The footage, which went viral on Saturday, reportedly showed Head Constable Jayaraj accepting money from Pandi, a resident of Singampunari. The payment was allegedly made at the instruction of Police Inspector Seenibabu.

Based on the preliminary inquiry, Sivaganga SP Abhishek Gupta suspended them. Police have also launched an inquiry into the background of Pandi, a traditional medicine practitioner

The swift action has drawn widespread attention in Sivaganga, with further investigation into the allegations expected.

The campaign, ‘Puthuyugam Padaipom – Let’s Create a New World’, was launched by the Centre for Women's Development and Research (CWDR) in Alwarpet.

The initiative will use street theatre to take discussions on sexual and reproductive health beyond formal spaces and directly to adolescents, young people, women, families and communities. Following the Chennai launch, performances are planned at educational institutions and in communities across TN.

The street play has been created and directed by Pralayan of Chennai Kalai Kuzhu, known for using theatre to address social issues. The production seeks to present subjects often surrounded by stigma, silence and misinformation in an accessible format while encouraging interaction with audiences.

According to CWDR, the campaign will focus on access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information, women’s and girls’ ability to make informed decisions about their bodies, menstrual dignity, safety and freedom from violence.

Speaking at the launch, KR Renuka of CWDR said, “Sexual and reproductive health and rights are closely linked to women’s dignity, equality, education, safety and freedom. Through Puthuyugam Padaipom, we want adolescents, young people, parents and communities to talk openly about these issues, question harmful gender norms and understand that women and girls have rights over their bodies and their futures.”

The CWDR said that the public performances would be accompanied by audience engagement to encourage discussion, counter misinformation and strengthen community support for adolescent girls and young women. The organisation is banking on the reach of people’s theatre to communicate complex and sensitive issues in a form that is relatable to diverse audiences.

Beyond raising awareness, the campaign seeks to encourage people to challenge discriminatory gender norms, speak out against gender-based violence and advocate for equality.

The arrested men have been identified as Vinod (37), and Vinoth Kumar (39), both from Dindigul; Shanmugaraj (44), from Tiruchy; and Senthil Kumar (45), from Mayiladuthurai. Police said they recovered Rs 26 lakh in cash, a mobile phone and gold jewellery from the accused.

According to police, the victim, Deepjit Rana, a garment trader from West Bengal, had come to Coimbatore for business. He was abducted at knifepoint from a hotel on August 17 and held captive by the gang in Palladam. Rana was released on August 18 after robbing him of Rs 26.54 lakh, a sovereign of gold jewellery and a mobile phone. Rana, who sustained injuries in the assault, was admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

Based on his complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of the four accused. Further investigation is under way.

Eleven fire tenders have been deployed at the site, with around 300 firefighters working in shifts to contain the blaze at the sprawling dump yard spread over 654 acres.

District Fire Officer K Ganesan said additional fire tenders from Tirupur, Erode and Dindigul districts were expected to join the firefighting operation.

“Fire has spread across nearly seven acres. Around 300 firefighters are engaged in the operation on a rotational basis. Additional fire tenders from neighbouring districts are also expected to join the efforts. We expect to bring the fire under control within two days,” he said.

The incident has renewed concerns over fire prevention and waste management at the Vellalore facility, where large quantities of waste have accumulated over the years.

V Easwaran, president and coordinator of the Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, said the civic body had not fully complied with directions issued by the National Green Tribunal concerning the management of the Vellalore dump yard.

“Waste continues to be transported to the facility without adequate source segregation. More effective measures must be taken to process and dispose of the accumulated waste. The corporation should also expedite the biomining project for processing legacy waste,” he said.

KS Mohan, secretary of the Kurichi-Vellalore Pollution Prevention Action Committee, called for stronger preventive measures to minimise the risk of fires at the dump yard.

He urged the civic body to install sprinkler systems capable of periodically spraying water over the accumulated waste.

“The thick smoke from the fire has affected surrounding areas, including Mahalingapuram, Konavaikkalpalayam and Vellalore. Residents are already facing problems due to the foul odour from the dump yard. There are also concerns over groundwater pollution, with the water in the area reportedly changing colour,” he said.

Taking aim at the Assembly proceedings, Udhayanidhi said, "Are we coming to the Assembly or to a Super Singer programme? If questions are asked, they should be answered. How can we respond when songs are being sung?"

Are they running a government or a circus company? The LoP asked. "The performance of this government is at that level," he said, predicting that people would soon teach the ruling dispensation a fitting lesson for its alleged arrogance and misgovernance.

Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Pattukkottai, Thanjavur district, Udhayanidhi said farmers had borne the brunt of the government's first 105 days in office, alleging that the delay in releasing water from the Mettur dam had severely affected kuruvai cultivation in the Delta region.

"I have been coming to Thanjavur frequently. I have visited the district four times in the last three months. Even when I do not come, this government arrests me and brings me here," he said, referring to his recent detention following a farmers' protest.

Udhayanidhi said the DMK had organised a major agitation in Thanjavur on August 3, demanding that the government address farmers' grievances. He claimed he had spoken for nearly 22 minutes at the protest and criticised the Chief Minister and the government, but was arrested after stating that Cauvery water had not reached the Delta. "I am not someone who is afraid of arrest. This government would have realised that by now," he said.

He alleged that the police later diverted the vehicle carrying him to Sengipatti police station after large numbers of DMK workers gathered in Thanjavur. He also claimed that the government subsequently told the court that he had not been arrested and would only be questioned before being released.

Udhayanidhi said the Delta remained a DMK stronghold, claiming that the ruling party had won only four of around 30 seats in the region in the Assembly elections.

Training his guns on the government's financial priorities, he alleged that it had cited a lack of funds for farmers' drought relief while allocating money to purchase cars for ruling-party MLAs. He said the DMK had made it clear that its MLAs did not want the vehicles and that the government should instead address farmers' problems.

He also alleged that the government had failed to implement key election promises, including Rs 2,500 in monthly assistance for women, six free LPG cylinders, and Rs 4,000 in monthly aid for unemployed youth.

Under the proposed restructuring, 18 district commissions would be abolished or merged with commissions in neighbouring districts.

