May 12, 2026

File photo NEW DELHI: Etihad Airways has clarified that there was no fire onboard its Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight after the aircraft returned to the gate before departure on Tuesday due to a technical issue.In a statement issued after reports of a fire onboard the aircraft surfaced, the airline said flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi was taken back to the stand as a precaution.“Etihad Airways flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) on 12 May returned to the gate prior to departure due to a technical issue and guests were subsequently disembarked,” the airline said.The carrier added that emergency services were activated in line with Chennai airport safety protocols.“The flight is currently expected to depart approximately three hours behind schedule,” the statement said.Etihad said its teams were assisting affected passengers and advised travellers to keep their contact details updated to receive flight alerts through SMS or email.Airline denies reports of onboard fireThe airline stressed that contrary to several media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft.“Contrary to some media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft. The aircraft returned to stand due to a technical issue,” the airline said in its note to editors.The airline also reiterated that the “safety and comfort of our guests and crew remains Etihad’s highest priority.”Earlier PTI report cited fire on left wingEarlier in the day, a news agency PTI report citing airport officials had claimed that a fire was detected on the aircraft’s left wing while the flight was preparing for take-off with around 280 passengers onboard.According to the earlier report, pilots had halted the departure after noticing the issue and passengers were safely disembarked without injuries. Fire service personnel were also deployed at the spot as a precautionary measure.PollWhat should airlines prioritize most in the event of an emergency?Passenger safetyQuick response timeCommunication with passengersEtihad’s latest clarification, however, said the incident involved a technical issue and not a fire onboard the aircraft.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calmFrom snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?123Hot 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
File photo NEW DELHI: Etihad Airways has clarified that there was no fire onboard its Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight after the aircraft returned to the gate before departure on Tuesday due to a technical issue.In a statement issued after reports of a fire onboard the aircraft surfaced, the airline said flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi was taken back to the stand as a precaution.“Etihad Airways flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) on 12 May returned to the gate prior to departure due to a technical issue and guests were subsequently disembarked,” the airline said.The carrier added that emergency services were activated in line with Chennai airport safety protocols.“The flight is currently expected to depart approximately three hours behind schedule,” the statement said.Etihad said its teams were assisting affected passengers and advised travellers to keep their contact details updated to receive flight alerts through SMS or email.Airline denies reports of onboard fireThe airline stressed that contrary to several media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft.“Contrary to some media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft. The aircraft returned to stand due to a technical issue,” the airline said in its note to editors.The airline also reiterated that the “safety and comfort of our guests and crew remains Etihad’s highest priority.”Earlier PTI report cited fire on left wingEarlier in the day, a news agency PTI report citing airport officials had claimed that a fire was detected on the aircraft’s left wing while the flight was preparing for take-off with around 280 passengers onboard.According to the earlier report, pilots had halted the departure after noticing the issue and passengers were safely disembarked without injuries. Fire service personnel were also deployed at the spot as a precautionary measure.PollWhat should airlines prioritize most in the event of an emergency?Passenger safetyQuick response timeCommunication with passengersEtihad’s latest clarification, however, said the incident involved a technical issue and not a fire onboard the aircraft.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calmFrom snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?123Hot 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


Etihad clarifies no fire onboard Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight after technical issue delays departure

NEW DELHI: Etihad Airways has clarified that there was no fire onboard its Chennai-Abu Dhabi flight after the aircraft returned to the gate before departure on Tuesday due to a technical issue.In a statement issued after reports of a fire onboard the aircraft surfaced, the airline said flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi was taken back to the stand as a precaution.“Etihad Airways flight EY343 from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Zayed International Airport (AUH) on 12 May returned to the gate prior to departure due to a technical issue and guests were subsequently disembarked,” the airline said.The carrier added that emergency services were activated in line with Chennai airport safety protocols.“The flight is currently expected to depart approximately three hours behind schedule,” the statement said.Etihad said its teams were assisting affected passengers and advised travellers to keep their contact details updated to receive flight alerts through SMS or email.

Airline denies reports of onboard fire

The airline stressed that contrary to several media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft.“Contrary to some media reports, there was no fire onboard the aircraft. The aircraft returned to stand due to a technical issue,” the airline said in its note to editors.The airline also reiterated that the “safety and comfort of our guests and crew remains Etihad’s highest priority.”

Earlier PTI report cited fire on left wing

Earlier in the day, a news agency PTI report citing airport officials had claimed that a fire was detected on the aircraft’s left wing while the flight was preparing for take-off with around 280 passengers onboard.According to the earlier report, pilots had halted the departure after noticing the issue and passengers were safely disembarked without injuries. Fire service personnel were also deployed at the spot as a precautionary measure.

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What should airlines prioritize most in the event of an emergency?

Etihad’s latest clarification, however, said the incident involved a technical issue and not a fire onboard the aircraft.



