The incident occurred while dinner was being served at the observation home, which houses more than 100 juveniles below 18 years of age involved in criminal cases from across Tamil Nadu.

Following the latest escape, more than 100 police personnel, including officers from Chengalpattu Town, Chengalpattu Taluk, Palur and Padalam police stations and the Armed Reserve, rushed to the facility around midnight under the leadership of the Chengalpattu district superintendent of police.

The police rescued the security personnel and kitchen worker who had been locked inside the room and conducted an inquiry. Additional security arrangements were subsequently made around the facility.

A special police team was formed to trace the 11 juveniles. One of them was found hiding near Chengalpattu railway station and apprehended. He was brought in for questioning, while efforts were under way to trace the remaining juveniles.

The Government Special Observation Home, which has been functioning since the British era, provides education and vocational training to juveniles as part of rehabilitation efforts. However, incidents of inmates attacking security personnel and escaping have reportedly increased in recent months, with more than five such incidents reported in the past eight months.

The police identified the deceased as Surya (15), son of Murugesan from Mangalamedu. Surya was studying Class 10 in a private school in the locality.

According to the police, Murugesan was working at a farm owned by one Abudagir in the locality. Murugesan was staying on the farm along with his son and was working, the police noted.

On Saturday, Murugesan, along with his son Surya, sprinkled pesticides on the crops on the farm where he was working. When they both went inside the farm, the police said, Surya stepped onto the snapped live electric line, and he was electrocuted.

The electric line had fallen on the field following strong winds and heavy rain in the region during the previous night, the police said.

Based on the information, Arumbavur police rushed to the spot and retrieved Surya's body after suspending the power supply. The police sent the boy's body to Perambalur Government Hospital. The police have registered a case and are investigating further.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur, Chezhiaan said that the practice of selecting the best local body administrations and having the Chief Minister present the awards to their heads had been followed to encourage better performance. “But now, the TVK government has opted to hand over the awards to higher officials of the department, who are expected to distribute them to the respective local body heads. This is against democracy,” he charged.

He said people of the State, who had witnessed democracy being upheld during Assembly proceedings, were now being forced to witness those who had no knowledge of democracy and failed to conduct themselves with dignity on the Assembly floor.

Calling the 100-day TVK government “a reel and not a real one”, Chezhiaan alleged that ministers and party functionaries were more focused on recording videos during their visits and posting them on social media than addressing public welfare issues.

He also demanded that the government stop collecting Rs 20 per bottle at Tasmac outlets and ensure corruption-free governance.

Chezhiaan also condemned the politicisation of Kanimozhi’s participation in the high tea hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying there was no hidden agenda behind it.

S Lokesh (17) and E Jayakumar (19), both from Karlampakkam village, had halted on the highway around 4.30 pm while returning from Puttur on their bike. Initial probe said the duo was shooting videos for social media when a luxury car bearing Maharashtra registration number, travelling towards Chennai from Bengaluru, struck them.

The driver, identified as Henry Isaac (55) of Telangana, fled the scene and remains absconding. The victims sustained fatal head and body injuries and died at the scene. Passersby alerted the Pallipattu police, who recovered the bodies and sent them to Tiruttani Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

The police launched a search to trace the driver and are examining CCTV footage.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution stating that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be the first song at government functions. However, an earlier circular issued by HC Registrar General Deepthi Arivunithi had directed the Principal Bench, Madurai Bench, subordinate courts in TN and Puducherry, and judicial training centres to sing Vande Mataram before the national flag was unfurled, followed by the national anthem after the flag hoisting. The circular said the directions were issued in accordance with the Union government’s instructions.

Against this backdrop, a fresh circular issued by the Registrar General stated that Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be sung first at the I-Day celebrations, followed by Vande Mataram and the unfurling of the national flag. The national anthem would be sung after the flag was unfurled, it said.

Accordingly, the I-Day celebrations at the HC began at 10 am with Tamil Thai Vazhthu. Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari unfurled the national flag, and subsequently received the ceremonial salute from CISF personnel deployed for security at the HC and the police band.

State Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar, DGP Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj, Advocate General Vijay Narayan, State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan, Madras HC Advocates’ Association president RC Paul Kanagaraj, Madras Bar Association president VR Kamalanathan, Bar Council members PS Amalraj and M Velmurugan, Registrar General Deepthi Arivunithi, other Registrars, court staff and several others attended the event.

Health Minister Arunraj said Nainar Nagenthran was making defamatory remarks against the Chief Minister merely to gain publicity after failing to draw public attention. "Unable to attract people's attention, he is making defamatory remarks against the Chief Minister only for publicity," he said.

School Education Rajmohan said Nainar should speak with the dignity expected of a state BJP president. Calling his remarks indecent and defamatory, he said, "Nainar Nagenthran is speaking like a street-corner speaker rather than a leader."

He also questioned the political equations between the BJP and DMK, saying that statements by leaders of both parties were raising doubts about a possible understanding between them.

Vanni Arasu described Nainar's remarks about Vijay and his mother as objectionable and disgusting and demanded an apology. "Nainar Nagenthran should apologise for his indecent remarks against Chief Minister Vijay and his mother," he said, adding that hatred and defamatory remarks against women appeared to be central to the politics espoused by them.

Vanni Arasu also referred to Nainar's earlier controversial remarks about actor Trisha, saying it was another instance of the BJP leader lowering the level of political discourse.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation general secretary K Arumuga Nainar said the transport undertakings carried nearly two crore passengers daily and required adequately trained permanent staff to ensure safe travel.

He alleged that the previous DMK government had failed to fill vacancies and instead engaged contract workers. CITU challenged the system in the Madras High Court, arguing that contractual appointments denied reservation and compromised social justice and passenger safety. The case is now pending in the Supreme Court, he said.

Nainar said CITU had expected the TVK government to reverse the policy but alleged that it had instead floated a tender to engage conductors through SS Enterprises, an Uttar Pradesh-based company. "While lakhs of Tamil Nadu youth are waiting for jobs, outsourcing conductor posts to a company from Uttar Pradesh is highly objectionable," he said.

CITU demanded immediate filling of all vacancies and cancellation of the tender issued to the Uttar Pradesh company.

Unfurling the tri-colour at the airport in view of the 80th Independence Day, director Gopalakrishnan said the new integrated terminal building with a world-class gateway to the region has led to remarkable growth and transformation.

