Latest news with #Udayanidhi
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers request Udhayanidhi to order removal of all seemai karuvelam trees from Vaigai
Appealing to Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin to help remove seemai karuvelam trees (Prosopis juliflora) in the Vaigai river completely, farmers urged him to expedite ongoing 'anicut' work at Tirupuvanam Pudur at a cost of ₹40.27 crore. Mr. Udayanidhi, who was on a visit to Sivaganga district to review ongoing development works, was accorded a warm reception by Minister K.R. Periakaruppan, District Collector Asha Ajith, MLA Tamilarasi and officials of the Water Resources Department, led by Superintending Engineer Thangaraj and Executive Engineer Ramesh. The Deputy CM inspected Tirupuvanam Pudur anicut work which will provide water for irrigation to tail-end areas. After the farmers flagged the problems faced by them in getting water due to rampant sand mining in the river and other issues, the government had earmarked ₹40.27 crore for the construction of the 'anicut'. This, according to the engineers, will provide water to around 7,000 acres of cultivable land from Tirupuvanam to Kanur canal and Pazhayanoor canal, which feed about 20 tanks. Ayacut Vaigai Pasana Sangam State general secretary Adimoolam appealed to the Deputy CM to order removal of seemai karuvelam trees on a war footing. These trees had not only hindered the free flow of water in the river, but also affected the eco-system, he stressed. Visits sports hostel Later, Mr. Udayanidhi visited the sports hostel at the District Sports Stadium and tasted the food served to the boys there. He also sat along with them and interacted with them over lunch. Mr. Udayanidhi listened to the boys' grievances and posed for group photographs. Some of them were eager to take selfies with him and he readily obliged. District Sports Officer Ramesh Kanna explained the facilities available in the hostel. The Deputy CM then presided over a meeting, in which Ms. Asha Ajith explained various completed and ongoing projects in the district. Appreciating the district officials from multiple departments, Mr. Udayanidhi said the government had delivered its promises in the last four years. Still, he admitted that there might be expectations from the people and appealed to the officials to bring them (petitions) to the elected representatives for implementation. Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Yadav, Additional Secretary R.V. Shajeevana, senior officials from various departments presented the status of the works at the meeting. The Deputy CM handed over welfare assistance to the tune of ₹24.24 crore to 1,512 beneficiaries on the occasion, according to a press release.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Udayanidhi Stalin orders resumption of free buses to Theni ‘uzhavar sandhai' after farmers' plea
Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin directed authorities to resume free transport facility for the farmers to bring their produce from their farms to the uzhavar sandhai in Theni on Monday. Submitting a petition, the farmers from Periyakulam region said that they raised vegetables, fruits and other horticultural goods and brought them to the sandhai in Theni. The government had suspended the free bus facility after the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the farmers transported their produce through their own personal vehicles or carried them in goods vehicle paying from their pocket. Hence, they urged the Deputy CM to consider their difficulties and redress them. The Deputy CM, who was here to take stock of the development works under way at the Collectorate, held discussions in the presence of Minister I Periasamy, senior IAS officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Yadav, Additional Secretary R.V. Shajeevana, Collector Ranjith Singh and other officials. After consultations, he announced that the district administration would resume the free transport facility for the farmers. In the first phase, it was proposed to ply the buses from Periyakulam Panchayat Union limits covering Jayamangalam to Pinnathevanpatti, Chokkathevanpatti and Annanchi to Theni from today (June 16) onwards. From tomorrow (June 17), it was proposed to ply buses to carry the farm goods from Mayiladumparai panchayat union covering Kadamalaigundu to Nagalapuram. In an upbeat mood, the farmers thanked Mr Udayanidhi with folded hands. Expressing relief, a farmer Jafar Sadiq said that the government's swift action today would help many marginal farmers to save their hard earned money. Echoing similar views, Veeralakshmi another farmer said that the buses were plying pre-COVID19 and they were not able to get it resumed since then. 'I am very happy that the Deputy CM has given us such a big relief instantly,' she added. The Deputy CM gave away welfare assistance to 851 beneficiaries worth ₹13.49 crore in the presence of MP Thanga Tamil Selvan, MLAs Cumbum N Ramakrishnan, K.S. Saravana Kumar, A. Maharajan and other rural local body members. Earlier, while addressing the senior officials from various departments at the Theni Collectorate, Mr. Udayanidhi said that in the last four years, under the leadership of CM M.K. Stalin, they had fulfilled numerous promises made to the people. 'We will continue to do that in the next 10 months or so, after which the elections are due to the State,' he said and thanked the officials for playing the role of catalyst between the government and the people. On the occasion, the grievances of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community from Periyakulam block were redressed and the basic needs were fulfilled. The Deputy CM gave away free pattas and kits to the beneficiaries.
