DMK, AIADMK want India to skip Commonwealth meet in Colombo

Amid protests in support of Sri Lankan Tamils in Tamil Nadu, both ruling AIADMK and Karunanidhi-led DMK on Monday mounted pressure on the Centre demanding that India boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo this November.

DMK quits UPA, pulls out ministers; govt says no threat

DMK, the second biggest constituent in UPA, on Tuesday quit the ruling alliance and pulled out its five Union ministers in protest against government not taking up its concerns in the proposed UN resolution against Sri Lanka on alleged human rights violations of Tamils there.

DMK sulks, govt bracing for opposition onslaught on FDI in Parliament

Government was bracing itself on Wednesday for an opposition onslaught in the Parliament session beginning next week over the issue of FDI in retail on which a number of opposition parties have given motions entailing voting in the Lok Sabha.

DMK to submit Tamil meet resolutions to UN: Karunanidhi

DMK president M.Karunanidhi Tuesday said that his party will send the resolutions passed at the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meet here to the United Nations (UN). Speaking to reporters here, Karunanidhi said:

DMK rattles divorce sword - Ministry exit, support offer

The DMK today said it would withdraw its ministers from the Union government blaming the Congress’s demand for an increasing number of seats with fresh conditions ahead of the April 13 Tamil Nadu polls, but offered the Centre issue-based support.

Former DMK minister's brother remanded in custody

Former DMK minister K N Nehru's brother, who was detained at Kochi airport when he was on his way to Dubai, has been remanded in judicial custody.

Another ex-DMK minister arrested in land grab case

Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday arrested former transport minister and DMK leader KN Nehru for his alleged role in usurping a doctor's land in Trichy, around 320 km south of Chennai.

Ahead of poll verdict, TNCC a divided house

Speculation about the DMK being a divided house appeared to be quelled on Wednesday when the party's top leaders made themselves available in Delhi, on the eve of the party's Raja Sabha MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi having to appear before the special court trying the spectrum case.

DMK to sue AIADMK mouthpiece over report

Continuing their post-Assembly poll battle ahead of the May 13 counting of votes in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK said it would sue its rival AIADMK's mouthpiece for carrying a report "intended at creating panic" among people and the election staff.

DMK presents Tamil Nadu budget, expects surplus of more than Rs 430 crore

The interim budget for 2011-12 presented by Finance Minister K Anbazhagan in the Tamil Nadu assembly today showed a revenue surplus of more than Rs 430 crore.

Karunanidhi plays Nehru card to keep ties with Cong intact

In an emotional plea to Congress president Sonia Gandhi not to be deceived by attempts by vested interests to drive a wedge between her party and the DMK, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday recited one of his poems on Jawaharlal Nehru to underscore his respect for the Nehru family

DMK protests Lankan attacks on fishermen

The ruling DMK on Saturday staged a demonstration near the Sri Lankan deputy high commission here to protest the recent death of a fisherman from the state allegedly in an attack by Sri Lankan navy personnel off the Kodiakarai coast on July 7.

DMK romps home in Tamil Nadu by-polls

Chennai, Dec 23 Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK Wednesday won by a comfortable margin in two assembly constituencies where by-polls were held Dec 19, the Election Commission said.
Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK Wednesday won by a comfortable margin in two assembly constituencies where by-polls were held Dec 19, the Election Commission said.
Anita Radhakrishnan, the party's candidate for the Tiruchendur assembly seat secured more than 46,000 votes over AIADMK rival while DMK's Vandavasi candidate Kamalakannan won with a margin of around 38,000 votes.
While AIADMK's candidates came second in both the constituencies, Vijayakant's DMDK lost deposits on both the seats.
Both the constituencies witnessed high voter turnout with Tiruchendur polling 78 percent of the votes and Vandavasi 84 percent.
The by-polls were a hi-tech affair with the Election Commission matching the images of voters captured on the web camera installed in the polling booths with those stored in its servers to eliminate bogus voting.
Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta monitored the counting of votes from Chennai through web camera.
With these two wins, DMK's strength in the assembly goes up to 99 including Speaker R. Avudaiappan.
The party will aim to reach the century mark in January when by-poll for Ponnagaram will be held.
DMK Chief and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has attributed the party's victory to the state government's performance.
Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the result was on expected lines while his brother and union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri expressed his happiness at the results.
Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa, in a statement here, thanked the voters of Tiruchendur and Vandavasi and said that the DMK won using money and muscle power with the central government and the Election Commission turning a blind eye.

Karunanidhi retirement announcement takes DMK by surprise

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi took the state and his DMK party by surprise Saturday announcing his retirement post World

Classical Tamil Conference to be held in Coimbatore in June.

Addressing a meeting organised by community organisation Arundathi Makkal Katchi, 85-year-old Karunanidhi said: "After the construction of new assembly complex, inaugurating of Anna Centenary Library and World Classical Tamil Conference I will be one amongst you shorn of ministerial trappings."

According to him, the above three are his unfinished agenda after completing several goals in public life.

The meeting was organised to thank Karunanidhi for providing three percent reservation for the Arundathiyars.

The announcement took the party by surprise as many party leaders were seen intensely discussing amongst themselves on hearing him.

The announcement is expected to hasten changes in internal equations within the DMK party.

It was in May 2009 that Karunanidhi elevated his son M.K. Stalin and cabinet colleague as the deputy chief minister allocating most the portfolios handled by him.

In the recent times Karunanidhi has been staying away from poll campaign which is now taken care by Stalin, his elder brother and union Minister Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K. Alagiri.

DMK govt begins to keep promise

CHENNAI: For Kandasamy Dharmalingam (43), a daily wage earner, the day dawned bright on Saturday. Unused to even the smallest luxuries in his

cramped living quarters in the drab ghetto in Puzhal in Chennai's northern suburbs, a brand new colour television was to soon add a touch of colour.
The Puzhal refugee camp for Sri Lankan Tamils, who sought refuge in Indian shores at the peak of the Eelam war, wore a festive look. Barely a month after the Tamil Nadu government announced that the freebies and welfare schemes for locals would also be extended to the 70,000-odd refugees spread across 115 camps dotting the state, deputy chief minister MK Stalin arrived at the Puzhal camp, with free colour television sets for every family here.
Though some of the families in the camp, falling within Tiruvallur district, could afford to buy television sets, the DMK government's gift "gives us a sense of belonging," Dharmalingam said, beaming. "Now all we want are permanent houses. If we get that we will stay here permanently," he said. He and his family had been staying in the camp for 20 years.
Stalin distributed colour television sets to all the 440 families staying at the Puzhal camp on Saturday. He also presented sports kits worth Rs 25,000 each to the inmates and marriage assistance of Rs 20,000 to a poor girl.
On the eve of Stalin's visit, the camp wore a festive look with the premises being cleared of bushes and the broken down bathrooms and toilets wearing a new look. The playground at the camp was also spruced up with the authorities clearing it and laying a new road. Electric posts were also erected.
Speaking at the simple function, Stalin said the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme would be extended to all the Sri Lankan Tamils staying here. "We will no longer call them refugees. As insisted by the chief minister, we regard them as our brethren from Sri Lanka. The government is committed to their welfare and all help would be extended for their wellbeing," he told TOI.

Recalling the recent announcement by the chief minister M Karunanidhi that a total of Rs 100 crore would be spent towards the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils living in the state, Stalin said steps would be taken to construct houses for them. The school and college going students will get free bus passes. Stalin also ordered construction of a ration shop at the Puzhal camp venue at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh.