May 12, 2026

Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Amid rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday told graduating students at the 51st convocation of AIIMS that no technology could replace “the moral weight of a doctor’s presence at the patient’s bedside”.Addressing students at Bharat Mandapam, the Vice President said AIIMS Delhi was no longer merely keeping pace with the world but was “actively setting the tempo for the future of medicine”. He urged young doctors and scientists to carry forward values of compassion, innovation and public trust.The institute awarded 523 degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty, doctoral, nursing and allied health sciences programmes during the convocation ceremony.Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India’s medical education capacity had expanded sharply over the past decade, with the number of medical colleges increasing from around 390 to 825 and medical seats reaching 1.25 lakh. He said the government planned to add another 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats over the next two to three years.Nadda said India now had 23 AIIMS institutions, including 16 established in recent years, and added that AIIMS Delhi carried a special responsibility in mentoring newer institutions across the country.During the ceremony, graduating students took the Charak Oath, reaffirming commitment to ethical medical practice and patient care. Degrees awarded included DM, MCh, MD, MS, MDS, MBBS, PhD, nursing and allied health sciences qualifications, along with fellowships in emerging specialties such as bariatric surgery, hepatology and blood and marrow transplantation.AIIMS director Dr Nikhil Tandon said the institute had emerged as a leader in AI-driven healthcare innovations, including AI-assisted screening tools for diabetic retinopathy, oral cancer and radiology applications. He also highlighted AIIMS Delhi’s ranking among the world’s top hospitals and its recognition by the World Health Organization in multiple areas of public health and research.The institute also conferred Lifetime Achievement Awards on five former faculty members for contributions to medical science, research and patient care.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosKerala CM Race Heats Up, KC Venugopal Emerges Frontrunner As Rahul Gandhi Holds KeyNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: NTA Confirms WhatsApp Leak, Announces Refunds & CBI ProbeVijay Meets AIADMK Rebels As EPS Faces Internal Revolt Before Key Assembly VoteIndia Has 60 Days Of Crude Oil LNG; 45 Days Of LPG; Oil Firms Losing ₹1,000 Cr A Day: Hardeep PuriNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System Failure123PhotostoriesTraditional Indian home features that deserve a comeback in modern livingFrom lawsuits to public feuds: Controversies that kept Johnny Depp in headlinesLesser-known facts about ‘Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chasma’ star Dilip Joshi, aka Jethala5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversy123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Photo credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Amid rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday told graduating students at the 51st convocation of AIIMS that no technology could replace “the moral weight of a doctor’s presence at the patient’s bedside”.Addressing students at Bharat Mandapam, the Vice President said AIIMS Delhi was no longer merely keeping pace with the world but was “actively setting the tempo for the future of medicine”. He urged young doctors and scientists to carry forward values of compassion, innovation and public trust.The institute awarded 523 degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty, doctoral, nursing and allied health sciences programmes during the convocation ceremony.Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India’s medical education capacity had expanded sharply over the past decade, with the number of medical colleges increasing from around 390 to 825 and medical seats reaching 1.25 lakh. He said the government planned to add another 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats over the next two to three years.Nadda said India now had 23 AIIMS institutions, including 16 established in recent years, and added that AIIMS Delhi carried a special responsibility in mentoring newer institutions across the country.During the ceremony, graduating students took the Charak Oath, reaffirming commitment to ethical medical practice and patient care. Degrees awarded included DM, MCh, MD, MS, MDS, MBBS, PhD, nursing and allied health sciences qualifications, along with fellowships in emerging specialties such as bariatric surgery, hepatology and blood and marrow transplantation.AIIMS director Dr Nikhil Tandon said the institute had emerged as a leader in AI-driven healthcare innovations, including AI-assisted screening tools for diabetic retinopathy, oral cancer and radiology applications. He also highlighted AIIMS Delhi’s ranking among the world’s top hospitals and its recognition by the World Health Organization in multiple areas of public health and research.The institute also conferred Lifetime Achievement Awards on five former faculty members for contributions to medical science, research and patient care.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosKerala CM Race Heats Up, KC Venugopal Emerges Frontrunner As Rahul Gandhi Holds KeyNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: NTA Confirms WhatsApp Leak, Announces Refunds & CBI ProbeVijay Meets AIADMK Rebels As EPS Faces Internal Revolt Before Key Assembly VoteIndia Has 60 Days Of Crude Oil LNG; 45 Days Of LPG; Oil Firms Losing ₹1,000 Cr A Day: Hardeep PuriNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System Failure123PhotostoriesTraditional Indian home features that deserve a comeback in modern livingFrom lawsuits to public feuds: Controversies that kept Johnny Depp in headlinesLesser-known facts about ‘Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chasma’ star Dilip Joshi, aka Jethala5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversy123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar


VP to AIIMS Graduates: AI can’t replace doctor at patient’s bedside

NEW DELHI: Amid rapid expansion of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday told graduating students at the 51st convocation of AIIMS that no technology could replace “the moral weight of a doctor’s presence at the patient’s bedside”.Addressing students at Bharat Mandapam, the Vice President said AIIMS Delhi was no longer merely keeping pace with the world but was “actively setting the tempo for the future of medicine”. He urged young doctors and scientists to carry forward values of compassion, innovation and public trust.The institute awarded 523 degrees across undergraduate, postgraduate, super-specialty, doctoral, nursing and allied health sciences programmes during the convocation ceremony.Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said India’s medical education capacity had expanded sharply over the past decade, with the number of medical colleges increasing from around 390 to 825 and medical seats reaching 1.25 lakh. He said the government planned to add another 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats over the next two to three years.Nadda said India now had 23 AIIMS institutions, including 16 established in recent years, and added that AIIMS Delhi carried a special responsibility in mentoring newer institutions across the country.During the ceremony, graduating students took the Charak Oath, reaffirming commitment to ethical medical practice and patient care. Degrees awarded included DM, MCh, MD, MS, MDS, MBBS, PhD, nursing and allied health sciences qualifications, along with fellowships in emerging specialties such as bariatric surgery, hepatology and blood and marrow transplantation.AIIMS director Dr Nikhil Tandon said the institute had emerged as a leader in AI-driven healthcare innovations, including AI-assisted screening tools for diabetic retinopathy, oral cancer and radiology applications. He also highlighted AIIMS Delhi’s ranking among the world’s top hospitals and its recognition by the World Health Organization in multiple areas of public health and research.The institute also conferred Lifetime Achievement Awards on five former faculty members for contributions to medical science, research and patient care.



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Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay In 2019, 17 Karnataka MLAs – 14 from the Congress and 3 from the JD(S) – resigned from the assembly, bringing down the then HD Kumaraswamy government. The resignations paved the way for BJP’s Yediyurappa to take over as state’s chief minister.Interestingly, in this change of guard the resignations were the key, not defections that normally disrupt governments. The anti-defection law, a constitutional safeguard against floor-crossing by MLAs, had no answer for this political maoeuvre. After all, you cannot disqualify a legislator who is no longer one.Seven years later, we may see a similar political manoeuvre in Tamil Nadu – where people voted for actor-politician Vijay to end the DMK-AIDMK duopoly, but did not give him the complete numbers.Vijay’s number testTamil Nadu voted to elect a new assembly on April 23. When the results were out on May 4, the people’s verdict was unlike anything the state had ever seen since 1967. For the first time in nearly six decades, neither the DMK nor the AIADMK, the two Dravidian parties that have taken turns to rule the state, came anywhere close to forming the government. The DMK won 59 while the AIADMK was reduced to 47. Actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, a party barely two years old and contesting its first elections, won 108 seats in the 234-member assembly.Clearly, the verdict was for Vijay, but not enough to take him smoothly to the chief minister’s chair. Vijay was left 11 short of the magic number of 118 (the majority mark) needed to form a governmet on his own. Since Vijay had contested and won from two seats, his TVK’s actual strength was 107. What followed was a frantic week of dealmaking. The Congress, with five seats, was the first to come on board making an abrupt end to its 11-year-old alliance with the DMK. Two more parties – the CPM and the CPI – with two seats each, also announced outside support to Vijay. But the TVK chief was still short of majority. Vijay also got the support of lone Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA S Kamaraj, who rebelled to back the TVK alliance.Two other parties – the VCK and the IUML, which had won two seats each, initially turned TVK down. But after days of suspense and negotiations, both eventually came on board