A view of the TASMAC outlet near Salem New Bus Stand in Tamil Nadu.
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E.

The arrival of mangoes increased to Chinna Kadai Veethi in Salem Town in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, 01 June 2024.
| Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN

The arrival of mangoes to Salem Market has surged to 40 metric tonnes per day. Previously, due to poor rainfall, the market saw only 10 metric tonnes of mangoes per day.

Typically, the arrival of mangoes begins on March 15 and ends on June 15 in Salem Market. These mangoes come from Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, and Salem districts. The peak period for mango arrivals is usually between the second week of April and the last week of May. However, this year, drought and poor rainfall in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts significantly affected cultivation, causing a sharp increase in mango prices in March, April, and May.

High temperatures in these districts also impacted mango cultivation. However, sudden rainfall in the first week of May boosted mango cultivation. Consequently, the daily arrival of mangoes in Salem Market, which was 10 metric tonnes in March, April, and May, has now increased to 40 metric tonnes. Mango traders, however, noted that this represents only a 30% increase in arrivals.

J. Srinivasan, a wholesale mango trader in Salem’s Chinna Kadai Veethi, stated that the cultivation of high-quality mango varieties like Malgova and Imam Basanth, which are rich in taste and suitable for export, was low this year, with arrivals drastically reduced to one or two tonnes per day. These premium mangoes are still priced high at ₹250 per kg. As the season nears its end, the arrival of medium-variety mangoes, such as Totapuri and Nadusalai, has increased in Salem Market. Currently, 40 metric tonnes of these mangoes arrive daily from the four districts in the Salem region, especially Salem district. This volume is still lower compared to the normal season arrivals of 100 metric tonnes per day. The recent heavy rains over three weeks have improved cultivation, resulting in the arrival of these 40 tonnes of mangoes. The price of Nadusalai mangoes ranges from ₹60 to ₹100 per kg, while Totapuri mangoes are priced between ₹40 and ₹100 per kg, Mr. Srinivasan added.

Chennai:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a massive rally in Salem in western Tamil Nadu, a stronghold of BJP’s former ally AIADMK and the home turf of party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.

It was Prime Minister’s sixth visit to Tamil Nadu this year and third campaign in three weeks including a roadshow at Coimbatore yesterday, where the BJP has a stronger presence. In 2021, the BJP won the Coimbatore assembly seat in alliance with the AIADMK. The strategy is to breach the Dravidian party’s bastion to expand its negligible presence.

Dr Ramadoss’ PMK joined hands at the Salem rally and showcased leaders from several smaller parties. Continuing his development pitch, Prime Minister Modi said he is targeting 400 seats in the upcoming elections, adding “Our tally will cross 400. We need to cross this for developed India, developed Tamil Nadu to become the third largest economy in the world and become self-sufficient.”

“Rahul Gandhi’s comments on ‘Shakti’ were an attack on the Hindu religion,” said PM Modi taking on the INDIA bloc and the ruling DMK.

“During the INDIA alliance’s first rally, its manifesto and intentions have been exposed. At Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, the INDIA alliance openly declared that it wanted to destroy Hinduism’s ‘Shakti’. In the Hindu religion, ‘Shakti’ means ‘Matrushakti’, ‘Nari Shakti’, Congress and DMK’s INDIA bloc is saying that it will destroy that Shakti,” he added.

DMK Treasurer T R Baalu said, “Prime Minister Modi says women shield BJP…Women were paraded naked in Manipur. Can he say this there? Did he go there to console women…If he speaks like that it means he has a fear of defeat.”

Tamil Nadu Congress Chief and MLA K Selvaperunthagai said, “He twisted what our leader said. Rahul Gandhi referred to the power that has taken over our institutions like Income Tax, Enforcement and CBI. It’s this power he called ‘Shakti'”.

The AIADMK’s exit has weakened the NDA in Tamil Nadu. With less than three per cent vote share for the BJP, the alliance is on shaky ground. While PMK’s entry would help increase its vote share, the BJP hopes Prime Minister Modi’s campaign blitz would break the jinx in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Earlier in the day, he held a roadshow in Kerala’s Pallakad, which the BJP leaders said was aimed at improving the prospects of the party in the state where its vote share dwindled between 2019 and 2021.

Pallakad, a Congress-held constituency, which was once a CPM bastion, saw the BJP as the second runner-up in the previous election.

Salem:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the INDIA bloc leaders of “deliberately insulting” Hindu dharma and said that their every statement against the religion is very “well thought out”.

Addressing the rally in Salem, the Prime Minister said that Tamil Nadu has decided that every single vote on April 19 will be given to the BJP-NDA.

“The INDI Alliance people repeatedly and deliberately insult Hinduism. Notably, every statement they make against the Hindu religion is very well thought out! The INDI Alliance of DMK and Congress does not insult any other religion. It does not utter a single word against any other religion. However, when it comes to the Hindu religion, they don’t leave any chance to abuse and insult it,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi again slammed Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Shakti’ remark and said that the election campaign has just started, and the plans of the INDI Alliance have been revealed in their first rally itself.

“During their first rally in Mumbai, they made statements about destroying ‘Shakti’, about fighting against ‘Shakti’. Their statement has been a sheer insult to the Hindu religion, Hindu faith,” he added.

“Mariamman yahan ki Shakti hai. In Tamil Nadu Kanchi Kamakshi is ‘Shakti’, Madurai Meenakshi is ‘Shakti’…Congress, DMK and the INDI alliance says they will destroy this (Shakti). Hamare shastra sakshi hai ki vinash unka hota hai jo Shakti ko khatam karne ka vichar rakhte hai. In Hindu Dharma, ‘Shakti’ means Matra Shakti, Naari Shakti,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that everyone witnessed the kind of behaviour the INDI alliance does with women.

“You all are witness to the kind of behaviour INDI alliance does with women. When former state CM J Jayalalithaa was alive you all know how DMK leaders behaved with her. This is DMK’s real face,” he added.

He further asserted that the DMK and Congress are two sides of the same coin.

“DMK and Congress are two sides of the same coin. DMK and Congress means – Big corruption and one family rule. When the country got rid of Congress, the country reached 5G technology. But in Tamil Nadu DMK is running its own 5G- one family’s fifth generation to have control over Tamil Nadu,” he added.

He further stated that one of the defence corridors being established in India is in Tamil Nadu.

“The BJP government is establishing 7 Mega Textile Parks across the country. Notably, one among those exists in Tamil Nadu. Our government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the development and prosperity of Tamil Nadu. From free medical treatment to providing tap water connections in homes, from free ration facilities to benefiting women of Tamil Nadu through MUDRA Yojana, we have ensured to give the best, to serve the best,” he added.

PM Modi said that the people are enthusiastic about the BJP, and this has been troubling the INDI Alliance.

“Tamil Nadu has decided that on April 19, every vote will go to BJP, to NDA. Tamil Nadu has decided that ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’. For a developed India, we need ‘400 Paar’. For a developed Tamil Nadu, we need ‘400 Paar’. For a self-reliant India, we need ‘400 Paar’. Today, our entire country is watching the huge public support and love that Tamil Nadu is showering upon the BJP,” he added.

During the 2019 general elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which comprised INC, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, AIFB, registered a landslide victory by winning 38 of the 39 seats.

In 2019, the DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with 33.2 per cent vote share, Congress bagged 8 seats with 12.9 per cent vote and CPI won 2 seats in Tamil Nadu. CPI(M) got a seat, IML won 1 seat and independents were elected on 2 seats.

Tamil Nadu will see voting on all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Phase 1 on April 19. Votes will be counted on June 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)