"Is it your last weapon to speak in filthy language on stages about me and my leader?" Nirmalkumar asked regarding offensive remarks made by DMK leader A Raja.

Terming the demonstrations by DMK functionaries an "obscenity drama," the minister said people in Tamil Nadu, particularly women, were shocked by the speeches of some DMK functionaries.

He alleged that whenever issues such as corruption, betrayal and lies were raised against the DMK, its functionaries resorted to speeches mixing violence and obscenity.

"Can he show the alleged objectionable speeches of DMK functionaries to their own children and female members of their families?" he said.

Nirmalkumar said the TVK would face the alleged atrocities of the DMK with honesty and claimed that the opposition party has lacked the capacity to tackle the ruling party TVK, which, he said, has the support of women and children.

He said the DMK had no opportunity to correct itself and claimed that the people would write the party's "epitaph."

The controversy erupted during the statewide demonstrations organised by the DMK on Saturday against the TVK government. The main Opposition had accused Chief Minister Vijay and Minister Nirmal Kumar of insulting the sacrifices of DMK leaders and those imprisoned during the Emergency. During his speech, Raja made some indecent remarks about minister Nirmalkumar, dragging his birth into question.

Amid mounting criticism of such uncouth remarks, Raja announced that he was withdrawing them. In a post on X, the former Union minister said he had no hesitation in taking back his words.

However, Raja maintained a combative tone in the post, saying he regretted questioning a person's "identity" as an emotional reaction to the pain caused by the deliberate, repeated ridicule of a leader's "identity" and "truth," a leader who had emerged through sacrifice.

"I have no hesitation in taking back my words. If you do not reform yourself, you will be corrected," Raja said.

Meanwhile, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi appeared to respond to the controversy indirectly by posting a Tirukkural on X. She quoted "yaakaavaa raayinum naakaakka kaavaakkaal sokaappar sollizhukkup pattu." The couplet advises people to guard their speech, warning that failing to control one's tongue can lead to suffering caused by one's own words. Kanimozhi did not name anyone or make any direct reference to the controversy in her post.

Candidates who had appeared under the old syllabus before 2012 and failed in science can also register, stated a press note

Candidates must approach the office of the District Educational Officer (Secondary Education) concerned in person during the registration period and pay a fee of Rs 125, stated DGE. The application form can be downloaded from the DGE website. 

The department clarified that this registration is only for attending the practical training classes and does not constitute registration for the Class 10 board exams itself. 

Candidates applying for the Class 10 science practical exam will have to attend practical training classes at schools allotted by the respective District Educational Officer. Only candidates who secure at least 80% attendance in the practical training classes will be permitted to appear for the science practical examination.

The hall ticket can be downloaded using the application number provided on the acknowledgement slip issued by the nodal centre. Only candidates who have obtained a hall ticket will be permitted to take the practical exam. 

The operation began at Madurai railway station, where investigators identified the couple on CCTV footage carrying the missing bag and boarding another train. When the train had already passed Virudhunagar, police switched their search to CCTV footage at the next station, traced the couple's onward journey by autorickshaw and finally caught up with them at the bus stand.

The accused were identified as Kaliappan, 66, and his wife Solaiyammal, 62, both from JJ Nagar in Vannarapettai, Chennai. The bag containing jewellery and cash, valued at Rs 8.30 lakh, was recovered from them.

The operation was launched after Mahadevi, wife of Sethu and a resident of Bharathidasan Street in Irumbuliyur, Tambaram, reported that her bag had gone missing while she was travelling on the Tambaram-Madurai Kudal Express to Manamadurai on September 12.

Mahadevi was travelling in the general compartment next to the engine when the bag containing the jewellery and cash went missing. She reported the matter to the station master at Kudal Nagar railway station, who alerted the RPF personnel in Madurai.

When the train arrived in Madurai, RPF head constable Sathyamoorthy searched the compartment, but the bag was not found.

RPF personnel and Tamil Nadu Railway Police Crime Branch personnel then questioned Mahadevi and examined CCTV footage at Madurai railway station.