Tirupur and Nilgiris cases would be handled in Erode, Vellore cases will go to Krishnagiri, Salem cases in Namakkal, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram in Srivilliputhur, and Pudukkottai cases in Thanjavur. Similarly, Karur cases would be heard in Truichy, Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi in Tirunelveli, Villupuram and Cuddalore in Tiruvannamalai, Dindigul and Theni in Madurai, and Perambalur, Ariyalur and Nagapattinam in Tiruvarur.

The government had decided in February to undertake the restructuring following a Supreme Court order that allowed States to abolish district consumer commissions having fewer than 1,000 pending cases or merge them with commissions in other districts, depending on the requirement. The move is also intended to reduce the financial burden of maintaining the commissions, particularly those without their own buildings. A report on the proposed restructuring has reportedly been submitted to the Supreme Court.

Senior Madurai-based advocate Mohandas said that financial constraints and the lack of dedicated buildings could not justify making consumers travel to other districts. “The move will cause unnecessary travel and additional expenses for consumers filing cases as well as lawyers. Therefore, the State government should withdraw the decision,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre (TPCC) said that merging commissions would undermine the objective of the Consumer Protection Act. TPCC president T Sadagopan said, “The focus should be on filling vacancies in the commissions and strengthening their functioning. The law envisages disposal of consumer cases within 90 days, but delays caused by vacancies and the clubbing of districts can discourage consumers from pursuing cases. This is a weapon that was a godsend for the common citizen, without any legal hassles. Therefore, it must be handled this way.”

He also suggested creating a dedicated corpus fund to support consumer commissions, with a portion of the compensation awarded in cases being channelled into the fund.

In a statement, Shanmugam said the decision to organise the campaign was taken at the CPM state committee meeting held in Kannniyakumari on July 31 and August 1. He said all 12,000 party branches in the State should fully involve themselves in the campaign.

“The objective is to meet as many people as possible and engage in a direct dialogue with them,” he said, adding that the party wanted to understand people's views on its work in Tamil Nadu, its political positions, and the criticism and appreciation it received.

He said the campaign would also focus on understanding the problems people were facing and the measures they expected the party to take. Citing the Marxist principle of “going to the people and learning from them”, Shanmugam said party workers should listen patiently to whether people appreciated, criticised or opposed the party, and respond appropriately.

“Working people are our foundation, and we must give due importance to their feelings and views,” he said.

Shanmugam said the party had decided to distribute several lakh pamphlets during the six-day campaign. The pamphlets, already prepared in all districts, would contain questions and demands raised by the CPM with the Union government.

The campaign would also take up issues confronting Tamil Nadu and seek to engage people on the measures and approaches that the TVK government should adopt to address them, he said.

The campaign would be conducted in every village and ward. Street-corner meetings would be organised in the evenings, followed by public meetings at the end of the campaign, he said.

Shanmugam said the campaign had been designed to enable thousands of party workers, from the state secretary and members of the political leadership to branch secretaries and grassroots members, to visit homes across Tamil Nadu and interact directly with people.

The estimated cost of providing these toilets is around Rs 620 crore.

The toilet requirement is part of a larger infrastructure deficit identified by the department, with government schools also needing 5,641 classrooms, 1,340 drinking water facilities and 2,361 laboratories.

The department estimates that 5,641 classrooms would cost around Rs 1,465 crore. Drinking water facilities at 1,340 locations are estimated to require around Rs 59 crore, while 2,361 laboratories would cost Rs 1,598.24 crore.

The department has estimated that up to Rs 4,200 crore could be required to meet the infrastructure needs identified in government schools.

The requirements for classrooms, toilets, drinking water facilities, and laboratories were compiled after the School Education Department sought details from government schools. The schools submitted their infrastructure requirements, based on which the department prepared an estimate of the cost.

Another Rs 458 crore has been estimated for compound walls in government schools.

The infrastructure assessment comes after the Budget allocated Rs 44,527 crore to the School Education Department.

The scale of the requirements has raised expectations among students, parents and educationists over when and how the government will address the infrastructure needs of government schools.

Speaking at a wedding ceremony, Udhayanidhi alleged that the present administration had failed to honour key electoral promises such as monthly financial assistance for women, subsidised cooking gas cylinders and unemployment allowances.

Referring to his recent arrest during a protest in support of farmers' demands in Thanjavur, he alleged that the police had "abruptly altered the route to Sengipatti station" and made contradictory submissions in court regarding his detention.

Alleging that Mettur dam water had not been released during June, July and August, crippling Kuruvai (short-term crops) cultivation across the Delta region, Udhayanidhi criticised the state government for failing to provide drought relief and for confusing basic relief measures with targeted drought compensation.

The DMK leader also condemned the state government's decision to procure luxury cars for ruling party MLAs, while claiming a lack of funds to waive farm loans, provide the promised Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women, distribute free cooking gas cylinders or implement unemployment allowances.

He reiterated that DMK legislators had flatly refused to accept the government-funded vehicles.

Udhayanidhi described the State administration as a "circus company" rather than a government, alleging that ministers relied on diversionary tactics and social media clips instead of responding to the Opposition's questions on electricity tariff hikes and public grievances.

He claimed that the previous DMK-led 'Dravidian Model' government had helped Tamil Nadu achieve a primary growth rate of 11.19 per cent, while alleging that the present administration had pushed the state's progress backwards.

He expressed confidence that the electorate would soon teach a fitting lesson to the present regime.

A senior Tasmac official on Sunday stated that liquor samples are sent to the central government laboratory in Guindy. "Bottling and dispatch for sale are allowed only after excise officials verify quality based on the test certificates issued by the central lab.

The official added that, following the Enrica controversy over the revocation of the ban within 24 hours, instructions have been issued to officials to conduct comprehensive quality checks across all distilleries to ensure that alcohol levels strictly adhere to permitted limits.

Following directives from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a Union government body, Tasmac banned the sale of 11 liquor variants produced by 'Enrica Enterprises' on August 13. The issue concerned natural-identical and artificial flavouring substances in liquor brands, and the entity was later given 30 days to correct it. The liquor manufacturer has been at the centre of controversy over the alleged Delhi excise scam, which the CBI is investigating.

Despite the ban on Enrica, the Prohibition and Excise Department, under the State government, recommended lifting it the very next day and advised Tasmac to resume sales.

This swift revocation raised suspicions, prompting liquor consumers and Tasmac employees to demand strict quality assurance for all beverages sold through the network.

Sources said that checks have been intensified following the ban's revocation. The tests primarily verify whether liquor samples meet the standard 42.8 per cent alcohol-by-volume (ABV) threshold to certify products fit for public sale. Wines range from 12 per cent to 15 per cent ABV, and beers range from five per cent to eight per cent ABV, he added.

The official said that health experts and consumer groups argue that relying solely on percentage testing is severely inadequate for modern food safety standards.

Sources from Tasmac added that there are about 250 local and other state liquor brands available in the corporation, which includes over 180 local brands of liquor, 43 local brands of Beer, three local brands of Wine, six other State brands of liquor, five other state beer brands and eight other State brands of Wine.

"Some former ministers seated in the back rows use abusive words and unparliamentary language whenever our current ministers speak. The opposition is acting with the mindset of turning the Legislative Assembly into a brawl," Ramesh said.

Speaking to reporters at Tiruchirappalli airport, the Minister asserted that the TVK-led government functions with complete democratic accountability.

"When running the Assembly democratically, answering everyone's voice and expunging unparliamentary words is a standard tradition. Everyone knows there was no room for democracy during the previous regime," Ramesh said, accusing opposition members of repeatedly disrupting proceedings and using abusive language inside the House.

Responding to queries on public distribution supplies, Ramesh acknowledged public grievances over grain quality and stated that corrective measures are underway.

"People in several places have raised complaints about being unable to consume the ration rice provided. The Chief Minister has taken firm steps to rectify these issues and ensure high-quality commodities are supplied through ration shops," he said.

Detailing initiatives undertaken by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department during the ongoing budget session, the minister highlighted works taken up for the restoration of 1,000-year-old temples, reconstruction of dilapidated shrines, and consecration ceremonies.

He dismissed political criticism over the announcement of a dedicated rest hall (mandapam) at the Anbil Mariamman Temple in Tiruchirappalli for devotees.

He said it is for devotees visiting after recovering from pox infections to fulfill vows. He termed the opposition narrative that the Mandapam is for those still inflicted with pox infections as "false propaganda".

On the financial management of temple projects, Ramesh said tenders worth Rs 246 crore for unviable and uncommenced works -- including proposed luxury guest houses -- were cancelled to prioritise devotee amenities and meet approximately Rs 400 crore in pending liabilities for ongoing temple renovation works.

Addressing crowd management at the Tiruchendur Subramaniyaswami Temple, the Minister said nearly 80 to 90 per cent of irregularities and darshan malpractices have been brought under control.

"A temple has a carrying capacity of around 30,000 devotees a day, but handling 50,000 to 60,000 people on peak weekends remains a logistical challenge. It has been only 100 days since the government took over. This is not cinema to change everything upside down overnight, but we are taking steady action step by step," Ramesh noted.

The minister further announced that pursuant to High Court directives, mobile phone deposit counters are being set up across more than 50 senior-grade temples in the state to safeguard sanctity and prevent unauthorised photography or video recording inside sanctum sanctorums.

He urged devotees to adhere to guidelines similar to those practised at Tirupati and appealed to media personnel to refrain from taking video cameras inside sanctums or asking political questions within temple premises.

On local infrastructure demands in Tiruchirappalli, Ramesh stated that ongoing bridge works causing traffic congestion are being closely monitored in coordination with district administration officials to ensure swift completion and commissioning.

A 54-year-old farmer was killed by the tiger while working in his coffee plantation near his residence in O Valley on August 21.

Parts of his body were found consumed by the animal. The incident occurred a fortnight after another farmer was mauled to death by a tiger in the same locality on August 8.

The two fatal attacks triggered protests by residents, who demanded immediate action to capture the animal and prevent further attacks.

Following the protests, the Forest Department launched an extensive capture operation involving more than 80 personnel, including staff brought in from neighbouring forest divisions.

“Seven cages baited with meat have been placed at strategic locations to trap the animal, while 50 camera traps have been installed to monitor its movements. Three thermal drones capable of operating during both day and night are being used to track the tiger. Specially trained personnel from the Mudumalai and Udhagamandalam forest divisions are also examining the area for pugmarks and other signs of the animal,” a Forest Department official said.

A veterinary team led by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve veterinarian K Rajesh Kumar joined the operation equipped with tranquiliser guns.

However, intermittent rain and dense fog have hampered the search and tracking efforts, the official added.

The Forest Department has advised residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant and avoid venturing out alone, particularly in locations where tiger movement has been reported.

Meanwhile, representatives of various political parties, traders and welfare associations have announced a general strike on August 27 and 28, demanding that the tiger be captured, dead or alive.

In a statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said a group of eight men allegedly intercepted their car near Kiliyur after the leaders had completed preparations for a protest, abused them, damaged the party flag and car windows, and assaulted them.

The attack was allegedly linked to the CPM's protests against a former Vadhamambakkam panchayat president over alleged diversion of funds meant for constructing 22 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The former panchayat president's two sons were among the alleged attackers, Shanmugam said.

Though a complaint was lodged at Kallamarudur police station, police had so far arrested only one person, he said. Shanmugam urged police to immediately arrest all the accused and invoke stringent provisions of law.

In a statement, Shanmugam said the decision to organise the campaign was taken at the CPM state committee meeting held in Kanyakumari on July 31 and August 1. He said all 12,000 party branches in Tamil Nadu should fully involve themselves in the campaign.

“The objective is to meet as many people as possible and engage in a direct dialogue with them,” he said, adding that the party wanted to understand people's views on its work in Tamil Nadu, its political positions, and the criticism and appreciation it received.

He said the campaign would also focus on understanding the problems people were facing and the measures they expected the party to take. Citing the Marxist principle of “going to the people and learning from them”, Shanmugam said party workers should listen patiently whether people appreciated, criticised or opposed the party, and respond appropriately.

“Working people are our foundation and we must give due importance to their feelings and views,” he said.

Shanmugam said the party had decided to distribute several lakh pamphlets during the six-day campaign. The pamphlets, already prepared in all districts, would contain questions and demands raised by the CPM with the Union government.