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NEW DELHI: When the Tamil Nadu assembly meets at Fort St George on Wednesday for the trust vote of chief minister-designate Vijay, the immediate question will be whether the actor-turned-politician has the numbers to survive his first major constitutional test. But the bigger political story may lie on the other side of the aisle.The trust vote, at least now, looks less like a test of Vijay’s government and more like a defining trial for the AIADMK — the party founded by MG Ramachandran that once embodied the anti-DMK pole in state politics and now appears to be staring at yet another internal rupture since the deaths of MGR and J Jayalalithaa.The dramatic twist before the voteJust a day before the floor test, the crisis moved from whispers to open rebellion. Vijay personally visited the residence of senior AIADMK rebel leader C Ve Shanmugam in Chennai, a striking image that instantly intensified speculation that a section of the opposition party was preparing to break ranks.About 30 MLAs are believed to be in the rebel camp that has questioned Palaniswami’s leadership following the party’s debacle in the April 23 assembly polls. The party won only 47 out of the 164 seats it contested. Along with senior leader SP Velumani, Shanmugam has accused party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami of trying to explore an understanding with the rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to keep Vijay away from power.”In the recently concluded election, we faced defeat. Not only in the recently concluded election, but also in the previous election, we suffered defeat. We asked our General Secretary to convene a General Council meeting to discuss the reasons behind these electoral defeats and to take further action in the interest and development of the party. Some people proposed that we, as the AIADMK legislative party, should form a government with the support of the DMK. This proposal goes against the founding principles of our party because the AIADMK was founded to uproot the DMK, which we consider an evil force in Tamil Nadu,” he said.The allegation is politically explosive not merely because of the numbers involved, but because AIADMK was founded in opposition to the DMK. Any suggestion of the two Dravidian rivals joining hands, even tactically, cuts against the party’s foundational identity.The numbers matter, but not in the obvious wayThe 234-member assembly requires 118 for a majority. TVK won 108 seats, and after Vijay vacated his seat following his elevation as chief minister, its effective strength stands at 107 until a bypoll. Congress, VCK and Left allies have pushed his coalition over the majority line, but only narrowly.That makes every abstention or rebellion significant.Yet Vijay’s own position is no longer the central suspense. Even before the floor test, he has already achieved the political feat that matters most: he has broken the 59-year-old duopoly of the DMK and AIADMK and emerged as the single largest force in Tamil Nadu.If he wins, he forms the first coalition government led by a new Dravidian-era entrant. If he loses, he still walks away as the leader who upended the state’s political order in his very first election.AIADMK does not have that luxury.This is AIADMK’s referendumFor AIADMK, the floor test could become a public measure of whether the party remains a coherent political institution or is entering terminal decline.The party won 47 seats in the April 23 election, a poor showing by its historic standards but still enough to remain relevant. However, if nearly 30 MLAs defy the leadership line, it would signal that the real collapse has begun not in the electorate but inside the legislature.Edappadi Palaniswami has reportedly issued a strict whip to keep all MLAs together. But in such moments, the symbolism of defiance matters as much as legal consequences. Even if anti-defection proceedings follow, a visible split during a trust vote would mark the first major transfer of political loyalty from AIADMK to TVK.That is what makes this floor test so consequential. It is not about whether Vijay can gather five extra votes. It is about whether AIADMK can stop losing its own people to the new centre of gravity.Why the rebels matter beyond numbersThe rebel leaders are not fringe dissidents. Shanmugam and Velumani are among the party’s established regional power centres. Their revolt indicates dissatisfaction not just with a tactical decision but with the direction of the party under Palaniswami.Their public argument is revealing: supporting Vijay is being pitched as a return to AIADMK’s original anti-DMK mission.That suggests the rebels see TVK, not AIADMK, as the legitimate inheritor of anti-DMK politics. In effect, they are arguing that Vijay has become what AIADMK used to be, the principal opposition to DMK.The shadow of old splitsTamil Nadu has seen AIADMK splits before. After MGR’s death in 1987, the party fractured between the factions led by VN Janaki and Jayalalithaa. After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, the OPS-EPS split nearly tore it apart again.But those were succession battles. Both sides still fought to claim the same legacy.The current rebellion looks a little different. The rebel camp’s language — “new life to AIADMK”, “Amma rule should return”, while supporting TVK, is significant. This rebellion raises the possibility that parts of the party may decide the AIADMK legacy itself has run its course and can be transferred to a new political formation.”The people’s mandate is not for TVK, it is for chief minister Vijay,” said Shanmugam. The language implies they see Vijay not as an outsider, but as a possible continuation of the emotional mass politics once monopolised by AIADMK.DMK’s unusual comfortThe DMK’s response has also underlined how unusual the moment is. It has flatly denied any post-poll talks with AIADMK and insists it will sit in opposition.That means DMK may be content to let its two rivals weaken each other.If Vijay survives with rebel AIADMK support, DMK gets an opposition role while watching AIADMK implode. If Vijay fails, he remains politically wounded in governance terms, but AIADMK still faces accusations that its infighting prevented a stable government.In either scenario, AIADMK risks emerging as the biggest loser.The real battle is for ‘two leaves’For decades, AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol represented a complete political ecosystem — MGR charisma, Jayalalithaa welfare populism and a deeply embedded anti-DMK identity. Vijay’s rise has disrupted that.Like MGR, he is a film star entering politics with an enormous fan network. Like Jayalalithaa, he has quickly turned emotional appeal into electoral momentum. To many voters, he looks less like a new experiment and more like a revival of an older Tamil political formula.That is why the floor test is not merely a constitutional exercise. It is a battle over inheritance.If AIADMK’s MLAs cross over, abstain, or even publicly waver, the symbolism will be unmistakable: the party founded by MGR may be ceding its own political DNA to another actor-led movement.By Wednesday evening, Vijay may or may not prove his majority on the assembly floor.But the more enduring question may be whether AIADMK can prove it still has one of its own.