The facility connects the airport with major domestic destinations like Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad and international destinations like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat and Jaffna. “This connectivity strengthens Tiruchy’s role as a gateway for Central Tamil Nadu and beyond," he said.

Similarly, cargo handling has also increased from 6,4784 MT to 7,184 MT this year, recording a growth rate of 11 per cent, and revenue increased by 9.55%

Stating that the airport had witnessed increased passenger flow compared to the previous fiscal year, Gopalakrishnan said it handled 2.22 million international passengers, recording a growth rate of 13.4 per cent, while the domestic traffic witnessed 48.3 per cent growth. Similarly, cargo handling has also increased from 6,4784 MT to 7,184 MT this year, recording a growth rate of 11 per cent, and revenue increased by 9.55 per cent.

“Tiruchy air cargo handles mainly local agricultural products and manufactured goods to Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Doha, Sharjah and Muscat. Now, we have the approval of domestic cargo movement through the passenger terminal, which would enhance the quantity of cargo handling," he said.

As part of augmented infrastructure development, Tiruchy airport will get a new ATC Tower cum Technical Block and Utility/Service Block for Rs 60.75 crore by 31 December 2026, while Apron and Taxi track drainage works are currently in progress at Rs 9.22 crore and the construction of a new precast boundary wall has also commenced, for Rs 17.52 crore.

Meanwhile, for the runway expansion, 487.35 acres of land have been acquired, and more than 99 per cent of the land acquisition has been completed. To ensure security, the airport has installed hydraulic road blockers and tyre killers at Rs 72.27 Lakh, added Gopalakrishnan.

The FOMRRA said the absence of lighting had turned the stretches into dark spots, leading to concerns over late-night vehicle parking, public drinking and alleged drug-related activities, posing a safety risk to residents and commuters.

In a letter to the authorities, the residents' body pointed out that hundreds of streetlight poles removed from the OMR median during Chennai Metro Rail construction were lying abandoned near the Perungudi TNRDC toll gate. It said the poles were rusting in a vacant space, resulting in a waste of public resources.

Harsha Koda, co-founder of FOMRRA, said the existing poles could be shifted to the bypasses, which also fall under TNRDC's jurisdiction, instead of spending heavily on new infrastructure.

"Installing streetlights on these bypasses is critical. However, we do not need to spend huge amounts of taxpayer money on new poles when perfectly good infrastructure is rusting just a few kilometres away," Koda said.

He said transferring the poles would reduce capital expenditure, while local panchayats or the Kancheepuram district administration would only need to provide funds for cabling and light fixtures.

"Repurposing these streetlights is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate efficient asset use while immediately eliminating dark spots," he said.

FOMRRA has sought immediate interdepartmental intervention to expedite the shifting and installation of the streetlights.

The audit also noted that the Railway Ministry had not explained why underutilisation remained above 35 per cent even during non-COVID-19 years.

While the total underutilisation for all of Indian Railways in 2023-24 was Rs 5,955.83 crore, Southern Railway's was Rs 582.77 crore. Meanwhile, despite handling crores of passengers, some of Tamil Nadu's busiest railway stations continued to have gaps in basic passenger amenities, sanitation and accessibility.

Of 365 works for which the CAG could assess timelines, only 148 (41 per cent) were completed within the stipulated time frame, while 217 (59 per cent) were delayed. Twenty-nine of the delayed works had run more than three years beyond their targeted completion dates.

The CAG audit covered non-suburban railway stations across Indian Railways and examined passenger amenities, sanitation, drinking-water quality and the systems used to monitor and maintain them. Southern Railway's sample included 32 stations, of which 21 were in Tamil Nadu.

At MGR Central, which handled 2.81 crore passengers and earned Rs 1,131.49 crore in 2023-24, the audit found deficiencies in drinking-water taps and platform shelters meant for general-class passengers. The station was among the 10 highest-earning stations examined by the CAG that nevertheless had shortfalls in basic essential amenities.

The audit also identified deficiencies in basic facilities at several other major stations in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai Egmore, Tambaram, Katpadi, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirappalli and Tirunelveli. At Egmore and Tambaram, for instance, deficiencies were recorded in facilities such as urinals, fans, signage, drinking-water taps and dustbins.

At Coimbatore junction, the findings were more serious. A water sample collected from a water cooler tested positive for E. coli. The station was also found deficient in drinking-water taps and fans. The broader picture for Southern Railway was also poor: its drinking-water deficiency score was 76.90, the second-highest among the 16 zones, with a higher score indicating greater deficiencies.

Accessibility was another area where the audit found shortcomings. A tactile pathway intended to help passengers with visual disabilities had been laid near the platform edge, rather than maintaining the prescribed 1,800 mm distance from the edge.

Some smaller stations also faced basic problems. At Nagapattinam, Katpadi, Nagore and Nidamangalam, charges for the pay-and-use facility were not displayed at the toilet premises. At Nidamangalam, auditors also found an unauthorised entry from the platform into a dwelling unit.

The monitoring mechanism itself came under scrutiny.

The Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committees in the Chennai, Madurai, Salem and Tiruchy divisions did not meet as frequently as prescribed during the audit period. The audit also found a larger Southern Railway-wide maintenance issue involving CSR-funded toilets. Between 2020 and 2023, 187 prefabricated toilets were installed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh each, but 79 remained non-operational because service providers were not available for operation and maintenance. As a result, Rs 19.75 crore invested by Neyveli Lignite Corporation remained unutilised as of February 2025.

The boycotting residents said that the bifurcation of Puthanatham panchayat into Puthanatham and Idayapatti panchayats would affect the farming activities at Puthanatham and the textile production, adversely affecting the livelihood of Idayapatti panchayat residents.

Highlighting that they had opposed the move of bifurcation ever since the decision was made and organised a series of protests, they said the government failed to pay heed to their appeals and went ahead with the bifurcation process, succeeding in establishing Idayapatti panchayat.

In such a backdrop, the residents from as many as 18 villages in the Idayapatti panchayat, in a protest, boycotted the gram sabha meeting scheduled on Saturday in view of Independence Day.

They displayed hoardings condemning the government and demanding the withdrawal of the bifurcation of the panchayat. As many villagers boycotted the meeting, the officials were waiting for the residents. Later, as many as 15 persons took part in the meeting, whom the protesting residents claimed were outsiders. The residents also claimed that the participants were brought by the officials to the meeting. They also said that they would intensify their protests if the government fails to withdraw the bifurcation of the panchayat.