The campaign would also take up issues confronting Tamil Nadu and seek to engage people on the measures and approaches that the TVK government should adopt to address them, he said.

The campaign would be conducted in every village and ward. Street-corner meetings would be organised in the evenings, followed by public meetings at the end of the campaign, he said.

Shanmugam said the campaign had been designed to enable thousands of party workers, from the state secretary and members of the political leadership to branch secretaries and grassroots members, to visit homes across Tamil Nadu and interact directly with people.

Rain likely in several Tamil Nadu districts

Earlier, the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai had said that a weak trough was prevailing in the lower levels of the atmosphere along the Tamil Nadu coast.

Due to this system, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds of 40-50 kmph is likely at one or two places in the Western Ghats districts, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore on August 23. Puducherry may also receive similar weather.

Light rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely at one or two places in other parts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal.

Sea to remain rough along east coast

The newly formed low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to cause rough sea conditions along the coasts of West Bengal, Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh until Sunday.

Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea along these coastal areas. However, the IMD has clarified that the new low-pressure area is not expected to cause any impact on Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, Anbumani said the committee’s final report, submitted on March 14, 2023, had remained undisclosed for 41 months despite being prepared using public funds. He said the report contained 161 recommendations aimed at protecting Chennai from floods.

The committee, headed by former IAS officer Thirupugazh, was constituted by the then DMK government following the severe flooding in Chennai in 2021. He submitted an interim report in May 2022 and the final report in March 2023 after conducting field studies and analysing data for 17 months.

Anbumani said the then DMK government had claimed that 101 of the 161 recommendations were being implemented, but the details of those recommendations had never been made public.

He criticised minister Sengottaiyan for stating in the Assembly that the DMK government should have released the report, shifting the blame.

Speaking to reporters in Nellai, Minority Welfare Minister Shahjahan said the IUML would continue its alliance with TVK and added that the Muslim community had welcomed the decision.

“The Indian Union Muslim League is the party that carried the DMK on a palanquin for so many years,” Shahjahan said, while also claiming that TVK was working several times better for Muslims than the DMK. He said Vijay’s influence was expanding beyond Tamil Nadu to Karnataka and Kerala, and claimed this would be reflected in the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

Shahjahan said the INDIA bloc was working with the objective of forming the government at the centre in 2029 and that TVK would also travel with the alliance. Asked whether the DMK would continue in the INDIA bloc, he said it was Arivalayam that has to clarify its position.

He said the IUML, TVK, Congress and other parties would work together in the proposed alliance and that the alliance leaders would decide on the prime ministerial candidate a few months before

Minister Shahjahan claimed that CM Vijay government was working several times better for Muslims than the DMK regime, predicting TVK’s win in 2029 LS polls the election. On the release of long-term prisoners, Shahjahan said the government was considering all steps required, within the framework of the law, to release those who had been in prison for more than 25 years.

He also said several announcements benefiting Muslim and Christian minorities would be made during the Assembly Budget session under the Minority Welfare Department’s demand for grants. The announcements, he said, would address complaints that welfare schemes meant for minorities had not been reaching beneficiaries properly.

Held under the theme “From Forests to Seeds”, the symposium focused on issues including the use of AI in classrooms, assessment practices, the suitability of uniform foundational learning models across diverse contexts, community participation and teacher mentoring. The event was organised by Madhi Foundation to discuss challenges facing foundational learning in India and Tamil Nadu specifically.

Pooja Kulkarni, CEO of the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board, said, “Foundational learning should become part of the everyday functioning of schools rather than being treated as a time-bound programme. She stressed the need to align teaching, assessment, remediation and teacher support with clearly defined learning outcomes, while strengthening the involvement of parents and communities.”

Sessions during the day examined whether AI can adequately understand Indian classroom realities and whether a single foundational learning model can work across the country. Another panel considered whether education systems are measuring outcomes that matter to children’s learning. It also focused on community involvement, effective classrooms and mentoring for teachers. Students were given a direct role, with four students participating in a session on whether children are sufficiently consulted while designing schools.

C Devarajan, chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) TN State Council, bringing in the industry perspective, said, “I studied in a Tamil-medium school, and I know education has the power to transform lives. Our system must respond to the mental, physical and psychological needs of every child.

The water level, which stood at 2,282 feet last month, was 2,274 feet as of today. With rainfall being low, farmers fear that it will be difficult for the reservoir to fill completely.

They said that if the available water continues to be released to Tamil Nadu, there will be insufficient water for drinking and agriculture in the region. Agitated farmers staged a protest over the issue.

They raised slogans against the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments, demanding that the state government stop releasing water to Tamil Nadu from now on.

Hundreds of farmers gathered near the Kabini dam and attempted to lay siege to it. Police stopped them, arrested some of the protesters and took them away in police vehicles before dispersing the gathering.

Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam organised a cultural conference in support of Keezhadi excavation and in opposition to Vedic culture. The Hindu Munnani members attempted to stop the event and even announced a protest by showing a black flag against the event. The outfit also lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur West police demanding to ban the conference. However, the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam proceeded with the cultural event as per the schedule.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the police arrested Gunasekaran, Karthi Rao, Santhosh Kumar, Gubendran and Divakar of right-wing groups as precautionary measures.

In the meantime, Hindu outfits, Thanjavur BJP, Hindu Makkal Katchi and other pro-Hindu outfits opposed the arrest and condemned the police for acting in the interest of Christian missionaries.

"Are officials under the control of the Tamil Nadu government or is the government under the control of officials?" Shanmugam asked, demanding the removal of Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and action against Gujiliamparai tahsildar Ayyasamy.

Addressing a CPM protest at Saidapet, Shanmugam alleged that a circular issued by the Higher Education secretary, directing officials to closely monitor Left parties, student and youth organisations was a serious infringement of democratic and constitutional rights. While a subsequent circular issued by the Collegiate Education commissioner was withdrawn after protests, the communication sent to university registrars and the Directorate of Technical Education remained in force, he said.

Shanmugam said Sai Kumar, whom he held responsible for the circular, should be issued a notice and subjected to an inquiry. "Why should a person who does not have this basic understanding continue as Chief Secretary when Tamil Nadu has several qualified IAS officers?" he asked.

