According to the police, Aakash (23) from Alangulam in Tenkasi district, who sustained grievous injuries to his head and legs, was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. His wife, Sushmitha (21) from Melariyanayagipuram village, who sustained a cut injury to her hand, was also undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Though the couple belong to different communities, both are from the Backward Classes. Murugan, Sushmitha’s father, had strongly opposed their marriage, said the police.

Aakash and Sushmitha had studied at the same college and had been in love since their college days. After completing college, the duo got married three months ago despite strong opposition from Murugan, said the police.

After their marriage, the couple rented a house at Sivakamipuram near Pavoorchatram and had been living there. Aakash was working as a daily-wage labourer in gooseberry farms in the village.

Meanwhile, Sushmitha’s father, Murugan, pretended to have accepted their marriage and started frequently visiting their house. During his visits, he used to buy groceries for his daughter, said the police.

On Thursday night at around 9.15 pm, when Aakash and his wife were at home, Murugan arrived on a motorcycle and parked it near their house, said the police.

He entered the house after allegedly concealing a sickle that he had brought with him. Before the couple could realise his motive, he allegedly attacked Aakash repeatedly with the sickle, causing injuries to his head and legs. He also allegedly attacked his daughter, causing a cut injury to her hand.

When the couple cried out in pain, neighbours rushed to the house. Murugan, however, allegedly escaped from the spot on his motorcycle.

After being informed, the Pavoorchatram police rushed to the spot and took the injured couple in a 108 ambulance to the Tenkasi Government Hospital for treatment. Aakash was later shifted to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment, while Sushmitha continued to receive treatment.

The police later arrested Murugan in the Veeravanallur area on Friday morning and brought him to the Pavoorchatram police station for questioning.

With Vinayagar Chaturthi falling on Monday (September 14), the three-day holiday weekend has triggered a rush among Chennai residents heading to their hometowns.

As train tickets are usually sold out within minutes during festive periods, many passengers are turning to private omni buses.

Taking advantage of the increased demand, operators have raised fares significantly for services departing Chennai on Friday (September 11).

Fourfold price hike

The maximum fare from Chennai to Madurai has been fixed at Rs 4,013, while tickets to Coimbatore cost up to Rs 3,239.

The fare to Tirunelveli has risen to Rs 3,499, while passengers travelling to Kanniyakumari and Nagercoil have to shell out up to Rs 3,882 and Rs 3,699, respectively.

The maximum fare for buses to Erode has been fixed at Rs 2,580.

Fare details for September 14

Meanwhile, fares for the return journey to Chennai on Monday are also high. A ticket from Madurai to Chennai costs up to Rs 2,650, while the maximum fare from Coimbatore is Rs 2,999.

The fare from Tirunelveli to Chennai has touched Rs 3,999, while passengers travelling from Kanyakumari and Nagercoil have to pay up to Rs 3,831 and Rs 3,599, respectively. The maximum fare from Erode to Chennai stands at Rs 2,040.

With passenger demand expected to remain high on Sunday and Monday, fares could rise further, according to passengers and transport sources.

The statutory inspection of the newly electrified section was completed by Southern Railway Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Ganesh on September 9.

With this, the trains operating across Southern Railway's broad-gauge network will no longer require a change of traction between electrified and non-electrified stretches. This is expected to give the zone greater flexibility in deploying locomotives and improve their utilisation.

The completion of electrification is also expected to reduce dependence on diesel traction and improve energy efficiency. Southern Railway said it would facilitate faster train movement and contribute to more reliable services.

Southern Railway's electrification programme dates back several decades. Electric traction was first introduced in Madras on May 11, 1931, making it the second metropolitan city in India after Bombay to have electric traction. The 25 kV AC system was subsequently commissioned between Madras Beach and Tambaram in 1968.

The 11 injured labourers were rushed in ambulances to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, the Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A police officer said the roof slab of the under-construction Church of South India edifice at Mandi Krishnapuram, near Katpadi, collapsed while labourers were pouring concrete for the roof.

"The 20-foot steel scaffolding and support framework structure collapsed all of a sudden, trapping the workers under heavy concrete debris and rubble," the officer said, confirming the deaths of three labourers.

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arakkonam, joined the district administration, police and fire service personnel in rescuing the trapped workers at the construction site.

Vellore District Collector PS Leela Alex, who was coordinating the rescue operation at the site on Thursday evening, told reporters that the condition of at least eight labourers was stable.

To a question, she replied that the administration would form a committee to investigate the exact cause of the structural failure and ascertain if the builder had secured all necessary approvals and building permits for the construction of the church.

In a statement, 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 M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, efforts had been made to identify a suitable location for a new Secretariat without space constraints or traffic-related problems.

Palaniswami said that farmers’ issues and several social welfare concerns remained unresolved, while the State was facing a severe financial crisis. In such circumstances, borrowing Rs 1,200 crore for the construction of a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam was unnecessary, he argued.

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.

Palaniswami also urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to reconsider the proposal and abandon the plan to construct the new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam.

Pappaiah made significant contributions to Tamil language and literature, having moderated more than 12,000 debates during his illustrious career.

He also authored commentaries on several ancient Tamil literary works, including the Thirukkural.

In recognition of his contribution to Tamil, he was honoured with the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani award in 2000.

He also acted in several films, including Rajinikanth-starrer Sivaji.

Solomon Pappaiah's funeral arrangements

According to a media reports, the mortal remains of veteran Tamil scholar and pattimandram speaker Solomon Pappaiah have been kept at his residence in Gnanolipuram near Arappalayam in Madurai for the public and leaders to pay their last respects. His final rites are scheduled to be held at the Thathaneri electric crematorium in Madurai tomorrow afternoon, according to his family.

Solomon Pappaiah's career and awards

Solomon Pappaiah was born in 1936 at Sathankudi near Tirumangalam in Madurai district. He served as a professor in the Tamil department at Madurai American College and became widely known for his humorous and engaging speeches at pattimandrams and public events.

His popularity took him to several countries, including the US, Australia and Singapore, where he participated in pattimandram programmes. He was honoured with the Kalaimamani award (2000) by the Tamil Nadu government and the Padma Shri (2021) by the Central government.

Pappaiah had participated and spoken at a pattimandram organised by a private television channel in Sivakasi on September 5.

