 9. The nomination process begins on September 9 and ends on September 16.

The Madurantakam constituency has 2,11,295 voters, including 1,03,943 men, 1,07,288 women and 64 third-gender voters. The Model Code of Conduct has already come into force in the constituency.

When will bypolls be held for 5 other TN seats?

The two seats are among seven vacancies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The EC, however, has not announced polls for Tiruchy East, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai, Perundurai, and Karur, where election-related cases concerning the returned candidates are pending. The restraint on holding by-elections in these five constituencies has been extended till September 8.

(With inputs from Bureau)

In a statement, Seeman questioned the need to spend around Rs 1,200 crore on a new Secretariat when the state government was facing financial constraints. He said the government had cited lack of space and traffic congestion at the existing Secretariat at Fort St George as reasons for considering a shift, but Pattinapakkam was itself facing severe traffic congestion.

He pointed out that the area had several schools, colleges, commercial establishments, places of worship and fishing-related businesses, with thousands of people using its narrow roads every day. The proposed Secretariat, he said, could further worsen congestion and affect schoolchildren and the public.

Seeman also questioned whether adequate space would be available at the proposed site for government departments, the Assembly, accommodation for ministers and MLAs, parking and other public amenities. He asked whether the location could support the government's stated vision of a Secretariat that would meet its requirements for the next 100 years.

Citing the risk of tsunamis and projections of sea-level rise, Seeman argued that Pattinapakkam was unsuitable for a long-term government complex.

Alleging that the decision appeared to favour the Chief Minister's personal convenience, Seeman termed it a "Thuglaq durbar". He warned that the NTK would mobilise people from the nine fishing hamlets and launch a major protest if the government did not withdraw the proposal.

Seeman assured the fishing communities that the NTK would oppose the project and work with residents to protect their live.

Speaking after the party’s state executive committee meeting, Shanmugam said a detailed discussion was held on the political approach the party should adopt towards the two bypolls.

“As an important political decision has to be taken, we have decided to convene the state committee and take a decision with its approval. An emergency state committee meeting will be held in Tiruchy at 10.30 am on Sunday,” he said.

He said the state committee would take the final decision on the party’s position and the outcome would be announced by 2 pm on Sunday.

Asked about the CPI’s view that the bypolls were unnecessary and whether the CPM shared the view, Shanmugam said the party had already criticised the resignations of the MLAs that led to the vacancies.

“We had already stated our views when the MLAs resigned. We had criticised it as unhealthy politics and political opportunism. There is no change in our view,” he said.

On whether the CPM would support any party or extend outside support to the ruling party, Shanmugam said all aspects would be discussed at Sunday’s state committee meeting and the party’s final decision would be announced thereafter.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, T Nagarajan made the announcement after visiting Solomon Pappaiah's residence in Madurai and consoling his family following the scholar's death.

Who was Solomon Pappaiah?

Solomon Pappaiah (90) died on Friday (September 10) due to age-related ailments.

A native of Madurai, he was known for his Pattimandarams (debate) programmes and Tamil literary lectures. He had served as a Tamil professor at the American College in Madurai and had written commentaries on ancient Tamil literature, including the Thirukkural.

His body was kept at the Madurai Webb Memorial Church for public homage in the presence of relatives. He was later cremated with state honours at the Thathaneri electric crematorium. Ministers Nirmalkumar and Viswanathan paid their last respects on behalf of the government

With festival holidays such as Vinayagar Chaturthi and Deepavali approaching, the demand for train tickets has surged, with a large number of passengers trying to book tickets through the Indian Railways’ Tatkal system.

IRCTC website server problems

On Friday, a large number of passengers logged on to the IRCTC website to book tickets under the Tatkal quota. When Tatkal booking for non-AC coaches opened at around 11 am, thousands of users attempted to access the website simultaneously, reportedly causing the site to crash.

The website remained inaccessible from 11 am to around 11:20 am, with several passengers receiving an error message stating, “Request could not be processed due to high traffic.” As a result, passengers were unable to enter their details or complete their payments.

By the time the website returned to normal, most Tatkal tickets had reportedly been sold out, with the remaining tickets moving to the waiting list, leaving thousands of passengers disappointed.