The footage showed an elderly couple carrying the bag described by Mahadevi and boarding the general compartment of the Chennai-Kanniyakumari special train.

Police immediately alerted RPF and railway police personnel in Virudhunagar. However, by the time officers were informed, the train had already crossed Virudhunagar railway station.

The search then shifted to CCTV footage recorded at Virudhunagar station. Investigators questioned autorickshaw drivers after learning that the couple had left the railway station in an autorickshaw.

The trail led the police to the Virudhunagar bus stand, where the couple was traced and the bag recovered.

Madurai Railway Police registered a case and produced the two accused before the Sixth Magistrate Court in Madurai. The judge granted them bail, considering their age, according to the report.

Senior railway security and police officials appreciated the personnel involved in the operation, which led to the recovery of the valuables within about two hours.

Addressing the wedding of a DMK Youth Wing functionary here, he alleged that the ruling regime had failed to deliver on any of its election promises during its initial four months in office.

"In Tamil Nadu's history, we have never witnessed such an uncouth and dummy chief minister," Udhayanishi said, alleging that the government came to power by luring MLAs from other parties.

He charged that the current administration was simply rebranding and "pasting stickers" on public welfare schemes initiated during the previous DMK government rather than introducing new initiatives.

"Today, people across Tamil Nadu are grappling with daily crises, from frequent power cuts and surging prices of essential commodities like rice and pulses to worsening law and order. When questioned on these issues, the CM is unable to answer and instead resorts to spreading slanders against our party and leadership," he claimed.

Referring to upcoming Assembly by-elections in two constituencies, Udhayanidhi called upon the party cadre to use the polls to deliver a decisive defeat to the ruling dispensation.

"The victory in these by-elections must mark the beginning of the fall of this regime and teach a fitting lesson to this dummy chief minister," he said.

The Election Commission India (EC) has scheduled polling for October 6.

The two seats–Maduranthakam and Dharapuram fell vacant after AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined the TVK.

Udhayanidhi also noted that the DMK was entering its 77th year ahead of the party's Mupperum Vizha celebrations.

While acknowledging the party's setback in the previous Assembly elections, he asserted that the DMK continues to function as an effective opposition standing firmly with the public.

DMK Chennai South district secretary and former minister Ma Subramanian and other party functionaries were present at the event.

The deceased were identified as Muniyandi, 65, of Nadu Pillaiyarkulam, and his grandson, Munees, 17, who was riding the moped.

According to police, Muniyandi was working as a security guard at a private windmill in the area. At around 7 am, he was travelling as a pillion rider on the moped driven by Munees on the Tirunelveli-Sankarankovil main road.

Munees was reportedly turning the vehicle eastwards to cross the main road and reach the windmill located on the other side when a government bus travelling in the same direction collided with the moped.

Muniyandi died at the spot. Munees sustained serious injuries to the back of his head and was taken by a 108 ambulance to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The government bus was driven by Subash, son of Ayyappan, from Pudur-Arumanai in Kanniyakumari district.

Based on a complaint, Manur police have registered a case and are investigating.

Muniyandi is survived by his wife, Vasantha, two married sons and a daughter. Munees was a Class 12 student at a higher secondary school in Tirunelveli.

The bus driver, Sivashakthi, sustained serious head injuries and was referred to the Tirunelveli Government Hospital for further treatment. The remaining injured were taken to the Tenkasi Government Hospital in 108 ambulances.

Kuttralam police have registered a case and are investigating the cause of the accident.

The bus had left the Tenkasi new bus stand for Tirunelveli at around 7 am with more than 30 passengers. Sivashakthi was driving the bus, while Isakki Muthu was the conductor.

According to the police, the bus was travelling on the Tirunelveli-Tenkasi four-lane road near Vettaikaran Kulam, adjoining Azad Nagar, when passengers reportedly heard a sound from the vehicle.

The driver lost control of the bus, which broke through the roadside barrier and overturned into the Azhagukanni River.