Leaders condole Solomon Pappaiah's death

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the death of Solomon Pappaiah, saying his demise was a great loss to the Tamil-speaking world. In a post on X, Vijay said Pappaiah had used his humour and deep knowledge of Tamil to take social ideas to people in a simple manner and had transformed pattimandrams from mere entertainment programmes into platforms that encouraged thought.

DMK president MK Stalin also expressed shock and grief over Pappaiah's death. He recalled that festivals such as Pongal and New Year had become closely associated with Pappaiah's pattimandram programmes among Tamil people.

Stalin also recalled meeting Pappaiah when he visited Madurai last May for a public interaction, saying Pappaiah had come to his doorstep to welcome him.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed shock and grief over the veteran speaker's death. He said Pappaiah had entertained people through his humorous speeches while taking the richness of the Tamil language and Tamil culture to the younger generation.

Palaniswami said Pappaiah's death was an irreparable loss to the Tamil literary world and the pattimandram field.

Since Vijay has joined hands with the very parties he once dismissed as "and others," he has become one among the "and others."

DMK's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli', referring to the ruling party-led combine being named as the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, said: "look at their faces." Apparently, it was referring to the alliance leaders of the ruling party.

It said Vijay has now brought together all the very parties he labelled as "cash-box alliance parties" before the Assembly polls. "Going by Vijay's own words, should not they now be called the cash box alliance parties."

Vijay was the very person who thought these parties were not even worthy of being named. He dismissed them simply as "and others." Now, he is showing a "thumbs up" sign after bringing together these very "and others."

The DMK newspaper in its editorial on September 11, 2026 said the CM has now become one of the "and others" as has joined forces with the rest of the "and others."

Vijay once said, "If you just walk past the gates of Arivalayam, they will call those parties inside and hand them seats."

Today, Vijay sits on the chief minister's chair supported by the very parties that earned their right to enter the legislative assembly by walking through those gates. He has conducted a photo shoot with same parties outside the gate of the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur, it claimed.

The CM also had ranted that the "Congress party has been sold out to the DMK."

Now, what did Vijay give in exchange to "buy" the Congress party, it asked.

During the run-up to the polls, the TVK chief mocked at the DMK-led alliance saying it was like a broken glass glued back together, a torn piece of cloth that has been mended, and also had asked if that alliance was aimed at people's welfare.

"Look at the alliance he has formed today, it looks just like a stitched up piece of torn cloth. The faces of the five people looks just like a broken glass," the write-up said.

The Murasoli's reference here is apparently to TVK chief Vijay, TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, and IUML and MDMK top leaders, KM Khader Mohideen and Vaiko respectively.

Further, the DMK newspaper said that Vijay did not secure the majority required to form a government.

The people of Tamil Nadu did not give his party 118 seats. Vijay had to resort to seeking "the mercy" of the DMK-led alliance parties he had once degraded.

Five nominees of the Congress party, two from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and two belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League won by contesting in the DMK alliance.

Also, two candidates of the MDMK won (in DMK symbol Rising Sun).

"By casting his net wide, offering two minister posts to the Congress party, one minister post to VCK and one to the IUML, Vijay managed to hold on to his chair."

Murasoli alleged that Vijay is an "opportunist" who secured the votes of 25 AIADMK MLAs --in the confidence vote in Assembly-- by dangling tempting promises of ministerial posts and board positions.

Once he proved his majority, he declared that they would not get any ministerial posts. He orchestrated a scheme to make AIADMK MLAs resign, induct them into his party, and face by-elections, it claimed.

The DMK mouthpiece claimed that Vaiko had admitted that Vijay engaged in "horse-trading." Vaiko stated before the media personnel, "Chief Minister Vijay asked me to make two MDMK MLAs resign. I conveyed this to both of them, and neither of them agreed."

He repeated this at his party's general council meeting as well. Both of these speeches exist as video footage, the DMK daily claimed.

Vaiko also gave a "confession statement." He had told his party MLAs (legally DMK legislators since elected on Rising Sun symbol) that "when chief minister Vijay himself has promised to make you win, why don't you just resign."

The DMK daily cited VCK chief Thirumavalavan's comments and quoted him as saying: "Why doesn't Vijay talk about the BJP? They are desperate to split us from the DMK alliance...Vijay wants to break our alliance...Vijay hasn't spoken about any welfare schemes for the people."

The same Thirumavalavan today stands with Vijay, the DMK daily apparently rued.

"Opportunism is visible on every single face and all of them together have participated in the photo shoot."

The DMK daily was referring to the christening of the TVK led bloc as Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance days ago and a picture released by the ruling party that showed the five leaders together displaying the thumbs up sign.

Hence, it is only fitting to call the alliance Vijay has formed now as one that lacks a conscience, an "Opportunistic Cash-box Alliance," it said.

Further, the DMK daily said it was borrowing Vijay's own words and hence, "Let there be no anger."

The Advocate General appearing for the State government informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that there was no statutory obligation on the government to implement the Commission's recommendations in their entirety. The decision assumes political significance as the Leader of the Opposition challenged the ruling TVK government to implement the recommendations in full, when some minister questioned the earlier DMK government over the action taken on anti-Sterlite killings.

The AG submitted that Rs 25 lakh had already been paid to the families of those killed in the firing in accordance with Government Orders and indicated that the government would not pay the remaining Rs 25 lakh recommended by the Commission.

Countering this, petitioners' counsel Henri Tiphagne questioned the conscience of the State government on this issue.

Pointing out the alleged shortcomings in the CBI investigation, he submitted that the CBI had filed a chargesheet against only Thirumalai, the then Inspector of Police. He wondered whether the State Government would constitute a Special Investigation Team to conduct the probe.

The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by K Kathiresan of PP Kulam in Madurai and others, seeking directions to register criminal cases against those responsible for the police firing and to pay the balance compensation to the victims

During the previous hearing on August 31, the State government filed a detailed affidavit stating that the disciplinary action recommended against the then Thoothukudi Collector N Venkatesh, the then South Zone Inspector General of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav, and the then DIG Kapil Kumar C Saratkar had been dropped.

In the case of P Mahendran, then Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi, the government had directed the inquiry authority to resubmit the inquiry report, clearly indicating its findings on the charges.

Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel had then directed the Advocate General to obtain the government's response on whether departmental action could be initiated against the senior officials.

The Bench had earlier observed that a related case was pending before the Madurai District Court and said that it could not pass orders at this stage. The court consequently adjourned the hearing.

“As a minister from Tamil Nadu, it is my right to proclaim Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha election now itself. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay would also officially declare it and every Congress worker across the country would work hard to ensure the victory of our leader Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

Meanwhile, talking about the by-elections, he expressed confidence that TVK candidates would win. “Madurantakam is located in the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency in which I had won once, and so I know the ground reality of the people. Since the TVK holds the support of Congress, VCK and IUML, the victory is a mere formality,” he said.

Referring to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s statements in the Assembly, Viswanathan said the Chief Minister’s long speech had made an impact among youngsters. He said Vijay had spoken about certain events under freedom of expression and that his speeches had historical importance.

Meanwhile, Viswanathan expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities and urged the State government to take steps to control price rise and ensure the smooth livelihood of the people.

The division bench comprising Justice Jagadish Chandra and Murugesan issued this direction while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the girl’s mother, Angaleeswari, from Virudhunagar district.

The petitioner said her husband had separated from her and that she was raising her daughter and son by working as a daily wage labourer. Her daughter left home on August 30 and had not returned. She and her relatives searched for her but in vain.

The petitioner said one Mageshwaran from the same area used to stalk her daughter and harass her. Hence, she suspected that he might have taken her away.

After she lodged a complaint with the Alangulam police station, the police registered a case. However, she alleged that they had failed to take effective steps to trace the girl.

She further alleged that a police officer attached to the Alangulam police station had contacted her during midnight hours and asked for details about her family, causing her mental distress.

The judges directed the SP to inquire into the alleged midnight phone calls and take appropriate action. The Bench adjourned the hearing by two weeks.

"An investment decision should not get lost in a circle of approvals. Making it easier to invest also means making it easier to move from an investment decision to a functioning enterprise," she said in a statement.

The government is pursuing this through a combination of ready infrastructure, digital land-allocation services and institutional reforms. Plug-and-play industrial facilities are being developed at Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi to provide investors with ready-to-use industrial infrastructure, she said.

The State is also developing a digital platform for industrial land allocation, offering information on available and upcoming plots, along with 3D visualisation to help investors assess sites.

At the institutional level, the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Commission has been established through the Tamil Nadu Business Facilitation (Amendment) Act, 2026.

The Commission will bring multiple state laws under a common investment facilitation framework, with a 21-day timeline for applicable regulatory approvals. It will also coordinate and monitor large, strategic and high-impact investments.

The measures are intended to give investors greater certainty over land availability, regulatory clearances and project implementation, while improving coordination among government departments.

"The objective is clear: reduce the time between an investment proposal and its execution, and make Tamil Nadu a more predictable place to invest, build and grow," Keerthana said.

Bishop Sahayaraj made this announcement during the annual festival after the appeals by the devotees drawn from across the world. The churches on the premises used to be open between 5 am and 8 pm, and the devotees who were travelling to the Basilica from far-off places found it very difficult to enter the church if they arrived during late hours, and many were waiting outside the churches all through the night.

Against such a backdrop, several devotees appealed to the Shrine administration to ensure that at least the main shrine is open round the clock. As per the appeals, the Shrine Basilica administration sent a proposal to the Bishop, who granted permission.

Accordingly, the main shrine and main altar would remain open round the clock from October 3. “This loving initiative will allow devotees to come before our Lady of Good Health Velankanni and pray at any time, day or night,” said the Shrine Basilica communication.

The devotees have expressed their gratitude to the Basilica for the initiation.

Party state president Nainar Nagenthran called the elections unnecessary, accusing the TVK of engineering defections. He alleged that candidates who had won their constituencies three months ago as members of another alliance had resigned or switched parties following what he described as horse-trading by the TVK, and were now being fielded again. The people of Madurantakam and Dharapuram should question why the bypolls became necessary, he said, adding that the elections would impose an avoidable financial burden on political parties and the government.

Nagenthran also accused the TVK government of failing to adequately address law-and-order issues in the Assembly. He claimed the State had witnessed around 160 sexual assault cases and more than 200 murders, alleging that even TVK functionaries had been hacked to death in broad daylight.

The former minister questioned the proposed Rs 1,200 crore new secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam, alleging that the project lacked adequate planning. He claimed the site had only 25 acres, while at least 45 acres would be required for a 20-lakh-square-foot complex, and suggested the 35-acre government land at Guindy as an alternative.

Nainar also criticised the ruling alliance's claim to be secular and objected to remarks by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly that allegedly mocked former Chief Minister MK Stalin's appearance. Such personal attacks had no place in the House, he said.

Instead of revisiting issues dating back decades, the TVK leaders should focus on policies and measures that would benefit the people, Nainar Nagenthran added.

Ajith Kumar, a guard at Madapuram Badrakali Amman temple, was arrested based on a theft complaint and subsequently tortured to death in police custody.

The V Additional District and Sessions Court, Madurai, Judge V Dhamodharan, framed charges, including murder, under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, against the four accused (A7 to A10) — former Manamadurai DSP N Shanmugasundaram, inspector SP Ramesh Kumar, special sub-inspector S Sivakumar and head constable G Ilayaraja.

The court noted that Shanmugasundaram has been under suspension, while Ramesh Kumar is serving as inspector with the Manamadurai police and Sivakumar and Ilayaraja are serving at the Sivaganga Town police station.

The alleged crime of the accused and the positions they hold are relevant factors in this case. “This court is of the view that the outside custody of A7 to A10, at this stage, raises a reasonable apprehension of the possibility of influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence,” the judge observed.

The court said the apprehension was based on the gravity and nature of the offences — the allegations of custodial death, the previous conduct of the accused, the nature of material witnesses and allegations of tampering with police records.

Referring to the prosecution's case, the court observed that the four accused are not ordinary persons. The police personnel had already attempted to create false entries in the public records to conceal the commission of the crime. Moreover, the prosecution has also alleged that Shanmugasundaram (A7), with the help of local politicians, attempted to reach an out-of-court settlement with the parents of the deceased immediately after his custodial murder, said the court, adding it was also alleged that the accused destroyed their mobile phones to destruct evidence.

