Chennai News Highlights: EPS faction of AIADMK to announce candidate for Erode (east) bypoll soon (2023)

Former Union Shipping Minister and senior DMK leader T R Baalu on Saturday courted a controversy by remarking that he will chop off the hand of anyone touching his party president, Chief Minister M K Stalin or Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani. He asserted that doing it is his dharma.

On a Tuesday morning at the Marina beach in Chennai, it is hard not to notice a bustling 56-year-old woman laughing and simultaneously shouting out instructions to a group of men setting up a shop. The woman is Sundari S, or ‘Sundari Akka’, as she is fondly called by her customers. Her stall, known for seafood, is famously called ‘Sundari Akka kadai’ (Sundari Akka store). Fish curry meals, fried prawns, squids and crabs are among the items sold here. Neha Sasi writes

The rendition of raga Bhairavi by the reclusive Kerala musician Thamarakkad Govindan Namboothiri at the beautiful open-air theatre of Indira Ranganathan Trust at Alwarpet in Chennai recently was probably what the great MD Ramanathan had once referred to as “muzhukkappu”, the ritualistic offering in Kerala temples in which the idol gets covered with sandal paste from head to toe. He had said that handling a raga was like doing a “muzhukkappu” — you have to do it very slowly and devotedly as a meditative process. G Pramod Kumar writes

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Friday said that Kashmir problem was created by the British and the then leadership of the country did not realise it but post-surgical strike against Pakistan, nobody will dare to raise their eyes against India as they know there will be a cost.He further added that "the new Bharat is conscious of its 'purushaarth' and is emerging.

Mentioning the violence in Kashmir in the 1990s, the Governor said that "this Bharat must realise its own purushaarth", which he called the country's strength."There was no reason Kashmir had to go through all the trauma. It was when the British left the country. Our Independence came through the Act of the British Parliament. We also had the first head of state a British, first Chief of Army was British. It was these people who made the problem. And at that time, our leadership didn't realise it," Ravi said while addressing at the inaugural ceremony of 'Vitasta' in Chennai. ANI

The G20 Education Working Group (EdWG), which is set to meet here on February 1 and 2, will focus on ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning, making technology-enabled learning more inclusive, qualitative and collaborative at every level. Besides, it will also focus on building capacities, promoting lifelong learning in the context of the future of work, strengthening research, and promoting innovation through richer collaboration and partnerships.

The Tamil Nadu Education department is among the key participants of an exhibition on 'Naan Mudalvan' and 'Nama Palli'.Ahead of the meeting, a seminar on 'Role of Digital Technology in Education' will be organised at the Research Park, IIT Madras.

The key participants in the exhibition are from Tamil Nadu (Naan Mudalvan / EDII - Tansim / Guidance Bureau / TNSDC / Nama Palli), India Swayam – Samarth – Diksha – other government initiatives such as Start Up India Education for Physically challenged – Dyslexia and Bipolar Disorder. Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, China, the Netherlands and UNICEF are also among the participants."It has been organised to build a resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem and realise the creative potential of each learner which is further elucidated in the National Education Policy, 2020," an official release here said. PTI

The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) on Friday announced its candidate for the Erode East Assembly by-poll scheduled on February 27. The party's general secretary T T V Dhinakaran said AMMK's Erode district secretary A M Siva Prashanth will contest the by-election on the "pressure cooker" symbol.

The 29-year-old candidate will take on Congress leader and former Union Minister E V K S Elangovan backed by the ruling DMK and allies. The opposition AIADMK factions led by former Chief Ministers: K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, are yet to name their candidates.

Speaking to reporters here, Dhinakaran claimed that leadership tussle in the AIADMK would cost that party dearly in the ensuing by-elections, as neither of the two factions would succeed in securing the 'Two Leaves' symbol from the election commission to contest the poll.(PTI)

Tamil Nadu Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru courted controversy when he shoved a party worker, who attempted to get close to newly inducted Youth Welfare and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin at a reception held here.

A video of Nehru stopping the DMK worker who attempted to shake hands with Udhayanidhi, and shoving him went viral on the social media. Scores of workers were seen greeting Udhayanidhi during a reception hosted by the party’s Salem east district unit on his maiden visit as State Minister, late on Thursday night. Read more

Looks like DMK Ministers have taken a pledge to beat up people.