Motorists and residents of Vettaikaran Kulam rushed to the spot and began rescuing passengers trapped inside the bus.

Kuttralam police, led by Inspector Pachaimmal and sub-inspectors Muthu Thilagar and Chinnathirai, along with personnel from the Tenkasi Fire and Rescue Services, joined the rescue operation.

Police later cleared traffic congestion in the area, while the overturned bus was recovered with the help of a JCB and a crane.

Police are investigating the accident from multiple angles. Some passengers reportedly told investigators that the driver had been speaking on a mobile phone before the accident.

Investigators are also examining whether the driver may have dozed off or whether a mechanical fault in the bus caused the accident.

In Chennai, permission has been granted for the installation of 1,562 idols, compared with 1,519 last year, according to the Chennai city police.

The idols will be installed and worshipped on Monday, while police have permitted processions and immersion on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20. The processions must follow routes approved by the police, and idols must be immersed only at authorised locations.

DGP Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has directed district superintendents of police and commissioners of police to make necessary arrangements to ensure that the Vinayagar idol processions are conducted peacefully.

In Chennai, 16,500 police personnel and 1,500 Home Guards will be deployed for security duties, according to the Chennai Police Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Amalraj has directed senior officials to make all necessary arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the celebrations and processions.

Police have imposed several restrictions on the installation and worship of idols, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Madras High Court. Idols taller than 10 feet will not be permitted.

Organisers have been directed to ensure the celebrations do not disturb public peace and to follow police instructions. Police said they will take strict action against those installing idols without permission.

Organisers will be responsible for each idol installed for worship. Police patrol teams will conduct regular rounds at the venues, while CCTV cameras must be installed at the locations.

Police have also directed organisers to appoint two volunteers from service organisations as security personnel for each idol.

In Chennai, arrangements have been made for immersion at Palkaalai Nagar in Neelankarai, Srinivasapuram in Pattinapakkam, behind the Popular Weighbridge in Tiruvottiyur, and the Kasimedu fishing harbour.

However, the National Green Tribunal has prohibited the immersion of idols in the sea at Neelankarai and Pattinapakkam Srinivasapuram, raising questions over whether alternative locations would be arranged.

Police sources said discussions were under way on the issue.

Vinayagar Chaturthi will be celebrated across the country on Monday. In Tamil Nadu, Hindu organisations, including Hindu Munnani, and members of the public traditionally install Vinayagar idols at public places for worship after obtaining police permission.

He said the movement would conduct intensive grassroots campaigns across the constituency.

"In the upcoming by-election, we will field a candidate in the Dharapuram constituency as a candidate of Cauvery rights retrieval and toddy liberation policies," Nallasamy told reporters here.

Placing the decades-old prohibition on toddy at the forefront, Nallasamy renewed his open challenge, offering a Rs 10 crore cash reward to anyone who can prove the ban is justifiable.

"If anyone among you proves that the ban on toddy is justified, I will give a Rs 10 crore prize," he declared.

Taking aim at lawmakers demanding official upgrades, he added, "MLAs keep asking for cars. If any MLA comes, argues, and proves that the ban on toddy is justified, we will give that legislator an Innova car."

Nallasamy cited the report of the Justice B Gokuldas Commission, which was constituted by the state government to probe the illicit liquor tragedy in Kallakurichi. "The judge asked in the report why there is a ban on toddy in Tamil Nadu when it is a natural, nutritious food equivalent to mother's milk," Nallasamy said.

According to him, the ban continues solely because political parties across the ideological spectrum rely on the commercial liquor lobby for election funding.

Highlighting the economic and rural livelihood potential, he pointed out that out of eight crore palmyra trees in India, five crore are in Tamil Nadu.

He argued that allowing farmers to tap neera, padhaneer, and toddy from palmyra, coconut, and date palms, and packaging them as value-added products for domestic and international markets, would generate massive rural employment and state revenue. Delivering an ultimatum to the ruling administration, he asserted: "Either announce the lifting of the ban on toddy, or step down from the Chief Minister's chair."