The defence counsel argued that the accused should not be remanded merely because they had not obtained bail, and they had been regularly appearing before the court and would not tamper with the evidence. However, the CBI opposed it, stating that three accused personnel are still serving in police stations. It further submitted that the witness protection extended to Naveen Kumar, the brother of the deceased and a key eyewitness, had been withdrawn by the present Thiruppuvanam inspector Sethumani Madhavan.

The court then pointed out that Shanmugasundaram allegedly constituted a special investigation team comprising A1 to A6 and took Ajith Kumar into illegal custody in connection with an alleged jewellery theft.

The court observed that accused 8 is alleged to have registered a false FIR with the intention to cover up the murder. It is further alleged that A9 and A10 fabricated and manipulated the general diary 9/10 entries of the Thirupuvanam police station and that A9, Sivakumar, fabricated an ante-dated Community Service Register (CSR) entry on the complaint allegedly made by one Nikita.

On the question of their bail, the court observed that though they have appeared before this court for several hearings, they have not chosen to file any application.

He alleged that fares were 20% to 50% higher than under the previous DMK regime and questioned whether this was the "change" promised by the TVK government.

Anbumani said the alleged fare hikes were openly displayed on online booking platforms and had been reported by the media, yet the government had not even issued a warning to operators.

With Vinayagar Chathurthi falling on Monday, September 14 and Saturday and Sunday holidays preceding it, thousands of people are expected to travel from Chennai to their hometowns.

Anbumani alleged that private omni bus operators were exploiting the demand by hiking fares to unprecedented levels.

Citing online booking details, he said fares for buses leaving Chennai on Friday night had reportedly reached Rs 3,999 to Tiruchy, Rs 4,000 to Madurai, and Rs 6,154 to Coimbatore. For passengers returning to Chennai on Sunday night, fares were as high as Rs 4,499 from Tiruchy, Rs 4,899 from Madurai and Rs 4,799 from Coimbatore.

He also pointed to fares of up to Rs 3,179 for Kumbakonam and Rs 3,419 for the return journey. A family of four travelling to Tiruchy and back could end up spending nearly Rs 34,000 on bus fares alone, he claimed.

Recalling several Madras High Court directions on regulating omni bus fares, Anbumani urged the government to constitute a fare-fixing committee and take immediate action against operators indulging in excessive pricing.

AMMK has extended its support to AIADMK, but a common opposition candidate is the most potent weapon against an immature Vijay and his political calculations, he said, addressing reporters in Tiruchy.

It's time to show him the place after relying on cinematic dialogues to woo his fans, the AMMK chief said.

“People of the State are witnessing a dark period under the TVK government. The government lacks clarity and vision for development, nor the basic knowledge about governance, and the people ultimately suffer,” he charged.

Dhinakaran also accused the TVK government of failing to properly handle the Cauvery issue, leaving farmers struggling to ensure proper cultivation.

“They have already lost kuruvai, and this Tughlaq-darbar government is sitting just like a mere spectator and just blaming others instead of making any constructive decisions,” he charged.

Wondering why people had opted for the “immature” TVK despite Tamil Nadu witnessing progress in several ways during decades of Dravidian rule, Dhinakaran said the government had pushed the State into a “dark period”.

“People have started to realise that they have chosen wrong persons,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran reiterated that a common candidate against the TVK in the upcoming Assembly bypolls was a good suggestion and said he would discuss the proposal with NDA alliance partners.

He also criticised the DMK and other parties in the State for remaining silent about the BJP government, saying that while the DMK had earlier raised its voice strongly against the BJP, it was now keeping quiet. "The Congress will continue to expose the BJP's fake propaganda and anti-people policies," he said.

Addressing a press meet at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on Thursday, Tagore said that Congress was the only party in Tamil Nadu that had consistently spoken against the BJP government's "anti-people" policies and would continue to do so without any compromise.

Citing the CAG findings, Tagore said that the funds allocated to the rural employment scheme had been reduced by 34% since 2022.

He also claimed that the Union government's subsidies to Tamil Nadu had declined from around Rs 34,000 crore to Rs 16,000 crore.

Referring to the CAG report on the Jal Jeevan Mission, he alleged that the number of people affected by water-related diseases had increased significantly over the past four years.

According to him, the figure had risen from around 16,000 in 2019 to nearly 1.12 lakh annually, which he said indicated the failure of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission.

Tagore challenged BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran to explain why the Union government was allegedly "betraying" Tamil Nadu repeatedly.

He also criticised the Centre's caste Census plans, claiming they could put Tamil Nadu's unique 69% reservation at risk. The TNCC would organise an awareness movement on September 17, he announced.

Tagore further said the TNCC would begin preparations for the upcoming by-election and work to ensure the victory of the alliance candidate.

This sets the stage for a pitched electoral contest over two seats that the AIADMK won just months ago, as the bout is not only to win the seats but also to know who comes second.

As expected, the TVK named former MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama as its candidates for Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively. Both had won the constituencies on AIADMK tickets in the April Assembly elections before resigning as MLAs on May 25 and joining the TVK. Their resignations subsequently rendered the seats vacant.

Announcing their names, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the nominees would contest under the banner of the newly formed Secular Social Justice Victory Front, which includes the Congress, VCK, IUML, and the MDMK.

Kanitha had earlier won from Tiruporur in 2001 by a margin of 24,600 votes, and from Madurantakam in 2011 by a margin of 18,900 votes. In 2021, she contested from Cheyyur but lost by a margin of 3,000 votes. Bhanumathi is the joint secretary of Tirupur suburban east district.

The DMK has already named I Paranthamen, a former MLA and joint secretary of its legal wing, for Madurantakam, and advocate S Suganya for Dharapuram.

The AIADMK is seeking to reclaim the two constituencies, while the TVK is attempting to retain seats represented by its newly inducted leaders. The DMK, meanwhile, is also keen to perform well to shore up its standing.

The bench of Justices PT Asha and N Mala noted that the relationship between a husband and wife is reciprocal and cannot be dictated by either spouse. The matrimonial bond has to be nurtured with compassion, mutual adjustment and love.

The frequent visits of the appellant to her maternal home “for unjustifiable and invalid reasons, amounts to cruelty, as it will cause the husband to live in the fear that his wife may pick up a fight with him and leave him at the drop of a hat," the court said, while hearing an appeal filed by the wife, challenging the family court's order granting divorce to her husband.