The federation has asked Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to increase funding for elderly welfare, citing the rapid ageing of Tamil Nadu’s population.

The federation said that Tamil Nadu had about 1.04 crore senior citizens in 2021, accounting for 13.6% of the population, and projected that the elderly population could rise to around 1.5 crore (18.2%) by 2031. It said the demographic shift could make Tamil Nadu the country’s second-highest state in terms of the proportion of elderly residents.

The organisation called for legislation to constitute a Tamil Nadu Senior Citizens Commission to implement and revise the State Policy on Senior Citizens, 2023. A draft framework prepared following an April 2025 consultation proposes a chairperson and up to nine members.

The chairperson could be a retired judge, IAS or IPS officer, or a former vice-chancellor. Five members would represent senior citizens’ associations and two NGOs, while representation is also proposed for women and Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities, the federation noted.

Pointing out that financial insecurity remained a major concern, the federation proposed increasing the old-age pension to Rs 3,000 a month and extending social-security pension coverage to 75% of elderly residents. It sought Rs 28,080 crore annually for pensions and another Rs 3,120 crore for healthcare and care infrastructure, including palliative care, medicines, shelters, old-age homes, recreation centres and medical clinics.

The document noted that only 14.18 lakh elderly were covered under the old-age pension safety net against an elderly population of 1.04 crore, while monthly assistance under various schemes ranged between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. It also said only over 4.51 lakh registered unorganised workers received pensions.

Speaking to DT Next, V Rama Rao, president of the federation, said, “The DMK government agreed to form a commission, but since the government has changed, we have placed a similar request to the TVK government. With Kerala already having formed a commission, it’s the need of the hour for Tamil Nadu to step in.”

Under the proposed commission, the federation aspires for a dedicated grievance cell to operate on weekdays, while the body could investigate complaints of abuse, neglect and rights violations, inspect elderly-care institutions, coordinate government departments and provide legal assistance. It would also have civil-court-like powers to summon individuals, seek documents, receive affidavits and requisition public records.

Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj condemned the alleged release and said his organisation, Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha, will lay siege to the KRS dam in the next two days.

The release follows the Cauvery Water Management Authority's direction to Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, according to BJP Mandya unit spokesperson Manjunath.

"The water was released from KRS around midnight. The water level in the Cauvery river has increased following the release," Manjunath told the media.

This is happening despite the state government's earlier position that it would not release water to Tamil Nadu amid concerns over availability for farmers and drinking-water requirements, Manjunath alleged. He also shared the latest video of the water being released from the dam.

Echoing the allegation, Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj claimed that the government has been secretly releasing water.

"There is nothing new about it. They (government) are releasing water compulsorily. They released it earlier, saying that it was released from Kabini. They very cleverly released it from the beginning," Nagaraj said.

He also alleged that there was an understanding between the Karnataka Chief Minister and his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C Vijay Joseph.

Nagaraj charged that whenever he sought details of the water inflow and outflow, the government refused to share it, saying it was highly technical.

"This is not right. There should now be a high-level investigation into this," Nagaraj said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy dismissed allegations that the state government had released Cauvery water from the KRS to Tamil Nadu.

He said, "We are supposed to release water to Tamil Nadu from June itself. But we did not release water in June or July." He explained that when there was an order to release 3,500 cusecs, the actual outflow was higher.

Sudha Kongara moved the Madras High Court seeking payment of the balance remuneration of Rs 8.39 crore, along with 12 per cent interest from February 8, 2026. She also sought the amount as security pending the passing of an arbitral award.

She further submitted that despite not paying her remuneration, Dawn Pictures was proceeding with the release of its upcoming film Idhayam Murali, and sought to restrain its release until the outstanding amount was paid.

The court, however, refused to grant an interim injunction restraining the release of the film and directed Sudha Kongara and Dawn Pictures to resolve their monetary dispute through arbitration.

When the matter came up before Justice K Kumaresh Babu, the court noted that two arbitrators appointed by it had recused themselves. While the first cited mistrust from the respondent, the second cited personal reasons and unavailability, clarifying that his recusal was not due to doubts over his independence or impartiality.

Observing that the successive recusals had left the applicants without any interim protection, the judge kept the arbitrator's appointment in abeyance and recalled the July 10 order closing the applications. The court also noted Dawn Pictures Private Limited's continued absence during the hearings.

The Court directed Dawn Pictures Private Limited to furnish security of Rs 8.39 crore within four weeks, failing which the revenue from its future films would stand attached.

Meanwhile, the TVK government’s decision to rename the previous DMK administration’s flagship, Anbucholai Senior Citizens’ Day-Care Centres, as ‘Senior Citizens Recreation Centres’ has also drawn criticism from organisations that are involved in running the facilities, with some alleging that funding for the programme has remained pending since March.

An NGO representative in Chennai said, “Changing the name would mean little unless the government has also ensured adequate and timely financial support for its continued functioning. The centres also need resources to provide food and essential services to senior citizens.”

Questioning the need for renaming a programme without first resolving the operational and funding problems faced by the centre, the organisations in Tamil Nadu pointed out that the more immediate concern was lack of funding.

According to an NGO, Anbucholai (grove of love and care) had become a simple and familiar name among elderly beneficiaries. Organisations argued that the new name was cumbersome and failed to reflect the identity the programme had built among its users.

The Anbucholai initiative was introduced by the DMK government as a daytime care and engagement programme for senior citizens. In the first phase, 25 centres in 13 districts were intended to provide elderly people with a safe social environment, meals, recreation and opportunities for interaction, particularly helping those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

These centres have not received funding since March, including a recurring monthly allocation of Rs 43,500. As a result, NGOs operating the centres have been forced to meet expenses from their own resources.

“NGOs are using personal funds, borrowing money and even relying on credit cards to continue providing daily meals to elderly beneficiaries. NGOs were also bearing expenditure towards building rent, electricity and water bills, as well as salaries for employees,” said a staff member of an NGO in Chennai.

Organisations also stressed the emotional significance of the original programme for its elderly beneficiaries, saying the centres had helped many overcome isolation and improve their psychological and physical well-being. “For over a month, members of other NGOs operating in the State have been trying to reach Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister K Jegadeshwari, but have been unable to reach her or get the issue resolved through the department officials,” said an NGO member in Thoothukudi.