Turning to state infrastructure spending, Nallasamy urged the government to abandon its proposal to construct a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam and redirect the proposed Rs 1,600 crore allocation to priority irrigation schemes. "The Secretariat is in good condition and remains strong. It has a 350-year history and was built by the East India Company," he pointed out, noting that Tamil Nadu is already saddled with Rs 13 lakh crore in public debt while facing impending climate crises such as the "Super El Nino".

"This sum should instead be utilized for the Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar river-linking project and the Mettur–Sarabanga surplus water scheme," he added.

On inter-state water management, Nallasamy argued that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award remains unworkable under its current monthly quota schedule, leaving Tamil Nadu short of water during the crucial Kuruvai paddy season.

He called for amending the mechanism to ensure daily proportional water sharing from Karnataka's reservoirs directly into Mettur Dam, alongside demanding an immediate common effluent treatment plant (CETP) to clean up Salem's heavily polluted Thirumanimutharu river.

Manamadurai–Tambaram one-way Unreserved MEMU special will leave Manamadurai at 2.30 pm on Monday and reach Tambaram at 11.55 pm.

It will operate via Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchchirappalli, Ariyalur, Villupuram and Chengalpattu.

Nagercoil–Tambaram one way Superfast Special will leave Nagercoil Junction at 11 pm on Monday and reach Tambaram at 10.45 am on September 15.

It will operate via Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Manamadurai, Karaikkudi, Pudukkottai and Tiruchchirappalli.

The party has fielded K Janaki Raman in Madurantakam, M Karthika in Dharapuram and S Karthik Kumari in Thattanchavady (Puducherry).

In Madurantakam, TVK has renominated K Maragatham Kumaravel, who won the seat for the AIADMK in the 2026 Assembly election before resigning and joining the Vijay-led party. The DMK has fielded I Paranthamen, while the AIADMK has nominated former MLA Kanitha Sampath.

In Dharapuram, TVK has fielded P Sathyabama, another former AIADMK MLA who joined the ruling party. The DMK has named S Suganya, while the AIADMK has chosen K Bhanumathi.

The Left parties have also decided to enter the fray independently. The CPM will contest from Madurantakam, while the CPI will contest from Dharapuram. Their candidates are expected to be announced on September 15.

Both AIADMK nominees are women. Kanitha Sampath is a former MLA who represented Madurantakam from 2011 to 2016, while Bhanumathi has held several local-body and party positions in Tiruppur district.

The bypolls are being closely watched as an early electoral test for the TVK government. The AIADMK will seek to reclaim the two seats following the defection of its former MLAs, while the DMK will look to make gains as the principal Opposition party.

On the night of September 1, the two-and-a-half-foot emerald idol and silver articles were stolen from the Nadupalani Balamurugan Maragatha Thandayuthapani temple in Perungaranai village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sithamur police station.

The police registered a case and tasked a special team comprising six inspectors to retrieve the stolen idol and articles. The team was formed under the supervision of Chengalpattu Superintendent of Police Ayman Jamal Iqbal and Madurantakam Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Rajini.

As part of the investigation, the police examined footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras and questioned over 20 previous offenders suspected of involvement in similar crimes. Based on the evidence gathered, the suspects were identified.

On Sunday, the Sithamur police, led by Inspector Mahalingam, arrested three accused and recovered the stolen idol. The idol was kept in the office of the RDO, Cheyyur. The three suspects are expected to be produced in court on Monday.

Further investigation and legal proceedings are continuing.

Their decision would also have an impact on the DMK and AIADMK, as the anti-TVK votes would be splintered further.

According to the understanding reached between them, the CPM will contest from Madurantakam and the CPI from Dharapuram, both reserved seats from where AIADMK candidates had won, but resigned and crossed over to the TVK.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy after the party's State committee meeting on Saturday, CPM State secretary P Shanmugam said the committee decided to field Left candidates in both constituencies along with the CPI and CPI (ML) Liberation.

“The Left parties are not part of any of the three existing alliances. As this is not a general election or an election for a change of government, we have decided to contest the bypolls independently, with the CPM contesting one seat and the CPI the other,” he said.