The couple got married in June 2019.

The husband alleged that the wife initially refused to accompany him to the matrimonial home; she came after persuasion by him and his parents. After two months, she left for her maternal home and did not return for nearly four months. The husband said he tolerated her conduct for the sake of his family’s honour. He alleged that she later insisted on a separate residence, but stayed there for only a month, before asking him to shift to another house near her parents. He further alleged that she left the house after a quarrel over a phone call and did not return, leading him to seek a divorce.

The wife disputed the allegations, contending that they shifted to a separate house due to problems caused by her in-laws over dowry. She also submitted that the husband did not visit their daughter after she was born. According to her, the divorce petition was filed only to deny her maintenance and enable him to remarry.

The court noted that the wife had not cooperated in the trial or subjected herself to cross-examination to controvert the husband's case.

The court further held that the wife, knowing that her husband was his parents' only son and responsible for caring for them, had unjustifiably pressured him to set up a separate residence, which amounted to cruelty. The court declined to interfere with the family court's order and dismissed the appeal.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the State government said the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit in Britain.

During his visit, the Chief Minister will review the design of the racing circuit, safety features and best practices in maintaining the facility on a commercial basis.

The Chief Minister announced in the State Assembly the creation of a world-class Motor Sports City. To realise the announcement, he is scheduled to visit the Silverstone Racing Circuit.

During his visit, he may meet actor Ajith Kumar, who is participating in a racing event on Saturday.

"An important objective of his foreign trip is also to attract investments in sunrise sectors such as electric vehicle manufacturing, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and electronics. This will create a large number of employment opportunities," the State government said.

The State government also said that the Chief Minister's trip would aim to strengthen relations with British companies that have long operated in the State.

"After the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and Britain, Tamil Nadu is also one of the foremost states in exporting various goods. The Chief Minister's visit to Britain will further enhance cooperation on new investments and technical support under the CETA," it said.

After completing his visit to Britain, the Chief Minister will return to Chennai on September 17. Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna and other officials accompanied him.

Hinting at legal hurdles for the project, he said that when the Tamil Nadu Housing Board evicted government servants and others from the flats at Foreshore Estate, the Board and the government had assured them before the Madras High Court that multi-storey residential apartments would be constructed and that they would be rehoused in the flats once the construction was completed.

The TNHB flats were built in 1963 during the Kamaraj regime to provide refuge from the volatility of private rental rates.

When the building became dilapidated, the government assured that it would be restored to its original purpose after being rebuilt. The DMK MP is pointing to such an assurance in the HC.

"Considering that the designated site falls within the CRZ-II zone, the FSI could be less than 1.97. Can a large-scale project worth Rs 1,200 crore, covering 20 lakh sq ft, be accommodated on narrow roads, causing traffic chaos and encroaching on fishermen's territory?" he asked.

Questioning the reasons for choosing the site for the new Secretariat, he asked whether it was being selected simply because it was near Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's residence, a location that could displace many fishermen and endanger their livelihoods due to security-related concerns.

The letter, drafted on the letterhead of the Leader of Opposition and addressed to Assembly Speaker Prabhakar, stated that, as per the earlier decision taken by the party leadership, the DMK rejected the government's proposal to provide cars and an allowance for maintenance and personal assistants, amounting to around Rs 1 lakh for each MLA.

The 59 MLAs representing the DMK have signed the annexure pages of the letter individually, while the alliance party MLAs have handwritten their names and signatures.

"Speaker Prabhakar has yet to decide on the letter. All issues will be sorted out once the Assembly Secretariat finalises the arrangements on the car issue, including the DMK's decision," an Assembly official said.

Meanwhile, the actual outcome of such a communication is in question, as the government has decided to hike the MLAs' salaries, including perks, as part of the package. So, even though DMK stands by its decision not to receive cars, they won't be in a position to completely reject it as it would land in their accounts as part of the monthly salary.

When Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the scheme in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that all 59 DMK legislators had decided not to avail themselves of the offer. He questioned the TVK-led government's consistency, pointing out that the administration had frequently highlighted the State's financial distress since taking office.

The direction was issued by the Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Shastri after reports of the alleged assault circulated on social media.

According to the police, Augustine Baskar of Vallathu Nambikulam had lodged a complaint at the Veeravanallur police station alleging that two gold earrings and ear ornaments weighing around 10 grams had been stolen from his house.

He had expressed suspicion against Antony, also a resident of the village.

Based on the complaint, the Veeravanallur police registered a case on September 9, and Sub-Inspector Leo Renis is conducting the investigation.

Later that evening, at around 6.40 pm, the police received an intimation from the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital that Antony had allegedly been assaulted by two unidentified persons.

Police personnel went to the hospital and enquired with Antony and his relatives. But Antony was not willing to lodge a complaint at that time and would submit one after two days, said the police

The police said Antony’s statement and the details of the incident were video-recorded and the information was also entered in the station’s general diary.

With the VCK having exited the alliance, the DMK is seeking Dalit support in the SC constituency, which is also dominated by the PMK and has a strong Vanniyar base. In this context, a minor Dalit party with pockets of strength in the northern districts, Indhiya Kudiyarasu Katchi (IKK), has extended its support to the DMK for the upcoming by-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies.

Though the support base could be marginal, to take on the might of AIADMK, fighting the polls with the support of PMK, with a strong Vanniyar base in the northern districts, and TVK powered by charismatic Vijay, who has stolen all the allies of Arivalayam, the Stalin-led party is in an unenviable position to prove its mettle. The Muslim party SDPI has also supported DMK in the by-elections.

Meanwhile, the DMK candidates for the two Assembly constituencies — I Paranthamen and S Suganya — met party president MK Stalin on Thursday.

Identified by the forest department as MP 20TI, Bahubali frequently moves through the forest fringes in Mettupalayam and Sirumugai areas.

A few days ago, the elephant ventured out of the forest at around 2 a.m., prompting a team of frontline forest staff from the Sirumugai Forest Range to rush to the spot and take measures to drive it back into the forest.

During the operation, the forest staff noticed an injury near the rear body portion of the elephant.

The matter was immediately brought to the attention of senior forest officials, following which surveillance was intensified to track the animal and assess its condition.

