NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s strong support for actor-politician Vijay after delay in censor certification for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief’s film ‘Jana Nayagan’ has set tongues wagging about a possible political realignment in poll-bound Tamil Nadu. ‘Jana Nayagan’, which is widely publicised as Vijay’s final film before his full-fledged entry into politics, was slated for a Pongal release on January 9. However, the film ran into last-minute hurdles after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not issue certification in time. Rallying behind Vijay, Rahul attacked the Centre and said the I&B ministry’s “attempt to block” ‘Jana Nayagan’ was an attack on Tamil culture. He also targeted the Prime Minister and said: “Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.” The TVK has been quick to acknowledge Rahul’s support as a “friendly gesture.” Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan Gets Morning Relief, Evening Setback — Next Hearing Jan 21 While the Tamil Nadu Congress has denied any “political motive” behind Rahul’s gesture, the fact remains that this comes at a time when the grand-old-party’s ties with its old ally DMK has been tense over demands of power sharing.The DMK and the Congress have been partners in Tamil Nadu for long and have contested several elections together, but the grand-old party has not been a part of the DMK government in the state. The Congress wants that to change now. When Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the time has come to move beyond seat-sharing and initiate discussions on the sharing of power, he was echoing the sentiments of a section of the party. However, this “power sharing” proposal was nipped in the bud by the DMK. Ruling out any scope for coalition government, senior DMK leader and state minister I Periyasamy said: “There had never been a coalition government. The state had all along been helmed by the DMK on its own. There is no doubt about this stand of the party, there will be no coalition government and the chief minister is firm on this stand.”So, what should the Congress do? Continue with this arrangement that has been in place for years or chart a different course with a new ally?The politics of Tamil Nadu has traditionally been bipolar between two arch political rivals – the DMK and the AIADMK. However, 2026 could be different. There’s a third regional player in the fray. The entry of actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, fondly known as Thalapathy Vijay, has made the upcoming electoral contest interesting. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has already made an impressive start giving jitters to the two established regional players. Vijay is confident that his TVK will script history in the elections – just as it had happened in the 1967 and 1977 assembly elections in the state. The DMK had won for the first time in 1967 while the AIADMK won elections a decade later.While the TVK has not opened its alliance cards, Vijay has made it clear several times that his party will not join hands with either the DMK or the BJP. The actor-politician had also said that if there were any alliance in the future, it would be led by the TVK and opposed to both the DMK and the BJP.It is in this context that Rahul Gandhi’s support for Vijay has raised interest. Already there have been speculations about a tie up after TVK’s national spokesperson Felix Gerald had called the Congress a “natural ally.” “The Congress and TVK are natural allies in terms of secularism and their stand against communalism. In that sense, we have always been natural partners. Rahul Gandhi and our leader are also friends,” Gerald had said.Adding fuel to this fire was senior Congress leader and head of the party’s Data Analytics Unit, Praveen Chakravarty, who later met TVK leader Vijay.Which brings us to the question: Is the Congress seriously considering a third front in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Vijay or is the grand-old party using Vijay’s party to bargain “power sharing” deal and extra seats with the DMK?Perhaps, we may have some answers on Congress’s future course of action in the state after Rahul’s meeting with senior state leaders in Delhi on Jan 18 and 19.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 MediaVideosCalcutta HC Hears ED and TMC Petitions Over I-PAC Raids, ED Moves Supreme CourtSix Sarpanches Booked in Kamareddy for Mass Killing of Stray Dogs Ahead of ElectionsHistoric moment! 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NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s strong support for actor-politician Vijay after delay in censor certification for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief’s film ‘Jana Nayagan’ has set tongues wagging about a possible political realignment in poll-bound Tamil Nadu. ‘Jana Nayagan’, which is widely publicised as Vijay’s final film before his full-fledged entry into politics, was slated for a Pongal release on January 9. However, the film ran into last-minute hurdles after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not issue certification in time. Rallying behind Vijay, Rahul attacked the Centre and said the I&B ministry’s “attempt to block” ‘Jana Nayagan’ was an attack on Tamil culture. He also targeted the Prime Minister and said: “Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people.” The TVK has been quick to acknowledge Rahul’s support as a “friendly gesture.”
While the Tamil Nadu Congress has denied any “political motive” behind Rahul’s gesture, the fact remains that this comes at a time when the grand-old-party’s ties with its old ally DMK has been tense over demands of power sharing.The DMK and the Congress have been partners in Tamil Nadu for long and have contested several elections together, but the grand-old party has not been a part of the DMK government in the state. The Congress wants that to change now. When Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the time has come to move beyond seat-sharing and initiate discussions on the sharing of power, he was echoing the sentiments of a section of the party. However, this “power sharing” proposal was nipped in the bud by the DMK. Ruling out any scope for coalition government, senior DMK leader and state minister I Periyasamy said: “There had never been a coalition government. The state had all along been helmed by the DMK on its own. There is no doubt about this stand of the party, there will be no coalition government and the chief minister is firm on this stand.”So, what should the Congress do? Continue with this arrangement that has been in place for years or chart a different course with a new ally?The politics of Tamil Nadu has traditionally been bipolar between two arch political rivals – the DMK and the AIADMK. However, 2026 could be different. There’s a third regional player in the fray. The entry of actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, fondly known as Thalapathy Vijay, has made the upcoming electoral contest interesting. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has already made an impressive start giving jitters to the two established regional players. Vijay is confident that his TVK will script history in the elections – just as it had happened in the 1967 and 1977 assembly elections in the state. The DMK had won for the first time in 1967 while the AIADMK won elections a decade later.While the TVK has not opened its alliance cards, Vijay has made it clear several times that his party will not join hands with either the DMK or the BJP. The actor-politician had also said that if there were any alliance in the future, it would be led by the TVK and opposed to both the DMK and the BJP.It is in this context that Rahul Gandhi’s support for Vijay has raised interest. Already there have been speculations about a tie up after TVK’s national spokesperson Felix Gerald had called the Congress a “natural ally.” “The Congress and TVK are natural allies in terms of secularism and their stand against communalism. In that sense, we have always been natural partners. Rahul Gandhi and our leader are also friends,” Gerald had said.Adding fuel to this fire was senior Congress leader and head of the party’s Data Analytics Unit, Praveen Chakravarty, who later met TVK leader Vijay.Which brings us to the question: Is the Congress seriously considering a third front in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Vijay or is the grand-old party using Vijay’s party to bargain “power sharing” deal and extra seats with the DMK?Perhaps, we may have some answers on Congress’s future course of action in the state after Rahul’s meeting with senior state leaders in Delhi on Jan 18 and 19.
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? 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Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