Department officials did not respond when contacted.

Speaking to DT Next, a senior woman leader said the remarks had placed the party in an uncomfortable position. "Political criticism is part of public life, but bringing the Chief Minister's mother into it was completely avoidable. We cannot defend such remarks before the people," she said.

Another senior leader said Nainar's comments could not be dismissed as an inadvertent slip, citing his earlier controversial remarks involving actor Trisha and Vijay. "This is not a mistake or a slip of the tongue. It was a carefully worded statement. Earlier, he made derogatory remarks involving Trisha and Vijay. At that time, Vijay was an actor and a political party leader. Today, he is the Chief Minister, and Nainar has also dragged his mother into the attack. This is shocking. We have decided to take up the matter with the central high command," the leader said, requesting anonymity.

A second leader alleged that the controversy had erupted at a sensitive time for Nainar, amid discussions within the BJP over a possible change in the state leadership. "The high command is already considering replacing Nainar as state president. At this stage, he has created another controversy around himself, apparently for political mileage within and outside the party. He is unfit to lead the BJP in Tamil Nadu," the leader alleged.

Seeking to downplay the controversy, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said his remarks made at the launch of the ‘Ore Naadu 2.0’ magazine had been twisted and misrepresented for political gain. “I want to make it clear that I did not refer to anyone with any ulterior motive. I am a person who has deep concern and affection for one’s mother, motherland and mother tongue,” he said.

The move appeases both the present ally, Congress, and the potential ally, PMK.

Krishnasamy received the award, with his daughter clapping from the gallery. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a certificate. He received the award from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay during the Independence Day celebrations at Fort St George. As her father received the honour, Sowmya stood up and gave him a standing ovation.

Krishnasamy, a veteran Congress leader, became the first recipient of the award under the TVK-led government. His son Vishnuprasad is the incumbent MP from Cuddalore.

The award also assumed significance for the Congress, as the honour was instituted during the previous DMK regime, with veteran leaders of the CPM and CPI among the first recipients. Krishnaswamy was chosen for the award after PMK founder S Ramadoss turned down the honour.

The development has generated political interest amid indications of growing proximity between the TVK-led government and the PMK, which has four MLAs in the Assembly. Krishnaswamy's daughter, Sowmya, is married to PMK president Anbumani, the son of party founder S Ramadoss.

Earlier, Sowmya had sought a separate room for the PMK in the Assembly complex. The Assembly Secretariat promptly sanctioned a room following her request.

The room allocation had already drawn political attention. The honour bestowed upon her father at the Independence Day celebrations added another notable moment for the PMK floor leader and her family, fuelling speculation about the evolving political equations between the TVK and the PMK.

In a video message posted on his WhatsApp group on Independence Day, Udhayakumar said that if the AIADMK faced an alleged "invasion" by TVK, cadres would fight back. He warned that it would be difficult to predict whether Vijay would remain alive to hoist the national flag on Independence Day in future.

Invoking the legacy of former AIADMK leaders MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Udhayakumar said loyal cadres would sacrifice their lives to protect the party. He called TVK's attempts to induct AIADMK functionaries the "height of abuse of power".

He accused Vijay of using social media, paid influencers, and content creators to build a "false image", while criticising the government over its alleged failure to implement election promises. Udhayakumar urged Vijay to focus instead on poverty eradication, employment generation, industrial and agricultural development, and Tamil Nadu's claims over the Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar rivers and Katchatheevu.

Recently, Udhayakumar triggered controversy by asking when actor Trisha would be appointed Deputy Chief Minister. "Tamil Nadu awaits to see when Vijay's 'beloved' Trisha will be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister," he said at a Jayalalithaa Peravai meeting in Thoothukudi on August 8.

Officials have denied that the decision has anything to do with civic bodies being dominated by DMK and AIADMK leaders, even though such speculation is rife.

The best-performing urban local bodies are recognised with cash awards under the Chief Minister's Awards for Best Performing Local Bodies. Though the TVK-led government continued the practice of honouring the best-performing local bodies after assuming office, the elected representatives did not receive the awards in person this year. An official from the Secretariat said the decision was not politically motivated.

"The government had issued a circular regarding the Independence Day celebrations at local bodies. As per the circular, all local body representatives were required to remain in their respective local bodies and were therefore unable to travel to Chennai to receive the awards from the Chief Minister. There was nothing behind this for political reasons," the official said.

This year, Zones 2 and 6 of the Greater Chennai Corporation were selected for the Chief Minister's Award. Coimbatore and Thanjavur were selected in the Best Corporation category.

Bodinayakanur in Theni district, Arani in Tiruvannamalai district and Villupuram were selected in the Best Municipality category. Thiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur, Karungal in Kanyakumari and Chettipalayam in Coimbatore were selected in the Best Town Panchayat category.

Most of the elected local body representatives are from the DMK. During the previous DMK regime, elected local body representatives had received the awards from the Chief Minister. However, following the change in government, officials from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department received the awards from the Chief Minister rather than from the elected representatives.

The change in the award presentation process also resulted in the Independence Day programme concluding 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled time of 9.30 am, officials said.

Under the Chief Minister's Best Practices Award, Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru was honoured for initiating an integrated approach to addressing childhood stunting in the Nilgiris. However, she did not receive the award in person as she was attending the Independence Day celebrations in her district.

S Satheesh Prabhu, team head of housekeeping at Chennai Metro Rail, and M Geethajalai, Dean of Coimbatore Medical College, who was involved in the production of lightweight artificial limbs, also received awards from the Chief Minister.

He joined the party in the presence of party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Why was Arun Kumar's nomination rejected?

The nomination of Arun Kumar for the Edappadi assembly constituency in Salem district was rejected during scrutiny on April 7.

Election officials cited several discrepancies in his nominations, including an insufficient number of proposers and subsequently rejected the application.

The issue has triggered a political controversy, with ruling TVK ministers demanding an apology and a lawyer seeking police action against the BJP leader.

Speaking at Kamalalayam, the BJP's state headquarters, after relaunching the party mouthpiece 'Ore Naadu 2.0', Nainar Nagenthran apparently criticised Vijay's veiled remarks in the Assembly, which appeared to be directed at DMK president and former chief minister MK Stalin.