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOpposition 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle Intensifies123Photostories10 proven ways to sharpen your concentration and focus at workDoctors are warning about cancer’s ‘pre-diagnosis phase’ where symptoms exist but clear answers often don’tMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection123Hot 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: When the Tamil Nadu assembly meets at Fort St George on Wednesday for the trust vote of chief minister-designate Vijay, the immediate question will be whether the actor-turned-politician has the numbers to survive his first major constitutional test. But the bigger political story may lie on the other side of the aisle.The trust vote, at least now, looks less like a test of Vijay’s government and more like a defining trial for the AIADMK — the party founded by MG Ramachandran that once embodied the anti-DMK pole in state politics and now appears to be staring at yet another internal rupture since the deaths of MGR and J Jayalalithaa.The dramatic twist before the voteJust a day before the floor test, the crisis moved from whispers to open rebellion. Vijay personally visited the residence of senior AIADMK rebel leader C Ve Shanmugam in Chennai, a striking image that instantly intensified speculation that a section of the opposition party was preparing to break ranks.About 30 MLAs are believed to be in the rebel camp that has questioned Palaniswami’s leadership following the party’s debacle in the April 23 assembly polls. The party won only 47 out of the 164 seats it contested. Along with senior leader SP Velumani, Shanmugam has accused party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami of trying to explore an understanding with the rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to keep Vijay away from power.”In the recently concluded election, we faced defeat. Not only in the recently concluded election, but also in the previous election, we suffered defeat. We asked our General Secretary to convene a General Council meeting to discuss the reasons behind these electoral defeats and to take further action in the interest and development of the party. Some people proposed that we, as the AIADMK legislative party, should form a government with the support of the DMK. This proposal goes against the founding principles of our party because the AIADMK was founded to uproot the DMK, which we consider an evil force in Tamil Nadu,” he said.The allegation is politically explosive not merely because of the numbers involved, but because AIADMK was founded in opposition to the DMK. Any suggestion of the two Dravidian rivals joining hands, even tactically, cuts against the party’s foundational identity.The numbers matter, but not in the obvious wayThe 234-member assembly requires 118 for a majority. TVK won 108 seats, and after Vijay vacated his seat following his elevation as chief minister, its effective strength stands at 107 until a bypoll. Congress, VCK and Left allies have pushed his coalition over the majority line, but only narrowly.That makes every abstention or rebellion significant.Yet Vijay’s own position is no longer the central suspense. Even before the floor test, he has already achieved the political feat that matters most: he has broken the 59-year-old duopoly of the DMK and AIADMK and emerged as the single largest force in Tamil Nadu.If he wins, he forms the first coalition government led by a new Dravidian-era entrant. If he loses, he still walks away as the leader who upended the state’s political order in his very first election.AIADMK does not have that luxury.This is AIADMK’s referendumFor AIADMK, the floor test could become a public measure of whether the party remains a coherent political institution or is entering terminal decline.The party won 47 seats in the April 23 election, a poor showing by its historic standards but still enough to remain relevant. However, if nearly 30 MLAs defy the leadership line, it would signal that the real collapse has begun not in the electorate but inside the legislature.Edappadi Palaniswami has reportedly issued a strict whip to keep all MLAs together. But in such moments, the symbolism of defiance matters as much as legal consequences. Even if anti-defection proceedings follow, a visible split during a trust vote would mark the first major transfer of political loyalty from AIADMK to TVK.That is what makes this floor test so consequential. It is not about whether Vijay can gather five extra votes. It is about whether AIADMK can stop losing its own people to the new centre of gravity.Why the rebels matter beyond numbersThe rebel leaders are not fringe dissidents. Shanmugam and Velumani are among the party’s established regional power centres. Their revolt indicates dissatisfaction not just with a tactical decision but with the direction of the party under Palaniswami.Their public argument is revealing: supporting Vijay is being pitched as a return to AIADMK’s original anti-DMK mission.That suggests the rebels see TVK, not AIADMK, as the legitimate inheritor of anti-DMK politics. In effect, they are arguing that Vijay has become what AIADMK used to be, the principal opposition to DMK.The shadow of old splitsTamil Nadu has seen AIADMK splits before. After MGR’s death in 1987, the party fractured between the factions led by VN Janaki and Jayalalithaa. After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, the OPS-EPS split nearly tore it apart again.But those were succession battles. Both sides still fought to claim the same legacy.The current rebellion looks a little different. The rebel camp’s language — “new life to AIADMK”, “Amma rule should return”, while supporting TVK, is significant. This rebellion raises the possibility that parts of the party may decide the AIADMK legacy itself has run its course and can be transferred to a new political formation.”The people’s mandate is not for TVK, it is for chief minister Vijay,” said Shanmugam. The language implies they see Vijay not as an outsider, but as a possible continuation of the emotional mass politics once monopolised by AIADMK.DMK’s unusual comfortThe DMK’s response has also underlined how unusual the moment is. It has flatly denied any post-poll talks with AIADMK and insists it will sit in opposition.That means DMK may be content to let its two rivals weaken each other.If Vijay survives with rebel AIADMK support, DMK gets an opposition role while watching AIADMK implode. If Vijay fails, he remains politically wounded in governance terms, but AIADMK still faces accusations that its infighting prevented a stable government.In either scenario, AIADMK risks emerging as the biggest loser.The real battle is for ‘two leaves’For decades, AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol represented a complete political ecosystem — MGR charisma, Jayalalithaa welfare populism and a deeply embedded anti-DMK identity. Vijay’s rise has disrupted that.Like MGR, he is a film star entering politics with an enormous fan network. Like Jayalalithaa, he has quickly turned emotional appeal into electoral momentum. To many voters, he looks less like a new experiment and more like a revival of an older Tamil political formula.That is why the floor test is not merely a constitutional exercise. It is a battle over inheritance.If AIADMK’s MLAs cross over, abstain, or even publicly waver, the symbolism will be unmistakable: the party founded by MGR may be ceding its own political DNA to another actor-led movement.By Wednesday evening, Vijay may or may not prove his majority on the assembly floor.But the more enduring question may be whether AIADMK can prove it still has one of its own.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOpposition 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle Intensifies123Photostories10 proven ways to sharpen your concentration and focus at workDoctors are warning about cancer’s ‘pre-diagnosis phase’ where symptoms exist but clear answers often don’tMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection123Hot 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