He also questioned the government's handling of the Gujiliamparai tahsildar controversy. Revenue minister Sengottaiyan had told the Assembly that Ayyasamy was sent to conduct a survey and was recalled after the government learnt of the matter at 8.30 pm on August 18. However, Shanmugam pointed to the collector's report stating that Ayyasamy had come for training and was relieved of his responsibility in the afternoon before being sent to the commissioner's office in Chennai.

"If he was relieved in the afternoon, how did the minister take action against him at 8.30 pm?" he asked. Shanmugam said if the minister gave incorrect information in the Assembly, the Speaker should initiate breach of privilege proceedings. If the collector's report was incorrect, then action should be initiated against him, he said.

Taking aim at the chief secretary, Shanmugam said the circular came after a July 28 meeting chaired by Sai Kumar, even though protests by Left student and youth organisations against NEET had concluded on July 25 and 26. "Why are Left organisations being targeted? Are they against democracy?" he asked.

Shanmugam also questioned the extension of Sai Kumar's tenure as chief secretary.

Jagan lived with his mother and was unmarried. He was working as a priest at the Sankaranarayanasamy temple. In this situation, Jagan died by suicide by hanging himself on the terrace of his house on the evening of the day before yesterday. On receiving information, Sankarankovil Town police re.covered the priest’s body and sent it to the Sankarankovil Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. Further probe is under way.

Also known as Suvaran Maran, Mutharaiyar II was an eighth-century monarch of the Mutharaiyar lineage who ruled parts of the Cauvery Delta region, with strongholds around Tiruchy, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai.

He was a powerful feudatory ally of Pallava king Nandivarman II and is regarded as a cultural icon by the Mutharaiyar community, which has a significant presence across central Tamil Nadu and the Delta districts.

Speaking to reporters after performing a puja, Kovind said he felt privileged and honoured to pay respects to the monarch who had ruled the region centuries ago.

"Every emperor is above community, caste, creed and religion. No one should associate any king with any religion, caste, community, region or language," Kovind said, underscoring the unifying legacy of historic leaders.

Reflecting on his tenure in office, Kovind expressed gratitude to the people of the country and said the credit for his presidency belonged to citizens across the country, including those in Tamil Nadu.

He recalled his longstanding ties with Tamil Nadu, including visits to the state with close friends during their parliamentary tenures. The former President also offered prayers at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam.

According to the complaint, Arun Kumar had an improper relationship with a woman while serving at the Teppakulam police station in Madurai city.

The complaint further noted that he had harassed the woman after allegedly distancing himself from her when he was posted at Veeravanallur police station.

A preliminary inquiry into the complaint found prima facie substance in the allegations, following which Tirunelveli district Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Sastri, IPS, recommended departmental action against Arun Kumar to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli Range.

Meanwhile, based on the woman's complaint, the Tirunelveli Rural All-Women Police Station registered a criminal case against Arun Kumar on August 21.

Following a recommendation by the top official, the inspector has been placed under suspension. Further investigation into the case is under way.

Pazhaya Seevaram comes under Walajabad taluk, and the VAO office serves residents of the village and surrounding areas. People regularly visit the office for services related to patta, chitta, land tax, community and legal heir certificates, as well as old-age and widow pensions.

However, the office building, constructed several years ago, was not maintained properly. Walls have developed cracks, and portions of the concrete plaster have started falling off. Residents fear that the structure could collapse at any time.

The building has also been surrounded by overgrown bushes, becoming a haven for snakes and other poisonous creatures, say residents. With the building considered unsafe, the VAO and other village-level staff are reluctant to work from the premises. Residents too are hesitant to enter the building.

Information on the building's structural condition has already been communicated to the Public Works Department, and necessary repair work will be carried out soon, said Walajabad Panchayat Union officials

Several complaints were submitted to the district administration and the taluk office. Officials have said that office maintenance comes under the Public Works Department (PWD) and that necessary action would be taken. However, no major repair work has been carried out so far.

The VAO's mobile number has been displayed on the locked building, and residents who call the number are asked to meet the official at the nearby bus stop. Residents noted that the situation has continued for years and that even the recently appointed VAO took charge from the bus shelter. The previous VAO is also said to have handed over charge at the same location.

When contacted, officials from the Walajabad Panchayat Union said that maintaining cleanliness and the day-to-day upkeep of the office premises was the responsibility of the respective VAO. They added that information on the building's structural condition had already been communicated to the Public Works Department, and the department will carry out necessary repair work soon.

Under the earlier order, the interim monthly payout and monthly family payout for eligible employees covered under the Contributory Pension Scheme were fixed at 30% of the monthly basic pay last drawn or Rs 10,000, whichever was higher, along with 60% Dearness Relief. The latest order addresses employees whose last pay was drawn under either the Seventh or Sixth Pay Commission scales.

The government noted that the rate of Dearness Allowance for employees continuing to draw, or who last drew, pay under the Sixth Pay Commission was 262% with effect from January 1, 2026. Accordingly, where 30% of the last drawn basic pay under the Sixth Pay Commission is below Rs 10,000 and the employee's pay has not been refixed or claimed under the Seventh Pay Commission, the interim payout will be stepped up to the minimum of Rs 10,000 during the interim period.

Where 30% of the last drawn Sixth Pay Commission basic pay is Rs 10,000 or above and the pay has not been refixed or claimed under the Seventh Pay Commission, DR will be sanctioned at 262% from the eligible date.

The government also reiterated that DR will be calculated only at 60% of the monthly basic pay last drawn under the Seventh Pay Commission.

He said the Communist parties had traditionally stood up for the poor and the toiling workers, but claimed that the present government would address their concerns without the need for agitations. "The Communist parties are known for their struggles. It is a party of workers, poor people and those who lead simple lives. Likewise, the TVK is also a party for the poor and ordinary people. There will be no need for Communist parties to fight anymore. That was the situation under the previous regime. The present Chief Minister is for the poor," Anand said.

Addressing the second state conference of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development Department Workers' Union at a private college campus near Manapparai in Tiruchy district, Anand said sanitation workers rendered an invaluable service to society and deserved greater recognition and welfare measures.

