
Lord Murugan will annihilate BJP in '26 polls: TNCC president Selvaperunthagai
COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of promoting communal politics and undermining Tamil identity.
Speaking to reporters at the Coimbatore airport on Sunday, he said, 'Tamil God Murugan will perform a 'Soorasamharam' (divine annihilation) of the BJP in the 2026 Assembly elections.'
He accused the BJP of trying to manipulate religious sentiments for political gain, particularly through the recent announcement of the 'Murugan maanadu' in Madurai.
'Why is there a need for such a conference? Just like they politicised Lord Ram in Ayodhya, they are now trying to do the same with Murugan in Tamil Nadu. Even Lord Ram has distanced himself from the BJP. Lord Murugan belongs to Tamil soil and will reject those who betray Tamil values.'
Selvaperunthagai also criticised the BJP-led central government for attempting to impose Hindi and a three-language policy in Tamil Nadu.
'Under Congress, we upheld the two-language policy. Now, the BJP is trying to push a third language. They won't let people worship in Tamil and want Sanskrit-only rituals. How can Tamil God Murugan accept this?' he asked.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
32 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Samajwadi Party expels 3 MLAs over a year after ‘cross-voting' in Rajya Sabha polls
More than a year after several Samajwadi Party MLAs allegedly cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections, the party on Sunday expelled three of them — Abhay Singh (Gosaiganj, Ayodhya), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Gauriganj, Amethi), and Manoj Kumar Pandey (Unchahar, Rae Bareli), a former Chief Whip in the Assembly — for 'supporting a divisive and communal' ideology, which the party said was contrary to its 'harmonious socialist ideology'. The SP in a statement said the three had been given a 'grace period' in the hope that they would have a 'change of heart', which, it said, has ended. In Uttar Pradesh's Rajya Sabha polls held in February last year, seven SP MLAs voted in favour of BJP and NDA-backed candidates, and many of them had since been seen attending BJP events and meeting senior party leaders. On Sunday, while taking action against three, the SP warned the remaining four, stating that no action had been taken against them yet 'because of their good conduct'. 'Samajwadi Party, in the public interest, expels the… MLAs due to their communal, divisive, negative ideology and supporting anti-farmer, anti-women, anti-youth, anti-business, anti-working professionals as well as 'anti-PDA' ideology, as opposed to the politics of harmonious, positive, socialist ideology,' the party said in its statement. It further warned that there would be 'no place for 'jan virodhi' (anti-people) leaders' in the future, and that any 'activities against the basic ideology of the party' would be treated as 'unpardonable'. According to sources, last month, Abhay Singh, Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Vinod Chaturvedi had also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, along with BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Seth. Among those expelled, Manoj Kumar Pandey (57) is a three-time MLA from Unchahar and was once considered close to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. He had also served as a cabinet minister during the previous SP government in the state. He was removed as Chief Whip in the Assembly after the Rajya Sabha cross-voting incident, and has since reportedly been supporting the BJP, including during the last Lok Sabha elections. Abhay Singh (50), a second-term MLA from Gosaiganj in Ayodhya, is known as a muscleman-turned-politician and is considered close to another strongman and former minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who now heads the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik). Rakesh Pratap Singh (48) is a three-time MLA from Gauriganj in Amethi. He too had rebelled during the Rajya Sabha polls and has since publicly backed the BJP.


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
'We know where to tighten the nut': Kannada actor Sudeep calls out deputy CM DK Shivakumar's remark over Mekedatu padayatra; here's what he said
BENGALURU: Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar refused to react to a taunt from Sandalwood actor 'Kiccha' Sudeep , who said the deputy CM 'should have understood realities within the industry' before using certain terms. Shivakumar Saturday refused to engage with the actor saying he does not have to answer 'anybody'. 'You can revisit history at the film chamber to know what I have done for the industry. I need not answer them all; time will answer,' Shivakumar said. During an event on a Kannada television channel, Sudeep had also said: 'Only those in the film industry understand matters within Sandalwood. I respect DK Shivakumar. Cinema is a respectful and dignified he should be careful with what he says.' Sudeep was referring to Shivakumar's comments during the Bengaluru International Film Festival in March where he criticised the film fraternity for the low turnout of stars at the event. On the same stage, he also called out Sandalwood stars for not participating 'in good numbers' in Congress' Mekedatu padayatra in 2022. 'Consider this a request or a warning. If the govt does not cooperate, no film or shooting will happen. We know where to tighten the nuts and bolts and for whom,' Shivakumar had said at the festival. Opposition leader R Ashoka of BJP Sunday supported Sudeep's stand, saying: 'We must speak only of what we know. If we comment on others, people will comment on you.'


News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
West Bengal Govt Distributes Jagannath Prasad, BJP Questions HIDCO's Role Over Fund Allocation
Last Updated: The West Bengal government is distributing prasad from the new Jagannathdham temple to over 10 million households. The BJP alleges misuse of HIDCO funds. Amid allegations that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government diverted funds through the state-owned HIDCO, the West Bengal administration has begun distributing 'prasad' from the newly inaugurated Jagannathdham temple in Digha to more than 10 million households across the state. The BJP leadership has alleged that public funds were routed through the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HIDCO) for this initiative. 'At the gracious initiative of Smt. @MamataOfficial, the divine Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath from Digha is now reaching homes across Bengal. From today until 27th June, you can collect your sacred Prasad box from your nearest ration shop," the TMC posted on X. 'The mandate of the HIDCO is to construct buildings for the government. This is why we did not say anything when it constructed the temple. But how can it spend such an amount to distribute prasad to households?" asked Jagannath Chattopadhyay, West Bengal BJP general secretary. The BJP has hinted at legal action, saying it will go to court for the source of money spent on sweets, not religious misrepresentation. Chattopadhyay stated that the state government has already allocated Rs 32 crore to various district magistrates and the Kolkata municipal commissioner for procuring sweets like goja and peda. An additional Rs 10 crore is expected to be disbursed, taking the total to Rs 42 crore, which will be spent by HIDCO to distribute sweets as prasad to the people of the state. Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Vinod Bansal called it 'cultural misappropriation". The BJP also accused the state of politicising Hindu festivals. It said that the 'government is misusing public money for religious optics" and further demanded an investigation into HIDCO's role. According to the sources, the BJP may also write to the Election Commission, seeking an audit of the funds used. The authenticity of the prasad has also been questioned. BJP leaders alleged that the sweets are being made by minority-owned units. 'This is not traditional prasad, but commercially prepared sweets — misleading and disrespectful," the BJP said. CM Banerjee had directed that prasad from the temple be distributed to people across the state during its inauguration on April 30. The distribution is carried out through the public distribution system, which typically provides subsidised food grains. On certain occasions, TMC leaders have been seen delivering the prasad door to door. Each packet of prasad, which costs Rs 20, contains two sweets and a photograph of the temple along with the deities — Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The temple, built over 20 acres of land, resembles the 12th-century famous Jagannath temple of Puri, and there has been a controversy over the use of the phrase 'Jagannath Dham".