Vamsikrishna 0
Austerity appeal Sharad Pawar urges PM Modi to convene all-party meet (Image credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to adopt austerity measures amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has demanded an all-party meeting, citing the potential economic impact on the country.In a post on X, Pawar said, “Against the backdrop of the unstable and war-like situation in the Middle East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made certain announcements two days ago. These are likely to have far-reaching impacts on the country’s economy.”He added that the sudden appeal had created unease among ordinary citizens, businesses, industries and investors.PM Modi’s recent speeches, in which he urged citizens to adopt austerity measures in view of the Middle East crisis, have triggered a political row. He appealed to people to use petrol and diesel sparingly, adopt work-from-home policies, use public transport, postpone discretionary gold purchases, reduce edible oil consumption, and cut down on chemical fertiliser use.Reacting to PM Modi’s appeal, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also questioned why similar restraint was not exercised during large-scale election campaigns.In a post on X, Thackeray wrote, “The Prime Minister and senior leaders continue to travel across the country with massive convoys, roadshows, helicopters, flower showers and extravagant political campaigns. Will the Prime Minister admit that such political excesses were a mistake and that all of us, including him, will not repeat them? Why should the common man suffer for your mistakes?”“The Prime Minister himself is embarking on another multi-country foreign tour beginning May 15. First cancel these travels and then preach austerity,” he added.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesDoctors are warning about cancer’s ‘pre-diagnosis phase’ where symptoms exist but clear answers often don’tMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!123Hot 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

