"People whose names were deleted during the SIR exercise can submit Form 6 to seek inclusion in the voters' list until December 11," the ECI said in its notification.

The ECI will dispose of the claims and objections received during the period by December 28. The final electoral rolls will be published on January 4, 2027.

The ECI has urged young and first-time voters to submit applications online through the voter service portal (voters.eci.gov.in) or the ECINET app to register their names in the electoral rolls.

The Commission said electors will electronically sign such applications using an Aadhaar-enabled e-signature facility.

During the SIR exercise in Tamil Nadu, more than 97 lakh voters were removed from the electoral rolls. The deleted entries included nearly 27 lakh names classified as deceased and around 66 lakh voters who had shifted their residences. Around 3.4 lakh entries were identified as duplicate registrations.

The SSR exercise will give eligible voters whose names were omitted from the electoral rolls an opportunity to apply for inclusion, and electors can raise claims and objections within the prescribed period.

The managing director of KTV Health Food Private Limited filed a petition before the High Court challenging the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation's decision to allot 80 lakh pouches of fortified palmolein oil to MGM Edible Oils Private Limited.

The corporation invited tenders for the purchase of 600 lakh one-litre (910 grams) pouches of fortified RBD palmolein oil after the State government extended the Special Public Distribution System from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Eight companies participated in the tender.

The petitioner stated that MGM Edible Oils offered the smallest quantity of 150 lakh pouches among the four companies that matched the lowest (L1) rate. However, the corporation allotted it 80 lakh pouches out of the first-spell quantity of 200 lakh pouches, the largest share among the companies.

Based on its offer, MGM Edible Oils was required to supply 50 lakh pouches per spell. The allotment of 80 lakh pouches exceeded the permissible variation of plus or minus 10% under the tender conditions, the petitioner contended. It also questioned whether the corporation assessed the company's capacity to supply the enhanced quantity.

The petitioner has sought to quash the allocation and direct the corporation to distribute the first-spell quantity of 200 lakh pouches among the petitioner and the other companies that matched the L1 rate in proportion to their offered quantities.

When the matter came up for hearing before her, Justice PT Asha granted an interim stay on the June 29 order and directed the government to respond to the petition.

The court then posted the matter to November 2.

According to sources, TKR Government Aided Middle School (TKR MS Ayyankadai Theru) has been functioning for more than 125 years at Manojiappa Veedhi in Thanjavur, and the classrooms are in dilapidated condition. As many as 35 students are studying, and five teachers are employed there.

It is said that a social activist from Thanjavur, Senthil Kumar, filed a petition with the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court appealing to study the stability of the school building.

Based on the petition, the HC bench ordered the Thanjavur District Education Department to inspect and submit a report. The court also instructed the officials to ensure shifting of the classrooms if the buildings fail to meet the fitness.

Based on the order, Chief Educational Officer Baby, District Elementary Education Officer Ayyakannu and PWD officials visited the school and said that a report would be submitted to the court within a week.

The school authorities said that a portion of the walls attached to the Thanjavur Palace compound wall, which is under the control of ASI, could not undergo any repair work. The school, which had a strength of 450 students, has declined to 35 at present.

Since the school is government-aided, the breakfast scheme has been implemented in the school.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Venkataramanan said that around 25,000 metric tonnes of fine-quality rice would be procured and sold through cooperative stores at Rs 30 per kilogram.

The announcement came after a statement by DMK president MK Stalin, who quoted a Daily Thanthi report on the price rise of essential commodities.

On the consumption of different rice varieties in rural and urban areas, the minister said that people living in urban areas preferred a particular variety of rice, which was being sold at around Rs 75 per kilo.

On the rising prices of other essential commodities, he said the government was monitoring the prices of all essential commodities, including cooking oil and chilli. He added that the government was considering reducing the prices of these products at cooperative stores.

This is the second major intervention by the State government in the recent months after selling onions at low rates.

Over the past few weeks, the prices of almost all essential commodities have been going up, putting pressure on already squeezed home budgets. The data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) last week revealed that retail inflation has reached a 23-month high of 5.54%, sharply up from the August level. The rural parts of the country are the worst-hit, with food inflation surging to 8.06%.

“Tamil Nadu has procured 3.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy so far. During the corresponding period from September to December last year, 8.11 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured. Compared with last year, paddy procurement will increase this year,” Minister Venkataramanan said.

Speaking at a protest organised by the INDIA bloc here demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged manipulation of voters’ rolls during the SIR exercise, TVK leader and School Education Minister A Rajmohan emphasised his party’s “relentless opposition” to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process since its inception.

He said the TVK had taken legal action by challenging the implementation of SIR, including its rollout in states like Bihar, in the Supreme Court of India. Highlighting the consequences on the ground, Rajmohan alleged that the revision process has systematically eliminated millions of eligible voters from the electoral rolls.

He pointed out that the deletions specifically targeted youth under the age of 30, women voters, the poor and economically weaker sections, and marginalised communities.

According to Rajmohan, such targeted deletions compromised democratic transparency and undermined the integrity of Indian elections. Invoking BR Ambedkar’s

principles, Rajmohan reminded that democracy extended beyond governance mechanics.

“Democracy is not merely a form of government; it is a way of living that guarantees equal voting rights and dignity for every single citizen,” the minister stated, arguing that the SIR process directly violated these foundational constitutional values.

He called for perseverance and urged democratic forces and various political leaders to unite against processes that erode public rights and institutional transparency. Reaffirming TVK’s commitment, he asserted that the party would continue to fight using legal platforms, official reports, and public forums.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the sponges found along the coastline display different colours depending on how long they have remained on the shore.

While freshly washed-up specimens retain a light red hue, those exposed for longer periods have dried and turned white.

The unusual occurrence has prompted fishermen to seek an investigation by Forest Department officials to determine the reasons behind the phenomenon.

Red Sea sponges washed ashore

The waters surrounding the 21 islands in the Gulf of Mannar, off Ramanathapuram district, support a rich diversity of marine life.

The region is home to around 3,600 species, including dugongs, dolphins, seahorses, porpoises and coral reefs.

The appearance of large quantities of sea sponges along the coast has drawn attention to the possible effects of changing marine conditions.