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TN remains an enigma for the saffron lobby
As NDA 3.0 completes its first anniversary today, the perennially in election mode apparatus of the alliance must already be working overtime for the slate for the later part of the year. Bihar, one of the states readying for the Assembly elections, is slowly but surely seeing changes, ostensibly in favour of an overwhelming saffron win at present. Whatever that may be, the 2026 elections must be making the war rooms of various political parties working with a different game plan as it is where the INDIA bloc sees its chances. Tamil Nadu, by this time, next year would have had a new government in place. The question is, which party will get to run the state which is now seeing aggressive posturing by NDA and counter attacks by the DMK government. Once a formal alliance was sealed by the Centre with the principal Opposition party and old ally, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the BJP must have felt relieved that it has made the first move, well. Given that the MGR-founded party is facing an identity and existential crisis in its 53rd year of existence, the cobbling together of the alliance with smaller parties being wooed establishes the fact that the saffron party is happy to ride piggyback on the Dravidian big brother this time around. Amit Shah's latest statement that the new alliance will sweep the 2026 polls has not entirely been rejected by the political pundits and as expected, pooh poohed by the DMK leaders. Its top-rung icons say that if the Dravidian ideology resonates with the people, it is nigh impossible for the BJP to set its foot in Tamil Nadu. While a few still consider the earlier elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as a 'lost opportunity' for the BJP to have made inroads into the Tamil psyche, the highly unpopular way the administration has gone about its business has made the average public take a critical look at the goings-on in the State. Dynastic politics – that of Udayanidhi being groomed to take over from the present CM, M K Stalin - is still being helplessly accepted by the party machinery and followers as a 'natural' progression of the first family in retaining power. What is not left unnoticed is the increased presence of Karunanidhi's daughter and the CM's step-sister Kanimozhi in the central scheme of things, Stalin's blow hot blow cold with Modi government and the stench of corruption in the governance of the State which has been allowed to grow (the TASMAC case, for one), for a surgical strike later by the central machinery, closer to the poll dates. It is surely a work in progress for the non-DMK formation, but it is a known fact that the DMK has till date never managed a second successive stint in office. Will they break the jinx this time or will a currently docile anti-DMK alliance spring a surprise? If it is the final chance for the AIADMK to retain its political relevance, it is also the best-ever opportunity for the BJP in nearly five decades to make its presence felt in the state's corridors of power. Whether they can make or mar will be in the hands of the Tamil electorate.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NEET dress row: AIADMK slams Tamil Nadu govt, Congress calls it ‘Absurd'
AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan on Sunday condemned the "high-handedness" of the DMK led Tamil Nadu government after reports that students were barred from entering their National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination centre for failing to comply with the "dress code" "We strongly condemn this high-handedness on the dress code in the name of whatever laws they have on hand, which is highly condemnable. Mr Udayanidhi, the prince, should hang his head in shame," the AIADMK leader said. "This is the 4th consecutive year that the NEET examination is happening in Tamil Nadu. Before 2021, he promised that the NEET would be abolished in Tamil Nadu if voted to power. I think the student should question him... Any high-handedness toward the students coming to write the examination is highly condemnable. I think there have to be some reasonable guidelines (regarding dress code)." Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram took to his X and said, "Most ridiculous and absurd dress code regulations", tagging the National Testing Agency, which conducts the NEET Exams. He attached a video in which authorities were seen cutting off buttons apparently metal ones of students, including girls were seen cutting off buttons from the clothes and Reportedly, two girl students were barred from entering their NEET examination centre in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur on Sunday due to the presence of metal buttons on their attire. However, according to reports, a policewoman came to the rescue of a girl student by taking her to a nearby shop on her two-wheeler so that she could purchase a new dress and take her exam.