Austerity appeal Sharad Pawar urges PM Modi to convene all-party meet (Image credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to adopt austerity measures amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has demanded an all-party meeting, citing the potential economic impact on the country.In a post on X, Pawar said, “Against the backdrop of the unstable and war-like situation in the Middle East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made certain announcements two days ago. These are likely to have far-reaching impacts on the country’s economy.”He added that the sudden appeal had created unease among ordinary citizens, businesses, industries and investors.PM Modi’s recent speeches, in which he urged citizens to adopt austerity measures in view of the Middle East crisis, have triggered a political row. He appealed to people to use petrol and diesel sparingly, adopt work-from-home policies, use public transport, postpone discretionary gold purchases, reduce edible oil consumption, and cut down on chemical fertiliser use.Reacting to PM Modi’s appeal, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also questioned why similar restraint was not exercised during large-scale election campaigns.In a post on X, Thackeray wrote, “The Prime Minister and senior leaders continue to travel across the country with massive convoys, roadshows, helicopters, flower showers and extravagant political campaigns. Will the Prime Minister admit that such political excesses were a mistake and that all of us, including him, will not repeat them? Why should the common man suffer for your mistakes?”“The Prime Minister himself is embarking on another multi-country foreign tour beginning May 15. First cancel these travels and then preach austerity,” he added.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesDoctors are warning about cancer’s ‘pre-diagnosis phase’ where symptoms exist but clear answers often don’tMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!123Hot 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

Vamsikrishna 0
One vote, two Tirupatturs: DMK flags postal ballot mix-up after HC order (Image credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: The DMK on Tuesday said due to the possible mix-up of postal votes between Tiruppattur in Sivaganga district and Tiruppattur district near Vellore, the Madras High Court has restrained a TVK MLA from voting in the assembly floor test.While TVK’s Seenivasa Sethupathi secured 83,375 votes in the election, DMK’s K R Periyakaruppan got 83,374 votes. Sethupathi was declared elected by a margin of just one vote.”If the single disputed vote is counted in the DMK’s favour, the tally would become equal, requiring a toss of a coin to decide the election,” DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told PTI.The court has directed the MLA to refrain from voting until the writ petition reaches a conclusion.The fight between DMK and TVK dragged on till 1:30 am on counting day. Periyakaruppan led till round 16, but from round 17 onwards, Sethupathy gained a lead. He led with 819 votes when counting of EVMs ended, securing 83,010 votes against Periyakaruppan’s 82,191 votes.With the addition of postal ballots — 1,183 for Periyakaruppan and 365 for Sethupathy — the final count stood at 83,374 for Periyakaruppan and 83,375 for Sethupathy.District election officer K Porkodi told TOI that mock polls for two EVMs were not cleared while the control unit of one EVM was not properly functioning. Hence, votes had to be counted from VVPAT.”When the margin is one vote, as per ECI guidelines, we were made to re-verify the 306 rejected postal ballots,” the collector said. After re-verification, no valid votes were found to change the margin.The returning officer decided not to order a recount, providing a written explanation for the decision.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calm123Hot 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