Fishermen have urged the authorities to examine the specimens and identify the factors responsible for their arrival on the shore.

Is it due to El Niño ?

Climate change and possible shifts in ocean conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon have been suspected as potential reasons for the sponges washing ashore.

However, the cause has not been established, and further investigation is required to determine whether the phenomenon is linked to El Niño.

Fishermen have requested that Forest Department officials assess the situation and examine whether changes in sea temperature, currents or other environmental factors could be responsible.

Sponges are an animal species

A Forest Department official explained that sea sponges are invertebrate animals that generally inhabit areas around underwater rocks and coral reefs.

They feed by filtering tiny organisms and particles from seawater, playing an important role in maintaining marine ecosystems.

The official added that rough seas and strong currents have previously washed pandanus plants, algae and seagrasses ashore.

The recent appearance of sea sponges has raised questions about whether changing ocean conditions are contributing to the phenomenon.

Further assessment is needed to establish the cause.

The Rs 301.71 crore (including Rs 245 crore for construction, Rs 50 crore for books, besides e-books) was conceptualised and initiated by the previous DMK government to serve as a knowledge centre. Named after the social reformer "Periyar" EV Ramasamy, the 7-storey facility was built to serve as a destination for education, scientific learning, and research.

He unveiled the statue of social reformer Periyar at the complex and inaugurated 89 completed projects at Rs 408.25 crore, laid foundation stones for 144 new projects at 32.32 crore and distributed welfare assistance to 9,343 beneficiaries for 34.72 crore

Hours before the formal inauguration of the facility, DMK president and former chief minister MK Stalin posted a video on social media and stated that the project was the brainchild of his "Dravidian model government".

"What does it matter who opens it? Does the pride lie in inaugurating it? The true pride is in planning and creating something unique. That pride belongs to the DMK forever," Stalin said.

Chief Minister Vijay, who arrived here from Chennai by a special flight, held a roadshow on Avinashi Road to Gandhipuram ahead of the inauguration of the Centre. He traversed about 11.4 km from the Coimbatore International Airport to the venue of the function in Gandhipuram.

Massive crowds of TVK party workers and residents lined up along the Avinashi Road to welcome him. Police personnel have set up heavy barricades across Peelamedu, Avinashi Road, and Gandhipuram. A strict drone-flying ban is actively enforced along the entire stretch.

The chief minister later arrived at the Periyar Arivulagam campus on Dr Nanjappa Road, where he was accorded a warm reception.

He unveiled a huge statue of Periyar on the campus and also inaugurated the Periyar Arivulagam and Science Centre.

Vijay went around the science centre, digital library, and planetarium, interacting with local corporation school students on the second floor of the facility.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by Stalin on November 6, 2024. The initial construction and development framework were carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the DMK administration before the change in governance. While the project was designed, funded, and started under the DMK government, it was officially completed and opened to the public today by the current CM.

The facility features over 1.25 lakh physical books, a digital library, children’s library, reading sections, and interactive science facilities. It is also equipped with modern computer systems, a vast e-book network, digital archives, and interactive learning media designed specifically for children.

Specialised study halls and materials curated for students preparing for competitive examinations like TNPSC and UPSC are available in the 'Arivulagam', meaning 'world of knowledge'.

The facility also houses a modern, high-tech auditorium built to host academic seminars, intellectual debates, and cultural events.

A security blanket was in place ahead of Vijay's maiden visit after becoming the chief minister in May, with over 3,500 police personnel deployed across the city. Barricades have been erected along Avinashi Road, the airport route, Peelamedu, and Red Fields, leading to expected traffic diversions throughout the morning, police sources said.

The visit marks Vijay’s first participation in a government function in Coimbatore since assuming office as Chief Minister.

(With inputs from Bureau)

The police rushed him to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The deceased, Rajkumar, worked as a labourer at a dyeing unit in Madurai.

His daughter, a Class X student, was admitted to the hospital after she fell ill, police said.

During the examination, doctors found that the girl was six months pregnant and alerted the police.

During the subsequent inquiry, she allegedly told the police that her father had sexually assaulted her.

Summoned for questioning, Rajkumar suddenly collapsed at the police station, a police source said. Preliminary investigation suggested that he might have consumed poison.

Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari administered the oath of office to the two new judges at a simple function held on the premises of the Madras High Court. With their appointment, the total number of judges has risen to 67, against the sanctioned strength of 75.

Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, Chairman, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and leaders of various Bar Associations welcomed the new judges. In their reply, the two new judges thanked the Bench and Bar.

JUSTICE D LINGESWARAN

• Born: May 10, 1974, in Tirunelveli district

• Education: BA in Tamil; BL from Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai

• Enrolled as advocate: August 9, 2000

• Judicial career: Directly recruited as District Judge in 2013 after legal practice

JUSTICE B KARTHIKEYAN

• Born: December 9, 1973

• Education: BL in 1996

• Legal practice: Predominantly civil side

• Judicial career: Appointed District Judge in 2005

• Previous post: Principal District Judge, Chennai

• Elevation: Madras High Court

The Left has urged CM Vijay to speak out on the issue and has asked the State’s public to join the movement. Speaking at the INDIA bloc protest condemning the “murder of democracy”, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam condemned the government’s action against student and youth protesters in Delhi in this issue, and emphasised that protesting is a constitutional right. He criticises the police and paramilitary forces for their crackdown on those fighting for democratic values and voting rights.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to speak out against the “injustice”, emphasising that the chief minister is the face of the Tamil people and has the influence to advocate for change.

He called for political action on the issue.

The 465-km stretch of Chennai-Dindigul National Highway NH 38 (Old No NH 45) has a 675-metre high-level bridge across the Cauvery river in Tiruchy. This bridge was constructed between 1957 and 1963 and served as the major connecting bridge on NH 38. 

When the new Cauvery bridge was constructed adjacent to the old one, the old bridge was converted into a one-way line, and it was used for the Tiruchy towards Chennai section, while the new one was used in the Chennai-Tiruchy section. 

Due to the ageing, the bridge needed to be maintained, and so the officials from NHAI had announced the closure of the bridge for three months. Earlier, it underwent maintenance in 2010.