As Bahubali generally does not venture out during the daytime, forest personnel continued their search and later detected the elephant at night in the Vachinampalayam area.

A team of forest department officials, including forest veterinarian Dr. Vijayaraghavan, examined the injury.

It was suspected that the wound could have been sustained during a confrontation with another wild elephant, possibly after the animal was pierced by the other elephant’s tusk.

“As direct medication is not feasible, we mixed the medicines with ragi cake and placed them on banana leaves along the elephant’s path on Wednesday night. Bahubali has consumed the medicated food,” a forest department official said.

The elephant is being monitored round the clock by forest personnel, while the veterinary team is continuing efforts to provide further medical treatment.

The festival is scheduled to begin with the flag-hoisting ceremony on October 11. The Mahisha Soorasamharam, the main event of the festival, will be held on October 20.

Around 25 lakh devotees from across India are expected to attend the festival. With an increase in the number of devotees and vehicles anticipated this year, authorities have identified 28 locations covering 250 acres for vehicle parking.

Last year, around 200 acres of land were identified for parking vehicles brought by devotees.

Tiruchendur Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumar inaugurated the cleaning work in the identified areas. Kulasekarapattinam Inspector Innos Kumar and others were present.

Three JCB machines are currently being used for the cleaning work. Officials said additional machinery would be deployed shortly and temporary bus stands would be set up.

Drinking water and toilet facilities would also be arranged at the temporary bus stand locations for the convenience of devotees, officials said.

He went on to say that more than 90 lakh devotees from across the country are expected to take part in the event, which is held once in 12 years, and adequate facilities would be made for them.

Speaking to reporters in Kumbakonam after reviewing the ongoing preparatory works for the Mahamaham festival, the HR&CE Minister Ramesh said, the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam is scheduled to be held in 2028, and the preparatory works for the event have commenced already. The HR&CE department has also already granted permission for adequate renovation works.

He stated that around 50 lakh devotees took part in the previous event, and the strength is expected to surpass it, with at least 90 lakh devotees from across the country taking part. 

“To ensure smooth conduct and make adequate facilities for the devotees, a total allocation of Rs 600 crore has been earmarked after receiving details from every government department. The details of as many as 17 temples connected to the Mahamaham have also been received, and the works were under way while the heritage committee from HR&CE has been inspecting the construction of Rajagopuram for Kumbeswarar temple in view of the festival,” the minister said.

He also said that at least 50 lakh devotees would commute by train and so adequate facilities in association with the railways have been initiated.

“We have received information from every department about the requirements from the Centre, and they would be made to the notice of the Union Government through the Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay,” Ramesh said.

The minister also stated that the Chief Minister is very particular about the conduct of the event in a grand manner and instructed the officials and the ministers to ensure hassle-free convergence of the devotees.

The ongoing preparatory works would be completed on time and desilt of water bodies and the repair works in every bathing ghat along the Cauvery would also be undertaken ahead of the Mahamaham event, the minister added.

Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, MP R Sudha, District Collector R Revathi and others were present. 

The accused, Ponraj (40), was arrested after the woman police personnel lodged a complaint with the Kadayamallur police. He was later produced before a court and remanded in custody.

According to police, Ponraj and the woman cop, who were working at the same police station, had an argument on the day of the incident. They allegedly had another argument near the Kadayamallur police quarters, following which Ponraj allegedly assaulted her.

It was also alleged that Ponraj inappropriately touched the woman police personnel during the incident.

Based on her complaint, Inspector Christy conducted an inquiry and registered a case against Ponraj under provisions relating to offences against women. He was arrested two days ago.

Following his arrest, Ashok Kumar ordered Ponraj's suspension.

Police are investigating what led to the alleged assault and whether the dispute arose from personal differences or an argument related to their workplace.

Police said they had received information that ganja and other contraband were allegedly being transported on the weekly special train operating from Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh to Thoothukudi over the past few weeks.

Following this, on the instructions of Tiruchy Railway Superintendent of Police Adarsh Baser, a special team from the Nellai Junction railway police conducted a surprise check on the train.

The train had left Narsapur for Thoothukudi the previous day.

The police team, led by Sub-Inspector Perumal and comprising head constables Marithurai and Karuppasamy, conducted checks while the train was travelling between Sattur and Maniyachi railway stations.

During the inspection, police found an unattended blue travel bag in the general compartment. On checking it, they found around 10.50 kg of ganja packed in a khaki-coloured bundle.

The ganja was seized, and police are investigating to identify and trace the persons who allegedly transported it.

Venkat Sri, 22, secured admission to a dental college in Nagercoil, while his younger twin brothers Arun and Dharan, both 18, secured seats at Tirunelveli Government Medical College and PSG Medical College in Coimbatore, respectively.

The three students were brought to Chennai by former MP and AIADMK organisation secretary Soundararajan, who arranged their meeting with Palaniswami. The brothers thanked the AIADMK leader and received his blessings.

Venkat Sri scored 440 marks in the 2026 NEET examination. Arun and Dharan, who also appeared for the examination this year, scored 511 and 494 marks, respectively.

The three are sons of Ramkumar, 49, a weaver from Vellankuzhi in the Ambasamudram Assembly constituency, and his wife Mangaiyar Thilagam, 46.

AIADMK organisation secretary Sudha Parasivam, Tirunelveli suburban district secretary Rama Subramanian, Radhapuram East union party secretary KPK Selvaraj, Tirunelveli councillor Chandrasekar, and party functionaries Muthuraj, Kumaresan, Selvam, Aanaiyappan and Ramesh were also present during the meeting.

The victim, a resident of RS Puram, received a phone call from unidentified persons claiming to be police officers from Mumbai. They told him that his bank transactions were under scrutiny and claimed that his account had been used to transfer money for terrorist activities.

The fraudsters then told him that he had been placed under digital arrest and instructed him not to leave his residence, speak to anyone over the phone or meet relatives and friends in person.

“The callers further claimed that armed police personnel in plain clothes were keeping watch near his residence and warned that he would be arrested unless he transferred the money in his bank account to accounts specified by them for verification,” police said.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. They subsequently told him that more money remained in his account and threatened him with arrest unless he withdrew and transferred it as well.