Passengers seek solution

Passengers allege that technical issues during Tatkal bookings have become a recurring problem. They have urged the authorities to take immediate steps to address the issue, improve server capacity and ensure uninterrupted ticket-booking services, particularly during periods of high demand.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased was identified as Maria Velcia (26), living in Dindigul. She was to marry Jebapastin (29), from the Vellode area of Dindigul district, at the Vellode Christian Church on Sunday.

The accident occurred around 3 am on the Dindigul-Madurai four lane National Highway in Vadipatti.

Jebapastin was reportedly riding the motorcycle with Velcia when a car travelling from Coimbatore to Madurai suffered a sudden tyre burst and lost control before hitting the bike.

The impact threw both Jebapastin and Velcia from the motorcycle. Velcia died on the spot, while Jebapastin sustained injuries and was taken to the Madurai Government Hospital for treatment.

Further investigation is underway.

Claiming lack of official records to prove the DMK's historic assertion on "Emergency-era martyr status" for Stalin, state Energy Resources and Law Minister Nirmal Kumar refuted the argument directly disputing the long-standing narrative that the DMK president was arrested under the stringent Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the 1975–77 Emergency.

Speaking to reporters here after inspecting the preparations for the renowned Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple consecration ceremony, which is scheduled for September 17, the Minister asserted that no official detention order copy existed to substantiate Stalin's claims of being a MISA detainee.

"No detention copy, no MISA arrest", Nirmal Kumar alleged accusing the opposition DMK of "overreacting and attempting to project Stalin as a political martyr based on unverified historical claims."

"The fundamental question is whether he was detained under MISA or not," Kumar stated.

"If anyone is arrested under such an act, there will always be a formal detention order copy. Does Stalin or the DMK have that detention copy? He will end up being the only martyr without one," he said.

The minister dismissed the defense, noting that the ongoing 40-year controversy only hurts the DMK the more they repeatedly bring it up.

He suggested that Stalin was likely arrested on entirely different legal grounds during that era rather than under the emergency act.

The Minister further criticised DMK's reliance on secondary documents, such as historical excerpts from the Sarkaria Commission or articles printed in the party mouthpiece Murasoli, stating that news reports and witness statements cannot substitute for missing official state detention orders.

Kumar's remarks follow days of intense friction in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Tensions escalated after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay cited Sarkaria Commission documents and made jaw gesture referring to the MISA arrests, prompting protests, slogan-shouting, and the eventual eviction of DMK legislators from the House.

Stalin recently defended his prison record in a public video, recounting severe custodial abuse and a fractured jaw while in jail.

Turning his focus to immediate political battles in the by-polls, Nirmal Kumar targeted both the DMK and AIADMK over candidate selections for upcoming by-elections.

He specifically criticised DMK candidate Paranthaman, calling him an "outsider" who failed to serve his former constituency - Egmore.

"The party relies heavily on spending massive sums of money using the notorious 'Thirumangalam formula' to sway voters," Nirmal Kumar alleged and added that the public will sees through these tactics and will decisively reject them at the ballot box.

Senior leader PK Sekar Babu, leading the protest here, praised Stalin for his "sacrifices, personality, and for being humane," and also lauded him as "Mr Clean," who followed ethics and values.

Such an unblemished leader was targeted in the Assembly by the TVK-led government and DMK objected to Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar's claims vis-a-vis Stalin's incarceration during the infamous Emergency (1975-77), he said.

Babu dismissed CM Vijay's recent allegations of corruption during the DMK regimes led by Karunanidhi and Stalin as mere "cinema style dialogues delivered for about an hour," in the Assembly.

Though the DMK objected to such allegations in the House, permission was not granted for Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin to refute them, he claimed, adding, "The DMK is an injured tiger that is standing in the field and one day, everything will be paid back in the same coin."

The DMK had days ago said that Vijay's speech in the Assembly was strongly condemnable as it trivialised the party, five-time chief minister Karunanidhi, late union minister Murasoli Maran and the sacrifices of party chief Stalin.

A combative Vijay targeted the DMK in the Assembly on September 7 for alleged serious, organised corruption during its previous regimes.

Vijay relied on the Sarkaria Commission report to target the DMK government led by Karunanidhi decades ago. The CM had made a reference to Maran as well in this connection.

The CM cited ED's official documents shared with the state government over alleged corruption during DMK's 2021-26 regime and named then CM Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi in this regard.