He said the candidates would be introduced at a meeting of the State secretaries of the CPM, CPI, and CPI (ML) Liberation in Chennai on September 15, a day before the last date for filing nominations.

Around the same time in Chennai, CPI State secretary M Veerapandian said the party's State executive decided to maintain its stand of not joining any alliance in the prevailing political situation.

Veerapandian said the CPI had supported the TVK government from outside after the Assembly election to respect the people's mandate and to prevent the Governor from prevaricating, which would have led to the BJP gaining indirect control of the government. “We have neither joined the coalition nor the cabinet,” he said.

Both leaders clarified that contesting the bypolls independently would not mean withdrawing support to the TVK government.

Shanmugam said the Left parties had differences with the TVK-led government over several issues, including aspects of its budget and the implementation of liberal and neo-liberal economic policies. These issues, along with the need for the Assembly to function democratically and serve as a forum to discuss people's issues, would figure in the campaign, he said.

On the government's focus on attracting foreign investment, Shanmugam said the government should disclose details of the investments it claimed to have attracted, including the source, employment generated, and projects proposed. He also stressed the need to protect domestic and small-scale industries through financial allocations, tax concessions, and credit support.

He also criticised the two TVK candidates, who had won the seats on AIADMK tickets in the recent Assembly election before resigning and joining TVK within 20 days of result declaration. “They have not been able to give any reasonable justification for their decision. We had criticised it then and our criticism continues,” he said.

Shanmugam said the CPM would also seek support from other parties that were not part of the three existing alliances. “We will directly meet the leaders of other parties and seek their support for the Left candidates,” he said.

Veerapandian said the Left parties wanted to strengthen their presence in the Assembly to amplify the voice of workers and ordinary people. He appealed to democratic forces and voters in the two constituencies to support the Left candidates.

However, the state's transport operations were heavily overshadowed by a steep fare hike by private transport operators, drawing severe backlash from commuters and political leaders.

According to operational data for September 11 and 12, transport corporations operated a total of 4,629 scheduled and special buses. This marks an increase of 1,266 buses compared to the 3,313 vehicles deployed during the corresponding festive period in 2025.

The heaviest outbound volume originated from the Villupuram (VPM) division, which logged 2,223 bus operations over the two days -- a 39 per cent increase from 2025. Deep-south routes witnessed the sharpest proportional spikes. Deployments bound for Tirunelveli (TNV) jumped by 113 per cent, while the Madurai (MDU) sector expanded by 62 per cent year-on-year.

The Kumbakonam (KUM) division similarly scaled up by 71 per cent to meet commuter demand.

To clear the mounting crowds, STUs accelerated their real-time dispatch rates. By 2 pm on September 12, transport authorities had dispatched 2,258 buses across the state, exceeding their planned full-day target of 2,169 operations, according to official data.

Despite the amplified state operations, the festival weekend was marred by intense grumblings over exorbitant ticket pricing by private players. Ahead of the long weekend, private omni bus fares from Chennai to various parts of Tamil Nadu surged up to fourfold. Passengers reported that last-minute tickets to destinations like Madurai had spiked to as much as Rs 4,000, severely straining travelers who could not secure bookings on state buses or trains.

The surge pricing triggered swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. Opposition parties, including the PMK and BJP, slammed the steep hikes and demanded immediate government intervention to curb fare exploitation. PMK president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss publicly questioned the state's inaction, accusing the administration of allowing private operators to fleece passengers during the festive season.

In response to the growing public outcry, transport authorities initiated weekend inspections, eventually fining over 400 omni buses caught overcharging customers during the rush.

Under the grey skies of Northamtonshire in UK, two men who have spent three decades at the centre of Tamil cinema's most passionate fan rivarly walked towards each other on the tarmac.

One wore a crisp brown jacket and the other a fireproof racing suit. This was a blockbuster moment involving two men hailed as 'Thalapathy' and 'Thala' by their fans.