Earlier the officials announced that the maintenance would get completed within three months from June 25 when the work started until then, the new bridge was used for two way traffic. 

On Thursday, after around 3 months and 20 days, the old bridge was opened to traffic. Though the maintenance of the bridge was completed, the pedestrian platform works were underway, which would be completed within a week; until then, pedestrians are restricted along the bridge. 

Justice C Saravanan directed the government to pay Rs 20 lakh to the woman within two weeks. The Rs 20 lakh earmarked for her son must be invested in an interest-bearing fixed deposit in a nationalised bank or post office until he turns 18. The mother may approach the court for permission to withdraw the amount earlier, if she needs it for the child’s welfare or in an emergency, the court said.

On October 22, 2022, the woman was admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchy for delivery. When complications arose, she was given blood from the hospital’s blood bank. She subsequently contracted HIV, and her newborn son was also found to have contracted the infection.

In a writ petition, the woman said she and her newborn contracted the virus from the infected blood from the hospital and sought compensation for medical negligence.

In a counter affidavit, the hospital dean and the project director/member secretary of the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Chennai, admitted that the donor was in the “window period” when the blood was collected, and that the infection was not detected during screening.

The window period is the interval after infection when the virus is present but cannot be detected yet by standard tests.

The authorities, however, said the hospital had followed the protocols laid down by the National Blood Transfusion Council and TANSACS for screening blood and blood products at the time of donation. The donor’s blood tested negative at the time of donation, and neither the donor nor the hospital knew of his infection, they said.

“It is respectfully submitted that it is an agreeable submission that the petitioner and her baby have been affected at large, leaving them with irreparable health conditions. But it has not happened with ill or willful intention and we don’t not have a scientific system to identify window period infections in blood products,” the authorities said.

To show the screening details, the government produced an internal communication of the respondents. It said the donor’s blood, collected on October 14, 2022, was screened for all transfusion-transmissible infections as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act standards and found non-reactive. This sequence of events strongly suggests that the donor was likely in the "window period" at the time of donation, when the HIV virus was present but not yet detectable by standard screening tests.

Hence, the respondents argued they could not be held responsible for the infection of the woman or her child.

The court had earlier directed the authorities to pay Rs 2.5 lakh as interim ex gratia assistance to mitigate the hardships faced by the woman and her child. The amount was paid on August 28, 2026. In a subsequent interim order on September 15, the court asked the authorities to consider enhanced compensation, taking into account the serious consequences of the infection for both the woman and her child.

Following these directions, the government agreed to provide a total of Rs 40 lakh as ex gratia assistance, with Rs 20 lakh each earmarked for the woman and her son. The court recorded the government’s undertaking and disposed of the writ petition on September 28.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics in Coimbatore, Annamalai said the movement would field candidates trained to bring about change at the grassroots level.
“We will focus on addressing public issues rather than engaging in allegation-driven politics,” he said, while questioning the need for alliances when the movement intended to field its own candidates.

Asking why Tamil Nadu was purchasing electricity at Rs 37 per unit despite being a leading wind power producer, he criticised the government for failing to develop adequate energy storage infrastructure. “The government should explain how it plans to address the issue,” he said.

Appealing to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to avoid excessive barricading during his visit to Coimbatore on Friday, Annamalai said the Chief Minister was already popular and did not need elaborate arrangements to demonstrate his appeal. He also suggested that the Chief Minister set an example by allocating an entire day to meet people in Chennai in an organised manner rather than greeting crowds from atop a vehicle.

Referring to the Dharapuram bypoll, Annamalai urged political parties to introspect the low turnout, warning that declining participation could erode public faith in democracy.

The scheme document was launched by the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat on Thursday. It provides two tracks of incentives based on the Union government's Semicon 2.0 programme.

Under track 1, projects approved by the Union government will receive additional incentives from the State. The investment promotion subsidy will range from 15 to 25% of eligible capital expenditure approved by the Centre, depending on the project category.

Projects involving 300-mm silicon semiconductor wafer fabrication will be eligible for State support of 25% of the eligible capital expenditure, in addition to the Centre's 40% assistance. Advanced packaging projects will also receive 25% State support, while legacy packaging projects will be eligible for 20%.

The State will provide a 15% subsidy for semiconductor-grade raw materials, testing and characterisation facilities, and research and development facilities for semiconductor equipment. Manufacturing, assembling or refurbishing semiconductor equipment and components will also qualify for 15% State support, subject to the scheme's conditions.

Track 2 covers projects that have not applied for assistance under Semicon 2.0 or have applied but have not been selected.

Projects can receive fixed capital subsidies of 15 to 25% of eligible fixed assets and turnover-based subsidies of up to 2% annually for five years, depending on the category.

The minimum investment requirement ranges from Rs 50 crore, for certain semiconductor materials and packaging-related products, to Rs 500 crore for advanced packaging projects.

Additional benefits include training assistance of Rs 10,000 per person per month, payroll subsidies, land cost concessions, stamp duty exemption and electricity tax exemption for five years. Eligible projects can also receive a 5% interest subsidy on term loans for six years.

Companies must ensure that at least 50% of their direct workforce comprises Tamil Nadu residents and at least 60% of high-value jobs, defined as positions with basic wages exceeding Rs 25,000 a month, must also be filled by State residents. The proposals should be submitted to Guidance Tamil Nadu on or before September 30, 2027.

Launching Aavin full cream premium milk sachets and curd cups after inspecting the Tiruchy Aavin plant at Kottapattu, the Dairy Minister Vijayalakshmi said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay recently increased Rs 3 for procurement of milk, and thus the milk procurement price has gone to Rs 44 per litre.

“The increase in the procurement price has satisfied the milk producers across the State, and Aavin will be procuring 3.5 lakh litres more per day in addition to the usual procurement of 32 lakh litres,” she said.

The minister pointed out that the Tiruchy Aavin was procuring 1.75 lakh litres per day and it has been increased to 1.90 lakh litres now due to the procurement price increase.

She also stated that the money has been credited to the milk producers with the deduction of Rs 1 per litre for insurance. “This insurance scheme would benefit the milk producers a lot”, she stressed.

