Tamil Nadu Archives - National Times

12 May

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay orders closure of 717 liquor shops near religious places, schools

nishuthapar10 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingBig news, Cm, India, Tamil Nadu, Vijay

Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered closure of 717 state-run liquor retail outlets operating near places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands across the state. According to the government, the state currently houses 4,765 Tasmac liquor retail shops. Of the 717 identified for closure, 276 are located near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 near bus stands. The move is being seen as Vijay’s first major policy decision just hours after becoming Chief Minister. The new government is presenting it as an important social reform step…

06 May

TVK Leader Vijay Stakes Claim to Form Tamil Nadu Government Amid Dramatic Political Realignment

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaCongress, DMK, Governor, Politics, Tamil Nadu, TVK, Vijay

Chennai (Gurpreet Singh): Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday to formally stake his claim to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. This high-profile meeting followed a seismic shift in the state's political landscape, as the Congress party announced it was severing its long-standing ties with the DMK to support the actor-turned-politician. Vijay presented the Governor with a list of Congress legislators who have pledged their support, marking a significant challenge to the decades-long bipolar dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. While the TVK emerged as the single largest…

04 May

TVK Edges Toward Breakthrough in Tamil Nadu as Counting Trends Favor Vijay’s Party

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingTamil Nadu, TVK, Vijay

Tamil Nadu (Rajeev Sharma): Early results from the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu suggest a major political shake-up, with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the frontrunner. Led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, the party is rapidly closing in on the halfway mark in the 234-member Assembly, raising the possibility of a historic first victory. Counting began early Monday morning under tight security across the state, with officials releasing constituency-wise updates at regular intervals through the Election Commission’s platforms. As rounds progress, TVK has established leads in a significant number of seats, indicating strong voter backing across regions. The trends…

23 Apr

PM Modi Appeals for Enthusiastic Voting in Tamil Nadu and Bengal Assembly Elections

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingPM Modi, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on citizens in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to participate actively in the ongoing Assembly elections, stressing that voting is a vital responsibility in a democratic nation. Through messages shared online, the Prime Minister encouraged people to come out in large numbers and take part in the electoral process. He made a special mention of young voters and women, urging them to play a key role in achieving a high turnout. In Tamil Nadu, polling is being conducted in a single phase across all constituencies, while West Bengal has…

23 Apr

High Voter Turnout Expected as Tamil Nadu Polls Begin with Robust Arrangements

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingTamil Nadu

Chennai (Rajeev Sharma): The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections got underway on Thursday morning, with polling beginning at 7 am under stringent security measures across the state. Early visuals showed enthusiastic voters arriving at polling centres, forming queues well before voting hours in several districts. The electoral battle features a strong contest between the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its principal rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Adding a new dynamic to the race are emerging political players such as Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Seeman-led Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), both aiming to make significant…

15 Mar

Election Commission Sounds Poll Bugle for 2026 Assembly Elections; Five States Set for High-Stakes Battle; Dates Announced

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAssam Polls, Election 2026, Gyanesh Kumar, Kerala Elections, Poll Schedule, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially declared the schedule for the 2026 Assembly Elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. During a high-stakes press conference on Sunday evening, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar outlined a comprehensive timeline covering 824 constituencies, with the counting of votes for all regions scheduled for May 4, 2026. The electoral process kicks off on April 9 with single-phase polling in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. Tamil Nadu will cast its ballots in a single phase on April 23, while West Bengal will…

27 Oct

Cyclone ‘Montha’ Intensifies; Andhra and Tamil Nadu on High Alert

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAndhra Pradesh, APSDMA, Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Montha, Kakinada, Tamil Nadu

Chandigarh, October 27, 2025: Cyclone Montha has begun to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, triggering heavy rain and strong winds across coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of northern Tamil Nadu. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) confirmed that the cyclone is expected to make landfall near Kakinada on the evening or night of October 28.APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain said the cyclone, moving at 18 km per hour, was located about 560 km off Visakhapatnam by Monday evening. “Coastal districts are witnessing rainfall accompanied by gales. The system will intensify further as…

22 May

Supreme Court Halts ED Probe into Tamil Nadu’s TASMAC, Criticizes Agency for Overreach

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaEnforcement Directorate, Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu, TASMAC

New Delhi, May 22, 2025: The Supreme Court of India has stayed the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering investigation into the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the state's official liquor retailer. The Court criticized the ED for "crossing all limits" and violating the federal structure of governance .A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih issued notice to the ED on a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government and TASMAC. The plea challenged the ED's actions, alleging grave violations of constitutional rights and the federal structure. The Court's decision overrules a previous Madras High…

22 Mar

Punjab CM Mann Slams Centre’s Delimitation Plans, Calls It Attack on Democracy

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, BJP, delimitation, democracy, Punjab, Tamil Nadu

Chennai, March 22, 2025 – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly opposed the BJP-led central government’s proposed delimitation, calling it an unfair and undemocratic attempt to weaken opposition parties. Speaking at a conference in Chennai organized by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Mann accused the Centre of manipulating seat distribution to favor BJP strongholds while reducing representation in states where it struggles to win.Mann criticized the move as a "shameful act" designed to silence opposition voices by cutting down seats in non-BJP states while boosting those in the Hindi belt. He pointed out that South Indian states…