As counting commenced, the DMK surged across Tamil Nadu, consolidating strongholds and making steady gains, particularly in urban areas and traditional bastions. The AIADMK-led opposition held select pockets, while actor Vijay’s TVK emerged as a significant force, leading in early postal ballot trends. As the Tamil Nadu mandate began to take shape on counting day,…
TVK supporters celebrate in Madurai on Monday. Photo by K Antony Xavier MADURAI: While the two Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK won in five assembly constituencies each out of the total 10 constituencies in Madurai district in the 2021 assembly election, actor Vijay’s TVK which is facing its maiden election has made its inroads into…
COIMBATORE: In a nail-biting finish to one of the state’s most closely watched contests, DMK candidate V Senthil Balaji emerged victorious in the Coimbatore South constituency on Monday. After a tense 20 rounds of counting, Balaji secured his seat with a final margin of 1,991 votes.The debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) provided a formidable challenge,…
When everyone said TVK lacked the organizational strength to match the grassroots connect the Dravidian giants enjoyed, Vijay smirked – and got his social media operators to go full steam. CHENNAI: MGR, the biggest crossover star from cinema to Tamil Nadu politics, never drank or smoked on screen. He was fair complexioned. For someone who…
Chess session at the Anna Tower Park It’s a warm Saturday afternoon, but the pairs – children and adults – bent over chessboards in a corner of Anna Nagar Tower Park are unmindful of the heat. Their aim is not to enter a tournament or even beat the opponent. They are here to just enjoy…
Entry of the public and party workers into Kapaleeshwarar Nagar, where the residence is located, was restricted. CHENNAI: Hours after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam established a clear lead in the assembly election on Monday, police strengthened security around the residence of TVK leader Vijay in Neelankarai. They restricted access to the locality and deployed additional forces…
CHENNAI: Without naming TVK and its president Vijay, Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday extended his wishes to the new govt that is going to be formed.Udhayanidhi received his certificate of victory from the election officials in Queen Mary’s College in Chennai. Speaking to reporters after receiving the campaign, he thanked the…
CHENNAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday extended his wishes to actor Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the TVK becoming the single largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election. Rahul spoke to Vijay over the phone and congratulated Vijay for “TVK’s spectacular result.” Rahul posted on X that the result…
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Monday said his govt was not just for those who voted for him but also for people who didn’t vote for him. He said DMK, which has so far functioned as an exemplary ruling party for the people, would function as an exemplary opposition party.While thanking…
More than 4.85 crore people cast their vote in the 2026 state assembly election. But there was a time in Tamil Nadu, nearly 1,000 years ago, when 30 ward representatives were choosen in an annual election.The Uthiramerur elections (920 CE), as documented in Chola-period inscriptions, show that a different form of democracy existed at the…