Earlier, the minister introduced the 500 ml premium milk packet, stick candy and a cup of curd for Rs 5, which are new products of Aavin marketed across the state.

The deceased, Sankaralingam (28), a native of Munirpallam in Tirunelveli district, was married. He reportedly had more than 20 cases, including murder and attempted murder, pending against him, and the police had declared him an A-plus history-sheeter, a police source said.

The Munnirpallam police had recently arrested him in a ganja case and lodged him in prison. About 20 days ago, he suffered a serious leg injury in a road accident and was admitted to the prisoners’ ward of the hospital for treatment.

On Wednesday evening, he went to the toilet in the ward and is said to have hanged himself with the lungi he was wearing.

After the police were informed, Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner Deshmukh Sekhar Sanjay visited the spot and conducted an inquiry. The body was recovered and sent for post-mortem.

The police are investigating the case from various angles, including whether he took the step out of mental distress over being jailed.

The bail came days after they called off their indefinite protest on October 10, following an assurance from Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar and Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu that the State would appeal against the order quashing the chargesheet against the parents of the prime accused.

“Now, we have serious doubts about whether the State and the judiciary are acting in a caste-biased manner to dilute the case and help those who killed my son in the name of caste honour go unpunished,” said A Tamilselvai, Kavin’s mother, to DT  Next.

Kavin, a Scheduled Caste from Arumugamangalam near Eral in Thoothukudi district, was in a relationship with S Subhashini, a Siddha doctor from Tirunelveli. The Tirunelveli police arrested her younger brother Surjith for Kavin’s murder on July 27, 2025. The police later arraigned Surjith’s cousin, Jeyapaul, and Surjith’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnakumari, as co-accused.

On September 29, 2026, the High Court quashed the CB-CID charge sheet against the second and third accused, Saravanan and Krishnakumari. Counsel for Jeyapaul informed the court of this, but the court declined to quash the case against Jeyapaul.

“Has Jeyapaul done any service to the nation for the court to cite the delay in completing the trial as a reason for granting him bail?” Tamilselvai asked.

She said Jeyapaul had actively participated in the conspiracy, preparation and execution of the honour killing, adding that he helped his cousin Surjith, the main accused, destroy the clothes and remove the registration number plate of the two-wheeler at Jeyapaul’s quarry at Pappankulam.

The court, however, observed that the allegations against Jeyapaul pertained only to intimidation and aiding in the screening of evidence after the occurrence.

“Is it not ironic that the judge has cited the quashing of charges against Surjith’s parents to grant bail to Jeyapaul?” asked Tamilselvai, who broke into tears, saying she had not slept properly for the last one and a half years.

So far, neither Kavin’s family nor the advocate fighting their case has received any official communication from the two Ministers or their offices that an appeal has been filed. “The Ministers told us they would file the appeal within a week and inform us. But so we have not received any communication from them,” she said.

She expressed apprehension that Jeyapaul, now released on bail, might threaten the witnesses, as the second accused, Saravanan, had done after his release. A case in this regard was registered against Saravanan by the Dharapuram police station.

Referring to the Sathankulam custodial deaths case, in which the CB-CID investigated the accused while they remained in jail, Tamilselvai asked why the agency could not do the same in this case. “It only shows the caste bias of the police,” she claimed.

She further alleged that ever since the CB-CID began investigating Kavin’s murder, officials had been indirectly telling them that it was sufficient to punish the main accused, Surjith, and leave the others out. “That is why we asked for a reinvestigation of the case, but the court ruled that out too,” she said.

Tamilselvai, who is receiving support from various political and civil society members in her fight for justice, said she would first meet Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and request him to ensure justice in the case soon. “If we don’t get a proper response, I will not rest until I get justice,” she said.

AIADMK whip Agri S Krishnamurthy met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan and submitted a representation on behalf of party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, urging action against the government and ministers over statements allegedly encouraging defections. He sought action against the TVK government over alleged horse trading, after ministers’ recent remarks claiming that more AIADMK MLAs would join the ruling party intensified political tensions.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Krishnamurthy cited Minister Sengottaiyan’s recent claim that 15 AIADMK MLAs would join the TVK, alleging that such remarks amounted to encouraging horse trading.

Seeking the Governor’s intervention, the AIADMK has sought action over what it views as attempts to weaken the Opposition party by attracting its legislators to the ruling camp.

On differences within the AIADMK, Krishnamurthy said Palaniswami was willing to meet party leaders and consider their views and suggestions. He added that if Shanmugam wished to convey his concerns, he could meet Palaniswami in person.

Krishnamurthy said Palaniswami wanted unity within the party and was prepared to accommodate everyone to strengthen the organisation.

Krishnamurthy also downplayed the TVK’s recent by-election victory, calling it a temporary success and arguing that victories for ruling parties in by-elections were not unusual. Citing the AIADMK’s 2019 Vikravandi by-election victory, when it was in power, he said such outcomes were common.

In a demi-official letter to Jaishankar, Vijay said the Maldives Coast Guard had detained three mechanised fishing boats carrying the fishermen, who were bound for Thoothukudi district, in the early hours of Tuesday.

“I request you to kindly take up the matter with the Government of Maldives through appropriate diplomatic channels and facilitate the early release and safe repatriation of the fishermen and their boats,” the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami accused the TVK government of failing to respond promptly to the Maldives Coast Guard's arrest of fishermen from Tharuvaikulam in Thoothukudi district on October 12. He pointed out that Vijay wrote to the Union Minister only on October 15, three days after the incident.

The AIADMK leader alleged that the Fisheries Department and the district collectorate had also failed to take basic steps to gather information and coordinate relief efforts. He accused the ruling party of showing interest in fishermen only during elections.

Palaniswami said neither local officials nor the Ottapidaram MLA had visited the families of the detained fishermen or provided information about their whereabouts and condition. He added that the families had received no proper response despite approaching the district collectorate and the district Fisheries Department office.

Questioning the Fisheries Minister Sri Nath’s absence, he asked why the Minister, who had campaigned for votes during the by-election, had not responded to an incident involving fishermen from his own region. He also questioned whether the State government had basic details of the fishermen who had ventured into the sea in the three mechanised boats.

