Tag: Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu SSLC pass percentage up by 0.16%; girls outmatch boys

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Tamil Nadu SSLC public exam result was announced on Friday May 10 by authorities that showed the overall pass percentage improving marginally and girl students getting 94.53% pass percentage, 5.95%higher than the boys (88.58%).

The Tamil Nadu Department of Government Examinations, which released the data related to SSLC examination, said the pass percentage of this year (91.55) is 0.16% higher than that of the previous year (91.39).

Of the 13,510 differently-abled students, 12,491 cleared the exam (92.45%) and out of the 260 prisoners, 228 got through (87.69%). As many as 8,94,264 students appeared for the SSLC exams in the state and of them, 4,47,061 were girls and 4,47,203 were boys.

In total, 8,18,743 students (91.55%) succeeded and of them, girls were 4,22,591 (94.53%) and 3,96,152 were boys (88.58%). In Maths and Science subjects, 20,691 and 5,104 students got centum respectively.

Only 8 students secured centum in Tamil and 415 got 100% marks in English. In Social Science, 4,428 students scored the maximum of 100 marks. Ariyalur (97.31%), Sivaganga (97.02%) and Ramanathapuram districts (96.36%) registered the maximum pass percentage.

As regards government schools, Ariyalur (96.20%), Sivaganga (95.45%) and Kanniyakumari (95.17%) scored the maximum pass percentage. Vellore (82.07%), Ranipet (85.48%) and Tiruvannamalai (86.10%) were the districts to score the lowest pass percentage.

Vellore (77.66%), Chennai (79.07%) and Chengelpet (79.20%) districts saw the lowest pass percentage in regard to government schools.

In total, 9,10,148 school students had registered for the examination and 15,884 of them were absentees. Of the 32,348 private candidates, 2,236 were absentees. The SSLC exam (2023-24 academic year) will be held from July 2, 2024 considering the welfare of absentees and students who could not clear the exam in March-April this year.

Students clearing the supplementary exam will be eligible to pursue higher secondary course (Plus one and plus two and any other course for which the eligibility is a pass in SSLC) from the current academic year- 2024-25, the government said.

The supplementary exam time table will be announced on May 11. From May 13, all schools may download the provisional SSLC mark certificates from the government portal. The SSLC examinations were held from March 26 to April 8 in Tamil Nadu.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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First BJP MLA in Tamil Nadu C. Velayutham dies at 73

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mandatory for tourists to get e-pass for travel to Ooty and Kodaikanal by road

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The summer paradises of Ooty in southern India (also known as Udagamandalam), and Kodakanal, captivates travellers with its pleasant climate, which will see minimum temperatures of 14 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 20 degrees (on May 4), while the rest of India faces severe heat wave. The scenic landscapes of both the hill stations and their timeless charms make Ooty an unmatched destination for thousands of people who head to the hill station for short summer breaks.

To ensure the preservation of the Nilgiris’ ecosystem and manage the influx of tourist, the Madras High Court recently mandated the use of an e-pass system for travellers heading to the Ooty and Kodaikanal. Effective from May 7 to June 30, 2024, this initiative aims to regulate tourism flow during peak summer season.

Dubbed the “Queen of Hill Stations,” Ooty is a favored destination for nature enthusiast. Among its main attractions is the Government Botanical Garden that stands out spread across 55 acres and showcases wide range of exotic plants, flowers and trees.

Also read | Cool summer destinations: India to showcase cooler places to attract more foreign tourists

Kodaikanal, nestled in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu offers a serene escape to travellers with its misty mountains, lush valleys, and tranquil lakes, the destinations beckon travellers seeking solace in the lap of nature.

In case you are planning a visit the picturesque hill stations, ensure you seek an e-pass as the Madras High Court has mandated its use for travellers to address the challenges posed by the growing number of tourists in these hill stations. There is no limit on the issuance of e-passes, with local residents being exempt from this requirement.

The court’s decision also addresses the issue of traffic congestion, particularly along the challenging ghat roads leading to Ooty and Kodaikanal. By implementing e-passes, the court seeks to gather data on vehicular movement and ease congestion on the roadways.

