Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

In post-Jaya era, ruling AIADMK heading for rout in Tamil Nadu 

The absence of its charismatic leader late J Jayalalithaa appeared to have cost the ruling AIADMK dear as it is staring at a virtual rout with the DMK staging a spectacular electoral comeback in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.

From being the third largest party in the outgoing Lok Sabha with 37 seats, the AIADMK has to now contend with single digit tally, pushed to the third spot behind arch rival DMK and Congress despite fighting the polls as part of a "mega alliance" with parties, including the BJP.


Trends in the counting of votes polled in the April 18 elections indicate a possibility of victory in only two of the 20 Parliamentary constituencies AIADMK contested, of the total 38 in the state.

The AIADMK fought the 2014 Lok Sabha polls on its own and Jayalaalithaa had famously said then "this lady is better than BJP's Modi" as she led the party to the landslide victory.

In a total reversal, DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance is ahead in 36 seats, leaving AIADMK far behind with leads in just two seats as Tamil Nadu remained untouched by the "Modi wave".

Ousted leader TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK damaged the prospects of the AIADMK in several constituencies though the new party is not in a position to win seats.

The downslide of AIADMK saw heavyweights including Deputy Speaker in outgoing Lok Sabha M Thambidurai trailing by huge margins. Its ally BJP's nominee and union minister Pon Radhakrishan is also facing defeat in Kanyakumari seat.

Striking an alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, AIADMK top guns Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam had bet on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to steer the nation.

The ruling party campaign by Palaniswami took pride that the AIADMK-led combine is a "mega coalition" and would win the polls hands down.

In all campaign meetings, Palaniswami did not miss an opportunity to mention about how the country was safe in the hands of Modi - a reference to the Balakot air strikes- and why such a secure ambience was essential for development.

Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah addressed rallies in Tamil Nadu, highlighting how the Central government had facilitated several schemes, including setting up of an AIIMS Hospital near Madurai.

The DMK targeted the AIADMK regime as being 'subservient' to the BJP-led government 'compromising' interests of Tamil Nadu on a host of issues, including on the National Eligbility cum Entrance Test.

The NEET, the entrance examination for students who wish to study graduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses, over a period of time emerged as an emotive issue, especially among the youth.

While the DMK is looking to wrest all the 19 seats it fought, its allies the Congress appears set to win eight, IUML one and CPI (M) and CPI two each. Besides, MDMK, VCK and KMDK and IJK had contested one seat each on DMK symbol and will take the Dravidian party's tally to 23.

Polling in Vellore constituency had been countermanded following allegations of malpractices.

More For You

JLR-Tata-Getty

JLR had initially planned to manufacture more than 70,000 electric vehicles at the facility. (Photo: Getty Images)

JLR halts plan to build EVs at Tata’s India plant: Report

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has put on hold plans to manufacture electric vehicles at Tata Motors’ upcoming £775 million factory in southern India, according to a news report.

The decision was influenced by challenges in balancing price and quality for locally sourced EV components, three of the sources said. They added that slowing demand for electric vehicles was also a factor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

Sarju Khushal

Leicester drug supplier Sarju Khushal jailed for 11 years over £2m operation

A MAN who supplied controlled drugs on a ‘wholesale’ scale across Leicestershire has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Sarju Khushal, 30, was arrested in 2022 after investigations revealed he had been transporting drugs from Lancashire into the area.

Khushal, formerly of Hazeldene Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to several charges, including the supply and conspiracy to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced at Leicester crown court last Thursday (6).

Keep ReadingShow less
Tamil Nadu Education

Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people

Getty images

Education or imposition? Tamil Nadu battles India government over Hindi in schools

A war of words has erupted between Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin and the federal government over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends a three-language formula in schools, with two of the three being native to India. Stalin has voiced strong objections, claiming that the policy could lead to the imposition of Hindi, a northern Indian language, in non-Hindi-speaking states like Tamil Nadu. The issue has reignited old tensions between southern states and the central government over the privileging of Hindi.

Historical resistance to Hindi

Tamil Nadu has a deep-rooted history of opposing the promotion of Hindi, dating back to the 1960s. Protests broke out in the state when the federal government attempted to make Hindi the sole official language, leading to a compromise that allowed the continued use of English. Language in Tamil Nadu is not merely a means of communication but a powerful symbol of cultural identity. Tamil, one of the oldest living languages in the world, is a source of pride for the state’s people. As a result, any perceived threat to its prominence is met with strong resistance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

Thangam Debbonaire

Former Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire enters House of Lords as Baroness

FORMER Bristol MP Thangam Debbonaire has taken her seat in the House of Lords after being awarded a life peerage last month.

The 58-year-old, who represented Bristol West for Labour from 2015 until July’s general election, wore the traditional scarlet robes during her introductory ceremony. She will now be known as Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney.

Keep ReadingShow less