Recalling the AIADMK regime, Palaniswami said the previous government had acted swiftly and coordinated with the Union government whenever fishermen faced such situations.

He urged the TVK government to coordinate with the Centre to secure the fishermen’s release and ensure their safe return. He also called on the State government to send officials, the local MLA and the Fisheries Minister to meet the affected families.

Spread over 1.98 lakh sq ft, the seven-storey facility houses more than one lakh books and features a science centre and dedicated facilities for students. Vijay is scheduled to arrive at Coimbatore airport from Chennai by a special flight at 11 am, before proceeding to the venue.

He is expected to unveil the statue of social reformer Periyar at the complex and inaugurate completed development projects in the district, lay foundation stones for new projects and distribute welfare assistance to beneficiaries.

The visit marks C Joseph Vijay’s first participation in a government function in Coimbatore since assuming office as Chief Minister

The visit marks Vijay’s first participation in a government function in Coimbatore since assuming office as Chief Minister. After the inauguration, Vijay is scheduled to fly by helicopter to Thrissur before returning to Coimbatore and taking a flight to Chennai.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the visit, with more than 2,000 police personnel to be deployed from the airport to the library complex. Barricades have been erected along both sides of Avinashi Road, and drone operations have been prohibited in the area.

Ahead of the inauguration, the complex has been landscaped with lawns and illuminated, while roads along the route have been repaired.

Speaking at the event, CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) CEO Gowrishankar Nagabooshanam said the initiative had strengthened the ties between Tamil Nadu and Singapore, adding that the company's association with the State spanned nearly 22 years.

"The company launched its first international technology park in Chennai in 2004. Since then, it has continued to invest in the State. Now, it has expanded its footprint into digital infrastructure," Gowrishankar said.

Explaining the significance of data centres, he said they served as the backbone of cloud adoption, artificial intelligence and digital services.

Towards the end of his speech, Gowrishankar referred to the Chief Minister's films while praising his administration. Referencing Vijay's films, he said the Chief Minister brought "Kushi" and described the audience's response as "Thullatha Manamum Thullum". He thanked the Chief Minister, his colleagues and bureaucrats, saying they were working in "beast mode" to make the government the "Greatest of All Time", another reference to the actor's film.

Industries Minister S Keerthana, who spoke after him, highlighted emerging industrial sectors in Tamil Nadu and recalled the State Budget's announcement of a semiconductor scheme.

"Tamil Nadu would welcome Singapore companies to invest in emerging sectors such as semiconductors," she said.

The new data centre will deliver 53 MW of gross power capacity upon completion by the end of 2026.

The statement said it marked another important milestone in CLINT's diversification into digital infrastructure. "With a total planned investment of approximately Rs 1,940 crore, the development reflects our conviction in the long-term growth of India's data centre sector", the statement added.

Widespread rain was witnessed in Chennai and its suburbs on Thursday, with the city recording light rain and while suburbs saw moderate to heavy rainfall.

Addressing the media, Durai said northern districts are likely to receive below-normal rainfall, southern districts above-normal rainfall, and coastal districts normal rainfall.

The southwest monsoon ended with a 20% deficit this year, with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and neighbouring regions experiencing below-normal rain and intense heat. Southern districts received normal rainfall, while interior districts recorded below-normal rainfall.

Durai said the southwest monsoon withdrew completely from all parts of the country on Thursday. Northeasterly winds have begun blowing over the southern peninsula, and the northeast monsoon has commenced over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe.

On the impact of El Niño, he said Tamil Nadu has historically received higher rainfall in such years, but the formation of low-pressure areas is likely to be low. El Niño conditions are expected to persist until January-February next year.

Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in some areas in Chennai on Friday.

As per the forecast for Friday, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, is likely over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi and Madurai.

Heavy rain at isolated places is likely over Erode, Tiruppur, Virudhunagar, Kanniyakumari, Cuddalore, Karur, Puducherry, Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruchirappalli, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Karaikal. The rest of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may receive moderate rain at many places.

On Saturday, heavy rain with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Tiruppur, Chennai, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu.

Referring to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast, he said the State may receive heavy rainfall from the first week of November owing to the El Nino effect.

After chairing a review meeting on precautionary measures taken by various government departments on Thursday, Sengottaiyan told reporters that boats and other essential equipment had been kept ready to rescue people living in flood-prone areas.

"Officials are reviewing the power supply arrangements at all government hospitals. Food will be supplied through Amma Canteens to needy people during heavy rain," he said. He added that the government was taking precautionary measures to minimise the impact of heavy rain and ensure that essential services were not affected during the monsoon.

Speaking to reporters after a review of the North East monsoon preparedness meeting at the TNPDCL headquarters, he said the final procurement decision would be taken after assessing the evening peak demand. If rainfall increases and power consumption falls further, the purchase quantum will be revised accordingly.

The state had planned to procure additional 3500 MW power at a cost of upto Rs 37 per unit to meet peak demand and prevent outages. However, cooler weather has reduced the use of air conditioners and other cooling appliances, bringing down electricity consumption.

With the northeast monsoon setting in, the power utility has stepped up preventive maintenance and emergency preparedness to minimise disruptions. Preparatory work has been under way for the past three months, with vulnerable locations mapped and teams and equipment kept ready for repairs, Nirmalkumar said.

The utility has also deployed additional teams in Chennai to attend to faults, particularly during night hours. Seven additional teams have been arranged for the city, while 12 teams will begin night patrols from Thursday to address high-tension power supply faults across 19 distribution divisions in Chennai and its surrounding areas, according to the review meeting.

As part of monsoon preparations, pillar boxes in low-lying areas of Chennai are being raised by one metre to prevent water ingress during heavy rain. Work at locations identified by the Greater Chennai Corporation has been completed, while around 40% of the work at additional locations identified by the electricity utility has been completed, he said.