Also read: 8 cool destinations near Delhi to go on a short summer break

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Unauthorised stickers banned on vehicles in Chennai; traffic police warn of action after May 1

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) has warned people against having unauthorised stickers of government departments/institutions on their vehicles from Thursday, May 2. The police have provided motorists time until May 1 to remove the stickers. Post that, any such sticker on the vehicle will lead to bookings under the MV Act 1988.

From May 2 onwards, “Strict action will be taken against the violators by booking cases under Section 198 of MV Act 1988 (Unauthorised interference with a motor vehicle) and CMV Rule 50 under Section 177 of MV Act (defective number plate),” a press note from the police read.

🚫Restriction of Unauthorized Stickering in Private Vehicle

From 2.5.2024 onwards, strict action will be taken against the violators by booking cases u/s 198 of MV Act 1988 & CMV Rule 50 u/s 177 of MV act (defective number plate).

Road users are requested to be aware of this. pic.twitter.com/E8zjwmNXoo

— Greater Chennai Traffic Police (@ChennaiTraffic) April 27, 2024

In Chennai, several motorists display stickers of departments/institutions like “press, secretariat, TNEB, Greater Chennai Corporation, defence, and police” on their private vehicles. The stickers can be witnessed either on the number plates or on other parts of the vehicle.

It stated that this could have ‘wide-ranging negative impacts’ on the individual as well as the concerned departments.

“Revealing such government affiliation in private vehicles could compromise operating efficiency and safety. Also, it may lead to misuse of the department’s reputation and deviate officers and police personnel during their field duty,” the press release added.

Besides this, several private vehicles in the region also have symbols or logos/emblems of political parties, doctors and advocates, too.

“Considering the seriousness of this fact, Greater Chennai Traffic Police hereby warns the road users against these practices and provide a time till May 1 to correct and rectify,” it noted.

Doctors and advocates seek exemption

After the Greater Chennai Traffic Police’s warning, doctors and advocates in the city have sought exemption from the crackdown, The New Indian Express reported.

The Democratic Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association has requested the traffic police to exempt doctors from the ban. The association’s press release said the golden hour is important in the case of cardiac arrest, road accidents and other cases. If a doctor is stopped on the way by the traffic police, then there will be a lot of time wastage in explanations, it added.

Meanwhile, President of Madras High Court Advocates Association G Mohana Krishnan also sought the traffic police to withdraw the order on the stickers on vehicles of duly enrolled lawyers, the report said.

Vehicle stickers are issued to enrolled advocates by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after verification of their vehicle registration number and hologram. This allows them seamless entry and parking on court premises, it stated.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Tamil Nadu records 72.09% voter turnout, youth show enthusiasm

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Election Commission: Nearly 60% polling till 7 pm in phase one of Lok Sabha polls

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) said that nearly 60% voter turnout has been recorded at the end of the phase one of Lok Sabha polls on Friday, April 19. The voting for 102 seats across 21 states and union territories began at 7 am amid heavy security. As many as 1,625 candidates are in the fray in the first phase. Eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers and one ex-governor are among those who are set to test their electoral fate in this phase. The voting for the first phase ended at 6 pm. Besides Lok Sabha polls, voting began for assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. 

Here’s the list of voter turnout from all major states that saw polling for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 72.09% in the Lok Sabha polls held in a single phase, slightly lower than 72.44% it had recorded in the 2019 polls. The fate of 950 candidates will be decided by about 6.23 crore voters who are set to exercise their franchise in 68,321 polling stations. DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran (Central Chennai), A Raja (Nilgiris) and Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), BJP’s K Annamalai (Coimbatore), L Murugan (Nilgiris) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (South Chennai), former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (Ramanathapuram), Congress party’s Karti Chidambaram (Sivaganga), AIADMK’s J Jayavardhan (South Chennai) and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran (Theni) are among the prominent candidates.

Uttar Pradesh

About 58% voter turnout was recorded on eight seats of western Uttar Pradesh where polling took place in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. According to the Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app, 63.29% voting was reported in Saharanpur, 57.83% in Moradabad, 60.39% in Kairana, 59.17% in Nagina, 60.23% in Pilibhit, 54.68% in Bijnor, 52.42% in Rampur and 54.91% in Muzaffarnagar.