"There is no one in the world who can serve society as sanitation workers do, and there will never be anyone like them," he said, adding that he did not know why previous governments had failed to take adequate measures for their welfare.

Anand assured the workers that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would consider all their demands and ensure that their interests were protected.

He also assured sanitation workers that the government would not abandon them and said ministers and legislators would not indulge in wrongdoing. "We have won because people were ready to vote for the leader. I firmly assure you that MLAs and ministers will never do wrong," he said.

The State government is planning to draw 5- to 10-year transformation roadmaps. The Bureau for Facilitating MSMEs of Tamil Nadu (FaMeTN) has invited consultants to undertake separate studies for the two sectors.

The focus is also on improving productivity, technology adoption, skills, market access and sustainability.

The technology assessment would analyse how employment patterns could evolve as industries modernise. Consultants will identify jobs and job levels likely to emerge along the sectoral value chains, along with indicative compensation and skill requirements. At the same time, they will identify existing roles that could come under pressure from technological changes and examine how such jobs could be redefined.

The exercise will examine six broad dimensions — operations and productivity, digitisation, research and innovation, jobs and skills, markets and exports, and sustainability.

The studies will begin with a baseline assessment of businesses across the respective value chains. This will include mapping enterprises by size, level of formalisation, ownership, and market orientation, as well as identifying where MSMEs enter the value chain, where they add value, and where they face barriers to market access or risk exclusion.

The assessment will also map the geographical spread of businesses across districts and industrial clusters, providing a clearer picture of the sector's concentration and the role of MSMEs in different regions.

A separate assessment of the workforce will examine existing jobs, functional roles, compensation levels, qualifications and skill requirements. It will distinguish between permanent, contractual and informal employment and study the existing skilling and reskilling ecosystem, including ITIs, polytechnics, universities, private training providers and industry-led initiatives.

Technology adoption will form another key component of the exercise. Consultants will assess the use of technology in both core and non-core operations, covering production, logistics, inventory management, quality control, finance, human resources, compliance and marketing. For MSMEs, the study will specifically examine the barriers preventing wider digitisation.

Research and innovation will also be studied alongside the industry's evolving technology requirements, with the assessment examining the scope for greater adoption of new technologies and practices. Sustainability, including the sectoral implications of changing production and business practices, will form another key part of the roadmap.

The award was presented by Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran at a Super Chennai Arattai gathering.

Speaking at the event, Sriram opined that Chennai should not be viewed as a single, uniform city, as each neighbourhood has its own history and stories. “Heritage documentation should move beyond prominent buildings and personalities to cover communities and everyday experiences that often remained undocumented,” he stated. “Histories of neighbourhoods like Shenoy Nagar, KK Nagar, Anna Nagar, Aminjikarai, Tambaram and Sholinganallur need to be recorded before rapid urbanisation erases their physical and social traces.”

Sriram also stressed the need to document the lives of ordinary Chennai residents, including railway workers, linesmen and traffic constables, whose work had contributed to the city’s social history

Sriram also stressed the need to document the lives of ordinary Chennai residents, including railway workers, linesmen and traffic constables, whose work had contributed to the city’s social history but remained largely confined to public memory. “History of our city must be made accessible in regional languages,” he added, and highlighted his work on ‘Madras Bhashai’ and efforts to present the city’s history in Tamil through digital platforms. “Heritage walks,” he said, “should serve as a starting point for deeper research rather than being treated merely as an end product.”

Sameeran compared Chennai’s history to the roots of a large tree, saying the visible city represented only one layer of its deeper stories, people and memories. He credited Sriram with bringing lesser-known aspects of the city’s history into public consciousness.

Ranjeeth Rathod, MD, Super Chennai, said that Madras Day was not merely a celebration of the city but also of the people who had shaped its identity. “Sriram’s books, heritage walks and storytelling have helped successive generations engage with the city’s history meaningfully,” he said.

As part of the celebrations, Super Chennai also launched ‘Let’s Talk Chennai’, a citizen-led platform inviting people to share stories, memories and photographs connected to the city. The initiative seeks to document the city’s neighbourhoods, people, communities, culture, landmarks and everyday experiences.

Addressing the state executive committee meeting of CITU in Tiruchy, Kannan said the government should also drop its plan to privatise electric line works and ensure regularisation of employment in the power sector.

“The decision to appoint employees in Tangedco on a contract basis is anti-labour and should be withdrawn immediately. The government should ensure regularisation of employment,” Kannan said.

The CITU executive committee also condemned a recent government circular preventing students from participating in protests organised by Left parties and demanded the removal of the Chief Secretary, alleging that he had been acting against democracy.

Kannan said Kerala had already commissioned the installation of smart meters directly through the government, while Tamil Nadu was planning to hand over the work to private players. This, he said, would affect employees on the payroll.

He also cautioned the government against privatising electric line works, saying it could lead to job losses. He warned that the union would organise protests across the State if the government did not withdraw its privatisation plans in the power sector.

He alleged that the TVK government had failed to fulfil its election promise of waiving crop loans and was maintaining silence over Karnataka’s move to construct the Mekedatu dam, which he said would affect Tamil Nadu farmers.

AIADMK organised a protest in Tiruchy condemning the Mekedatu dam project and demanding that the TVK government fulfil its crop loan waiver promise. Party members led by Kamaraj converged at Marakadai and raised slogans against the government.

Addressing the protesters, Kamaraj said AIADMK had consistently raised issues concerning farmers and was known as a pro-farmer party. He alleged that the TVK government had no concern for farmers and had failed to fulfil its crop loan waiver promise.

Speaking to reporters later, Kamaraj criticised the Congress for remaining silent on Karnataka’s efforts to construct the Mekedatu dam. He said the Congress, which he alleged was part of the TVK government, should prevail upon the Congress government in Karnataka to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests.

“Tamil Nadu Congress does not have the guts to say anything against Karnataka. If Tamil Nadu Congress is concerned about the farmers, they can approach the Chief Minister of Karnataka, who is also from Congress and get the due share of water to Tamil Nadu,” Kamaraj said.

He said AIADMK MPs had opposed the Mekedatu project in Parliament and that the party continued to fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu farmers.

The gang has been smuggling a huge quantity of ganja from Odisha and stocking it in Puducherry, from where they supplied ganja across Tamil Nadu.