Additional Chief Secretary and power utility chairman Rajesh Lakhoni, TNPGCL managing director M Govinda Rao, Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation managing director P N Sridhar and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the livelihood issues faced by auto drivers led to widespread protests across the State. Even as drivers took to the streets in Kundrathur and Uthukottai, claiming the Vettri Payanam scheme is eating into their revenues, they were stopped from holding a rally in Tiruchy. The auto drivers attached to CITU announced a protest rally from Major Saravanan roundabout to the Collectorate on Thursday. Police refused permission for the rally and the protest, leading to condemnation over denying a 'democratic right.'

However, the Tamil Nadu Auto Drivers' Unions Federation staged a hunger strike near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore on October 15, pressing for various demands concerning drivers' livelihoods and welfare. Following the protest, the minister invited representatives of more than 20 trade unions to the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) headquarters for discussions.

In a statement issued after the meeting, A Jahir Hussain, executive president of Urimai Kural Drivers' Union, said the minister had firmly assured the representatives that auto-meter fares would be revised before Deepavali. He had also assured them that the drivers' other livelihood-related demands would be addressed in phases.

"The unions' demands were already under the government's consideration and that the minister had assured the representatives that he would bring their legitimate demands to the attention of the Chief Minister for early action," said MTC in its official press release

The meeting also addressed the recent death by suicide of Ibrahim, an auto driver from Vyasarpadi. Expressing distress over the incident, the minister conveyed his condolences to the family and received a petition from Ibrahim's son, assuring him it would be looked into.

In a statement, the party president MK Stalin said social backwardness was the result of centuries of social structures and would not disappear merely because a person changed religion. It argued that denying Backward Class reservation to people who converted to Islam would undermine social justice.

The DMK called on the TVK government to take immediate legal steps to protect the reservation rights of converts from backward communities and ensure that their claims were considered based on their social circumstances.

Recalling the previous DMK government's initiatives, the party said it had adopted a resolution urging the Union government to amend the Constitution to extend reservation benefits to Scheduled Caste people who convert to Christianity.

It urged the present government to continue pursuing that demand.

The party maintained that reservation for Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC), and Scheduled Castes (SC) should be determined by taking into account the social discrimination and disadvantages these communities face.

Addressing officials from Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Erode, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Salem, The Nilgiris, Tirupur, Dindigul, Karur and Tiruchy, Anand instructed officials to monitor low-lying areas, water bodies, canals and storm water drains, while ensuring that desilting and maintenance works were completed to facilitate smooth flow of rainwater.

He directed officials to repair damaged stretches without delay, provide uninterrupted supply of drinking water and promptly address public complaints. “Public safety must remain the priority during monsoon. Officials should remain vigilant and respond promptly to rain-related emergencies,” he said.

The minister also called for intensified preventive measures against dengue and other infectious diseases, including eliminating mosquito breeding sites, maintaining sanitation and creating public awareness.

He also reviewed the implementation of the ‘Vetri Thamizhagam’-vision document action plan and stressed the need to expedite rural development projects aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening basic infrastructure in villages.

The Pukkathurai flyover is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21 crore, while the Padalam flyover is being built at a cost of Rs 21.50 crore.

Ahead of the Ayudha Pooja festival, the Collector inspected Paranur toll plaza, Irungunrampalli, the Palar bridge, Pukkathurai and Padalam on Wednesday to review measures to ease traffic congestion.

At Paranur toll plaza, a congestion-prone stretch on national highways in the district, he instructed NHAI officials to repair the road and provide adequate lighting to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles.

He also directed the officials concerned to remove soil deposits and waste along the roads near Irungunrampalli and the Palar bridge, and carry out road repairs to prevent traffic disruptions.

At Pukkathurai, the Collector inspected the ongoing construction of the flyover and instructed the NHAI project director to expedite the work and take steps to open it to the public from October 16.

During his inspection of the Pukkathurai junction and the service roads near the national highway at Padalam, Veerappan directed officials to remove encroachments obstructing traffic and repair the roads.

He also inspected the flyover under construction at Padalam and instructed the NHAI project director to expedite the work and complete it before Deepavali.

NHAI Chengalpattu project director M S Chaithanya, Madurantakam Revenue Divisional Officer Narendra, Chengalpattu Deputy Superintendent of Police T Veerakumar, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation managing director Sridharan, officials from various departments and traffic police personnel accompanied the Collector during the inspection.

The four arrested are Muthusamy, 47, of Madathuvilai in Arumuganeri; his wife; Krupa, 44, who worked at the house of the society's secretary, Devaraj; Murugan, 62, an electrician from Shanmugapuram in Veerapandianpattinam; and Isakkithurai, 33, of South Manadu in Tiruchendur.

The arrests followed a re-investigation ordered by the court into the fraud, which allegedly took place between May 22, 2019, and August 24, 2021. The investigation found that gold jewellery misappropriated from the society had been re-pledged at various banks and cooperative societies in the names of more than 10 people, including Devaraj's car driver, domestic workers and friends. The institutions named in the investigation include those in Sethukuvaithan, Udankudi and Madhavakurichi.

The re-investigation is being conducted under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Saravanakumar and led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jeyapal Barnabas, following petitions filed by victims seeking the return of their pledged jewellery.

The alleged fraud involved the diversion of bank deposits and the re-pledging of jewellery at other banks in the names of different people, amounting to Rs 29 crore, during the period mentioned.

Based on a complaint lodged by Valarmathi, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Tiruchendur division, the EOW police had earlier registered a case and arrested society secretary Devaraj, assistant secretary Jhansichandrakanta Gnanabai, president Murugesapandian, clerk Sivagami and jewellery appraiser Arumuganainar.

The victims subsequently approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which directed the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies to immediately refund 30 per cent of their deposits. Money has since been returned to several victims.

Schools have been instructed to verify students' personal details, upload the required documents and collect exam fees from eligible candidates before submitting the details online.

The exam fee has been fixed at Rs 115 per student. Schools must remit the collected exam fees online through the portal by October 31.

The directorate has also instructed all schools to pay Rs 300 towards the preparation and online release of the Tamil Language Mandatory (TML) exam question paper timetable and mark list. This payment must also be made by October 31.

For students with disabilities who seek exam concessions, schools have been directed to upload scanned copies of the relevant disability identity card or the appropriate medical certificate issued by an authorised medical board, as applicable.

The directorate has specified several categories of students who are exempted from paying the exam fee.

