2025

TIRUNELVELI: Two AIADMK councillors staged a walkout from the Tirunelveli Corporation council meeting on Monday, condemning Mayor G Ramakrishnan’s alleged use of an unparliamentary word over their corruption allegations which resulted in a heated exchange. The council has four AIADMK councillors, of whom only two attended the meeting. The meeting, chaired by Ramakrishnan in the presence of Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana, saw councillors from both parties raise various grievances. DMK councillor Sahaya Juliet Mary of Ward 51 said pits dug for underground drainage works by the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board were left unattended for years.  Officials responded that drinking water needs were being prioritised and listed out the ongoing works at Ariyanayagipuram. Councillor Rasool Maideen of Ward 50 raised concern about stray dog attacks. Councillor K Chinnathai of Ward 36 said no civic works were being done in her ward. When the mayor responded that her claim was inaccurate, AIADMK councillor M Chandrasekar (Ward 28) accused him of allowing only DMK members to speak and suppressing of opposition voices. Another AIADMK councillor S Amutha alleged that civic officials had mentioned certain areas as being part of her Ward 31 in the documents, which, she claimed, does not exist in her ward. She also alleged corruption in the corporation. The mayor responded by referring to corruption under AIADMK regime. Amutha dared him to speak and said she would expose DMK’s corruption. The quarrel intensified, leading to Councillors Chandrasekar and Amutha of AIADMK later walked out in protest.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Tamil Nadu on August 22 to participate in the BJP’s zonal conference and to preside over the State Core Committee meeting in Tirunelveli. The zonal conference, originally scheduled for August 17, was postponed following the demise of Nagaland Governor and veteran BJP leader La Ganesan. Party insiders said HM Shah, who had initially been invited for the programme, confirmed his participation after the event was rescheduled. A senior BJP leader said, “He will lead the zonal conference and address the gathering. The Union Home Minister will also review the party’s organisational work and hold discussions with state office-bearers on the prevailing political situation.” The Tirunelveli conference is expected to focus on strengthening booth-level committees and speeding up grassroots mobilisation in the southern districts. Party sources noted that this will be one of the largest BJP events in the region, aimed at energising cadre and reinforcing the party’s growing influence in southern Tamil Nadu. While HM Shah is not expected to meet AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami during this visit, BJP leaders have indicated that discussions on consolidating the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state will be an important part of his deliberations with state leaders. Strengthening alliances, fine-tuning electoral strategies, and addressing local political challenges are likely to figure in the review sessions. Meanwhile, BJP national General Secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh is also scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu by the end of August to assess the party’s organisational progress. His visit is expected to complement HM Shah’s efforts by offering guidance on expanding cadre strength and ensuring greater coordination at the grassroots level. With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on the horizon, the BJP leadership is placing increased emphasis on widening its support base, particularly in the southern districts where the party is working to gain ground. Home Minister Shah’s participation in the zonal conference is seen as a strong message of the central leadership’s focus on Tamil Nadu, a state considered crucial for the party’s long-term southern strategy.

A tense moment unfolded in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli on Wednesday when journalists intervened and stopped a transgender protester from jumping off a bridge during a demonstration demanding free house-site pattas or government houses. A group of transgender persons had gathered outside the Tirunelveli District Collector’s office, sitting on the Tirunelveli–Thiruvananthapuram Highway and blocking traffic. They held placards and raised slogans, alleging that despite submitting petitions several times, including during Chief Minister MK Stalin’s special grievance redressal camp, no action had been taken on their request for land pattas or housing.

Chennai, Nov 8 (IANS) The Tirunelveli Assembly constituency, a politically charged battleground in Tamil Nadu, is again at the centre of attention as BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran prepares to seek another term. His name has become almost synonymous with the constituency, where he has enjoyed consistent success over two decades – often triumphing regardless of party affiliation. Nagenthran first won the seat in 2001, contesting as an AIADMK candidate and defeating A.L. Subramanian of the DMK by a narrow margin of 722 votes. His victory earned him a place in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet, where he held key portfolios including Transport, Electricity, and Industries. Despite multiple reshuffles during that period, Jayalalithaa retained her trust in him, allowing him to continue as a minister. In 2006, fortunes shifted. The DMK reclaimed Tirunelveli, with Subramanian defeating Nagenthran by 606 votes. Even so, Nagenthran’s vote share increased by five per cent compared to the previous election, proving his growing base among voters. Five years later, in 2011, he made a strong comeback, defeating A. L. S. Lakshmanan of the DMK by 38,491 votes – one of the largest margins in the region. However, despite his victory, he was not included in the cabinet that term. The 2016 election brought another reversal when Lakshmanan won back the seat for the DMK, defeating Nagenthran. After that defeat, Nagenthran left the AIADMK and joined the BJP, a move that redefined his political trajectory. In the 2021 Assembly elections, now representing the BJP, he defeated the DMK’s Lakshmanan once again, reaffirming his personal influence over party loyalties. His successive victories across different party platforms have cemented his reputation as a strongman of Tirunelveli politics.