Acting on their instructions, the elderly man went to the bank and withdrew another Rs 3.5 crore. The unusually large withdrawals within a short period raised suspicion among bank officials, who questioned him about the transactions. He told them that the money was required for business purposes.

However, his nervous demeanour aroused further suspicion, prompting the bank officials to alert the Coimbatore city cyber crime police.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters

A police team subsequently visited the industrialist’s residence and questioned him. On examining his mobile phone, the police found communications with the fraudsters and uncovered the digital arrest scam.

"Because of our swift action, the industrialist was stopped from transferring Rs 3.5 crore to the fraudsters," police said. Based on his complaint, the cybercrime police have launched an investigation to trace the accused.

Around six months ago, Arumugam, who runs a timber unit in Vella Gate in Kancheepuram, had given Rs 20,000 as an advance to Anand and his wife Thenmozhi hailing from a tribal community in Singadivakkam. The couple was brought to his timber shop, where they stayed and cut wood.

Thenmozhi, who was pregnant, developed labour pain on September 8 and gave birth inside the tent. But both the mother and newborn baby died. Anand claimed that the timber unit owner prevented his pregnant wife from going to the hospital and put pressure on her to continue working. He added that they were told they could go to the hospital only after repaying the debt.

Anand also accused Arumugam of failing to pay proper wages and treating them like bonded labourers. After Thenmozhi died, the mill owner gave him Rs 2,000 and told him not to escalate the incident, he alleged.

Following the deaths, Anand and his relatives staged a protest at Ponnerikarai police station. The District Collector directed revenue officials to conduct a detailed inquiry and take appropriate action. Following that, the Superintendent of Police also instructed the Ponnerikarai police to conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary action.

Following the inquiry, police registered an FIR against Arumugam under the provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, in connection with the deaths and also over allegations that workers were being subjected to bonded labour conditions.

The V Additional District and Sessions Court, Madurai, framed a murder charge under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the four accused — former Manamadurai DSP N. Shanmugasundaram, former Thiruppuvanam Inspector S.P. Ramesh Kumar, former Sub-Inspector Sivakumar and former Head Constable Ilayaraja and issued directions to remanded them.

The trial court also observed that the accused had not filed bail petitions before the court. The CBI opposed their release on bail, submitting that their release could affect the investigation in the sensitive custodial-death case.

The prosecution informed the court that the witness protection order had been arbitrarily withdrawn by the present Thiruppuvanam Inspector, Sethumani Mathavan.

The four accused had earlier approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking bail. The High Court had directed them to appear before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Madurai, and execute bonds. However, they had not filed bail petitions before the trial court.

Ajithkumar, a security guard at the Madapuram Badrakali Amman Temple, died in June 2025 after he was taken into police custody in connection with a complaint over missing jewellery. The CBI, which took over the investigation into his custodial death, subsequently arrested six police personnel and filed a chargesheet against them.

The CBI later filed a supplementary chargesheet against these four police personnel in the trail court alleging their involvement in the Ajithkumar’s death.

The Left leader warned that the changes would open the floodgates to the privatisation of higher education, ultimately making education harder to access and compromising state-sponsored higher education.

Under the amendment, the requirement of 100 acres of contiguous land for establishing a private university has been reduced to 12 acres in the Chennai metropolitan area, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres in other areas.

The requirement for a permanent endowment fund for establishing private universities has also been reduced, he said.

Instead of attracting foreign direct investment into higher education, the government should establish adequate higher education institutions, colleges and universities based on the number of eligible students, employment opportunities, scientific and technological requirements, economic growth and the need for a multidisciplinary workforce, the Left leader said.

Increasing the number of private and foreign universities would lead to the privatisation, commercialisation and corporatisation of education, he warned. He also alleged that under the BJP-led Union government, such a trend could lead to the "saffronisation" of education.

Such a policy would be against the interests of students from disadvantaged sections, Veerapandian said. He urged the state government to withdraw the legislation immediately, describing it as anti-student.

He pointed out that the TVK government had already granted permission for the University of Western Australia (UWA) to establish a new international branch campus in Chennai.

He said reservations were not implemented in private universities and warned that the move would therefore affect social justice and students from disadvantaged sections.

The PIL was filed by goldsmith G Raj, who challenged the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited's (TNMSCL) tender, floated on July 13, for procuring the gold rings for newborns and their mothers.

The tender requires to manufacture and BIS-hallmark the rings and transport them to 107 hospital hub centres across 38 districts.

Noting that Joyalukkas quoted Rs 0.01 per ring, making the total contract value Rs 4,416.67 for 4,41,667 rings, he argued that this was far below the statutory hallmarking fee of around Rs 2 crore.

Also, the mandatory hallmarking charge of Rs 45 per ring, excluding GST, would itself cost nearly Rs 2 crore, making the accepted rate mathematically impossible considering the scope of work under the tender, he added.

The petitioner had sought a stay on the August 21 award issued in favour of Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers, its quashing, and a direction to TNMSCL to conduct the procurement afresh through a competent agency at a properly determined price.

During the hearing, the petitioner also argued that the corporation was established only for procuring medical supplies and did not have the expertise to assess the quality of gold.

He also contended that the two jewellers had quoted an abnormally low price, and that it was not commercially feasible to supply the rings at such a rate.

However, a division bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the price quoted was purely a business decision taken by the individual jewellers based on the gold stocks they possessed and their willingness to reduce their profit margins.

The chief justice also questioned how Raj, a goldsmith who had not participated in the tender process, could challenge the award of the contract through a PIL.

The court further questioned how public interest would be affected when the State had awarded the contract to jewellers who offered to supply the rings at the lowest cost among the bidders.

The court dismissed the petition and said that a detailed order would be passed later.

The team led by Sunjoon Hong, team lead, global business team of HD KSOE, carried out a detailed site survey at Thoothukudi and held discussions with the Industries Minister Keerthana, the Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) S Vijayakumar, senior officials of the Directorate General of Shipping, and officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, SIPCOT, VOC Port Authority, and Thoothukudi district administration to discuss incentive structuring, the status of the DPR, and the overall project timeline. 

During their meeting with Minister Keerthana on September 9, the HD KSOE team assured that it is moving ahead with the project in Thoothukudi. In return, the minister assured the state government's full support in taking the project forward

Moving ahead with Thoothukudi project, says Hyundai team

During their meeting with Minister Keerthana in the Secretariat on September 9, the HD KSOE team assured that the company is moving ahead with the project in Thoothukudi. In return, the minister assured the state government's full support in taking the project forward.