and finally Vijay got the numbers for the governor to extend him an invite to form the government.Vijay was sworn in at Nehru Indoor Stadium on May 7, becoming the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK Tamil Nadu chief minister since 1967. The governor gave him time till May 13 to prove his majority.AIADMK split wide openAnd while Vijay and his strategists were busy firming up the numbers, a section of the AIADMK, the party of MGR and Jayalalithaa, openly came out in support of the TVK’s star. A group of about 30 MLAs led by former ministers SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam broke ranks with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and announced their support for the Vijay’s TVK government. Shanmugam, addressing reporters, alleged that Palaniswami wanted to stitch an arrangement with archrival DMK to keep TVK out of power.”He (Palaniswami) wanted to form a government with the support of DMK,” he claimed, adding “the proposal is against the fundamental principles of AIADMK.” Pointing out that the AIADMK was floated to oppose and uproot the DMK, Shanmugam said all party members had opposed Palaniswami’s proposal. The party needs a “new life,” he said, and for that, the “Amma rule” must return. Supporting Vijay, he argued, was the way to get there. The faction elected Velumani as their legislature party leader and submitted a letter of support to the pro-tem Speaker. AIADMK faction extends support to TVKThis is not the first time that the AIADMK has split. After MGR’s death in 1987, the party was divided into two. After Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016, it split again, with factions backing O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala pulling the party in different directions before EPS took command. However, the AIADMK survived all the splits and eventually held together. This time, with just 47 seats and a floor test looming, the story may be different.The AIADMK has hit back at the rebels. On its official X handle, the party called them a “bag of lies” and asked pointedly whether Velumani, Shanmugam and C Vijayabaskar were “pleading for minister posts with TVK.” It then issued a whip directing all 47 MLAs to vote against TVK in Wednesday’s floor test. “Action will be taken against those MLAs who act against the party’s directive,” the party statement read. .The resignation routeVijay has the numbers to pass the floor test as of now. However, if the rebel AIADMK MLAs back him, his government will get a big boost.The rebels, who have openly announced their support for Vijay and have even met him, would be wary of the anti-defection law. To evade disqualification, their numbers should be more than 31 – which is two-thirds of the AIADMK’s numerical strength in the assembly. At 30, they are short of this number and may face disqualification for defying the party whip. It’s a different matter though that the disqualification proceedings at times takes months and even years. By then, the government will be settled. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay called on former minister C Ve Shanmugam and other MLAs in his campBut if the rebel MLAs resign before Wednesday’s vote, they don’t fall within the ambit of the anti-defection law. The House strength drops, the majority mark falls, and Vijay wins comprehensively without needing any extra vote. This is what had happened in Karnataka in 2019, when Yeddyurappa had stormed back to power courtesy mass resignations.There is a third option also. If the Velumani-Shanmugam camp can win over some more MLAs and show they have support of 32 out of 47, they could claim to be the real AIADMK legislature party and avoid disqualification altogether. This is what Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde did in 2022. Shinde walked out of the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra with two-thirds of the Shiv Sena legislators, survived the anti-defection proceedings, and eventually won the legal battle over the party name and symbol itself.This has happened in other states too. In Madhya Pradesh in 2020, 22 Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned. The Kamal Nath government fell. Shivraj Singh Chouhan returned as chief minister. The resignations were later questioned in court. It did not matter. The government stood.The anti-defection law, introduced in 1985 to bring stability to Indian legislatures, has repeatedly been outmanoeuvred mainly by resignations, mergers, two-thirds rebellions etc. It has rarely stopped a determined majority from forming a government.What happens WednesdayVijay has said nothing publicly about the AIADMK rebellion. He does not need to. But he has met AIADMK rebel leader C Ve Shanmugam’s at the latter’s residence in Chennai indicating that he is willing to engage with them. The rebel MLAs have submitted their letter. The whip has been issued. Wednesday’s floor test will decide the future of AIADMK — will the rebels gather more support before the vote and split the party officially, will they resign, or will they defy the whip and simply not show up? Well, we will have to wait till tomorrow to see if the AIADMK survives this rebellion.AIADMK’s fate notwithstanding, Vijay will be the winner.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosVijay Meets AIADMK Rebels As EPS Faces Internal Revolt Before Key Assembly VoteIndia Has 60 Days Of Crude Oil LNG; 45 Days Of LPG; Oil Firms Losing ₹1,000 Cr A Day: Hardeep PuriNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System FailureNEET-UG Cancelled, Anand Kumar Demands China-Like Crackdown On Coaching System ReformsNEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Probe Finds Major Question Matches In Leak PDF123PhotostoriesFrom lawsuits to public feuds: Controversies that kept Johnny Depp in headlinesLesser-known facts about ‘Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chasma’ star Dilip Joshi, aka Jethala5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversyKaran Kundrra- Tejasswi Prakash’s dreamy love story: Becoming friends in Bigg Boss 15 to buying a house together in Dubai123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay In 2019, 17 Karnataka MLAs – 14 from the Congress and 3 from the JD(S) – resigned from the assembly, bringing down the then HD Kumaraswamy government. The resignations paved the way for BJP’s Yediyurappa to take over as state’s chief minister.Interestingly, in this change of guard the resignations were the key, not defections that normally disrupt governments. The anti-defection law, a constitutional safeguard against floor-crossing by MLAs, had no answer for this political maoeuvre. After all, you cannot disqualify a legislator who is no longer one.Seven years later, we may see a similar political manoeuvre in Tamil Nadu – where people voted for actor-politician Vijay to end the DMK-AIDMK duopoly, but did not give him the complete numbers.Vijay’s number testTamil Nadu voted to elect a new assembly on April 23. When the results were out on May 4, the people’s verdict was unlike anything the state had ever seen since 1967. For the first time in nearly six decades, neither the DMK nor the AIADMK, the two Dravidian parties that have taken turns to rule the state, came anywhere close to forming the government. The DMK won 59 while the AIADMK was reduced to 47. Actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, a party barely two years old and contesting its first elections, won 108 seats in the 234-member assembly.Clearly, the verdict was for Vijay, but not enough to take him smoothly to the chief minister’s chair. Vijay was left 11 short of the magic number of 118 (the majority mark) needed to form a governmet on his own. Since Vijay had contested and won from two seats, his TVK’s actual strength was 107. What followed was a frantic week of dealmaking. The Congress, with five seats, was the first to come on board making an abrupt end to its 11-year-old alliance with the DMK. Two more parties – the CPM and the CPI – with two seats each, also announced outside support to Vijay. But the TVK chief was still short of majority. Vijay also got the support of lone Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA S Kamaraj, who rebelled to back the TVK alliance.Two other parties – the VCK and the IUML, which had won two seats each, initially turned TVK down. But after days of suspense and negotiations, both eventually came on board and finally Vijay got the numbers for the governor to extend him an invite to form the government.Vijay was sworn in at Nehru Indoor Stadium on May 7, becoming the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK Tamil Nadu chief minister since 1967. The governor gave him time till May 13 to prove his majority.AIADMK split wide openAnd while Vijay and his strategists were busy firming up the numbers, a section of the AIADMK, the party of MGR and Jayalalithaa, openly came out in support of the TVK’s star. A group of about 30 MLAs led by former ministers SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam broke ranks with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and announced their support for the Vijay’s TVK government. Shanmugam, addressing reporters, alleged that Palaniswami wanted to stitch an arrangement with archrival DMK to keep TVK out of power.”He (Palaniswami) wanted to form a government with the support of DMK,” he claimed, adding “the proposal is against the fundamental principles of AIADMK.” Pointing out that the AIADMK was floated to oppose and uproot the DMK, Shanmugam said all party members had opposed Palaniswami’s proposal. The party needs a “new life,” he said, and for that, the “Amma rule” must return. Supporting Vijay, he argued, was the way to get there. The faction elected Velumani as their legislature party leader and submitted a letter of support to the pro-tem Speaker. AIADMK faction extends support to TVKThis is not the first time that the AIADMK has split. After MGR’s death in 1987, the party was divided into two. After Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016, it split again, with factions backing O Panneerselvam and VK Sasikala pulling the party in different directions before EPS took command. However, the AIADMK survived all the splits and eventually held together. This time, with just 47 seats and a floor test looming, the story may be different.The AIADMK has hit back at the rebels. On its official X handle, the party called them a “bag of lies” and asked pointedly whether Velumani, Shanmugam and C Vijayabaskar were “pleading for minister posts with TVK.” It then issued a whip directing all 47 MLAs to vote against TVK in Wednesday’s floor test. “Action will be taken against those MLAs who act against the party’s directive,” the party statement read. .The resignation routeVijay has the numbers to pass the floor test as of now. However, if the rebel AIADMK MLAs back him, his government will get a big boost.The rebels, who have openly announced their support for Vijay and have even met him, would be wary of the anti-defection law. To evade disqualification, their numbers should be more than 31 – which is two-thirds of the AIADMK’s numerical strength in the assembly. At 30, they are short of this number and may face disqualification for defying the party whip. It’s a different matter though that the disqualification proceedings at times takes months and even years. By then, the government will be settled. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay called on former minister C Ve Shanmugam and other MLAs in his campBut if the rebel MLAs resign before Wednesday’s vote, they don’t fall within the ambit of the anti-defection law. The House strength drops, the majority mark falls, and Vijay wins comprehensively without needing any extra vote. This is what had happened in Karnataka in 2019, when Yeddyurappa had stormed back to power courtesy mass resignations.There is a third option also. If the Velumani-Shanmugam camp can win over some more MLAs and show they have support of 32 out of 47, they could claim to be the real AIADMK legislature party and avoid disqualification altogether. This is what Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde did in 2022. Shinde walked out of the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra with two-thirds of the Shiv Sena legislators, survived the anti-defection proceedings, and eventually won the legal battle over the party name and symbol itself.This has happened in other states too. In Madhya Pradesh in 2020, 22 Congress MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned. The Kamal Nath government fell. Shivraj Singh Chouhan returned as chief minister. The resignations were later questioned in court. It did not matter. The government stood.The anti-defection law, introduced in 1985 to bring stability to Indian legislatures, has repeatedly been outmanoeuvred mainly by resignations, mergers, two-thirds rebellions etc. It has rarely stopped a determined majority from forming a government.What happens WednesdayVijay has said nothing publicly about the AIADMK rebellion. He does not need to. But he has met AIADMK rebel leader C Ve Shanmugam’s at the latter’s residence in Chennai indicating that he is willing to engage with them. The rebel MLAs have submitted their letter. The whip has been issued. Wednesday’s floor test will decide the future of AIADMK — will the rebels gather more support before the vote and split the party officially, will they resign, or will they defy the whip and simply not show up? Well, we will have to wait till tomorrow to see if the AIADMK survives this rebellion.AIADMK’s fate notwithstanding, Vijay will be the winner.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosVijay Meets AIADMK Rebels As EPS Faces Internal Revolt Before Key Assembly VoteIndia Has 60 Days Of Crude Oil LNG; 45 Days Of LPG; Oil Firms Losing ₹1,000 Cr A Day: Hardeep PuriNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System FailureNEET-UG Cancelled, Anand Kumar Demands China-Like Crackdown On Coaching System ReformsNEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Probe Finds Major Question Matches In Leak PDF123PhotostoriesFrom lawsuits to public feuds: Controversies that kept Johnny Depp in headlinesLesser-known facts about ‘Taarak Mehta ka Oolta Chasma’ star Dilip Joshi, aka Jethala5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversyKaran Kundrra- Tejasswi Prakash’s dreamy love story: Becoming friends in Bigg Boss 15 to buying a house together in Dubai123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

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– NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday questioned how much had been done to address Delhi’s air pollution problem through the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) collected from vehicles. He also pointed out that collection of municipal toll and ECC at Delhi’s borders by stopping vehicles on National Highways (NHs) defeats the aim of seamless travel, undermines huge investments made by central govt on road infrastructure and gives NHAI a bad name.Addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) or barrier-less tolling at Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza on UER-II, Gadkari said that despite huge investments by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to improve city’s road network, people face one major problem: “That is, collection of green cess (read ECC). I don’t want to make any comment on the order for collection of such cess. But toll collectors come to our NHs and stop vehicles. The green cess was introduced so that the amount collected is utilised to mitigate Delhi’s air pollution. I won’t like to comment on how much work has been done with the Rs 800 or 900 crore collected as such cess.”The minister said he had earlier urged Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and is now urging local MPs to take up this issue as collection of any fee by blocking traffic nullifies govt’s efforts to make travel seamless. “The MCD is facing financial issues. The Delhi govt can help it with the fund. Otherwise, if the city govt gives GST exemptions for the works we are carrying out, we can pay that amount. We must take steps to end the problems that people face. People blame us whereas we have no role in this,” Gadkari said.At a review meeting in June last year, the minister had suggested to Delhi CM and Lt Governor removal of physical entry fee collection points on city’s borders, calling them a “nuisance” for commuters.Gadkari also urged commuters to follow traffic rules, warning them that details of violators, with proof captured on cameras, would be shared with Delhi and Haryana authorities for action.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System FailureNEET-UG Cancelled, Anand Kumar Demands China-Like Crackdown On Coaching System ReformsNEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Probe Finds Major Question Matches In Leak PDFUdhayanidhi Stalin’s Fresh ‘Eradicate Sanatan Dharma’ Remark Triggers Massive BJP Backlash In TNNTA Scraps NEET UG 2026 Over ‘Guess Paper’ Leak, Re-Exam Dates To Be Announced | Watch123Photostories5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversyKaran Kundrra- Tejasswi Prakash’s dreamy love story: Becoming friends in Bigg Boss 15 to buying a house together in DubaiOTT releases this week (May 11-17, 2026): ‘Kartavya’, ‘Berlin’, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ lead the lineup10 proven ways to sharpen your concentration and focus at work123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

– NEW DELHI: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday questioned how much had been done to address Delhi’s air pollution problem through the Environment Compensation Cess (ECC) collected from vehicles. He also pointed out that collection of municipal toll and ECC at Delhi’s borders by stopping vehicles on National Highways (NHs) defeats the aim of seamless travel, undermines huge investments made by central govt on road infrastructure and gives NHAI a bad name.Addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) or barrier-less tolling at Mundka-Bakkarwala toll plaza on UER-II, Gadkari said that despite huge investments by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to improve city’s road network, people face one major problem: “That is, collection of green cess (read ECC). I don’t want to make any comment on the order for collection of such cess. But toll collectors come to our NHs and stop vehicles. The green cess was introduced so that the amount collected is utilised to mitigate Delhi’s air pollution. I won’t like to comment on how much work has been done with the Rs 800 or 900 crore collected as such cess.”The minister said he had earlier urged Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and is now urging local MPs to take up this issue as collection of any fee by blocking traffic nullifies govt’s efforts to make travel seamless. “The MCD is facing financial issues. The Delhi govt can help it with the fund. Otherwise, if the city govt gives GST exemptions for the works we are carrying out, we can pay that amount. We must take steps to end the problems that people face. People blame us whereas we have no role in this,” Gadkari said.At a review meeting in June last year, the minister had suggested to Delhi CM and Lt Governor removal of physical entry fee collection points on city’s borders, calling them a “nuisance” for commuters.Gadkari also urged commuters to follow traffic rules, warning them that details of violators, with proof captured on cameras, would be shared with Delhi and Haryana authorities for action.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Leak Verified; NTA Promises Fair Re-Exam For Students | WatchMEA Slams China Over Pakistan Support, Says Shielding Terror Hurts Reputation | WatchSri Lanka Navy Arrests 6 Indian Fishermen, TN CM Vijay Writes To Jaishankar Seeking Their ReleaseFrom Indira Gandhi To Modi: Why Indian Govts Ask Citizens To Reduce Gold Consumption During Crises’Chor Bazaar Of EC-BJP’: Rahul Hits Out After Suvendu Appoints Bengal EC Official As Chief SecretaryOpposition Slams Centre Over NEET Leak; Claims Of Mafia, Collusion And System FailureNEET-UG Cancelled, Anand Kumar Demands China-Like Crackdown On Coaching System ReformsNEET UG 2026 Cancelled After Probe Finds Major Question Matches In Leak PDFUdhayanidhi Stalin’s Fresh ‘Eradicate Sanatan Dharma’ Remark Triggers Massive BJP Backlash In TNNTA Scraps NEET UG 2026 Over ‘Guess Paper’ Leak, Re-Exam Dates To Be Announced | Watch123Photostories5 ways to respond with confidence when being disrespectedAmid separation rumours, Mouni Roy’s and Suraj Nambiar’s stylish wedding looks resurface onlineFrom iconic red to controversial purple lipstick: Decoding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Cannes beauty journeyHow to reduce someone’s power over you without saying a wordHow to make Sweet Potato Fried Rice for a light summer dinner at home5 simple habits to keep your brain sharpWhy Vidya Balan stopped wearing Sabyasachi after the Cannes 2013 controversyKaran Kundrra- Tejasswi Prakash’s dreamy love story: Becoming friends in Bigg Boss 15 to buying a house together in DubaiOTT releases this week (May 11-17, 2026): ‘Kartavya’, ‘Berlin’, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ lead the lineup10 proven ways to sharpen your concentration and focus at work123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultRaj SinghBandi Sanjay KumarPune child rape-murder caseLPG stockNEET exam cancelledModi on Gold and WFHTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

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