All students studying in the Tamil-medium stream are exempted from the exam fee. Students studying in other mediums in government and government-aided schools are also eligible for exemption if they belong to the specified categories and satisfy the applicable conditions.

These include students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyars and Scheduled Tribes, as well as eligible converted Christians, Most Backward Classes, Denotified Communities, Backward Classes and Backward Class Muslims.

For students belonging to the BC and BCM categories, the circular specifies a parental annual income ceiling of Rs 2.5 lakh for the applicable exemption. Students with benchmark disabilities, including those with specified visual and hearing impairments, are also covered by the exemptions mentioned in the government orders cited by the directorate.

Schools have been instructed to check the applicable government orders and supporting documents before granting fee exemptions.

The directorate said that eligible candidates can apply for the courses through the official website, www.tnayushselection.org. The information brochure, containing details of the courses, eligibility criteria, and counselling schedule, is available on the website.

Application forms will be accepted only through online mode. The fee for the application, online counselling fee, and advance tuition fee should be paid online.

The statement from the directorate added that candidates should download their applications, attach self-attested copies of the required certificates, and submit them to the secretary, selection committee, Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Arignar Anna Government Indian Medicine Hospital campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai.

The completed applications should reach the office by 5 pm on October 29.

The candidates are advised to refer to the information brochure on the official website for further details regarding the admission process.

The four youth, who had travelled from Adoor in Kerala on Wednesday evening, were heading to  Kulasekarapattinam   when they followed the navigation app into a lane barely wide enough for a motorcycle.

Once inside, the car became stuck between two walls, leaving the occupants unable to move forward or reverse. They were also unable to get out of the vehicle, leaving them stranded until residents in the area noticed their plight.

The residents rushed to help and tried to push the car out of the narrow passage. After efforts, they managed to free the vehicle and bring it back to the road.

Personnel from the Kuzhithurai Fire and Rescue Services also arrived at the spot to assist in the rescue.

When questioned, the youth said they had come from Kerala and were heading to  Kulasekarapattinam but had taken the wrong route.

With the help of the residents, the four youth were safely sent on their way.

VG Jagadeesan, State secretary of RSS’s north Tamil Nadu unit, approached the court seeking permission to conduct route marches followed by public meetings across Tamil Nadu on October 18, October 25, and November 1.

He had submitted a representation to the State police chief on October 3 seeking directions to all Commissioners and Superintendents to grant permission for the marches. However, the DGP had not issued any directions, he said.

When the case came up for hearing again, Justice V Lakshminarayanan took strong objection to the State citing the presence of mosques and Eidgahs along the proposed routes as a reason for denying permission, stating that it would portray Muslims in a bad light.

The judge noted that an Eidgah was for gathering and praying during Ramzan and Bakrid. “You're saying that they (Muslims) will celebrate Ramzan in October? You're giving a bad name to Muslims," the court told the State.

The judge added that it was a matter of agony that the police portrayed the minority community as having issues with the procession. "Citizens' rights cannot be surrendered to the whims and fancies of the police," the judge remarked.

The court pointed out that while laying down detailed guidelines to prevent unnecessary litigation over RSS route marches, Justice G Jayachandran had rejected reasons such as the presence of mosques and churches, possible traffic congestion, and organisations with different ideologies, terming them "lame". However, the State had again cited the same reasons to deny permission, the judge said.

The court directed the petitioner to file an affidavit providing details of the proposed routes, the person in charge, and the participants, along with an undertaking to strictly comply with the court's conditions.

It also directed the Advocate General to obtain instructions from the police chief on granting permission after the affidavit was filed.

The court adjourned the hearing to Friday, October 16.

The FIR was registered based on a complaint lodged by DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu, alleging that Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association president BT Arasukumar and other office-bearers had collected several crores from private schools on the promise of securing NOCs, licences, recognition, and renewals but failed to fulfil those promises.

The FIR was initially registered under Sections 316(5) [criminal breach of trust] and 318(4) [cheating], read with Section 3(5), of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Later, the prosecution filed an alteration report before the Metropolitan Magistrate seeking to include Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and array former school education minister Anbil Mahesh as an accused.

After being named as an accused in the case, the DMK leader approached the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR.

In its counter-affidavit, the CCB said the investigation had revealed that money was collected from school managements in the name of party funds. It also said materials had emerged indicating Mahesh’s alleged role in demands concerning private schools.

Rejecting Mahesh’s argument, it maintained that the Governor’s approval was not required to initiate the proceedings and added that the investigation was ongoing.

Meanwhile, Mahesh filed an anticipatory bail petition before the High Court. When the matter came up for hearing, Justice V Lakshminarayanan directed the CCB to file a response to the petition and posted the matter to October 16.

The directorate said that medical reimbursement proposals received from district-level officials were frequently incomplete, delaying claim processing.

It also noted that district officials had forwarded certain cases to the directorate when they should have sent them directly to insurance companies or the Treasury Department.

The delays in submitting missing documents and clarifications were preventing beneficiaries from receiving timely relief, it said.

It also noted that such delays had also resulted in petitions under the RTI Act, 2005, representations to the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, and court cases.

It has instructed all CEOs and DEOs to forward medical reimbursement proposals relating to teaching and non-teaching staff of government and government-aided high and higher secondary schools only with clear remarks and recommendations from the concerned DEO.

The move is aimed at reducing unnecessary movement of files between offices, avoiding procedural delays, and ensuring that eligible employees and their family members receive medical reimbursement without undue hardship.

In a demi-official letter to Jaishankar, Vijay said the Maldives Coast Guard detained three mechanised fishing boats carrying the 25 fishermen, bound for Thoothukudi district, in the early hours of Tuesday.

"I request you to kindly take up the matter with the Government of Maldives through appropriate diplomatic channels and facilitate the early release and safe repatriation of the fishermen and their boats," the Chief Minister said in his letter.

Vijay said the Union government's intervention would provide much-needed reassurance to the affected families and the fishing community.

Separately, around 50 Tamil Nadu fishermen and 270 fishing boats remain in Sri Lankan custody. The Chief Minister has reiterated his request for the Union government to convene a meeting of the Joint Committee to discuss the fishermen issue and facilitate the release of those detained by Sri Lanka.