Based on an input about ganja peddling across the State from Ramji Nagar in Tiruchy, SP Dongare Pravin Umesh ordered the formation of a special team.

They conducted a raid at a house in Ramji Nagar and seized 3.6 kg of ganja. The police also arrested Sangeetha (40), a resident of West Bengal, her 17-year-old son, Prabakaran (40) and Jagan (30), both from Ramji Nagar.

The subsequent investigation found that Sangeetha was smuggling a huge quantity of ganja from Odisha and stocking it in Puducherry, from where the gang has been distributing ganja across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Further inquiry with Sangeetha revealed that the gang had used Tiruchy as the major transit spot for peddling ganja. Subsequently, the police seized vehicles and mobile phones used for the offence.

The police found that there were other ganja peddling cases against three persons, except Sangeetha.

In a statement, Nainar Nagenthran referred to reports that C Ezhumalai, a TVK member from Thaiyur near Kelambakkam, had allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend. "The reports that Ezhumalai, a TVK functionary, allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend are deeply shocking," Nainar said.

He alleged that incidents involving murder, robbery, sexual assault, rowdyism and extortion were increasingly being associated with TVK functionaries and claimed that an illegal network was emerging within the party.

"From the time Joseph Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, the lawlessness involving TVK functionaries has been increasing day by day. It is unfortunate that the party leadership appears unwilling to take note of it," he said.

Nainar also criticised the practice of expelling functionaries only after criminal incidents were reported, saying such action amounted to a mere eyewash. He urged Vijay to identify people with criminal records within the party and take firm preventive action to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, the ruling TVK on Saturday (August 22) expelled Ezhumalai and his son A Gautham from its primary membership.

In an order, TVK Chengalpattu East district secretary Thaiyur S Kumaravel said neither Ezhumalai nor Gautham had held any official position in the party and that both had joined as primary members through the TVK website.

"Both have acted against the law and violated the party's rules. Therefore, they have been officially removed from the primary membership of the TVK," Kumaravel said.

He directed party functionaries and cadres at all levels not to maintain any organisational contact with the duo or allow them to undertake activities in the party's name.

They are set to receive the awards from the President of India during the Teachers’ Day celebrations on September 5.

Thangaraj is a teacher at Puliyampatti Panchayat Union Primary School, while Amudha is a headmistress, and also teaches, at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya in Madurai.

Thangaraj, a secondary-grade teacher for 22 years, has been selected for his dedication to improving educational opportunities for rural and economically disadvantaged children, and has highlighted many initiatives undertaken to strengthen student learning, upgrade school infrastructure, and encourage greater community participation.

He has also given special attention to strengthening students’ foundational skills in Tamil, English and Mathematics.

“At the heart of the teacher’s efforts is the belief that a child’s economic or social background should never become a barrier to quality education,”said Thangaraj.

Amudha, who also has 22 years of experience, was a primary teacher for 10 years and promoted to HM 12 years ago. Strongly focused on foundational learning, she has taught Science, English and Hindi.

“The teacher’s initiatives underline how innovative teaching, improved infrastructure and strong community participation can work together to create better educational opportunities for children,”said Amudha.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has congratulated the two awardees on Saturday and said their achievement was a proud moment for the State and its teaching community. He credited their selection to their commitment to education, innovative approaches to teaching and emphasis on the overall welfare and development of students.

The National Teachers’ Awards, presented annually on Teachers’ Day, recognise teachers who have made significant contributions towards improving school education and positively influencing the lives of their students.

The move is an extension of the bid to charge UPI transactions, he added.

In a statement, Tagore said the basic banking account was introduced in 2005 during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure as a "no-frills account" to provide banking access to economically weaker sections. The BJP-led government later renamed the scheme the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, he said.

Tagore claimed that the State Bank of India had decided to levy a Rs 15 charge, plus 18% GST, on every cash withdrawal beyond four per month, effective October 1. This would take the total charge to Rs 17.70 per transaction, he said.

He alleged that other banks could follow SBI and impose similar charges on basic account holders. He also criticised the Centre over its reported move to impose charges on UPI transactions, saying such measures could push people back towards cash.

Referring to the rise in currency in circulation from around Rs 9 lakh crore in January 2017 to Rs 43 lakh crore now, Tagore said it showed that a significant section of the population continued to depend on cash.

Calling the proposed levy a "fee burden" on the poor, Tagore urged the Centre to withdraw the charges immediately.

She urged graduates to use technology to solve social problems and contribute to India’s development.

“Don’t just be users of AI, build India’s own AI,” she added, highlighting Union government investments under the India AI Mission in semiconductors, computing, defence, space, drones, robotics and biotechnology.

“Graduates should work with governments to address challenges such as pollution, traffic and waste management,” Gupta opined, citing Delhi’s collaboration with IIT institutions. “Treat failure as an opportunity to learn. Identify mistakes and work through them rather than give up.”

The convocation had a personal moment for Gupta as her son, Nikunj, was among the graduating students. She watched from below the stage when he received his degree. Earlier, Gupta had inaugurated VIT’s Centre for Advanced Research for Bacteriophage and Infectious Diseases.

VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan said that India’s GER in higher education was around 30% - well below South Korea’s 90%, Japan’s 60%, China’s over 60%, Malaysia’s 40% and Thailand’s 45%. “The National Education Policy aims to raise India’s ratio to 50%,” he said. “There’s a need for greater investment in medical education. Around 22 lakh students appear for NEET for just 1.3 lakh medical seats, forcing nearly 1 lakh Indians to study medicine abroad every year.”

He also urged the Union government to address vacancies in Vice-Chancellor posts caused by differences between governors and State governments, noting that 17 universities in Tamil Nadu and more than 13 in Kerala had vacant posts. He also called for higher production and exports to strengthen India’s economy.

TCS Vice-President and CTO Babu Unnikrishnan also addressed the convocation.

A total of 11,276 students received degrees, including 7,359 undergraduates and 3,917 postgraduates. Among them were 781 PhD graduates and three integrated PhD graduates. Academic distinction certificates were awarded to 248 students and 84 received gold medals.

The increase has been driven by rising demand amid the heat and falling arrivals after strong winds caused lemons to drop from plants, traders said.