Maharashtra

About 32.36% of the over 95 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm. Voter turnout stood at 19.72% in Bhandara-Gondia,  Chandrapur 18.94%, Gadchiroli-Chimur 24.88%, Nagpur 17.73% and Ramtek 16.14%.

Altogether 97 candidates, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, are in the fray in five seats, all located in eastern-most parts of the state.

There are 95,54,667 voters in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the Vidarbha region. Of these, 48,28,142 are male, 47,26,178 female and 347 transgender voters, an election official said.

West Bengal

A voter turnout of 77.57%  was recorded in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. A total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats. A total of 37 candidates are in the fray in the three constituencies where voting will continue till 6 pm.

Rajasthan

A voter turnout of close to 55% was recorded in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where polling was held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The election authorities said 54.97% of the electorate cast their votes. The final figures would be released later. The highest voter turnout of 62.93% was recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Jhunjhunu saw the lowest turnout of 47.98%, it said. Jaipur recorded a poll percentage of 61.23. The voting percentage in Bikaner was 52.53, Churu 61.05, Sikar 55.06, Jaipur Rural 54.44, Alwar 55.82, Dausa 49.57, Bharatpur 50.97 and Nagaur 56.89. There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan and the remaining 13 will go to poll in the second phase on April 26.

Madhya Pradesh

A voter turnout of 66.44% was recorded across six Lok Sabha seats, including high-profile Chhindwara, in Madhya Pradesh in the first phase of general elections. Chhindwara recorded the highest turnout of 78.67%, followed by Mandla 72.92%, Balaghat 72.60%, Shahdol 64.11%, Jabalpur 59.72% and Sidhi 56.18%.

Voting in Baihar and Paraswada assembly constituencies in Naxal-affected Balaghat was held between 7 am and 4 pm for security reasons.

The BJP had failed to win the Chhindwara constituency in the 2019 parliamentary polls. It was the only Lok Sabha seat, out of the total 29 in the state, that the ruling party could not win.

Besides Chhindwara, the other key seat in the first phase is Mandla (ST), from where the sitting MP and Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste is contesting again.

The six constituencies – Shahdol, Mandla (both reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates), Jabalpur, Balaghat, Chhindwara and Sidhi – covered 13 districts and 47 assembly segments in the state.

In the November 2023 assembly elections in the state, 77.82% voting was recorded. The state registered 61.57% voting in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which increased to 71.16% in 2019.

Polling for three more phases of the Lok Sabha elections in the state will take place on April 26, May 7 and May 13 for the remaining 23 seats.

As many as 88 candidates, 81 men and seven women are in the fray across the six constituencies. The total number of registered voters in the six constituencies is 1,13,09, 636 (57,20,780 male, 55,88,669 female and 187 transgender).

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand recorded 53.65% polling.

Assam

The state recorded a voter turnout of 45.12% till 1 pm in the five Lok Sabha seats. Jorhat recorded the highest turnout of 47.73%, followed by Sonitpur with 45.25%, Lakhimpur 44.33%, Kaziranga 44.32% and Dibrugarh 44.02%.

A total of 86,47,869 voters will decide the fate of 35 candidates in these five seats.

Jammu

Around 43.11% of voters exercised their franchise till 11 am in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur parliamentary constituency.

Voting will decide the fate of 12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh who is eyeing a third term after winning the seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019. This is the first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

Bihar

First phase of Lok Sabha polls in four constituencies passed off peacefully in Bihar on Friday, with a provisional voter turnout of 48.23%, almost 5% less than that of the 2019 general elections, officials said. The prevailing heatwave condition could be a possible reason for the low voter turnout, they said. Gaya registered 52% polling, Aurangabad 50%, Jamui 50% and Nawada 41.50%. The total voter turnout in these four Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections was 53.47%.

Chhattisgarh

More than 42% of the electorate cast their votes till 1 pm in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh. The straight fight is between the Congress’s firebrand leader Kawasi Lakhma and BJP’s Mahesh Kashyap, a fresh face, in Bastar, which the saffron party lost in 2019.

Altogether 14,72,207 voters, including 7,71,679 women, 7,00,476 men and 52 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the seat with 11 candidates in the fray.