Within seconds, the 'Thalapathy,' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay broke into a lighthearted jog, spreading his arms wide to pull actor-racer Ajith Kumar into a warm, lingering hug. And the video of their warm embrace went viral, gladdening the hearts of their fans, often known for sparring online.

For about three decades, their names - Thalapathy (Commander) and Thala (boss)- were uttered in Tamil Nadu with the same fierce division once reserved for the legendary MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, or Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Box-office clashes sparked legendary rivalries, and online fan wars raged with relentless intensity. Yet, at the famous motor racing circuit - Silverstone - located in Northamptonshire in the UK, cameras flashed and fans chanted their monikers across the grandstands, 30 years of perceived feud dissolved into a single frame of genuine warmth.

The occasion was as unique as the reunion itself. CM Vijay is currently in the UK on an official state visit to attract foreign investment and inspect world-class sports facilities for Tamil Nadu’s proposed Motor Sports City near Chennai.

Invited as the official special guest for the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the chief minister stood on the podium to wave the ceremonial green flag for the 44-car grid. Directly on that grid was Ajith Kumar, who was competing in the LMP3 Pro/Am category under his team, Ajith RedAnt by Virage.

"I am extremely thankful to the Honourable Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, for taking time off his busy schedule to visit us at Silverstone," Ajith told reporters ahead of the race.

"We have been colleagues in the film industry for 34 years, and I am so happy for him in his new journey. We extended the invitation so he could see firsthand what infrastructure and logistics it takes to bring events like this to Chennai. My wish is to see us all race back home in India soon" he said.

The meeting marked a rare public moment for two icons whose lives have taken dramatically different, yet equally monumental, trajectories.

After dominating the box office for over thirty years with record-breaking blockbusters like Ghilli, Mersal, and Leo, Vijay stepped into full-time politics, leading his party - the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam - to a historic victory in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Ajith Kumar known for cult anti-hero classics such as Billa, Mankatha, and Tunivu, pursues his lifelong passion for professional motorsport on global endurance circuits.

Prominent Kollywood personalities including Trisha Krishnan and Radhika Sarathkumar were also spotted at the circuit, taking in the rare high-octane spectacle.

For millions of Tamil cinema fans across the globe, the viral footage of Vijay running up to hug Ajith was far more than a photo opportunity- perhaps an end to a toxic fan-culture narrative that had outlived its purpose.

Behind closed doors, both stars had long maintained a mutual respect; at Silverstone, they put that quiet friendship on full display for the world to see.

As the engines roared and the green flag waved over Silverstone, the two legends proved that while their paths may have diverged - one governing a state, the other chasing speed - the respect between Thala and Thalapathy remains unshakeable.

Coming amidst fierce criticism from political parties that the fiscal trajectory will cause severe strain on the economy, the government has also reiterated its commitment for fiscal prudence. It has formed a panel under veteran economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia to shore up an additional Rs 15,000 crore this year, amid concerns of an increasing debt burden.

Much of the 17 mega-announcements across departments made under Rule 110 in the Assembly during the 28-day budget session, which concluded on September 8, includes a transformative vision to modernise state infrastructure, secure energy independence, and deliver comprehensive agrarian relief.

The announcements are-- power sector/power transmission infrastructure scheme of Rs 33,066 crore, Thoothukudi Supercritical Thermal Power Plant at Rs 20,800 crore, Infrastructure & roads / urban infrastructure push of Rs 11,000 crore, Urban road repairs and junction modernisation of Rs 1,850 crore, new Assembly-cum-Secretariat Complex for Rs 1,200 crore, welfare and agriculture / annual schemes including free electricity to people at Rs 10,000 crore, cooperative crop loan relief expansion of Rs 953.06 crore, among others. The cumulative amount is Rs 79,219.06 crore.

It features a landmark integrated Assembly-Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam in Mylapore here and an ambitious Rs 55,628-crore power sector overhaul including a project in Chennai, over Rs 8,500 crore in continuous yearly welfare expenditures - including milk procurement price subsidies, LPG relief, and expanded MLA allowances - with the opposition party leaders warning that the unprecedented outlay risks deepening the state’s revenue deficit and pushing its existing Rs 10.98 lakh crore debt burden past critical threshold limits.

