Author: NT Bureau

Chennai, May 13: Trade unions representing TASMAC employees on Tuesday urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to ensure permanent alternative employment for workers likely to be affected by the State government’s decision to shut down 717 liquor retail outlets across Tamil Nadu. In separate statements, unions affiliated to CITU and AITUC welcomed the government’s move, noting that it aligned with efforts to promote a drug-free society. However, they stressed the need for a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for employees and sought clarity on action against private liquor outlets operating in the same areas. The closures target TASMAC shops located near places…

Opposition leaders on Tuesday attacked the government after the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination, alleging administrative failure and insensitivity toward students, and also slammed the “repeated lapses” in the conduct of national-level competitive examinations.

Chennai, May 13: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday directed district collectors to closely monitor drinking water supply across the State and ensure uninterrupted distribution during the peak summer season. Chairing a review meeting with officials from the Municipal Administration and Water Supply departments, the Chief Minister instructed district administrations to take “war-footing” measures to prevent shortages and ensure hassle-free supply to the public. He also asked collectors to personally review the status of drinking water availability every Monday, stressing the need for continuous monitoring and swift action wherever gaps are identified. Vijay further directed the…

Chennai, May 13: Sabarinathan, the MLA representing Virugambakkam constituency, has been appointed as the Government Chief Whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, a key position responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring smooth legislative functioning. The post of Government Chief Whip carries Cabinet rank and comes with privileges and facilities equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister, underlining its importance within the legislative framework. Sabarinathan, 30, is the son of Rajendran, who had served for several years as a driver and close aide to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. His elevation to the post is being seen as a significant…

Chennai, May 13: The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has issued a strong directive to its officials to eliminate delays and ensure time-bound delivery of public services, echoing Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s emphasis on clean and transparent governance. In a circular released on Tuesday, CMDA Principal Secretary and Member Secretary G Prakash instructed officials to expedite the processing of key public applications, including planning permissions, completion certificates, layout approvals and land reclassification proposals, without undue delay. The order, which takes immediate effect, draws from the Chief Minister’s swearing-in speech on May 10, where he underscored the need for efficiency,…

Chennai, May 13:. AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran expelled the party’s lone MLA, S Kamaraj, from all party posts, including his primary membership, after he openly expressed support for the TVK government during proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. In a statement, Dhinakaran said Kamaraj had been relieved of all party responsibilities for speaking in support of the government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Speaking in the Assembly after the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Kamaraj congratulated the newly elected presiding officers and praised the Chief Minister’s leadership. The Mannargudi MLA said the State needed a…

Chennai, May 13: Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil on Tuesday raised questions over the reported appointment of an “astrologer” as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) by the ruling TVK government in Tamil Nadu. The former IAS officer took to social media platform X to repost a letter that has been circulating online, which purportedly appoints Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay with immediate effect. The authenticity of the letter, dated May 12, has not yet been officially confirmed. Reacting sharply, Senthil questioned the rationale behind such an appointment. “Beats me. Why would an astrologer require…

Chennai, May 13: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday said that the prospect of a Dalit becoming Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu may remain a distant dream even after a hundred years, underlining the deep-rooted social barriers that persist in the State’s political landscape. Clarifying speculation over attempts to project him for the Chief Minister’s post, Thirumavalavan stated that neither the DMK nor the AIADMK had officially approached him. He added that he had not held any discussions with political parties on the matter, even as reports suggesting such possibilities gained traction in sections of the media.…

Chennai, May 13: Six Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning for alleged fishing in the terrritorial waters, even as Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar urging him to utilise all available diplomatic channels to secure their safe release and repatriation. Reports said the fishermen, hailing from Mandapam in Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district, were fishing in the mid sea when the Lankan Navy personnel intercepted them and detained them on charges of poaching in their waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The Lankan Navy personnel…