The political irony was hard to miss: Thirumavalavan, speaking from a platform that included TVK, Stalin’s post-election rival, defended the former ally’s electoral defeat as the alleged result of targeted voter deletions. He specifically adopted a conciliatory tone towards Stalin, repeatedly addressing him as 'Stalin Annan' and saying he had warned him about the alleged plot in Kolathur before the election, in the backdrop of talks over the ruling party ditching VCK for Anbumani-led PMK and the VCK looking at reviving the DMK alliance.

While participating in the protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Thirumavalavan alleged that Stalin’s defeat was not a natural electoral setback but the result of targeted voter deletions and electoral manipulation. He claimed that one lakh votes had been deleted in Kolathur and said he had alerted then Minister PK Sekarbabu about the alleged deletions.

"When I met Stalin, I alerted him about the alleged plot in Kolathur and urged him to shift to another constituency. However, he and Minister Sekarbabu rejected my suggestion," he said.

Thirumavalavan alleged a systematic "theft of votes" and a "conspiracy" involving the Centre and the Election Commission to target political opponents by removing voters under categories such as absent, shifted, transposed and duplicate. He claimed the SIR exercise was being used disproportionately against Opposition supporters, minorities and marginalised communities.

Accusing the BJP of targeting political opponents, the VCK leader cited the electoral defeats of Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin and Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that these were not ordinary electoral setbacks but part of a broader pattern of political targeting.

Thirumavalavan said the SIR exercise was not new, but alleged that Gyanesh Kumar was being used to implement the Sangh Parivar’s agenda and target the BJP’s political opponents.

He placed the protest within a broader INDIA bloc campaign to protect the Constitution and democratic principles, citing the efforts of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Expressing solidarity with the Congress and other alliance partners, he framed the agitation as a defence of India’s secular and pluralistic values.

His remarks on Stalin underscored the shifting political equations following the Assembly election, with Thirumavalavan backing the TVK-led government, sharing the INDIA bloc protest against SIR, even while supporting former ally DMK.

Speaking at the event, CapitaLand India Trust CEO Gowrishankar Nagabooshanam said the initiative had strengthened the ties between Tamil Nadu and Singapore, adding that the company's association with the State spanned nearly 22 years.

“The company launched its first international technology park in Chennai in 2004. Since then, it has continued to invest in the State. Now, it has expanded its footprint into digital infrastructure,” Gowrishankar said.

Explaining the significance of data centres, he said they served as the backbone of cloud adoption, artificial intelligence and digital services.

Towards the end of his speech, Gowrishankar referred to the Chief Minister's films while praising his administration.

Using references to Vijay's films, he said the Chief Minister had brought “Kushi” and described the audience's response as “Thullatha Manamum Thullum”. He thanked the Chief Minister, his colleagues and bureaucrats, saying they were working in “beast mode” to make the government the “Greatest of All Time”, another reference to the actor's film.

Industries Minister S Keerthana, who spoke after him, highlighted emerging industrial sectors in Tamil Nadu and recalled the announcement of the State Budget's semiconductor scheme.

“Tamil Nadu would welcome Singapore companies to invest in emerging sectors such as semiconductors,” she said.

The TVK, its key ally, the Congress and other constituents of the INDIA Bloc including VCK attended the protest seeking action against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Incidentally,VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan, who walked out of the DMK-led alliance post April elections to back the TVK government, blamed the SIR for the Dravidian party's loss in the hustings.

"The DMK was defeated through a systematic process of targeted voter deletion and electoral manipulation," he said, suggesting that individuals were specifically targeted to ensure a negative outcome for the then ruling party.

Thursday's protest was led by Tamil Nadu Congress chief B Manickam Tagore and represented by School Education Minister A Rajmohan on behalf of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). It saw the cadres of the INDIA Bloc gather in large numbers, display their respective party flags and raise slogans seeking the immediate resignation of the CEC over the SIR exercise.

At the protest, various speakers alleged that millions of voters - specifically Muslims, tribal groups, and marginalised communities - were systematically removed from the electoral rolls under the SIR process, asserting that over 97 lakh voters were struck off the roles in Tamil Nadu alone.

They argued that this process undermined the Constitution and represented a "democratic massacre" and expressed concerns that election processes were being manipulated to favour the ruling party, ie BJP.

They demanded transparency and the immediate reinstatement of unfairly removed voters.

Rajmohan highlighted his party's long-standing opposition to the SIR of electoral rolls and commitment to protecting democratic rights.

According to VCK MP Thirumavalavan, the DMK's defeat in the April 2026 Assembly election was "not a natural loss."

He alleged a systematic "theft of votes" and a "conspiracy" involving the Central government and the EC targeting political opponents in removing voters from the rolls during the SIR process.

Participating in the protest, Thirumavalavan claimed irregularities in the voter revision process.

"There was a systematic theft of votes and a conspiracy involving the ruling government and the Election Commission to target political opponents by removing voters from the list. The voters are removed under categories labeled Absent, Shifted, Transposed, or Duplicate," he claimed.

He alleged that the SIR of voters' roll was being misused to disproportionately disenfranchise opposition supporters, minority communities, and marginalised groups.

He highlighted that these protests were part of a broader national movement led by the INDIA grouping, including prominent Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who were advocating for the protection of the Constitution and democratic principles.

Thirumavalavan expressed solidarity with the Congress and other alliance partners, framing the struggle not just as a political competition, but as a defense of India's secular and pluralistic values.

MDMK founder Vaiko and state secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, P Shanmugam and M Veerapandian, respectively, among others participated.

This comes amid water shortages and poor monsoon rainfall in major producing states.

The price has risen from Rs 20,000 per quintal last year, surprising farmers and boosting activity among traders. The sharp increase over the past few weeks has been attributed to reduced cultivation in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra due to insufficient rainfall.

Water shortages have also affected this season's turmeric harvest.

Why are turmeric prices rising?

Poor monsoon rainfall and severe water shortages in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, two major turmeric-producing states, have reduced the area under cultivation this year and affected the harvest. Fears of lower future supplies have intensified competition in the market, pushing prices higher.