According to Law Minister Nirmal Kumar, there was no official record to indicate that Stalin's detention during the Emergency was under the MISA. The minister had indicated that Stalin was arrested following remarks on late PM Indira Gandhi and her 20-point programme, which was announced following proclamation of Emergency, by the then Congress-led government at the Centre.

Meanwhile, Kumar on Saturday challenged Stalin to produce his official detention order copy, disputing the long-standing Dravidian party's claim that the former chief minister was imprisoned under MISA during the Emergency.

In Tiruchirappalli, former DMK Minister Anbil Mahesh alleged that CM Vijay's "speech and looks" reminded one of Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Nazi Germany, and some ministers also followed the toolkit of Joseph Goebbels in peddling lies.

Senior leader A Raja, leading a demonstration here, rejected allegations levelled by the TVK regime and used strong words to condemn the ruling party and the chief minister.

The former union minister objected to Kumar's comment questioning Stalin's detention under the MISA and slammed him for questioning the integrity of his leader.

Raja then launched an abrasive personal attack on Kumar and dared him to file a case. He recalled his Parliament speech in the past on the alleged torture endured by Stalin during the Emergency in jail and underlined that the DMK chief had then been imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act.

When he made that statement, none of the leaders in the House, including those from the BJP doubted it. "Did anyone claim that it was a flase claim," he asked.

Raja also made a scathing attack on CM Vijay for his "jaw crushing" hand gesture and asked if he joined politics to shake his "hand and leg." He said the CM had no answers to any one of the questions posed by his party.

In the agitations held by the DMK, slogans were raised asking if the State Assembly was a "film shooting spot" for the TVK government and slammed Vijay asking him to "not deceive the people."

"Do not stick to diversion tactics, answer people's questions, the Assembly is not a cinema hall to deliver dialogues and perform action sequences, open your mouth CM Sir," were among the other slogans raised.

Strongly reacting to the statewide protest, TVK slammed the DMK leaders for speeches made with "vengeance, in a vulgar manner without dignity."

In a statement, the TVK hit out at DMK office-bearers for forgetting party founder CN Annadurai's principles of "duty, dignity, and discipline."

The TVK IT Wing said: "The corrupt slaves of Arivalayam (DMK headquarters) who carry in their hearts the evil force's principle of corruption, exploitation, and bribery will find the honest rule of the pure force (TVK) as bitter."

The past fake historical chapters of the evil force has been "exposed page by page" and no matter how furiously they scream or how loudly they wail, the evil forces can no longer win the hearts of the people. It is certain that the people are going to teach the evil forces a lesson once again.

Bypolls to two Assembly constituencies are scheduled to be held next month.

The ruling party also referred to Kumar's challenge asking "where is the detention copy" and castigated the DMK once again for peddling what it called fake narratives.

The State government has been according State honours during the final rites of Tamil scholars, writers and personalities from the film industry. Following this practice, the government announced State honours for Pappaiah.

The deceased was identified as Nikhil Reddy from Kadapa, who completed MBBS and was pursuing an MS degree at a private medical college near Kelambakkam. He was staying in a rented apartment on the 14th floor near the college along with some of his fellow students.

When the results of the final-year examinations were released on Thursday night, Nikhil found that he failed in two subjects, which left him dejected. His friends consoled and encouraged him before they went to bed.

Around 7 am on Friday, Nikhil allegedly got up and went to the balcony of the apartment and jumped from the building.

Residents who were out for a morning walk and security guards rushed to the spot and immediately called for an ambulance. However, he had died on the spot.

A team from Kelambakkam police went to the spot and sent Nikhil’s body to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. His parents in Andhra Pradesh were also informed.

The Kelambakkam police have registered a case and are conducting further investigation.

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Palaniswami said the proposed location, along Santhome Road adjoining the Pattinapakkam beach, was already heavily congested. The area has fishermen's settlements, residential neighbourhoods, schools and significant vehicular movement, and the construction of a major administrative complex could further worsen traffic congestion and inconvenience residents, he said.

He recalled that during the AIADMK governments led by former Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, efforts had been made to identify a suitable location for a new Secretariat without space constraints or traffic-related problems.

He urged the government to drop the proposal and consider constructing a new Secretariat only after the State's financial position improved. Any future site, he said, should be selected carefully to ensure that it does not create traffic problems or cause hardship to residents.