One vote, two Tirupatturs: DMK flags postal ballot mix-up after HC order (Image credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: The DMK on Tuesday said due to the possible mix-up of postal votes between Tiruppattur in Sivaganga district and Tiruppattur district near Vellore, the Madras High Court has restrained a TVK MLA from voting in the assembly floor test.While TVK’s Seenivasa Sethupathi secured 83,375 votes in the election, DMK’s K R Periyakaruppan got 83,374 votes. Sethupathi was declared elected by a margin of just one vote.”If the single disputed vote is counted in the DMK’s favour, the tally would become equal, requiring a toss of a coin to decide the election,” DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai told PTI.The court has directed the MLA to refrain from voting until the writ petition reaches a conclusion.The fight between DMK and TVK dragged on till 1:30 am on counting day. Periyakaruppan led till round 16, but from round 17 onwards, Sethupathy gained a lead. He led with 819 votes when counting of EVMs ended, securing 83,010 votes against Periyakaruppan’s 82,191 votes.With the addition of postal ballots — 1,183 for Periyakaruppan and 365 for Sethupathy — the final count stood at 83,374 for Periyakaruppan and 83,375 for Sethupathy.District election officer K Porkodi told TOI that mock polls for two EVMs were not cleared while the control unit of one EVM was not properly functioning. Hence, votes had to be counted from VVPAT.”When the margin is one vote, as per ECI guidelines, we were made to re-verify the 306 rejected postal ballots,” the collector said. After re-verification, no valid votes were found to change the margin.The returning officer decided not to order a recount, providing a written explanation for the decision.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesMissed Mother’s Day? 10 thoughtful ways to make your mother feel special this week5 ‘dirtiest’ spots in your kitchen you’re probably forgetting to clean, NYC doc revealsWooden vs Marble Chakla Belan: Which one is better and tips to improve their shelf lifeWhy humans once ate dirt and some still do todayHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calm123Hot 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