"If you go to the Assembly and ask, 'Where is appa? How would you know? You have to go home and ask your mother; only then will she tell you who your father is. If you search for your father in the Assembly, who would know?" Nainar said.

Nainar's remarks, however, drew sharp condemnation from TVK ministers and party functionaries, who accused him of making an objectionable reference to the Chief Minister's family and demanded that he apologise.

Meanwhile, a lawyer has petitioned the DGP to register a case against Nainar over his remarks.

Nainar had earlier faced criticism over similar remarks concerning actor Trisha and subsequently expressed regret. On this occasion, Nainar claims that he hasn't specifically referred to anyone and added that he has no ulterior motive in making those comments.

Earlier in the day, around 300 youngsters joined the BJP at Kamalalayam in Nainar's presence. He also hoisted the national flag at the party headquarters to mark India's 80th Independence Day.

The remarks, which Nagenthran presented as a response to Vijay's “kutti kathai” (short story) criticising DMK president MK Stalin, drew condemnation from political parties. A complaint was later filed at the Chennai DGP office over Nagenthran's remarks.

Speaking at a party event at Kamalalayam, the BJP state headquarters here, Nagenthran mockingly remarked, “When people search for a father in the house and cannot find him, they should ask the mother at home to know who the father is.” The remarks sparked widespread backlash, with several leaders condemning them as derogatory and disrespectful.

Vijay had narrated a “kutti story” in the Assembly following the DMK's defeat in the April 2026 Assembly election, referring humorously to the whereabouts of the opposition leader's “father” in an apparent allusion to Stalin's electoral defeat in the Kolathur Assembly constituency. Several political parties, including the DMK, had criticised Vijay's remarks.

Complaint filed at DGP office over Nainar's 'reply' to TN CM Vijay's remarks

According to Daily Thanthi, lawyer Varthini has filed an online complaint against Nainar Nagenthran at the Chennai DGP office, alleging that his remarks about Chief Minister Vijay and his mother were defamatory.

The complaint said that while political criticism was acceptable, personally humiliating a family member was a matter of concern, and alleged that Nagenthran's remarks were slanderous and hurtful to her as a woman and mother.

Nainar previously too made controversial remarks about Vijay

In February 2026, Nainar Nagendran faced widespread backlash for making a personal remark involving actor Trisha Krishnan while criticising Vijay. Trisha later condemned the comment through her legal counsel, stating she was politically neutral and demanded that personal lives be kept out of political discourse, leading to the State BJP chief tendering an apology.

Rajmohan, Vanni Arasu, Manickam Tagore condemn Nainar's remarks on CM Vijay

Minister Rajmohan strongly condemned the BJP state chief's remarks, calling them “uncivilised and inappropriate” for a political leader. He said Vijay had taught his colleagues to engage in civilised politics regardless of provocations or personal attacks.

Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu condemned Nagenthran's remarks about Chief Minister Vijay and his family, describing them as “extremely disrespectful and indecent” and deserving of strong condemnation. He also said Nagenthran had made low-standard remarks about an actress even before this.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore said Nagenthran's "politically uncivilised remarks" had become a regular occurrence and demanded that he immediately and unconditionally apologise to the people of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Minister for his remarks.

Annamalai too slams Nainar over remarks on CM Vijay

Former BJP president K Annamalai also condemned Nagenthran's remarks, saying he had crossed the boundaries of political decorum and civility.

Annamalai said political disagreements and questioning the government's actions were part of democratic discourse, but personal attacks against a leader's family, particularly their mother, were unacceptable and represented a regressive, “third-rate” form of politics that should not be encouraged among the younger generation.

(With inputs from PTI)

At the Independence Day gram sabha meeting held at a government school in Eganapuram on Saturday, villagers unanimously passed the resolution expressing their gratitude to the government and the CM for stopping the airport project.

The state government, however, has not made any official announcement on the future of the proposed airport.

They also passed another resolution seeking to rename the main road in Eganapuram as Thalapathy Vijay Road as a mark of appreciation. The resolution has been forwarded to the government through the Kancheepuram district administration.

The proposed airport was announced in 2022 and was planned across nearly 5,000 acres covering 13 villages, including Valathur, Nelvai, Thandal, Melpadavur, Nagapattu, Eganapuram, Edayarpakkam, Akkammapuram, Gunakarambakkam, Singilipadi and Mahadevimangalam. Residents of Eganapuram and other villages had been opposing the project for more than 3 years, citing concerns over loss of homes, agricultural land and livelihoods.

Why did Ekanapuram villagers oppose the Parandur airport project?

They had repeatedly raised their objections at gram sabha meetings. So far, resolutions opposing the project have been passed 16 times, while residents have also boycotted gram sabha meetings on seven occasions.

Meanwhile, before he became CM, party leader Vijay had visited Parandur and met residents protesting the project, and had assured them that the project would be scrapped if he became Chief Minister.

Following the formation of the new government, work related to the proposed airport was stopped. The State government is said to have taken a policy decision to put the project on hold.

Welcoming the development, Eganapuram residents thanked CM Vijay and the government through the gram sabha resolution and also sought the renaming of their village’s main road after him.

What is the status of the proposed Parandur airport project?

In a recent development, on July 30, the district revenue officer in charge of land acquisition for the airport was transferred without making any replacement appointment, leaving the post vacant, which raised the question whether the TVK government is stepping back from further land acquisition for the proposed airport.

In their election manifesto, the TVK had promised to drop the proposed Parandur airport project. However, after assuming the office, the government has not made any official announcement on the future of the project.

• The financial assistance provided for the marriage of two daughters of ex-servicemen will be doubled from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.

• The monthly financial assistance for persons with disabilities among ex-servicemen and their family members will be increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

• The monthly pension provided by the State Government to freedom fighters will be increased to Rs 23,000

• The monthly family pension for the families of freedom fighters will be increased to Rs 12,500.

• The monthly special pension for the descendants of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Muthuramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi, the Maruthu Brothers and VO Chidambaranar will be increased to Rs 11,500.

The awards were presented by Chief Minister Vijay as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the ramparts of Fort St George, where he also hoisted the national flag and delivered his maiden Independence Day address as Chief Minister.

Municipalities receive awards

Among municipalities, Bodinayakanur in Theni district secured the first prize. Arani in Tiruvannamalai district received the second prize, while Villupuram bagged the third prize. Chief Minister Vijay presented the awards during the ceremony, which was attended by senior government officials, police personnel and other dignitaries.