For farmers in and around Puliyankudi, the price rise marks a turnaround after months of poor returns. Lemons had been selling for just Rs 20-Rs 30 a kg two to three months ago, leaving growers struggling to recover their costs.

Lemons are cultivated across thousands of acres in Puliyankudi, Vasudevanallur, Kadayanallur, Chokkampatti, Punnaiyapuram, Singilipatti and Kumanthapuram in Tenkasi district. The produce is brought to the Puliyankudi market and sent to Kerala and various districts in Tamil Nadu.

Around 15 to 20 tonnes of lemons are sent from the region for sale every day.

The current price of Rs 170-Rs 200 per kg has been welcomed by farmers and traders. However, the rise is also being felt by consumers, with individual lemons now costing Rs 10-12 depending on quality.

Traders expect demand to increase further with a series of auspicious occasions, Amman temple festivals and the upcoming Onam celebrations in Kerala. They said lemon prices could rise further in the coming days.

Farmers and traders have urged the government to establish industries in the region to manufacture value-added products from lemons. They said this could help protect growers from sharp price fluctuations and provide an alternative market when prices fall.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Erode Corporation bus stand, the Tamil Nadu minister for Handlooms, Textiles, and Khadi said yarn sourced from government mills had already been supplied to local cooperative societies to facilitate production.

"The tender process for the free dhoti and sari scheme is complete, and yarn procurement has begun. Yarn has been supplied to the societies to ensure continuous employment for weavers. Unlike last year, there will be no delay. The free dhotis and saris will be distributed on schedule, ensuring timely wages for weavers," Balaji said.

He added that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had released Rs 300 crore as the initial allocation for the scheme.

In July, a government order estimated the cost of implementing the scheme at Rs 642.88 crore. Of the Rs 606.94 crore allocated for the scheme in the 2026-27 Budget Estimates, financial sanction had been accorded for the first instalment of Rs 300 crore, it said.

Responding to queries about a possible increase in weavers' wages, the minister said departmental officials had been instructed to examine the matter and take appropriate action.

Earlier, Balaji inaugurated seven mothers' feeding rooms set up with CSR funds at the Erode municipal bus stand and inspected basic civic and transport infrastructure along with the Corporation commissioner.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had earlier witnessed debates over delays in procuring yarn for the Pongal Free Dhoti and Sari Scheme, with the Opposition alleging "procedural lapses" that had affected weavers.

The government, however, maintained that yarn procurement and distribution were proceeding smoothly to ensure timely delivery of the festival garments.

Anitha, a 17-year-old from Kuzhumur in Ariyalur district, had scored 1,176 out of 1,200 marks in her Class 12 State Board examinations in 2017, with a medical cut-off of 196.75. She had approached the Supreme Court seeking an exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu.

However, she could not secure a medical seat under the NEET-based admission system and died by suicide at her home on September 1, 2017. Her death triggered widespread protests across Tamil Nadu and turned her into a prominent symbol of the State’s anti-NEET movement.

Protests planned on September 1

SFI and DYFI have urged students, youth and members of the public to observe September 1 as NEET Opposition Day and participate in programmes marking Anitha’s ninth death anniversary. The organisations have called for the anti-NEET campaign to be taken to the people and for the demand for equal and socially just access to education to be strengthened.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Tamil Nadu, has announced a protest in Madurai on September 1, demanding the abolition of NEET, along with an open-air discussion at the EB Office in Arasaradi.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Students Youth Federation (TSYF) has announced a remembrance programme for Anitha at Besant Nagar beach in Chennai at 5 pm on September 1. The organisation has appealed to the public to participate and pay tribute to Anitha.

SFI and DYFI have also announced a programme at Villupuram Signal as part of events being organised across Tamil Nadu. The organisations have appealed to the public to participate in the programmes, pay tribute to Anitha and reiterate the demands for the abolition of NEET, social justice and equal access to education.

Anitha’s struggle continues

Over the years, Anitha’s name has remained closely associated with Tamil Nadu’s demand for an alternative to NEET and greater State autonomy in education. Her family members and anti-NEET activists have continued to raise the issue, particularly highlighting the difficulties faced by rural, State Board and economically weaker students.

The issue has also remained active in Tamil Nadu in 2026. Anitha’s brother S Manirathnam participated in anti-NEET protests in Delhi and later joined a 12-day hunger strike in Chennai, demanding the abolition of NEET and the restoration of education to the State List.

Addressing the party executive committee meeting at Anna Arivalayam, Stalin said the DMK had witnessed both victories and defeats and that the recent defeat was only an electoral setback. "We have not been permanently defeated. Let us consider this as an opportunity to plan the party's future," he said.

Stalin said a comprehensive self-assessment was required, rather than merely identifying and replacing individuals constituency by constituency. He acknowledged that the functioning of party administrators was also among the reasons for the defeat and said the party must openly accept its mistakes.

He said a 38-member field study team had been constituted after the election to collect feedback from party functionaries constituency-wise. Thousands of additional suggestions were also received through a dedicated website and reviewed by him.

Based on the feedback, a restructuring committee headed by Thangam Thennarasu was formed, and its recommendations were discussed with senior party functionaries before being converted into resolutions, Stalin said.

As part of the revamp, age limits and tenure restrictions would be introduced for various party posts, while more responsibilities would be given to younger and new faces.

"We need to regain the confidence of young people and women. New membership enrolment should begin soon, and it must be genuine and transparent," Stalin said.

He said internal elections would be conducted at all levels after the membership drive, expressing confidence that capable new functionaries would emerge through elections rather than nominations.

Stalin also cautioned party functionaries against failing to nurture colleagues at the grassroots level. He took a dig at an unnamed functionary, saying that some are ready to greet opposition party leaders with a 'vanakkam' but not rivals from their own party. A district secretary or a single MLA alone could not strengthen the party, he said, stressing that every cadre should function as an organiser.

Stalin said the DMK would work for the welfare of even those who had not voted for the party and urged cadres to begin political outreach from their own homes, to relatives and in their neighbourhoods.

"Victory or defeat will not determine the life of our movement. As long as the Tamil identity, language and land exist, we must work with the determination that the black-and-red flag should continue to fly," he said.