A minister throwing stones a few days back & another minister roughing up people now. All of these on a daily basis

Request @CMOTamilnadu to supply us protective equipments from here on to keep us safer! pic.twitter.com/HNuB0bYXUV

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 27, 2023

In nearby Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao skipped the Republic Day celebration held at the Raj Bhavan. However, his Tamil Nadu counterpart, M K Stalin, didn’t just attend the event hosted byGovernor R N Ravi,they were photographed sitting close together, sharing tea and smiles. Stalin earlier welcomed Ravi with a bouquet.

This was days after Ravi hadstormed out of the Assembly after skipping portions of the speech approved by the Stalin government at the start of the Budget Session – setting off reverberations from Chennai to New Delhi. Arun Janardhanan writes

AIADMK's interim general secretary K Palaniswami is all set to announce his faction's candidate for the Erode East Assembly seat in a day or two, ending suspense on who would taken on the Congress heavyweight E V K S Elangovan in the February 27 by-election. He would name the candidate with ally BJP indicating an announcement on the party's stand on supporting a common candidate for the by-poll.

"Our leader Palaniswami is determined to ensure the AIADMK wins this election and has been initiating steps accordingly. He will announce the candidate soon," said R M Babu Murugavel, AIADMK spokesperson.(PTI)

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), in a Twitter post, listed the polyclinics available for holding dental and ENT consultations today.

Dear #Chennaiites,
Today (27.01.2023) the following Polyclinics will be holding Dental and ENT consultations from 4:30 to 8:30.
Visit to take a step towards better health!#ChennaiCorporation#NalamiguChennai#NammaChennaiSingaraChennai pic.twitter.com/rpI8jH35aL

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) January 27, 2023

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Castes and Tribes Innovation Fund Scheme on behalf of the MSME department today.

குறு, சிறு மற்றும் நடுத்தரத் தொழில் நிறுவனங்கள் துறை சார்பில் தமிழ்நாடு பட்டியலினத்தவர் மற்றும் பழங்குடியினர் புத்தொழில் நிதித் திட்டத்தினை மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் தொடங்கி வைத்து 5 புத்தொழில் நிறுவனங்களில் ரூ. 7.50 கோடி பங்கு முதலீடு செய்வதற்கான ஆணைகளை வழங்கினார் pic.twitter.com/MqVJosT1X1

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) January 27, 2023

The consecration ceremony of the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple in Palani is underway. The temple is considered a pilgrimage site for many devotees.

Tamil Nadu | Kumbabhishekam, consecration ceremony of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple underway in Palani

The temple is a sacred pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Muruga.

(Source: Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple) pic.twitter.com/fzAWZ6a2Fc

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2023

Actor-turned-politicianKamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam(MNM) on Wednesday announced it would back veteran Congress leader EVKS Elangovan in the coming Erode East Assembly bypoll. Haasan’s announcement, days after he met Elangovan, was anticipated.

Though according to insiders in the ruling coalition, it is likely to clear the decks for the party to ease into the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, Haasan sounded non-committal on the matter. Click here to read more

On account of the Republic Day celebrations, certificates of appreciation were given to district officers in an event yesterday.

தமிழ்நாட்டில் உள்ள மாநகராட்சிகளில் 2020-21 ஆம் ஆண்டில் அதிக அளவு கொடி நாள் நிதி வழங்கியமைக்காக, மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. @mkstalin அவர்கள் முன்னிலையில் மாண்புமிகு ஆளுநர் திரு. ஆர். என். ரவி அவர்களிடம் பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி ஆணையாளர் திரு. @GSBediIAS அவர்கள் (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HtIaKLPSYu

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) January 26, 2023

Two men were arrested near here on Thursday for alleged sexual assault of a girl for the last two years, police said.

According to the police, a 27-year-old man, deserted by his wife, lured the 10-year-old girl in the neighbourhood, sexually assaulted her and threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed the abuse to anybody. (PTI)

Desperate times seek desperate measures. With Tamil Nadu’s Ranji campaign coming to an early end, once again the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association on Wednesday has launched an ambitious bowlers’ talent scout programme aimed at finding new talent from the districts.

The programme launched by India all-rounder R Ashwin will see the scouts focusing on identifying red ball bowlers with the first camp beginning in Coimbatore on February 11. Know more here