The cumulative amount may amount to a far higher sum which the state government has not officially outlined so far.

The mega sports infrastructure - the launch of a world-class Olympic City and a dedicated MotorSports City capable of hosting international racing events like Formula 1, are also embedded within the Rule 110 announcement package.

According to a senior official in the government, the announcements are split into structural capital investments and continuous operational spending-- capital and infrastructure investments (one-time outlay of Rs 57,703 crore), power and energy expansion: Rs 55,628 crore overhaul including Rs 20,800 crore for Thoothukudi Supercritical Thermal Power Station (on PPP model), Rs 33,066 crore statewide transmission modernisation, and Rs 1,762 crore urban power grid upgrades for Chennai.

The implementation of the Annapoorani Super Six free LPG scheme will entail the exchequer Rs 4,000 crore annually, alongside the 200-unit free electricity subsidy (Rs 1,730 crore annually). The government has presently announced providing three LPG cylinders.

A Rs 2,044 crore cooperative crop loan debt relief wave, paired with a Rs 720 crore annual subsidy (Rs 60 crore monthly) to absorb the Rs 3 per litre procurement price hike for Aavin milk producers without raising retail costs for consumers and the revised monthly allowance package (Rs 75,000 vehicle plus Rs 25,000 assistant allowance) per legislator across all 234 constituencies, adds Rs 28.08 crore annually to the exchequer, it was pointed out.

The government's White Paper highlighted total outstanding debt nearing Rs 10.98 lakh crore, alongside a projected fiscal deficit of Rs 1.21 lakh crore.

With roughly one-third of state revenues already dedicated to interest servicing, adding Rs 8,500 plus crore in recurring operational expenses runs the risk of expanding the revenue deficit (currently at Rs 55,775 crore).

However, the official noted that the Rs 57,703 crore infrastructure outlay will be phased over 3-5 years, preventing an immediate cash drain with short-term (0–12 months): Rs 1,500 – Rs 2,000 crore allocated for DPRs, land clearances, initial work on the Assembly complex, and early tech park developments.

The medium-term (1–3 years): Rs 15,000 - Rs 20,000 crore disbursed as project milestones are aimed for Chennai power upgrades and regional transmission lines while the long-term (3 - 5 plus years) of Rs 35,000 plus crore drawn gradually for mega-energy assets, heavily insulated by Public-Private Partnership equity structures.

Beyond infrastructure funding, the government signaled major policy shifts for the rural economy. In addition to absorbing milk procurement costs and easing cooperative debt, Vijay announced the official withdrawal of legal cases against protesting farmers and teachers.

The government also confirmed it is dropping plans for the controversial Parandur greenfield airport, refocusing agrarian strategy toward direct financial support and cooperative credit restructuring.

While the opposition criticised the recurring welfare costs and MLA packages as unnecessary strain on a debt-laden state, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam maintains that balanced capital spending and rural relief will stimulate wider economic activity and long-term tax revenues across Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK launched a sharp attack on Vijay for prioritising personal convenience in selecting the location for new Secretariat-Assembly Complex solely because of its proximity to his residence, rather than evaluating the broader administrative needs of the state.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami argued that the state treasury is already under massive financial strain and spending Rs 1,200 crore for the administrative hub at Pattinapakkam prioritised vanity and "publicity over public welfare".

Palaniswami criticised the loan waivers initially capped at Rs 50,000 for marginal farmers and later expanded up to Rs 75,000 as "scientific deception" and betrayal of trust.

Highlighting the TVK government's own White Paper on State Finances, which notes that Tamil Nadu's overall liabilities have reached an astronomical Rs 13.18 lakh crore, the former Chief Minister sharply criticised the administration for allegedly borrowing over Rs 28,000 crore within its first 100 days of taking office without attempting any fiscal consolidation.

Former Finance Minister and DMK legislator Thangam Thennarasu pointed out major flaws in the TVK's budget data noting that while annual borrowing hovered around Rs 1 lakh crore during the DMK tenure, the TVK government skyrocketed annual state borrowing to Rs 1.22 lakh crore.

The budget actually reduced capital infrastructure expenditure by Rs 3,000 crore while allowing the state's revenue deficit to widen by Rs 7,000 crore, he claimed, seeking to disprove TVK's pre-election claims regarding fiscal prudence.

He has said that despite massive pre-election hype, the budget remained completely silent on delivering core TVK campaign promises, specifically large welfare payouts targeted at women, youth, and unconditional farm loan waivers.

A source said that the state's debt-to-GSDP ratio stands at 27.01 percent significantly exceeding the economically stable benchmark of 23 percent. To keep the government operational, Finance Minister N Marie Wilson announced that the state will borrow a massive Rs 1,73,445 crore during this financial year alone.

The revenue deficit stands at Rs 55,775 crore, while the overall fiscal deficit has breached Rs 1,21,819 crore. Furthermore, Rs 78,683 crore is consumed strictly by interest payments on previous borrowings, leaving very tight margins for fresh developmental work.

The TVK government intentionally omitted massive pre-election freebies such as the Rs 2,500 monthly women's allowance and six free cylinders to prevent immediate financial collapse, an official pointed out.

However, active announcements still carry major costs - free electricity scheme of providing 200 units to domestic consumers costs the exchequer Rs 1,730 crore annually, new Assembly-Secretariat Complex binds the state to a Rs 1,200 crore capital expenditure payout, he added.

The targeted welfare schemes - allocations for the 'Annan Seer' wedding scheme of providing 8-gram gold coin and silk saree to brides along with government-funded gold rings for newborns add substantial pressure to the social welfare budget.

To counter the deflating cash reserves, the TVK government has set up an economic advisory council headed by economist Ahluwalia to aggressively raise an additional Rs 15,000 crore this year. This framework centers on plugging massive administrative leakages within Commercial Taxes, State Excise, and Stamps/Registration departments to reclaim lost revenue.

Tamil Nadu Finance Secretary M A Siddique highlighted that while the state's finances remain in a "difficult position" they have begun showing signs of recovery due to recent corrective measures. Tamil Nadu's existing overall debt cannot be reduced immediately and will continue to rise each year, he said and noted that borrowing remains unavoidable.

However, Siddique emphasised that the critical metric is making sure the rate of income growth outpaces the rate at which debt rises.

"The state's finances were in poor shape a few months ago, but thanks to aggressive policy changes, stability is returning," he said and cautioned that the underlying structural problems cannot be fixed overnight and will take at least two years to fully improve the state's financial health.

It has been proposed to generate an additional Rs 15,000 crore of fiscal space for FY27 through improved revenue mobilisation and approximately Rs 2,000 crore of this target has already been successfully secured, he added.

The retail price of Aavin milk for consumers remains unchanged. Instead, the state government will fully absorb the cost, compensating Aavin for an additional expenditure of Rs 60 crore monthly.

The Rs 79,219.06 crore announcement will place a substantial burden on Tamil Nadu's already strained state finances, particularly given the findings of the recent government White Paper. The state's revised budget estimates project a fiscal deficit of Rs 1.21 lakh crore (about 3 percent of the GSDP).

Despite all these, the TVK government which was formed in May this year, has laid out an ambitious target of achieving a 1.5 trillion dollar economy by 2036.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SCHEME & BREAKDOWN

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension:

Age group | Central share | State share | Total

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What rituals are being held ahead of the Maha Kumbabhishekam?

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

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

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

What arrangements have been made for devotees?

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

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

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

What facilities are being provided?

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

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

Why has Madurai declared a local holiday?

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

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

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

(With extra inputs from PTI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TVK fields Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama for Madurantakam, Dharapuram bypolls

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

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

When will the 2 TN bypolls be held?

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

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

When will bypolls be held for 5 other TN seats?

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

(With inputs from Bureau)

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

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

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

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

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

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