The HD KSOE team also met senior officials of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on September 10 on the policy-level support required from the Government of India to take the project forward, the statement added. 

The State government has already issued the Government Order for the transfer of 1,700 acres of land for the first phase to SIPCOT, which will build the common infrastructure along with VOC Port Authority, the government said in a statement on Thursday (September 10).

A dedicated talent pipeline is being developed with the Tamil Nadu State Skill Development Mission, covering both blue-collar and white-collar roles, including the possibility of training in Korea followed by deployment at the Thoothukudi shipyard

Thoothukudi shipyard plan progressing to DPR stage, says TN govt

The Industries Department said Hyundai’s shipyard project in Thoothukudi, for which the State government signed an MoU with HD KSOE, is progressing into detailed project preparation.

In the first week of September, the VOC Port Authority issued the work order for the detailed feasibility report (DFR) in consultation with HD KSOE, and inception work has now begun at the proposed shipyard site.  In parallel, a request for proposal (RFP) has been floated inviting global consultants to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), it said.

Noting the mutual visits by Industries minister Keerthana to HD Hyundai's Ulsan Shipyard in June and a senior HD KSOE/HD Hyundai delegation’s meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay the same month, the statement said, “A continuous weekly coordination mechanism with HD KSOE is in place, bringing together Guidance Tamil Nadu, SIPCOT, VOC Port Authority and other stakeholders to track land, technical studies, infrastructure, approvals, localisation and other immediate project requirements.”

TN readies talent pipeline for blue-, white-collar jobs

Guidance Tamil Nadu is facilitating discussions between HD KSOE and major Indian steel producers on technical requirements and quality validation. In parallel, a dedicated talent pipeline is being developed with the Tamil Nadu State Skill Development Mission, covering both blue-collar and white-collar roles, including the possibility of training in Korea followed by deployment at the Thoothukudi shipyard.

The State government is strongly working with HD KSOE, Union government, and all other stakeholders to establish Thoothukudi as a global shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing hub. The shipyard is expected to anchor a wider industrial ecosystem in Southern Tamil Nadu, bringing investment, technology transfer, skilled employment, supplier development, localisation and integration into global shipbuilding value chains to the region, the statement added.

The recognition came on the back of TVK's performance in its maiden electoral contest, in which it won 108 seats and secured 34.92 per cent of the votes to emerge as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Thanking the voters and party workers for their support, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph noted in a statement that the party had entered politics only 27 months ago.

The recognition and allotment of the common symbol was the result of a silent democratic revolution created by the people, Vijay said, and promised that the party would continue to work for the people who placed their faith in it.

"Our service to all the people who trust us, based on the principles of secularism and social justice, will continue forever," Vijay said, while also expressing gratitude to party functionaries and workers for their efforts.

The ECI had allotted the whistle to TVK as its common symbol ahead of the 2026 Assembly election.

Vijay had launched the party in 2024 and contested its first election this year. Its recognition marks a significant organisational milestone for the ruling party, which formed the government after winning 108 seats and securing the support of its post-poll allies.

In a statement, the TVK’s IT wing questioned whether Stalin was rattled by the alleged exposure of an image of a sacrificer who went to jail that, it claimed, had been carefully built over several years.

“Is the anxiety mounting because the false image of a ‘sacrificer who went to jail’, built over several years, has been shattered?” the IT wing asked.

It also alleged that matters which the DMK leadership had sought to keep from public view had now come to light and questioned Stalin’s silence on what it called the detention.

“Despite speaking at such length, he did not utter a word about the detention copy,” the statement said.

The TVK wing further said, “Truth needs neither publicity nor explanations,” and claimed that the release of a video showing the events had exposed what it called a false image.

It also criticised Stalin’s video as containing multiple cuts and an emotionless speech, describing it as an unsuccessful attempt to make people accept what it termed another version of events.

The war of words followed CM C Joseph Vijay’s remarks in the Assembly on Stalin’s MISA detention during the Emergency. Stalin, in his video released on Thursday, recalled the alleged violence he suffered in custody and said his jaw was broken in the assault. He also referred to Chitti Babu’s death in prison and asked CM Vijay whether he had forgotten an earlier conversation between them.

“An investment decision should not get lost in a circle of approvals. Making it easier to invest also means making it easier to move from an investment decision to a functioning enterprise,” she said in a statement.

The government is pursuing this through a combination of ready infrastructure, digital land-allocation services and institutional reforms, the Minister said.

Plug-and-play industrial facilities are being developed at Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi to provide investors with ready-to-use industrial infrastructure, according to the minister.

The State is also developing a digital platform for industrial land allocation, offering information on available and upcoming plots, along with 3D visualisation to help investors assess sites.

At the institutional level, the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Commission has been established through the Tamil Nadu Business Facilitation (Amendment) Act, 2026, passed by the Assembly.

The Commission will bring multiple State laws under a common investment facilitation framework, with a 21-day timeline for applicable regulatory approvals. It will also coordinate and monitor large, strategic and high-impact investments.

The measures are intended to give investors greater certainty over land availability, regulatory clearances and project implementation, while improving coordination among government departments.

“The objective is clear: reduce the time between an investment proposal and its execution, and make Tamil Nadu a more predictable place to invest, build and grow,” Keerthana said.

In a statement, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay appealed to party functionaries and cadres to work for the candidates’ victory and secure a decisive mandate for the party.Vijay said the candidates would contest the elections on behalf of the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.

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. The Election Commission has since scheduled bypolls to both seats for October 6, with counting on October 9.

The TVK’s decision assumes significance as the two former AIADMK legislators had been widely expected to be given another opportunity to contest from the constituencies they had represented. Soon after their induction into the TVK, party sources had indicated that they could be fielded in the bypolls.

Maragatham Kumaravel is a deputy general secretary of the TVK, while Sathyabama serves as the party’s Tiruppur South-East district secretary.

The announcement comes amid preparations by the AIADMK to reclaim both seats and the DMK’s decision to field I Paranthaman in Madurantakam and S Suganya in Dharapuram. The AIADMK has also sought the support of its alliance partners, including the BJP.