Manipur

Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of over 68% in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday. Both the BJP and the Congress accused each other of unleashing violence and breaching the election Model Code of Conduct. The state which has been reeling under the conflict of ethnic violence since May last year has traditionally seen a very high voter turnout. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state recorded a turnout of 82%. Voting took place in two constituencies–Inner Manipur (32 assembly segments) and Outer Manipur (15 assembly segments)- on Friday while polling in the remaining 13 assembly segments in the Outer Manipur constituency will take place on April 26 in the second phase. “A voter turnout of 68.82% has been recorded. While the Inner Manipur constituency has recorded 72.3% turnout, the poll percentage in Outer Manipur stood at 61.98%,” said Pradeep Kumar Jha, Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur.

Arunachal Pradesh

Around 37% of the total 8,92,694 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Friday in the state where polling is underway for two Lok Sabha seats and 50 assembly constituencies, officials said. The ruling BJP has already won 10 seats in the 60-member assembly unopposed.

Though the turnout was moderate in the morning hours due to inclement weather, it gathered momentum with weather conditions improving.

Nagaland

The lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland recorded a voter turnout of 56.77%. The polling was underway amid a call given by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) in six districts of the region to abstain from voting over the demand for a separate state.  A total of 13.25 lakh voters are eligible to vote in Nagaland.

Sikkim

Over 68% of the 4.64 lakh voters in 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim have exercised their franchise. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who is spearheading the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)’s bid for a second term in power, is contesting from the Soreng-Chakung assembly constituency. Tamang is also contesting from the Rhenock assembly seat. Sitting Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba and SDF’s PD Rai are among 14 candidates in the lone Lok Sabha seat.

Tripura

The Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency registered a voter turnout of nearly 80% amid allegations of irregularities. In the by-election to the Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 43.01% was recorded till 1 pm. Altogether, 14.61 lakh people are eligible to vote in this phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

An estimated 35.70% of the total 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have exercised their franchise till 1 pm.

A total of 12 candidates, including two women and five independents are in the fray for the lone Lok Sabha seat. However, the contest is between the BJP’s Bishnu Pada Ray and Congress-sitting MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma.

The total number of voters in the Union Territory (UT) is 3,15148, which includes 1,64,012 male, 1,51,132 female and four voters in third gender category.

Puducherry

The lone Puducherry Lok Sabha seat recorded 77.86% polling, according to the union territory’s election authorities. The fight is between BJP’s A Namassivayam and Congress MP V Vaithilingam, seeking a successive term.

Lakshadweep

Nearly 60% voter turnout was recorded until 5 pm in the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha constituency, where present MP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Mohammed Faizal is engaged in a fierce battle with Congress leader and former MP Hamdullah Sayeed. The constituency spans across the 10 inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, with an electorate of 57,784 as per data shared by the Election Commission. Out of this total, 28,506 are women voters. TP Yousuf of the NCP (Ajith Pawar) is also contesting the election.

Mizoram

More than 56% of the total 8.56 lakh voters in Mizoram exercised their franchise for the lone Lok Sabha seat till 5 pm on Friday, election officials said. State additional chief electoral officer H Lianzela said 56.68 per cent voter turnout was reported till 5 pm when the deadline for voting ended. There are six candidates in the fray.

Meghalaya registered nearly 71% voter turnout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: DMK’s A Raja eyes second term in Nilgiris as 71% turnout registered

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris constituency goes to polls on April 19, the first phase of voting in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Voting across 102 constituencies that vote in this phase began at 7 am. The constintuency witnessed a voter turnout of 70.93% by the end of polling.

All the 39 assembly seats of Tamil Nadu will witness voting in the first phase of polling. Nilgiris is a key constituency as sitting MP and DMK candidate A Raja is up against union minister and BJP candidate L Murugan.

The key constituency, reserved for scheduled caste, witnesses a four-cornered contest this time with Raja, Murugan, AIADMK’s Lokesh Tamilselvan and Naam Tamilar Katchi’s A Jayakumar.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Nilgiris, L Murugan casts his vote at a polling station in Koyambedu, Chennai.

DMK has fielded A Raja from the constituency. AIADMK’s D. Lokesh Tamilselvan also contesting from here. #LokSabhaElection2024 pic.twitter.com/OwVj5zv8ux

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Raja defeated AIADMK candidate M Thiyagarajan by a margin of more than 2,00,000 votes. He had won the seat in 2009 as well but failed to retain it in 2014.