CPI calls for stir; CPM seeks all-party meet

Despite supporting the TVK government from the outside, the CPI has announced it will stage a protest at Pattinapakkam on Saturday against CM Vijay's pet project to construct a new Secretariat complex on the Marina, in the middle of a fishing community, while the CPM has sought an all-party meeting over the issue.

The Left party demanded that the project be scrapped at the present site and an alternative location identified. The protest will be led by CPI south Chennai district secretary SK Siva at 11 am near the Loop Road junction bus terminus at Pattinapakkam. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian will address the protest.

The party has said the proposed project would affect the residential areas and livelihood of fishing communities in the locality. It has demanded that all work related to the project be stopped immediately and a suitable alternative site be selected.

Meanwhile, CPM sought an all-party meeting over the issue. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the government should not rush into a decision on a project intended to serve as a long-term administrative complex. He said fishing villages surrounding the proposed site had already expressed strong opposition.

"Since all major government offices are currently within Chennai, shifting the Secretariat and Assembly outside the city is also not appropriate. The government should convene an all-party meeting and identify a location acceptable to all. Until then, no work should begin at the site currently selected," he said.

In an order issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar on Friday, it was stated that N Subbaiyan, Secretary of the Social Justice Department, would hold the post of Agriculture Secretary as an additional charge.

In another development, the home department shunted out R Stalin, superintendent of Kanniyakumari district and posted Anshul Nagar, deputy commissioner of Tirunelveli city, as the new SP of Kanniyakumari. Stalin was not given any posting.

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan also offered floral tributes and took to 'X' to recall Sekaran's courageous voice against social disparities.

"Having participated in the freedom struggle at a young age, he continued to strive to establish equality and social justice even after independence," the Vice-President stated.

He further added that Sekaran's ideals of building a society filled with harmony are forever memorable, noting, "May the life and sacrifice of Martyr Immanuel Sekaran continue to inspire us to strengthen unity and brotherhood in our society."

State Ministers R NirmalKumar and KG Arunraj laid wreaths at Sekaran's memorial in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district, on behalf of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Taking to the microblogging site 'X', CM Vijay hailed Sekaran as a brave martyr who fought for the country's independence and against social inequalities.

"Let us take a pledge on this day to walk in the path shown by him to create a society full of equality and self-respect," he said.

DMK chief and former Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin commemorated Sekaran's lifelong struggle for the educational, economic, and equal rights of marginalised communities.

They noted the previous state government's efforts to cement his legacy, including marking his centenary as a state event and inaugurating a memorial with a bronze statue in Paramakudi last year.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami remembered Sekaran as the voice of the oppressed who fought to eradicate untouchability.

He highlighted Sekaran's early revolt against the British, his imprisonment during the Quit India movement, and his military service.

Former Minister RB Udhayakumar paid floral tributes at the Paramakudi memorial on behalf of the AIADMK.

TNCC chief Manickam Tagore, who paid his respects alongside other Congress leaders, described Sekaran as a staunch nationalist and social reformer who never hesitated to fight injustice.

He noted the Indian National Congress's deep respect for Sekaran, recalling the release of a postal stamp in his honour in 2010 and state recognition in 2011.

AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also issued a statement honouring Sekaran's enduring efforts to eliminate social disparities and sow the seeds of equal rights among the masses.

State BJP chief Nainar Nagendran also visited the memorial in Paramakudi to pay his respects.

NTK chief coordinator Seeman and VCK leader and Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu also paid tributes to the martyr.

In a health bulletin issued at 2.30 pm, MGM Healthcare said Babu was continuing to receive appropriate medical management.

"VS Babu is presently admitted in MGM Healthcare, Chennai, since September 9, 2026, with a respiratory ailment.

He is clinically stable and continues to show improvement under appropriate medical management, " the hospital said.

Senthilnathan of Thalaiyari Street in Pattukkottai had a bicycle and spares godown in the locality, and a sudden fire broke out early Friday.

Based on the information, the fire personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire after fighting for more than an hour.

The Pattukkottai police also rushed to the spot, registered a case and are investigating. Meanwhile, the fire personnel found that a short circuit had led to the accident.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Sivakumar, the proprietor of Kalaimani Associates and a GST consultant, had approached the Commercial Taxes office to address the issues relating to his firm's GST proceedings.

The accused assistant commissioner, Jamuna of Tambaram assessment circle, with office on Greenways Road, allegedly summoned the complainant to her office and demanded Rs 2 lakh to settle the issues and avoid further action against him. Despite telling her that he was unable to arrange such a large amount, the official continued to press him for the money, he alleged.