Vijay hoists national flag

Earlier, Vijay arrived at the Fort St George ramparts and received the guard of honour from the Tamil Nadu Police before hoisting the Tricolour. He subsequently paid his respects and delivered his maiden Independence Day address. The celebrations marked the first Independence Day observed under the newly formed TVK government. The State-level ceremony featured the traditional flag-hoisting, guard of honour and presentation of awards to the best-performing local bodies.

Gajalakshmi, in a letter dated Aug 14, said the FSSAI's southern regional office had informed the department that the prohibition order issued on August 11 against the 11 brands had been revoked with immediate effect.

The FSSAI said the order was revoked under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. However, its latest communication did not specify the reasons for withdrawing the prohibition order.

The development came after TASMAC had on August 13 directed its senior regional managers, district managers and depot managers to stop transferring the 11 brands from depots to retail outlets. It had also stopped their sale to FL2 and FL3 licence holders and instructed retail outlets not to sell the products until further orders.

The action followed an FSSAI inspection at Enrica Enterprises' licensed premises in Poonamallee, Tiruvallur district. Its prohibition order had cited the presence of nature-identical and artificial flavouring substances in the products.

THE U-TURN

Aug 11: FSSAI issues prohibition order 
Aug 12: Prohibition & Excise commissioner issues order to TASMAC 
Aug 13: TASMAC halts movement and sale 
Aug 14: FSSAI revokes prohibition order 
Aug 14: Commissioner asks TASMAC to withdraw ban

After hoisting the National Flag, Vijay outlined the achievements of the TVK-led government during its first three months in office and listed its priorities for the coming years.

“Freedom from corruption and bribery is equal to independence. The TVK-led government is working towards achieving this goal. The government is being administered on the principles of transparency, corruption-free governance, a drug-free Tamil Nadu, women’s safety and social justice,” he said.

Vijay asserted that there would be no compromise on public life and people’s welfare, which he described as the government’s priority.

On the State’s relationship with the Union government, he said Tamil Nadu would coordinate with the Centre on administrative matters. However, the State government would oppose any policy decision that went against Tamil Nadu’s interests.

Listing the initiatives implemented during the past three months, Vijay said his government had continued several people-centric schemes introduced by previous regimes, including Amma Unavagam and the Breakfast Scheme.

Appealing to the people to continue supporting his government, Vijay said, “The Chief Minister is the representative of eight crore people. I and my Cabinet colleagues are servants of the people. Let us overcome the plots and forces working against the government.”

He thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for rejecting caste and religious considerations, money and muscle power and giving the government an overwhelming mandate to establish a people-centric government committed to social justice.

Vijay also announced an increase in the monthly pension and family pension for former armed forces personnel and freedom fighters.

Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar, Ministers including D Anand and K A Sengottaiyan, Vijay’s parents S A Chandrasekar and Shoba, and actress Trisha were among those who witnessed the event.

The Chief Minister later conferred awards on recipients in various categories. The Thagai Saal Tamilar Award was presented to M Krishnaswamy, former Tamil Nadu Congress president and father of PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani. The APJ Abdul Kalam Award was presented to eminent diabetologist V Mohan.

Other awards, including the Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring and the Chief Minister’s Best Practices Award, were also presented.

Addressing the gathering from the ramparts of Fort St George after hoisting the national flag, Vijay said the government would work with the Centre only on administrative matters concerning the welfare of Tamil Nadu.

Highlights of CM Vijay’s Independence Day speech

State rights: The TVK government will oppose anything that goes against Tamil Nadu’s interests or affects the state’s rights.

Tribute to freedom fighters: Vijay paid homage to freedom fighters and heroes who sacrificed their lives and played a role in securing India’s independence.

True freedom: He said true freedom would emerge when people united against oppression, breaking barriers of caste, religion, language and race.

Corruption-free Tamil Nadu: The government is working towards a Tamil Nadu free of bribery and corruption, with transparent, truthful and honest governance as its objective.

Welfare schemes: The Amma Unavagam and breakfast schemes are being further strengthened and expanded, Vijay said.

TASMAC outlets: As many as 717 TASMAC shops have been closed, while computerised administration is being implemented.

Farmers: Funds have been provided for crop-loan waivers and the kuruvai cultivation package.

Centre-state ties: The state will cooperate with the Centre on administrative matters only when it benefits the people of Tamil Nadu.

Government revenue: Steps have been taken to prevent government revenue from reaching individuals and to curb bribery and corruption.

Law and order: The law-and-order situation in Tamil Nadu is being closely monitored, he said.

People-friendly administration: Government officials have been instructed not to make people who approach government offices run from pillar to post and to treat them with dignity and courtesy.

Model state: Vijay said the government would work to transform Tamil Nadu into a model state and raise it to a level comparable with developed countries globally.

Earlier, Vijay arrived at Fort St George after leaving his Neelankarai residence around 8 am. He received the ceremonial guard of honour and inspected the police parade in an open jeep before proceeding to the Fort ramparts.

He hoisted the Tricolour at around 8.45 am, marking his first Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Amuthan (19), a third-year student of Hindusthan College of Engineering, was allegedly attacked and killed by a group of more than 20 persons on August 10.

Speaking to reporters at a press meet organised by Evidence, a Madurai-based human rights NGO, Amuthan’s mother Sumathi said the college administration had questioned her son about the alleged use of marijuana among students after sending his parents out of the room. “They sent us out and obtained a written statement from Amuthan,” she said.

Evidence Executive Director A Kathir, who met the family as part of a fact-finding exercise, demanded that the police investigate the list.

“The list is now with the police. The police should investigate the matter based on the list,” Kathir said. He also alleged that one member of the four-member college administration team that questioned Amuthan had disclosed the list outside the college.

He therefore demanded that the police investigate the alleged involvement of the college administration in the case.

The latest development directly questions the police version that the murder was due to enmity between juniors and seniors.

The college administration allegedly obtained a written statement from the victim exposing the narcotics network

Justice V Lakshminarayanan permitted the Coimbatore city BJP to conduct a "Tricolour Flag Yatra" on August 18 from 4 pm to 7 pm after the party agreed to hold the rally at an alternative location suggested by the State.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the Coimbatore city BJP district president challenging the State's refusal to permit the yatra as part of Independence Day celebrations. The BJP submitted that the proposed event was a peaceful patriotic programme intended to promote national pride, respect for the National flag and honour the sacrifices of freedom fighters and armed forces personnel.

Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani told the court that the police were not opposed to the rally but had objected to the proposed route as it was a crowded area. The rally could inconvenience the public and create law-and-order issues, he said.

The APP submitted that permission would be granted if the party conducted the rally along routes specified in the Government Order issued in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for public gatherings.

Questioning the decision to deny permission on law and order grounds, the court orally observed that if people wanted to respect the National flag, the police should permit them and even join them rather than obstructing the rally.

The court recalled that Coimbatore was associated with freedom fighter Tiruppur Kumaran, who died holding the Indian flag while protesting against British rule. It said it was unfortunate to deny permission to carry the National flag in Coimbatore and stressed that everyone, irrespective of political affiliations, should be proud of the National flag.

The court also questioned whether political parties such as the DK and BJP should be prevented from carrying flags while only the TVK was allowed to conduct rallies. It wondered what law-and-order issue would arise if people wanted to carry the National flag.

The APP subsequently explained the SOP framed by the High Court for conducting public meetings and said the State had identified an alternative venue due to law and order concerns.

Following the court's direction, the petitioner agreed to conduct the rally at the alternative venue proposed by the State.

Taking note of the agreement, the court closed the petition and observed that the police should not make citizens approach the court merely to pay homage to the country and its flag. It permitted the BJP to conduct the rally on August 18 from 4 pm to 7 pm.

In a social media post tagging Anbumani, Tagore questioned whether the PMK leader was making what he described as "fundamentally flawed" arguments in support of the BJP government's delimitation proposal due to pressure from a CBI case.

Responding to Anbumani's argument that Tamil Nadu could win 59 Lok Sabha seats, Tagore said MPs' primary responsibility was to make and amend laws, not to directly implement development projects. He argued that greater powers and financial resources should instead be devolved to local bodies.

Tagore also questioned Anbumani's argument for increasing the number of seats in the name of women's representation, asking why a 33% reservation for women could not be implemented immediately within the existing 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.

According to Tagore, delimitation would punish Tamil Nadu for successfully controlling its population and weaken the state's political voice in Delhi.

He also questioned Anbumani's participation in the ongoing Parliament session, asking how many minutes the PMK leader had spoken in the Lok Sabha, and argued that the problem was not the number of MPs but the manner in which Parliament was functioning.

Tagore concluded by accusing those supporting such a delimitation exercise of committing a "historical betrayal" of Tamil Nadu and said the state's rights would not be surrendered.

In the representation handed over to the former ISRO scientist on Thursday, Duraisamy congratulated the committee and said curriculum reforms should go beyond preparing students for employment and income by giving equal importance to teaching them how to lead a healthy life.

He said students should be taught the basics of diet, water intake, sleep and other aspects of maintaining physical health. He suggested that a team of medical experts prepare a structured AYUSH curriculum covering Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. Basic lessons from allopathic medicine should also be included.

Duraisamy said such education would benefit not only students but also their families and society at large by creating awareness about preventive healthcare.

He also said health education could help protect students from growing substance abuse, including alcohol, tobacco and other forms of addiction.

"Preventive healthcare education is the need of the hour to reduce the hardship of people spending their hard-earned money at pharmacies and hospitals," Duraisamy said.

He urged the committee to bring together eminent persons, doctors and educationists to formulate the curriculum, citing the Thirukkural couplet that stresses the importance of preventing illness before it occurs.

The selection panel meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Vijay and attended by Speaker JCD Prabhakar. Udhayanidhi, who is also a member of the panel, did not participate. The reason for Udhayanidhi's decision was communicated to the State government but not made public.

The panel selected one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and four State Information Commissioners (SIC). The names have been forwarded to Governor RV Arlekar for approval. After receiving the Governor's approval, the names of the new Information Commissioners will be announced and they will be administered the oath of office.

The Tamil Nadu Information Commission comprises a SCIC and eight SICs. Following the superannuation of SCIC Md Shakeel Akhter and SICs P Thamarai Kannan, R Priyakumar and K Thirumalaimuthu, vacancies arose in the Commission.

The State government constituted a search committee, headed by retired Justice RS Ramanathan, on July 8 to identify suitable candidates for the vacant posts. The committee invited applications from eligible candidates and completed the selection process.

After scrutinising the applications, the committee submitted its recommendations to the State government. Based on these recommendations, the selection panel met on Friday to finalise the appointments.

The Bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and Srimathi was hearing a contempt petition filed by Madurai-based KK Ramesh, alleging non-compliance with an earlier court order directing the authorities to consider bringing the entire hill under the Archaeological Department's control and regulating access to the hill by requiring permission from the department.

Appearing for the State, Additional Advocate General P Subramanian submitted that the disputed portion was re-surveyed on August 5 and that the details had to be compared with the hill's map and other records. He sought time to obtain the relevant documents from the archives and file a report.

The Bench also sought details of the legal fees paid by the temple to advocates who appeared in cases relating to the lighting of the Deepam on the hill.

When the judges observed that temple funds should be used only for temple maintenance, the State submitted that the payments were made through the government.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on September 11.

The video showing the two students consuming alcohol on the second-floor verandah of the school went viral on social media, prompting a police inquiry.

Joining the issue, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged the State government to curb easy access to liquor and work towards total prohibition.

In a statement, Anbumani said the video exposes the disturbing trend. He said it was worrying that classrooms meant for education were turning into drinking spots.

Anbumani said incidents of school students consuming alcohol were not new and had been occurring for more than a decade. He questioned why the government had failed to prevent such incidents despite repeated instances coming to light.

He said the school headmaster had been transferred for failing to prevent the students from consuming alcohol on the premises, but questioned what action would be taken against those responsible for creating an environment where liquor was easily available to youngsters.

He also questioned the government's claims that liquor shops near schools had been shut, saying students continued to encounter multiple liquor outlets while travelling to schools.

Anbumani criticised the introduction of online liquor booking facilities, questioning whether making alcohol easier to purchase could be considered a reform.

He urged Chief Minister Vijay to shut down at least 1,000 liquor shops every year and implement complete prohibition in Tamil Nadu within the next three years, saying that eliminating alcohol should be a government priority.