Since 2009, the constituency has been reserved for candidates belonging to the scheduled caste. It is composed of the following assembly segments: Bhavanisagar (AIADMK), Udhagamandalam (Congress), Gudalur (AIADMK), Coonoor (DMK), Mettupalayam (AIADMK) and Avinashi (AIADMK).

As many as 1,365,608 voters shall decide the next winner from the constituency which has 24.5% of SC voters and 3.2% of ST voters.

At a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to make a solid mark in the southern states of the country, Nilgiris, unlike other constituencies of Tamil Nadu, is not particularly unfamiliar territory for the BJP.

Master Mathan of the BJP won twice from this seat in 1998 and 1999. However, those victories were mostly ensured during an alliance with the AIADMK or DMK.

In this term, BJP is fighting alone against both the DMK and AIADMK. According to News18 ground, BJP seems to be putting up a tough fight on the seat. Even if it does not win the seat, it stands a high chance of displacing the AIADMK from the second position.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Coimbatore Lok Sabha election: TN BJP chief K Annamalai seeks maiden term in Parliament

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Coimbatore constituency in Tamil Nadu recorded 58% voting till 5 pm. Overall, the state recorded 62.08% voter turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Coimbatore is one of the prestigious parliamentary seats. State Bharatiya Janata Party chief K Annamalai is aiming for his maiden Lok Sabha term in 2024.

The Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat has the third highest number of voters after Sriperumbudur and Chennai South, making it one of the most significant electoral districts in Tamil Nadu. PR Natarajan, the sitting MP of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is not contesting this time.

List of Candidates

As many as 37 candidates are contesting from the Coimbatore seat. Here’s a list of top five among them:

2019 Lok Sabha election Result

In 2019, PR Natarajan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won the elections after he received 46% of the total votes.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Sriperumbudur records 37% voter turnout in first four hours of voting

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Sriperumbudur, a bustling industrial centre in Tamil Nadu, and one of the 39 high-profile parliamentary constituencies in the state with over 23 lakh voters, recorded 37.4% voter turnout till 1 pm today (April 19).

This constituency, which encompasses Assembly segments from Maduravoyal, Ambattur, and Alandur in Chennai, as well as Sriperumbudur in Kancheepuram district, and Pallavaram and Tambaram in Chengalpattu district, has often been a battleground for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Tamil Nadu voted in a single-phase for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with vote counting set for June 4, all eyes are on Sriperumbudur.

The last election saw DMK’s TR Baalu, a seasoned politician with six Lok Sabha terms, secure a decisive win beating his nearest rival from Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) by a margin of over five lakh.

TR Baalu, who represented Chennai South in four consecutive general elections from 1996 to 2004 before shifting his political base to Sriperumbudur, made a robust comeback in 2019 after a defeat in Thanjavur in 2014.

Seeking his seventh term, Baalu is faced with competition from AIADMK’s G Premkumar and VN Venugopal of the TMC(M), part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as well as other candidates like V Ravichandran of NTK, K Prabakaran of BSP, and S Ambethkumar of MMMK.

The 2019 election results showcased a dominant performance by Baalu who garnered 7,93,281 votes, constituting 56% of the total votes.

His closest competitor, A Vaithilingam of PMK, received 2,85,326 votes, which was 20% of the total.

Other candidates like M Sridhar of MNM secured 1,35,525 votes (10%), and H Mahendran of NTK got 84,979 votes (6%). Independent candidate Tambaram G Narayanan and votes cast for ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) also made up significant portions of the vote share with 41,497 (3%) and 23,343 (2%), respectively.

As Sriperumbudur heads to the polls, the constituency stands at a critical juncture, poised to decide if it will continue its trend of strong DMK support or pivot towards new leadership under the challenging circumstances presented by diverse opposition. This election is not just a test of TR Baalu’s enduring appeal but also a reflection of the dynamic political landscape of this vital industrial region of Tamil Nadu.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Lok Sabha election 2024: A SWOT analysis of DMK vs AIADMK in Tamil Nadu

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tamil Nadu, on Friday, April 19, went to polls in a single-phase election during the first phase of polling for 102 seats across 12 states and union territories. The key contest is between the two Dravidian parties – DMK and AIADMK leading their alliances. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of K Annamalai has cobbled an alliance of its own and hopes to throw a surprise.

