assembly election – Artifex.News

Tamil Nadu polls 2026: I do not see the Assembly election in Tamil Nadu as a close contest, says CM Stalin

admin — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:35:00 +0000

Pressing for continuity: DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin speaking at a meeting in Madurai on Sunday (April 5, 2026). In an interview, he has said the 2026 Assembly election is about continuing the achievements of the past five years under the ‘Dravidian Model’ government.
| Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY

Disagreeing with suggestions that the Tamil Nadu Assembly election would turn out to be a “close contest”, DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Sunday (April 5, 2026) that a multi-cornered contest would, in fact, benefit the DMK.

Taking a short break from his intense campaign schedule in Virudhunagar district, Mr. Stalin, in an exclusive interview to The Hindu, made it clear that the contest was essentially between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led National Democratic Alliance.

Published – April 05, 2026 11:35 pm IST

Source link

I am enduring pain fighting the party I built brick by brick: PMK founder S. Ramadoss

admin — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:22:00 +0000

Holding his ground: PMK founder S. Ramadoss has ruled out any patch-up with his son Anbumani. He says he has prepared his elder daughter Srikanthi, and the party will go only to her.
| Photo Credit: S. PRASAD

PMK founder S. Ramadoss has ruled out a rapprochement with his estranged son Anbumani during his lifetime. In an interview with The Hindu at his Thailapuram farmhouse, he says he is enduring the pain of fighting the party he had built brick by brick. The senior politician, joined by his elder daughter and party ‘working president’ Srikanthi Parasuraman, says an alliance with the ruling DMK did not fructify, and he is unable to predict the outcome of this Assembly election. Edited excerpts:

Published – April 10, 2026 10:56 pm IST

Source link

Dhanushkodi Athithan, a Congress veteran, calls for making the party a people’s movement

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 20:24:00 +0000

A symbol of determination: Former Union Minister Dhanuskodi Athithan lost a hand in an accident in 2006. But it has not deterred him from carrying on his normal activity in public life.
| Photo Credit: A. SHAIKMOHIDEEN

On a Saturday afternoon in August 2006, a long-standing Congress leader and former Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sport, Dhanuskodi Athithan, his wife, and daughter were on their way to Thoothukudi from Tirunelveli. It was meant to be a short trip in view of the distance (about 45 km).

But that turned out to be a treacherous trip for the former Union Minister as the car in which he travelled met with an accident near Vagaikulam, leading to the death of his wife and serious injuries to all others in the vehicle. The Congress leader lost his left hand.

Still interested in politics

A traumatic phase in his life has not deterred him from carrying on his normal activity in public life. Though he did not contest in any election after the 2004 Lok Sabha election when he was elected from Tirunelveli for the fifth term, Mr. Athithan remains in politics, taking a keen interest in all the developments. A few days ago, he attended a public meeting addressed by Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin in Palayamkottai.

Talking about the issue of reviving the prospects of the Congress nationwide, Mr. Athithan, in an interview to The Hindu, emphasised that the party must turn itself into a “people’s movement”, by doing field work and taking up people’s issues. “Look at the Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts where the party is still strong. This is because of this approach,” the former Union Minister pointed out.

Asked whether the party’s leaders in Tamil Nadu would have the confidence to convert the party into a people’s movement after the organisation had served as a junior ally of either of the Dravidian parties in the last 55-odd years, he answered, “It is for the leadership to do that. It would be good if the leadership exhibits its strength,” he says, recalling that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee’s former chief G.K. Moopanar had shown the way and stood steadfast in strengthening the party further.

Mr. Athithan had followed Moopanar when he founded the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) in April 1996. He returned to the Congress when the TMC(M) was merged with the national party in August 2002. He recounted how Moopanar persuaded him to become a Union Minister when the United Front government was in office during 1996-98, though he had suggested to the TMC(M) founder to give the opportunity to N. Dennis, who had represented Nagercoil (now Kanniyakumari) in the Lok Sabha for six terms.

‘Base is not narrow’

On the perception that “the party is a force to reckon with” in southern districts in view of its following among certain sections such as the Scheduled Castes and religious minorities, Mr. Athithan did not agree with the view that the party had a narrow base. “Nadars have been a source of support to the party since the days of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. The same holds good in respect of the the Scheduled Castes too,” he said.

Asked for his suggestion to those who face troubled times like the one that he underwent nearly 20 years ago, Mr. Athithan’s reply: “Be self-confident.” He added that he resumed his political activity within six months of the accident.

Published – April 06, 2026 12:00 am IST

Source link

T.N. Assembly election: For second time, Pottalurani residents to boycott polls over fish waste processing units

admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:35:00 +0000

A sign installed in Pottalurani village demanding the closure of the fish waste processing units.
| Photo Credit: N. Rajesh

For the second consecutive time, the residents of Pottalurani village, which falls under Ottapidaram Assembly constituency in Thoothukudi district, have announced that they would boycott the election, as their long-pending demand for the closure of fish waste processing units near the village remains unaddressed by the government. More than 900 people had boycotted the Lok Sabha election in 2024 over the same issue.

The residents have been demanding the closure of fish waste processing units near the village since 2019, and have submitted multiple petitions in this regard. However, the protest intensified in early 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha election. They have also raised several other demands.

Panchayat bifurcation

This includes bifurcation of the Ellainayakkanpatti village panchayat to form a separate Pottalurani panchayat and withdrawal of cases filed against the residents during the course of protest.