Sivakumar tried to negotiate and repeatedly explained his financial difficulties, but the official allegedly persisted with the demand, said the FIR. During subsequent conversations and phone calls, the official allegedly continued insisting that money be paid to resolve the TNGST-related issues.

Finally, Sivakumar approached the DVAC and submitted audio recordings of the conversations. Following a discreet verification and approval from senior officials, the agency registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against assistant commissioner Jamuna on September 9 and has taken up the investigation.

The deceased, Sujitha Banu, was the daughter of Mohammed Kasim of Nadutheru in Vandiyur. She was studying in Class 11 at a school in the area.

She was reportedly spending a considerable amount of time using her mobile phone. On the day of the incident, her parents reportedly reprimanded her after seeing her using the phone at home.

Upset over this, Sujitha Banu allegedly died by suicide by hanging when no one else was at home.

Anna Nagar police are investigating the case.

CM Vijay said Pappaiah had brought the richness of Tamil and the Tamils' way of life to audiences around the world through pattimandram platforms.

He said Pappaiah’s humour and deep knowledge of Tamil had enabled him to convey social ideas to people in a simple manner and credited him with transforming pattimandrams from mere entertainment programmes into platforms that encouraged thought and discussion. “His demise is an irreparable loss to the Tamil-speaking world,” Vijay said.

Former Chief Minister MK Stalin shared profound grief over the death of the veteran Tamil scholar, describing him as a proud symbol of modern-day Madurai and a beloved figure among Tamils across the world.

Stalin said Pappaiya had won the affection of Tamils worldwide with his smiling demeanour, engaging Tamil and the distinct flavour of Madurai. He said Pappaiya was an authority on classical Tamil literature, having written a commentary on the Tirukkural, devised a new sequence for the Purananuru and studied Kamban's works.

Stalin said Pappaiya had showered affection on former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and himself, and that his affection remained unchanged irrespective of whether the DMK was in power. “Whenever we met, we shared a bond of affection, with him holding my hands with a smile and warmth,” he said.

“Mother Tamil has lost one of her finest sons,” he said, offering his deep condolences and solace to Pappaiya's family, the people of Madurai and his admirers across the world.

Governor Arlekar described Pappaiah as a renowned Tamil orator, scholar, and popular exponent of pattimandrams, saying that his eloquence, wit, and profound knowledge of the Tamil language and literature had enriched public discourse and brought the richness of Tamil closer to generations.

“His unique contribution to Tamil cultural life will always be remembered. His demise is an irreparable loss to the Tamil literary and cultural world,” Arlekar said, conveying his condolences to Pappaiah’s family, admirers and followers.

School Education Minister Rajmohan described Pappaiah’s death as a great loss to the Tamil-speaking world, recalling how he took the Tamil he taught in classrooms to people across the State and beyond through pattimandrams.

“He left his distinct mark on the literary world until his final breath,” Rajmohan said, offering condolences on behalf of the Tamil Development Department to Pappaiah’s family and Tamils worldwide.

BJP leaders recalled his distinctive contributions to the Tamil language, public discourse, and the cultural life of generations of Tamils.

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said Pappaiah had become synonymous with pattimandrams, particularly during festivals, and had earned a lasting place in the hearts of Tamils across the world through his simple Tamil, humour and thought-provoking speeches.

“His voice, views and lively delivery became an inseparable part of the festive celebrations of countless families. His death is a great loss to the Tamil world,” Nainar Nagenthran said in a statement, offering condolences to Pappaiah’s family, friends and admirers.

Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan described his death as an irreparable loss to Tamil society and recalled how people looked forward to his pattimandrams during Deepavali and Pongal.

The former governor said Pappaiah had the rare habit of preserving invitations to programmes he had attended, reflecting his respect for those who invited him. He also had a special place in taking simple, accessible Tamil into households, she said.

Tamilisai recalled her father, late Congress leader Kumari Ananthan, often mentioning that he had participated in pattimandrams with Pappaiah. She said the Padma Shri conferred on him by the Narendra Modi government was a fitting recognition of his contribution.

WTL founder K Annamalai described Solomon Pappaiah as a distinguished Tamil scholar who used pattimandrams to take socially relevant ideas to audiences worldwide.

Annamalai expressed condolences to Pappaiah’s family and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.