The man, T Manickam (31), a mason from Kundangal Parai near Kulithalai, sustained more than 10 severe cut injuries in the attack and was admitted to Kulithalai Government Hospital. The four-year-old girl was also taken to the hospital for treatment.

Sources said a known neighbouring woman had asked Manickam to drop her four-year-old daughter at her grandmother’s house, located a few kilometres away. However, instead of taking the child to her grandmother’s house, Manickam allegedly took her to his house on his two-wheeler and sexually abused her. He later dropped the girl near her grandmother’s house and fled.

The girl reportedly narrated the incident to her grandmother, who then began searching for Manickam. On Friday, she learnt that he was standing at a tea stall near a toll plaza in Kulithalai. The woman allegedly took a sickle and rushed to the spot, where she attacked Manickam.

When he attempted to flee, the woman chased him and continued the attack. Manickam sustained multiple cut injuries and fell unconscious.

On receiving information, Kulithalai police rushed to the spot, rescued Manickam and shifted him to Kulithalai GH, where he is undergoing treatment.

Police retrieved the sickle from the woman and took her to the station for inquiry. Further investigation is underway.

The State government suspended Deputy Collector-rank officer Anbalagan, Personal Assistant (Land) to the Ramanathapuram District Collector, following his arrest by CCB on August 4. So far, the police have arrested five persons, including Rajkumar from Pudukottai, in this case.

Anbalagan and Rajkumar have filed bail petitions before the Madurai Principal District Court.

When the petitions came up for hearing before District Principal Judge Sai Saravanan on Thursday evening, government advocate P Pandi appeared for the prosecution and strongly objected to granting bail. The charges against them are serious, and granting bail at this stage will hamper the investigation, the advocate argued. After recording the submissions, the court rejected their bail.

Meanwhile, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on the anticipatory bail petitions filed by 10 persons accused in the alleged Rs 60-crore Meenakshi Amman Temple land fraud case to September 11.

The petitioners — Ramayi Ayyar, Senthamizhselvi, Prema, Muthurani, Rajendran, Kulandhaiyya, Pushparaj, Jothi, Geetha and Kavitha — sought anticipatory bail, denying any involvement in the alleged fraud. The petitioners contended that the property was purchased in 1912 by Pudukottai Prince Dakshinamurthy Durairaja and had remained under the control of his legal heirs.

They further contended that a will executed in 1930 only stated that the income from the property should be used for charitable or trust-related purposes for the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, but did not transfer ownership of the land to the temple.

The petitioners further claimed that the temple’s name was included in the revenue records due to clerical errors. However, they said subsequent orders passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer and the District Revenue Officer restored the title in the name of the original owner, Pudukottai Dakshinamoorthy Durairaja,

The petitioners assured the court that they would cooperate with the investigation and sought anticipatory bail.

Speaking to reporters in Tirupur, Subbarayan said it was wrong to interpret DMK leader Kanimozhi’s participation in the event as a sign of a DMK-BJP understanding, as she had attended it in her capacity as the floor leader of an opposition party.

Stating that the CPI was not part of any alliance in Tamil Nadu, he said, “We will appreciate the government when it does good and oppose it when it does not.”

On the controversy over the proposed delimitation, Subbarayan said the exercise could reduce the political representation of the southern states while increasing the representation of states with larger populations in the north.

Describing the proposal as “a poison-laced sweet”, he said the Centre should consult the southern states and arrive at a consensus before proceeding with the exercise. “We hope the DMK does not align with the BJP on this issue,” he said.

Subbarayan also urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to convene a meeting of opposition parties to discuss the Mekedatu dam issue and evolve a common position.

On the disruptions in Parliament, Subbarayan said that the BJP-led government had refused to allow discussions on the police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and financial irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Meanwhile, another veteran CPI leader R Mutharasan, speaking in Coimbatore on Friday, blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the disruptions in Parliament, particularly over the protests by students in New Delhi and the subsequent police action. Mutharasan claimed that the continuing impasse in Parliament was resulting in the wastage of around Rs nine crore in public money every day.

The FOBs will come up at Urapakkam near Sivan Temple, Guduvanchery near the EB office, Guduvanchery near the railway station and MM Nagar near Ford Junction.

The four locations have been identified as black spots, and the project is intended to improve pedestrian safety on the highway. The Rs 11.38-crore project has several safety features beyond the pedestrian bridges. CCTV cameras will be installed at all four locations and connected to the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) at the NH-32 toll plaza, enabling the facilities to be monitored remotely.

The FOBs will have lifts on both sides of the highway, each capable of carrying at least 16 pedestrians. This is expected to make the crossings more accessible to senior citizens and people with mobility difficulties.

The entire pedestrian walkway, including the approaches, staircases and lift areas, will be illuminated. NHAI has also planned solar panels over the FOBs and their approach ramps.

Road safety infrastructure will include guard rails, road studs, chevron signs and information, cautionary and regulatory signboards around the crossings. The structures will maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 5.5 metres above the highway.

The proposed FOB near the Guduvanchery railway station is likely to be particularly useful for commuters and pedestrians accessing the station. The other locations also witness pedestrian movement across the busy highway.

NHAI had already built lift-equipped FOBs at several locations along the corridor in 2024. These included Perungalathur near Iraniyamman Temple, Vandalur near the railway station, Thailavaram near Estancia Tech Park, Thailavaram near Valliammal Engineering College, Kattankolathur Junction, Maraimalai Junction near Township and Singaperumal Koil railway station.

The DMK currently has 78 district secretaries, of whom former minister P Geetha Jeevan, the district secretary of Thoothukudi, is the only woman. She is also the daughter of N Periasamy, a party strongman in southern Tamil Nadu.

"Except Geetha Jeevan, there is no woman district secretary in the party. The party also does not have young faces as district secretaries. In Chennai which has six district secretaries, for instance, most of them are old faces. Now the party has decided to shakeup the mid-level leadership in Chennai and neighbouring districts, where the party performed poorly in the recently concluded election," party sources told DT Next.

Women functionaries in the party have welcomed the proposal to give greater representation to women and youth in organisational positions.

"If the party takes such a decision, it should be welcomed. It will also strengthen women's empowerment within the party," said J Veeramani, secretary of the DMK Students' Wing.

The party is also considering increasing the number of organisational districts from 78 to around 100 to ensure smoother and more effective functioning of its affairs, sources said.