Vamsikrishna 0
AI-generated image (For representative purposes only) What kind of politics makes people die for their leaders?In Tamil Nadu, that is not rhetorical.It has happened repeatedly — in moments of grief, in moments of defeat, and, as seen last week during Vijay’s frantic government-formation talks, even in anticipation of power.But this is not a new story. Tamil Nadu has seen this before.It is December 1987, and Tamil Nadu is collapsing into grief.The streets are flooded with mourners. Men cry openly outside party offices. Some supporters drink poison. Others set themselves on fire. Across the state, sorrow turns fatal as news spreads that MG Ramachandran is dead.He was the founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a Tamil cinema legend and the state’s first actor-chief minister. But to millions, he was something far larger than any office he held. He was ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’, the revolutionary leader, the man who had stepped off the silver screen and into their lives as protector, provider and hero. MGR at a public rally in Tamil NaduFor more than a decade, MGR had ruled Tamil Nadu, winning three consecutive terms before dying while still in office. His death did not just mark the end of a chief minister. For many, it felt like the loss of someone far more intimate — a guardian, almost family.It would not be the last time Tamil Nadu witnessed grief spill into tragedy.The pattern returned, again and again, each time reminding the state that its politics was never merely electoral.In 2001, when J Jayalalithaa was forced to step down after a corruption conviction, her supporters took their own lives. In 2014, when she was jailed once more, the state saw another wave of mourning — suicides, self-immolations and heart attacks attributed to shock.After her death in 2016, AIADMK claimed that at least 470 supporters had died grieving the loss of the woman they fondly called ‘Amma’.Then came Vijay.In September 2025, lakhs converged on Karur to catch a glimpse of Tamil cinema’s reigning superstar as he edged closer to political power. People stood for hours under a punishing sun, waiting for the man many already saw as their next saviour. By the time the gathering ended, 41 people were dead.For a state that has long blurred the line between screen idol and political messiah, Vijay’s rise was not an exception. It was the latest chapter in a familiar script. Karur stampede aftermath (Credit: PTI)Voting for the underdog?Tamil Nadu’s voting behaviour often reflects a distinctive political logic where identity is acknowledged but not always politically foregrounded. While the state has deep social stratification, with Scheduled Castes making up around 20% of the population and broader SC/ST/OBC groups forming over 75%, electoral appeal frequently shifts away from narrow caste or religious consolidation toward figures who project a more universalised identity of suffering and uplift. Religious demographics further underline this complexity, with Hindus forming 87.58%, Muslims 5.86%, and Christians 6.12%, yet electoral mobilisation rarely maps neatly onto these categories. Instead, political legitimacy is often constructed through narratives of deprivation, struggle, and moral protection, allowing leaders to transcend identity boundaries without fully abandoning them. This is where the ‘underdog’ or ‘saviour-from-within’ template becomes politically powerful. Leaders such as MG Ramachandran and Karunanidhi exemplified this shift. Their political identity was built less on elite authority and more on autobiographical suffering, poverty, hunger, and lived hardship, which they explicitly translated into policy imagination. In fact, MGR’s first question to his cabinet about “who had experienced childhood poverty” was not merely symbolic, it reinforced a governing ethic rooted in empathy-as-experience. Welfare schemes for schoolchildren and marginalised communities further institutionalised this ethos, while his delegation of administrative control to trusted officials allowed emotional leadership to coexist with technocratic governance. In this framework, figures like Vijay, from socially identified but politically transcendent backgrounds such as the Velalar Christian community, can be read as inheritors of a longer pattern where leaders do not reject identity, but strategically dilute it into a broader language of shared deprivation and moral universality. How cinema became political training in Tamil NaduIn Tamil Nadu, the transition from cinema to politics is not an exception to the system; it is integral to how the system itself evolved. The foundation was laid when CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi turned theatre and screenwriting into political tools. Karunanidhi’s long career, from scriptwriter to five-time chief minister, established a precedent that narrative skill could translate into political authority. But MG Ramachandran transformed that relationship into a mass political structure. Already a dominant film star, MGR carried his on-screen persona of the benevolent protector directly into electoral politics, founding the AIADMK and becoming chief minister in 1977. His image as the “man of the masses” made the boundary between character and leader increasingly irrelevant for large sections of voters.That model was consolidated and intensified by J Jayalalithaa. After a successful film career, she entered politics under MGR’s mentorship and later built her own political identity as “Amma”, anchoring authority in personal symbolism and welfare distribution. Together, MGR and Jayalalithaa turned actor-led leadership into a durable governing structure rather than a temporary political experiment.Fan clubs become organisedOver time, this pattern stopped being about isolated figures and became a repeatable political template. Tamil Nadu politics began to treat cinematic visibility as a form of pre-political legitimacy. The actor was not just a candidate, he or she was already a public figure with emotional access to large audiences.This was reinforced by the Dravidian political tradition itself, which had long used cinema as a communication medium. As academic studies of Tamil cinema note, the boundary between cinema and politics in the state became structurally blurred, with film functioning as a carrier of ideological messaging as much as entertainment.Within this ecosystem, fan cultures played a critical role. Fan clubs for stars like MGR and later Rajinikanth functioned as organised social networks, often involved in welfare activities and local mobilisation. These structures later became informal political infrastructure, capable of being activated during elections.The durability of this model is visible in how consistently it reappears across generations. After MGR and Jayalalithaa, later figures attempted to replicate the pathway with varying success, including Vijayakanth and, more recently, the anticipation around Rajinikanth, whose political entry was widely expected but ultimately did not materialise.Yet the underlying structure remained intact: Tamil Nadu continues to produce political environments where cinematic identity is treated as a form of credibility, and where mass recognition often precedes organisational politics. Vijay’s pre-poll rally‘Amma, Thalapathy’: When leaders get titles from fansIn Tamil Nadu politics, leaders are rarely treated as distant office-holders. They are folded into the vocabulary of family itself. Titles like ‘Thalaivar’ and ‘Amma’ are not stylistic choices — they are political signals that replace institutional distance with emotional proximity. Once that shift happens, the relationship between leader and follower stops being transactional and becomes personal.This form of attachment predates social media and survives it. Long before digital fandoms, Tamil cinema had already built a system of parasocial bonding where audiences formed one-sided emotional relationships with stars who appeared repeatedly as protectors, providers and moral anchors on screen. In a state where cinema is deeply embedded in everyday life — from street posters to festival soundtracks — these screen identities easily spill into political perception.The Dravidian political tradition amplified this structure. Welfare politics reinforced the idea that the leader is not just a decision-maker but a direct source of material dignity. For large sections of voters, access to rice, subsidies, housing or public services became symbolically linked to the leader’s personal commitment. Over time, political support became tied not only to ideology, but to the feeling of being seen and provided for. Jayalalithaa’s funeral procession (Credit: ANI)It is within this framework that figures like MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were transformed into emotional institutions. MGR’s on-screen image as a benevolent saviour and Jayalalithaa’s carefully constructed persona as “Amma” turned political loyalty into something closer to familial dependence than civic choice.The same emotional architecture is visible in the rise of Vijay. Known to his fan base as “Thalapathy”, Vijay enters politics with an already established emotional economy built over decades of cinema. His films repeatedly position him as protector, mediator and moral force — roles that do not end at the theatre exit in a context where screen identities are continuously circulated in public life.What this produces is not simply popularity, but an emotional contract. Supporters do not merely evaluate performance or policy; they invest identity, dignity and aspiration into a figure who symbolically carries their social presence. In such a system, political allegiance is less about persuasion in the conventional sense and more about belonging — to a leader who is experienced not as a representative, but as an extension of the self.Why Vijay’s victory was not a surprise but a continuation of this cultureTVK chief Vijay won 110 seats and became the single largest party in Tamil Nadu elections. However, no exit polls had predicted this level of sweep. But it was inevitable.Within this historical context, the emergence of Vijay and his party TVK fits into a long-established pattern rather than breaking it. His transition reflects the same structural conditions that shaped earlier actor-politicians: a pre-existing fan base, emotional identification with screen roles, and a political culture that already recognises cinematic popularity as legitimacy.What has changed is scale and immediacy. By the time Vijay formally entered politics in the mid-2020s, Tamil Nadu already had half a century of precedent in converting cinematic stardom into electoral mobilisation. His entry signals not the invention of a new model, but the continuation of an old one, adapted to a newer media environment and a larger, more organised fan ecosystem.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calmFrom snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?How Vijay Thalapathy, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan looked DECADES ago; Superstars’ then and now picturesBMI vs Belly Fat: Which is a better predictor of heart attack risk (and why)123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultModi on buying goldOil prices todayPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop TrendingTamil Nadu CMBhagwant Mann CousinIPL Points TableFifa World Cup 2026 ScheduleVijay AstrologerHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026AIADMK splitHighway Toll DuesBhuvneshwar Kumar

AI-generated image (For representative purposes only) What kind of politics makes people die for their leaders?In Tamil Nadu, that is not rhetorical.It has happened repeatedly — in moments of grief, in moments of defeat, and, as seen last week during Vijay’s frantic government-formation talks, even in anticipation of power.But this is not a new story. Tamil Nadu has seen this before.It is December 1987, and Tamil Nadu is collapsing into grief.The streets are flooded with mourners. Men cry openly outside party offices. Some supporters drink poison. Others set themselves on fire. Across the state, sorrow turns fatal as news spreads that MG Ramachandran is dead.He was the founder of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a Tamil cinema legend and the state’s first actor-chief minister. But to millions, he was something far larger than any office he held. He was ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’, the revolutionary leader, the man who had stepped off the silver screen and into their lives as protector, provider and hero. MGR at a public rally in Tamil NaduFor more than a decade, MGR had ruled Tamil Nadu, winning three consecutive terms before dying while still in office. His death did not just mark the end of a chief minister. For many, it felt like the loss of someone far more intimate — a guardian, almost family.It would not be the last time Tamil Nadu witnessed grief spill into tragedy.The pattern returned, again and again, each time reminding the state that its politics was never merely electoral.In 2001, when J Jayalalithaa was forced to step down after a corruption conviction, her supporters took their own lives. In 2014, when she was jailed once more, the state saw another wave of mourning — suicides, self-immolations and heart attacks attributed to shock.After her death in 2016, AIADMK claimed that at least 470 supporters had died grieving the loss of the woman they fondly called ‘Amma’.Then came Vijay.In September 2025, lakhs converged on Karur to catch a glimpse of Tamil cinema’s reigning superstar as he edged closer to political power. People stood for hours under a punishing sun, waiting for the man many already saw as their next saviour. By the time the gathering ended, 41 people were dead.For a state that has long blurred the line between screen idol and political messiah, Vijay’s rise was not an exception. It was the latest chapter in a familiar script. Karur stampede aftermath (Credit: PTI)Voting for the underdog?Tamil Nadu’s voting behaviour often reflects a distinctive political logic where identity is acknowledged but not always politically foregrounded. While the state has deep social stratification, with Scheduled Castes making up around 20% of the population and broader SC/ST/OBC groups forming over 75%, electoral appeal frequently shifts away from narrow caste or religious consolidation toward figures who project a more universalised identity of suffering and uplift. Religious demographics further underline this complexity, with Hindus forming 87.58%, Muslims 5.86%, and Christians 6.12%, yet electoral mobilisation rarely maps neatly onto these categories. Instead, political legitimacy is often constructed through narratives of deprivation, struggle, and moral protection, allowing leaders to transcend identity boundaries without fully abandoning them. This is where the ‘underdog’ or ‘saviour-from-within’ template becomes politically powerful. Leaders such as MG Ramachandran and Karunanidhi exemplified this shift. Their political identity was built less on elite authority and more on autobiographical suffering, poverty, hunger, and lived hardship, which they explicitly translated into policy imagination. In fact, MGR’s first question to his cabinet about “who had experienced childhood poverty” was not merely symbolic, it reinforced a governing ethic rooted in empathy-as-experience. Welfare schemes for schoolchildren and marginalised communities further institutionalised this ethos, while his delegation of administrative control to trusted officials allowed emotional leadership to coexist with technocratic governance. In this framework, figures like Vijay, from socially identified but politically transcendent backgrounds such as the Velalar Christian community, can be read as inheritors of a longer pattern where leaders do not reject identity, but strategically dilute it into a broader language of shared deprivation and moral universality. How cinema became political training in Tamil NaduIn Tamil Nadu, the transition from cinema to politics is not an exception to the system; it is integral to how the system itself evolved. The foundation was laid when CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi turned theatre and screenwriting into political tools. Karunanidhi’s long career, from scriptwriter to five-time chief minister, established a precedent that narrative skill could translate into political authority. But MG Ramachandran transformed that relationship into a mass political structure. Already a dominant film star, MGR carried his on-screen persona of the benevolent protector directly into electoral politics, founding the AIADMK and becoming chief minister in 1977. His image as the “man of the masses” made the boundary between character and leader increasingly irrelevant for large sections of voters.That model was consolidated and intensified by J Jayalalithaa. After a successful film career, she entered politics under MGR’s mentorship and later built her own political identity as “Amma”, anchoring authority in personal symbolism and welfare distribution. Together, MGR and Jayalalithaa turned actor-led leadership into a durable governing structure rather than a temporary political experiment.Fan clubs become organisedOver time, this pattern stopped being about isolated figures and became a repeatable political template. Tamil Nadu politics began to treat cinematic visibility as a form of pre-political legitimacy. The actor was not just a candidate, he or she was already a public figure with emotional access to large audiences.This was reinforced by the Dravidian political tradition itself, which had long used cinema as a communication medium. As academic studies of Tamil cinema note, the boundary between cinema and politics in the state became structurally blurred, with film functioning as a carrier of ideological messaging as much as entertainment.Within this ecosystem, fan cultures played a critical role. Fan clubs for stars like MGR and later Rajinikanth functioned as organised social networks, often involved in welfare activities and local mobilisation. These structures later became informal political infrastructure, capable of being activated during elections.The durability of this model is visible in how consistently it reappears across generations. After MGR and Jayalalithaa, later figures attempted to replicate the pathway with varying success, including Vijayakanth and, more recently, the anticipation around Rajinikanth, whose political entry was widely expected but ultimately did not materialise.Yet the underlying structure remained intact: Tamil Nadu continues to produce political environments where cinematic identity is treated as a form of credibility, and where mass recognition often precedes organisational politics. Vijay’s pre-poll rally‘Amma, Thalapathy’: When leaders get titles from fansIn Tamil Nadu politics, leaders are rarely treated as distant office-holders. They are folded into the vocabulary of family itself. Titles like ‘Thalaivar’ and ‘Amma’ are not stylistic choices — they are political signals that replace institutional distance with emotional proximity. Once that shift happens, the relationship between leader and follower stops being transactional and becomes personal.This form of attachment predates social media and survives it. Long before digital fandoms, Tamil cinema had already built a system of parasocial bonding where audiences formed one-sided emotional relationships with stars who appeared repeatedly as protectors, providers and moral anchors on screen. In a state where cinema is deeply embedded in everyday life — from street posters to festival soundtracks — these screen identities easily spill into political perception.The Dravidian political tradition amplified this structure. Welfare politics reinforced the idea that the leader is not just a decision-maker but a direct source of material dignity. For large sections of voters, access to rice, subsidies, housing or public services became symbolically linked to the leader’s personal commitment. Over time, political support became tied not only to ideology, but to the feeling of being seen and provided for. Jayalalithaa’s funeral procession (Credit: ANI)It is within this framework that figures like MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa were transformed into emotional institutions. MGR’s on-screen image as a benevolent saviour and Jayalalithaa’s carefully constructed persona as “Amma” turned political loyalty into something closer to familial dependence than civic choice.The same emotional architecture is visible in the rise of Vijay. Known to his fan base as “Thalapathy”, Vijay enters politics with an already established emotional economy built over decades of cinema. His films repeatedly position him as protector, mediator and moral force — roles that do not end at the theatre exit in a context where screen identities are continuously circulated in public life.What this produces is not simply popularity, but an emotional contract. Supporters do not merely evaluate performance or policy; they invest identity, dignity and aspiration into a figure who symbolically carries their social presence. In such a system, political allegiance is less about persuasion in the conventional sense and more about belonging — to a leader who is experienced not as a representative, but as an extension of the self.Why Vijay’s victory was not a surprise but a continuation of this cultureTVK chief Vijay won 110 seats and became the single largest party in Tamil Nadu elections. However, no exit polls had predicted this level of sweep. But it was inevitable.Within this historical context, the emergence of Vijay and his party TVK fits into a long-established pattern rather than breaking it. His transition reflects the same structural conditions that shaped earlier actor-politicians: a pre-existing fan base, emotional identification with screen roles, and a political culture that already recognises cinematic popularity as legitimacy.What has changed is scale and immediacy. By the time Vijay formally entered politics in the mid-2020s, Tamil Nadu already had half a century of precedent in converting cinematic stardom into electoral mobilisation. His entry signals not the invention of a new model, but the continuation of an old one, adapted to a newer media environment and a larger, more organised fan ecosystem.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUdhayanidhi 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 | WatchFIR Filed Against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi Over Alleged Remarks Against PM ModiCBI Takes Over Probe Into Murder Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Aide Chandranath Rath, Forms 7-Member SITAIADMK Faces Biggest Split Since Jayalalithaa Era As Rebel Faction Extends Support To Vijay’s TVKTamil Nadu CM Vijay Orders Shutdown Of 717 TASMAC Shops Near Temples, Schools And Bus StandsCongress Expands Kerala CM Consultations As Satheesan-Venugopal Battle IntensifiesTarn Taran BJP Office Attacked: Youths Vandalise Premises, Fire Shots In Air; Probe OnRahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over NEET Leak Allegations As Rajasthan SOG Expands ProbeFormer TMC Minister Sujit Bose Arrested By ED In Municipality Recruitment ‘Scam’123PhotostoriesHair oil or hair conditioner: Which is better to stop hair fall in summersCricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy’s ₹3 crore Visakhapatnam home is a perfect picture of success, family bond and coastal calmSuccess quote of the day by Confucius: “Success depends upon…”Your expensive skincare may not work until you fix your gut: Doctors explain the surprising skin-digestion connection5 simple remedies to keep silverfish away and protect your favourite books and clothes before it’s too late!Personality test: Pick a tree and see what it reveals about what makes you feel safe, happy, and calmFrom snake fruit to jabuticaba; 10 unique fruit trees around the world and where travellers can find them10 countries with the most mosquitoes, does India figure in the list?How Vijay Thalapathy, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan looked DECADES ago; Superstars’ then and now picturesBMI vs Belly Fat: Which is a better predictor of heart attack risk (and why)123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultModi on buying goldOil prices todayPune child rape-murder casePerambur election resultIndia-New Zealand FTASugarcane price hikeTop 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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