According to the final electoral roll released in February 2026, the village has 912 voters — 422 men and 490 women.

Three units

A. Shanmugam, a resident of the village, said there were three fish waste processing units currently functioning near the village, including two units in Vadakku Karaseri and one in Pottalurani junction.

“Residents have been put to hardship because of the foul stench emanating from all three units. This is affecting the health of many people,” he said.

He noted that two units in Vadakku Karaseri, located barely a kilometre from Pottalurani, functioned on agricultural lands, with farmers from the village facing difficulties during the cultivation season.

“In addition, we want Pottalurani to be separated from Ellainayakkanpatti panchayat and declared a separate village panchayat, as government projects are not properly implemented in the village. The village also faces infrastructural issues such as lack of street lights and a drinking water supply,” Mr. Shanmugam added.

E. Sankaranarayanan, another resident, said: “All false cases registered against the villagers who participated in the protest must be withdrawn.”

He added that the primary demand of the villagers was the closure of fish waste processing units, and if this demand was met before the election, the residents would participate in the polling process.

Published – March 22, 2026 12:26 am IST

Source link

Why Stock Market Is Closed For Trading Today

admin — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:01:19 +0000

Maharashtra assembly elections are taking place in a single phase today.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE will remain closed today, due to the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Trading across all segments, including equity, equity derivatives and the securities lending and borrowing (SLB) segment, will be suspended for the day as voters head to the polls.

The stock market closure today comes on the heels of a long weekend. The markets remained shut on Friday, November 15, for Guru Nanak Jayanti, followed by the regular weekend closures on November 16 and 17. As a result, November 20 marks an extra break for investors.

Remaining market holidays in 2024

In 2024, the stock market will remain closed on Christmas Day, December 25. November saw a total of three additional holidays beyond the regular weekends. The markets remained closed for 12 days this month.

Stock market performance on November 19

On November 19, equity markets showed mixed performance. The NSE Nifty 50 index snapped a seven-day losing streak, closing 64.70 points, or 0.28 per cent, higher at 23,518.50. The BSE Sensex also saw a rebound, reversing a four-day loss with a 239.38-point, or 0.31%, gain, ending the day at 77,578.38. However market sentiment remained cautious due to rising concerns over the geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Reports of Ukraine’s missile strikes deep inside Russia, potentially escalating to a nuclear response, weighed on investor sentiment.

What about banks in Maharashtra?

On November 20, banks in Maharashtra will also remain closed, due to the Maharashtra assembly elections. Digital banking services like ATMs, UPI systems and online banking will continue to function.

Maharashtra assembly elections

The Maharashtra assembly elections are taking place in a single phase on November 20, across all 288 assembly seats. Polling began at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm.

In the battle of two alliances, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar, and Congress is up against the Mahayuti Alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and NCP under Ajit Pawar. The results will be declared on November 23.

On November 20, Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra are also observing a dry day, meaning the sale of alcohol is prohibited during voting hours.

Source link

Have Powers Of Jammu And Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Increased? Manoj Sinha’s Take

admin — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 02:59:10 +0000

Manoj Sinha said he was hopeful that the voting percentage in the assembly election will be more.

Srinagar:

Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has questioned the controversy over the alleged increase in the powers of Lieutenant Governor of the union Territory, asking if such a bill has been presented in parliament. Speaking about the Opposition comments on the issue, he told NDTV in an exclusive interview: “Some things are done to create controversies. if the powers of a Governor or Lieutenant Governor has to be increased, it has to be approved by parliament. Did such a bill ever come in parliament?”

Pointing out that the State Reorganisation Act was challenged in the Supreme Court along with the scrapping of the Article 370, he said it now has the approval of the court.

In July, the Union home ministry had amended the transaction rules in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. The law was originally passed as the Article 370 granting J&K special powers was scrapped and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories.

Under the new law, the Lieutenant Governor was granted powers on key administrative and legal matters, from police and public order to postings and prosecution sanction. This drew a sharp reaction from the Opposition, which said the step will render the Chief Minister “powerless” and “disempower” the region’s people.

“No one has to get involved in the question of rights,” Mr Sinha told NDTV. “The assembly elections will be held soon. What will be the goals of the new government, whichever party is it? If it is peace, prosperity, development transparency, employment generation, I want to assure political parties through your channel — if these are the goals, they will have the full support of the Lieutenant Governor and his office. Where is the question of clash then?”

Asked if the coming election will be the stepping stone for the return of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Sinha said things are “working according to the blueprint given by Union home Minister Amit Shah”.

Mr Shah, he recalled, had said, “delimitation first, assembly election second and statehood at an appropriate time, third”.

The Lieutenant Governor also said he was hopeful that the voting percentage in the assembly election will be more than Jammu and Kashmir witnessed during the parliamentary election. Back then, the Jammu region had seen an average of 58.4 per cent turnout, the Kashmir Valley — 50.6 per cent, more than it had seen in more than the last three decades.

This, he said, only proves that the roots of democracy is “very strong” in Jammu and Kashmir. “People trust democracy and democratic values. It is natural in view of the peace and prosperity of the last five years,” he added.

Asked about the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami – the Islamic outfit which, along with Hurriyat, gave the election boycott calls in the Valley — in this election, Mr Sinha said he was not sure if anyone can be stopped from contesting elections in this country. “We need to understand that the country runs with the help of laws and constitution,” he said.

“If we want to stop elements like this, we should debate the matter in parliament, take various opinions and the Election Commission can make a rule,” he added.

Source link