MK Stalin-led DMK, a key constituent of the INDIA alliance, includes the Congress and the Left Parties in the alliance. Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK is also hoping to make a mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll.

Here’s a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat) analysis of the two major political parties in Tamil Nadu:

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)

STRENGTHS: DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin continues to maintain a resolute anti-BJP stance, particularly on contentious issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Anti-incumbency is not a factor against the ruling party, which remains popular and ably backed by its robust organisational structure statewide. What further bolsters DMK’s position is the unflinching support from its allies, including the Congress and the Left parties, further uplifted by a symbiotic alliance and not a parasitic one.

WEAKNESS: The succession of MK Stalin after M Karunanidhi in DMK strengthens the charge of ‘family rule’ and ‘dynasty’ politics often made by the main rivals AIADMK and the BJP.  Allegations of graft against DMK ministers and the ongoing probe involving Balaji, KKSSR Ramachandran, Thangam Thennarasu, and Periyasamy further dent the party’s claim of a clean image. Although DMK has dismissed Jaffer Sadiq, an office-bearer from the party in connection with allegations of links with an international drug cartel, the issue is highlighted often by Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami to target the DMK. The opposition AIADMK has also been targeting the DMK on the Cauvery River water issue, alleging that it hasn’t secured the state’s rights in Mekedatu issue as the Cauvery Water Management Authority took up the dam proposal of Karnataka for discussion and referred to the Central Water Commission.

OPPORTUNITIES: The Stalin government implemented social welfare measures including fare-free travel in state-run buses for women could consolidate their vote in its favour. The state government has also been able to attract a lot of investment in the manufacturing sector that could create job opportunities. The exit of O Panneerselvam, a leader belonging to the Mukkulathor community, may go against the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu’s southern districts.

THREATS: The Palaniswami-led AIADMK is a power to reckon in the state and commands considerable clout in the western part of Tamil Nadu along with the presence of a well-organised party structure. The opposition has been targeting the DMK government on sugarcane and paddy procurement at higher prices, which remains an unfulfilled poll promise. AIADMK fighting elections without an alliance with the BJP may help the opposition’s cause and strengthen its claim of representing a true Dravidian ideology devoid of dynasty politics. The sharp rise of the BJP under state chief K Annamalai and the strong response his padayatra received could throw electoral surprises for both Dravidian parties.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)

STRENGTHS: Palaniswami has asserted himself as a strong leader and targeted both the ruling DMK and the BJP while championing his state’s interests. The former Tamil Nadu CM’s firm stance against CAA will also help project a secular image for his party. On the crucial Cauvery river water issue, Palaniswami has been seen prioritising Tamil Nadu’s rights including his administration’s initiatives, for instance, the Kudimaramathu scheme for water conservation and declaring the Cauvery delta region as a protected agricultural zone. During his tenure as the CM, he introduced a 7.5% quota for state school students in medical courses.

WEAKNESSES: A major gap in the party’s organisation is lack of a charismatic leader like the late J Jayalalitha. Despite serving a full tenure as Tamil Nadu CM, Palaniswami lacks the charisma to galvanise the state’s voters when compared to Stalin. Even organisationally, the AIADMK is a former shadow of itself against the well-oiled structure of the DMK and rising rank and file of the BJP led by K Annamalai. The party’s ongoing legal dispute between Palaniswami and Paneerselvam further weakens the structure and organisational strength. Despite distancing itself from the BJP, there remains scepticism among voters over its future course of action as the party leans more towards the right side of the political spectrum.

OPPORTUNITIES: In Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha polls, issues like drugs, CAA, and regional concerns will take center stage. and with the AIADMK’s stance on these topics, the party aims to solidify minority support and hopes to breach traditional DMK strongholds. The party’s strategies focus on addressing these pressing issues to sway voters in its favor.

THREATS: The symbiotic alliance of the DMK-led ruling INDIA block and their campaign is a huge threat to the AIADMK along with internal factionalism and litigation that dents the party’s image. The presence of a strong PM candidate in BJP in Narendra Modi who has invoked the legacy of MGR and Jayalalitha against the DMK family rule may benefit the saffron party at the expense of the AIADMK.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow