Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party chief MK Stalin was detained earlier today amid a protest. DMK members were protesting against the Centre over the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

DMK party members held an all-party meeting earlier today to discuss the Cauvery water dispute after which MK Stalin announced a state-wide shutdown to be observed on April 5.&nbsp;

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Visuals: DMK working president MK Stalin detained during protest against Centre over constitution of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CauveryWaterManagement?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CauveryWaterManagement</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/ffl3pO4kPv">pic.twitter.com/ffl3pO4kPv</a>
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DMK also asked the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to join the protest and press for the constitution of a CMB. AIADMK has already announced to observe fast across Tamil Nadu on April 3 with an aim to urge the government to form the management board.

The six-week time frame directed by the Supreme Court to set up the CMB ended on March 26. The Tamil Nadu government stated that they would re-approach the apex court.

The Supreme Court, on February 16, pronounced its verdict on the dispute that involves Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Supreme Court, in its verdict on the dispute, allotted an additional 14.75 TMC of river water to Karnataka and reduced Tamil Nadu's share from 192 TMC to 177.25 TMC.&nbsp;

States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala challenged the 2007 order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) and refused to share Cauvery of their need of water.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

DMK party members held an all-party meeting earlier today to discuss the Cauvery water dispute

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party chief MK Stalin was detained earlier today amid a protest. DMK members were protesting against the Centre over the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). DMK party members held an all-party meeting earlier today to discuss the Cauvery water dispute after which MK Stalin announced a state-wide shutdown to be observed on April 5. Visuals: DMK working president MK Stalin detained during protest against Centre over constitution of #CauveryWaterManagement in #Chennai pic.twitter.com/ffl3pO4kPv — ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2018 × DMK also asked the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to join the protest and press for the constitution of a CMB. AIADMK has already announced to observe fast across Tamil Nadu on April 3 with an aim to urge the government to form the management board. The six-week time frame directed by the Supreme Court to set up the CMB ended on March 26. The Tamil Nadu government stated that they would re-approach the apex court. The Supreme Court, on February 16, pronounced its verdict on the dispute that involves Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Supreme Court, in its verdict on the dispute, allotted an additional 14.75 TMC of river water to Karnataka and reduced Tamil Nadu's share from 192 TMC to 177.25 TMC. States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala challenged the 2007 order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) and refused to share Cauvery of their need of water. (With inputs from agencies)

Cauvery row: DMK chief MK Stalin detained amid protests

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MP A. Navaneethakrishnan on Thursday threatened that he will commit suicide if the Centre failed to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) by the March 29.

Stressing on the constitution of the CMB by the dateline fixed by the Supreme Court, the MNP told ANI that, "Yes I had threatened to commit suicide if the Centre failed to constitute a Cauvery Management Board by the March 29."

Earlier on March 28, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswani expressed hope that the Centre will set up the CMB in the promised time.

"The Supreme Court has given a verdict for the formation of the (CMB) in six weeks time and there is still time left," said the minister.

The apex court on February 16 ordered the central government to set up the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee within six weeks.

However, the apex court's verdict decreased Tamil Nadu's share in the water body, much to the dismay of the people of the state.&nbsp

Earlier on March 28, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswani expressed hope that the Centre will set up the CMB in the promised time.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MP A. Navaneethakrishnan on Thursday threatened that he will commit suicide if the Centre failed to constitute a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) by the March 29. Stressing on the constitution of the CMB by the dateline fixed by the Supreme Court, the MNP told ANI that, "Yes I had threatened to commit suicide if the Centre failed to constitute a Cauvery Management Board by the March 29." Earlier on March 28, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswani expressed hope that the Centre will set up the CMB in the promised time. "The Supreme Court has given a verdict for the formation of the (CMB) in six weeks time and there is still time left," said the minister. The apex court on February 16 ordered the central government to set up the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee within six weeks. However, the apex court's verdict decreased Tamil Nadu's share in the water body, much to the dismay of the people of the state.

Cauvery row: AIADMK MP threatens to commit suicide

Protests and sloganeering marked the day&#39;s proceedings in the Lok Sabha Thursday.&nbsp;

Opposition MPs could be heard chanting &quot;We want justice&quot; in the background, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the day&#39;s business.&nbsp;

As the protests grew louder, she said, &quot;Nobody wants to listen, nobody wants to run the House.&quot; She then adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 pm.&nbsp;

A little after the house reconvened, it was adjourned for the day.&nbsp;

This is the 14thd day now that the Lok Sabha has been disrupted.&nbsp;

Similar scenes were witness in the Rajya Sabha which&nbsp;was adjourned till Friday.&nbsp;

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Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after TDP MPs walked up to the Well with placards, raising slogans, demanding special status for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AndhraPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AndhraPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/JCGRkIOFhk">pic.twitter.com/JCGRkIOFhk</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976697542254780417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

As the protests grew louder, she said, "Nobody wants to listen, nobody wants to run the House." She then adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 pm.

Protests and sloganeering marked the day's proceedings in the Lok Sabha Thursday. Opposition MPs could be heard chanting "We want justice" in the background, even as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct the day's business. As the protests grew louder, she said, "Nobody wants to listen, nobody wants to run the House." She then adjourned the Lok Sabha till 12 pm. A little after the house reconvened, it was adjourned for the day. This is the 14thd day now that the Lok Sabha has been disrupted. Similar scenes were witness in the Rajya Sabha which was adjourned till Friday. Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after TDP MPs walked up to the Well with placards, raising slogans, demanding special status for #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/JCGRkIOFhk — ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2018 ×

Both houses of Parliament adjourned again, no-trust motion not taken up

The Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted today for the 13th day after members from the AIADMK and TRS continued with their noisy protests, stalling the taking up of two notices of no-confidence motion against the council of ministers for the fourth day.

Amid the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she cannot do a headcount of 50 members supporting the move, a prerequisite for taking up the notices for the trust vote.

She then adjourned the House for the day.

Minutes after the House met this morning, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for an hour due to protests by parties from Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. When the House reassembled at 12 noon, members from the AIADMK, TDP and the TRS were seen raising slogans and holding placards in the Well.

While the AIADMK wants early establishment of the Cauvery river board to settle the water dispute with neighbouring states, the TRS is demanding hiked quota for Telangana. The TDP is demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Expelled RJD member Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was seen holding a placard demanding special status for Bihar. The members from Congress, TMC and the Left were standing at their seats.

After the laying of papers by ministers, when the protests continued, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar urged the members to return to their seats so that legislative business could be taken up.

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Ruckus in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabha</a>, TDP MPs storm the well of the House over demand of special status to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AndhraPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AndhraPradesh</a>, opposition members say, &#39;it is also the duty of the govt to facilitate proceedings of the House.&#39; Chairman adjourns the House till 11 am, tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/fI0KOvGgsE">pic.twitter.com/fI0KOvGgsE</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976332059349168128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He said the government is willing to discuss any issue, including the no-confidence motion. &quot;We have the confidence of the House as well as of the entire country,&quot; he said. 
 
When the Speaker took up the two notices of the trust vote given by the TDP and YSRC, the AIADMK members raised the pitch of their slogans. TRS members were also seen in the Well.

Mahajan said while she is duty-bound to take up the notices, she cannot move ahead due to the ruckus.

She noted that she is not in a position to count the 50 members supporting the move as she can&#39;t see anything from the chair. Placards were apparently blocking her view.

Members from the Congress, TMC and the Left raised their hands to indicate to the Speaker that they were supporting the motion.

But Mahajan said as the House is not in order, she cannot move ahead with the issue and adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day.

At least 50 members have to support the motion before it is moved for which a headcount is done. However, it is difficult to carry out the exercise when there are disruptions and several members are standing, former top LS officials explained.&nbsp;

Even before Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took up the Question Hour, MPs from the TDP, YSR Congress, TRS and AIADMK, trooped into the well of the house holding placards

The Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted today for the 13th day after members from the AIADMK and TRS continued with their noisy protests, stalling the taking up of two notices of no-confidence motion against the council of ministers for the fourth day. Amid the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that she cannot do a headcount of 50 members supporting the move, a prerequisite for taking up the notices for the trust vote. She then adjourned the House for the day. Minutes after the House met this morning, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for an hour due to protests by parties from Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. When the House reassembled at 12 noon, members from the AIADMK, TDP and the TRS were seen raising slogans and holding placards in the Well. While the AIADMK wants early establishment of the Cauvery river board to settle the water dispute with neighbouring states, the TRS is demanding hiked quota for Telangana. The TDP is demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. Expelled RJD member Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was seen holding a placard demanding special status for Bihar. The members from Congress, TMC and the Left were standing at their seats. After the laying of papers by ministers, when the protests continued, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar urged the members to return to their seats so that legislative business could be taken up. Ruckus in #RajyaSabha, TDP MPs storm the well of the House over demand of special status to #AndhraPradesh, opposition members say, 'it is also the duty of the govt to facilitate proceedings of the House.' Chairman adjourns the House till 11 am, tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/fI0KOvGgsE — ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2018 × He said the government is willing to discuss any issue, including the no-confidence motion. "We have the confidence of the House as well as of the entire country," he said. When the Speaker took up the two notices of the trust vote given by the TDP and YSRC, the AIADMK members raised the pitch of their slogans. TRS members were also seen in the Well. Mahajan said while she is duty-bound to take up the notices, she cannot move ahead due to the ruckus. She noted that she is not in a position to count the 50 members supporting the move as she can't see anything from the chair. Placards were apparently blocking her view. Members from the Congress, TMC and the Left raised their hands to indicate to the Speaker that they were supporting the motion. But Mahajan said as the House is not in order, she cannot move ahead with the issue and adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day. At least 50 members have to support the motion before it is moved for which a headcount is done. However, it is difficult to carry out the exercise when there are disruptions and several members are standing, former top LS officials explained.

Lok Sabha disrupted for 13th day, no-confidence motion not taken up again

The no-confidence motion against the government was again not taken up after both houses of Parliament were adjourned Monday morning.&nbsp;

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No confidence motion not introduced, Lok Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after continuous uproar. <a href="https://t.co/bdT3dbBWA8">pic.twitter.com/bdT3dbBWA8</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975622822293893120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Lok Sabha had earlier been adjourned till 12 pm. But a little after the house sat down,&nbsp;it was adjourned after a continuous uproar.&nbsp;

The TDP&#39;s MPs would not allow Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to run the house.&nbsp; Each time the Lok Sabha would convene, they would run into the well of the house.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Rajya Sabha had earlier already been adjourned till Tuesday.&nbsp;

The YSR Congress and the TDP have asked for a trust vote against the government over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh. The central government had refused to give the state the special status it was asking for, but had said it would give Andhra the monetary equivalent of special status.&nbsp;

Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had recently asked the two TDP ministers in the union cabinet &mdash; Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary &mdash; to put in their papers. He had then later he would take his next steps accordingly.&nbsp;

The YSR Congress and the TDP had asked for the trust vote &mdash; a minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion for the vote to be held &mdash; last week. The Left, the AIADMK, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the AIMIM will support the vote.&nbsp;

Should the motion be accepted, this will be the first no-trust vote against the central government.&nbsp;

That said, the Narendra-led Modi NDA government is at the moment in no danger of falling. It has a simple majority on its own, and enough independent MPs in the house it could approach, should the need ever arise, to sail through a no-trust vote.&nbsp;

The parties asking for the vote seem to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/want-no-trust-vote-debate-but-not-trying-to-make-government-fall-tdp-mp-36314" target="_blank">understand</a> that. The TDP MP RM Naidu said Monday morning:&nbsp;

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We are going to go move no-confidence motion,gather support of all respective parties in Parliament. It&#39;s responsibility of all parties in Parliament to support us. Trying to gather as much support as possible so debate happens, not trying to make the govt fall: RM Naidu, TDP MP <a href="https://t.co/LbdfpLAQAd">pic.twitter.com/LbdfpLAQAd</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975587133309313024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The TDP however, commentators says, wishes to attack the government on the issue before assembly elections in Andhra next year &mdash; which is exactly what opposition parties in the state are doing to it. Taking on the central government also allows the TDP to ward off the YSR Congress&#39;s Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been pushing for special status for Andhra for some four years now.&nbsp;

More fireworks can be expected on Tuesday when Parliament reconvenes; the YSR Congress&#39;s YV Subba Reddy has asked for the motion to be taken up tomorrow again.&nbsp;

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YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy again writes to Secretary General Lok Sabha to include in list of business for tomorrow &#39;no confidence motion in the council of ministers&#39;. <a href="https://t.co/6fsIhkk10H">pic.twitter.com/6fsIhkk10H</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975639641847140352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The YSR Congress and the TDP have been trying to push the motion over the 'special status' issue for Andhra Pradesh

The no-confidence motion against the government was again not taken up after both houses of Parliament were adjourned Monday morning. No confidence motion not introduced, Lok Sabha adjourned till tomorrow after continuous uproar. pic.twitter.com/bdT3dbBWA8 — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 × The Lok Sabha had earlier been adjourned till 12 pm. But a little after the house sat down, it was adjourned after a continuous uproar. The TDP's MPs would not allow Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to run the house. Each time the Lok Sabha would convene, they would run into the well of the house. The Rajya Sabha had earlier already been adjourned till Tuesday. The YSR Congress and the TDP have asked for a trust vote against the government over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh. The central government had refused to give the state the special status it was asking for, but had said it would give Andhra the monetary equivalent of special status. Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had recently asked the two TDP ministers in the union cabinet — Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary — to put in their papers. He had then later he would take his next steps accordingly. The YSR Congress and the TDP had asked for the trust vote — a minimum of 50 members have to accept the motion for the vote to be held — last week. The Left, the AIADMK, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the AIMIM will support the vote. Should the motion be accepted, this will be the first no-trust vote against the central government. That said, the Narendra-led Modi NDA government is at the moment in no danger of falling. It has a simple majority on its own, and enough independent MPs in the house it could approach, should the need ever arise, to sail through a no-trust vote. The parties asking for the vote seem to understand that. The TDP MP RM Naidu said Monday morning: We are going to go move no-confidence motion,gather support of all respective parties in Parliament. It's responsibility of all parties in Parliament to support us. Trying to gather as much support as possible so debate happens, not trying to make the govt fall: RM Naidu, TDP MP pic.twitter.com/LbdfpLAQAd — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 × The TDP however, commentators says, wishes to attack the government on the issue before assembly elections in Andhra next year — which is exactly what opposition parties in the state are doing to it. Taking on the central government also allows the TDP to ward off the YSR Congress's Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been pushing for special status for Andhra for some four years now. More fireworks can be expected on Tuesday when Parliament reconvenes; the YSR Congress's YV Subba Reddy has asked for the motion to be taken up tomorrow again. YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy again writes to Secretary General Lok Sabha to include in list of business for tomorrow 'no confidence motion in the council of ministers'. pic.twitter.com/6fsIhkk10H — ANI (@ANI) March 19, 2018 ×

No-confidence motion not taken up, both houses of Parliament adjourned till Tuesday

TTV <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chennai-income-tax-raids-on-jaya-tv-23786">Dinakaran who won the high-profile</a> RK Nagar bypoll which was earlier held by late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa floated a new political party in the state.

Dinakaran <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/election-commission-has-informed-two-leaves-symbol-belongs-to-eps-ops-faction-aiadmk-mp-v-maitreyan-24921">was involved</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/election-commission-has-informed-two-leaves-symbol-belongs-to-eps-ops-faction-aiadmk-mp-v-maitreyan-24921"> an open feud with</a>&nbsp;top AIADMK party officials - E K Palaniswami-O Panneerselvam(EPS-OPS) over the &quot;two leaves&quot; symbol which was eventually granted to the EPS-OPS faction by the Election Commission.

&quot;Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam will be the name of my party,&quot; TTV Dinakaran told supporters at a large public rally in Madurai.

Dhinakaran, who has the support of several dissident party workers and leaders, said the new outfit would capture power in the state and unveiled the party&#39;s flag, which features the image of a smiling Jayalalithaa in the middle.

The flag is black on top and red below with white in the middle.

&quot;We will win all upcoming elections from now by using latest name and party flag, we will also try to retrieve the two leaves symbol, till then will use cooker symbol,&quot; Dinakaran declared as the large crowd cheered.

Former ministers V Senthil Balaji and P Palaniappan, senior leaders such as S Anbazhagan, disqualified MLAs and Dhinakaran loyalists, including P Vetrivel, and Thanga Tamil Selvan, were among those who participated at the event.

Speakers at the meeting lambasted the Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led regime and said it comprised betrayers.

Vetrivel presented a &quot;veera vaal,&quot; (a spear) to Dhinakaran before he announced the party name.

Dinakaran was involved an open feud with top AIADMK party officials - E K Palaniswami-O Panneerselvam(EPS-OPS)

TTV Dinakaran who won the high-profile RK Nagar bypoll which was earlier held by late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa floated a new political party in the state. Dinakaran was involved an open feud with top AIADMK party officials - E K Palaniswami-O Panneerselvam(EPS-OPS) over the "two leaves" symbol which was eventually granted to the EPS-OPS faction by the Election Commission. "Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam will be the name of my party," TTV Dinakaran told supporters at a large public rally in Madurai. Dhinakaran, who has the support of several dissident party workers and leaders, said the new outfit would capture power in the state and unveiled the party's flag, which features the image of a smiling Jayalalithaa in the middle. The flag is black on top and red below with white in the middle. "We will win all upcoming elections from now by using latest name and party flag, we will also try to retrieve the two leaves symbol, till then will use cooker symbol," Dinakaran declared as the large crowd cheered. Former ministers V Senthil Balaji and P Palaniappan, senior leaders such as S Anbazhagan, disqualified MLAs and Dhinakaran loyalists, including P Vetrivel, and Thanga Tamil Selvan, were among those who participated at the event. Speakers at the meeting lambasted the Chief Minister K Palaniswami-led regime and said it comprised betrayers. Vetrivel presented a "veera vaal," (a spear) to Dhinakaran before he announced the party name.

TTV Dinakaran floats new party AMMK, with cooker as party symbol

A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted bail to Advocate B&nbsp;Kumar, one of the accused in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) two leaves symbol bribery case.

The High Court also directed Kumar to furnish a personal bond of Rs&nbsp;50,000.

B&nbsp;Kumar was the lawyer Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa&#39;s lawyer.

In January, with a lookout circular (LOC) issued Kumar was stopped at Chennai airport on his way to the US.Earlier in the day, TTV Dinakaran appeared before

Delhi&#39;s Patiala House Court in connection with &#39;two leaves&#39;&nbsp;bribery case.

On December 14, Dinakaran was named in the charge sheet along with others in the &#39;two leaves&#39;&nbsp;symbol bribery case.

The Delhi Police had filed a supplementary charge sheet before the Tis Hazari court and named Dhinakaran, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, Mallikarjuna, Nathu Singh, Pulkit Kundra, B Kumar, Lalit Kumar, Jai Vikram Haran and Narendra Jain as the accused.

Dhinakaran has been charged under Sections 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Destruction of Evidence)The case pertains to an alleged attempt by Dhinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials for securing AIADMK&#39;s &#39;two leaves&#39;&nbsp;symbol for the party faction led by his aunt VK&nbsp;Sasikala.

The High Court also directed Kumar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000

A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted bail to Advocate B Kumar, one of the accused in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) two leaves symbol bribery case. The High Court also directed Kumar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000. B Kumar was the lawyer Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's lawyer. In January, with a lookout circular (LOC) issued Kumar was stopped at Chennai airport on his way to the US.Earlier in the day, TTV Dinakaran appeared before Delhi's Patiala House Court in connection with 'two leaves' bribery case. On December 14, Dinakaran was named in the charge sheet along with others in the 'two leaves' symbol bribery case. The Delhi Police had filed a supplementary charge sheet before the Tis Hazari court and named Dhinakaran, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, Mallikarjuna, Nathu Singh, Pulkit Kundra, B Kumar, Lalit Kumar, Jai Vikram Haran and Narendra Jain as the accused. Dhinakaran has been charged under Sections 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Destruction of Evidence)The case pertains to an alleged attempt by Dhinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials for securing AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol for the party faction led by his aunt VK Sasikala.

AIADMK symbol bribery case: Accused advocate B Kumar granted bail

At times watching the Barcelona star Lionel Messi, you get the feeling that real sporting genius lies in being able to do the outlandishly good every day, to be routinely out of the ordinary.&nbsp;

Messi shrugging off the defenders in conventional fashion, leaving them whirling and stumbling and evading the opponents&#39; attack with a jink, proved repeatedly that he is the best club footballer of his generation still reinventing the elite attacking football.&nbsp;

Ever since the death of the charismatic leader and former AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa, there has been a void in Tamil Nadu politics which everyone in the state hoping for a &#39;&#39;Messiah like Messi&#39;&#39; to fill that. &nbsp;

Tamil Nadu has plunged into full-blown crisis following the untimely death of &nbsp;Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader), J Jayalalithaa. What followed was crisis after crisis which left everyone bewildered.&nbsp;

Now, with actor Kamal Haasan sowing the seed for his political party at a public meeting in Madurai on Wednesday and Superstar Rajinikanth tossing his hat into the ring in a high-profile fan meet not long ago, there is a glimmer of hope. &nbsp;

Actor Kamal Haasan, who began his political journey from the birthplace of former president A P J Abdul Kalam has never dabbled in politics, unlike the other superstars who have been in and out politics for the last 20 years. &nbsp;

The two superstars of Tamil filmdom kickstarting their respective political journey, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Tamil Nadu. Though there have always been rumours swirling around Rajinikanth entering politics, both the actors clearly stated that it&#39;s &#39;&#39;compulsion of time&rdquo; that made them enter politics.&nbsp;

Kamal Haasan, like Rajinikanth, has a mass. He is a superstar like Messi in their own domain. The major advantage for an actor like Kamal Haasan is that when you are a superstar with a mass appeal, half of your job is done. But the toughest task for the Makkal Needi Maiam (MNM) and Kamal Haasan is how he and his party play their part in the second half.&nbsp;

Kamal Haasan has his task cut out. The actor has to dribble and often take the ball and shimmy past some strong defenders such as DMK and AIADMK to score. Not an easy task. The actor-turned-politician may or may not succeed. But to leave the Dravidaian stalwarts flailing as he glides past them, the actor-turned-politician needs to be unstoppable and has to be outlandishly good every day if he wants to succeed in the mission he is set out to achieve.&nbsp;

Only time will tell whether Kamal Haasan will turn out to be&nbsp;Messi-the-Messiah that Tamil Nadu needs.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Ever since the death of the charismatic leader Jayalalithaa, what Tamil Nadu needs is a saviour. Will Kamal Haasan be the one?

At times watching the Barcelona star Lionel Messi, you get the feeling that real sporting genius lies in being able to do the outlandishly good every day, to be routinely out of the ordinary. Messi shrugging off the defenders in conventional fashion, leaving them whirling and stumbling and evading the opponents' attack with a jink, proved repeatedly that he is the best club footballer of his generation still reinventing the elite attacking football. Ever since the death of the charismatic leader and former AIADMK Supremo Jayalalithaa, there has been a void in Tamil Nadu politics which everyone in the state hoping for a ''Messiah like Messi'' to fill that. Tamil Nadu has plunged into full-blown crisis following the untimely death of Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader), J Jayalalithaa. What followed was crisis after crisis which left everyone bewildered. Now, with actor Kamal Haasan sowing the seed for his political party at a public meeting in Madurai on Wednesday and Superstar Rajinikanth tossing his hat into the ring in a high-profile fan meet not long ago, there is a glimmer of hope. Actor Kamal Haasan, who began his political journey from the birthplace of former president A P J Abdul Kalam has never dabbled in politics, unlike the other superstars who have been in and out politics for the last 20 years. The two superstars of Tamil filmdom kickstarting their respective political journey, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Tamil Nadu. Though there have always been rumours swirling around Rajinikanth entering politics, both the actors clearly stated that it's ''compulsion of time” that made them enter politics. Kamal Haasan, like Rajinikanth, has a mass. He is a superstar like Messi in their own domain. The major advantage for an actor like Kamal Haasan is that when you are a superstar with a mass appeal, half of your job is done. But the toughest task for the Makkal Needi Maiam (MNM) and Kamal Haasan is how he and his party play their part in the second half. Kamal Haasan has his task cut out. The actor has to dribble and often take the ball and shimmy past some strong defenders such as DMK and AIADMK to score. Not an easy task. The actor-turned-politician may or may not succeed. But to leave the Dravidaian stalwarts flailing as he glides past them, the actor-turned-politician needs to be unstoppable and has to be outlandishly good every day if he wants to succeed in the mission he is set out to achieve. Only time will tell whether Kamal Haasan will turn out to be Messi-the-Messiah that Tamil Nadu needs. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Will Kamal Haasan be 'Messi-the-Messiah' for Tamil Nadu?

Tamil Nadu chief minister &nbsp;Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam unveiled the statue of former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa at the AIADMK office on the occasion of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa`s birth anniversary.

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Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam unveiled statue of former TN CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jayalalithaa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jayalalithaa</a> at AIADMK office on her birth anniversary. <a href="https://t.co/33NMG8cpbR">pic.twitter.com/33NMG8cpbR</a>
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Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Tamil Nadu government`s Amma Two-wheeler Scheme here.

The scheme, which aims at providing 50 percent subsidy to all the working women to buy two-wheelers, was a pet project of Jayalalithaa.

On Sunday, Prime Minister will be visiting Puducherry. He will offer floral tributes to Shri Aurobindo at Aurobindo Ashram and interact with students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. He will also visit Auroville to release a commemorative postage stamp on the golden jubilee celebrations of Auroville followed by addressing a public meeting in Puducherry.

Later in the evening, the Prime Minister will be in Surat for the flagging off of the `Run for New India Marathon`. &nbsp;

Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Tamil Nadu government`s Amma Two-wheeler Scheme here

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam unveiled the statue of former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa at the AIADMK office on the occasion of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa`s birth anniversary. Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam unveiled statue of former TN CM #Jayalalithaa at AIADMK office on her birth anniversary. pic.twitter.com/33NMG8cpbR — ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2018 × Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Tamil Nadu government`s Amma Two-wheeler Scheme here. The scheme, which aims at providing 50 percent subsidy to all the working women to buy two-wheelers, was a pet project of Jayalalithaa. On Sunday, Prime Minister will be visiting Puducherry. He will offer floral tributes to Shri Aurobindo at Aurobindo Ashram and interact with students of Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. He will also visit Auroville to release a commemorative postage stamp on the golden jubilee celebrations of Auroville followed by addressing a public meeting in Puducherry. Later in the evening, the Prime Minister will be in Surat for the flagging off of the `Run for New India Marathon`.

Tamil Nadu CM, deputy unveil Jayalalithaa's statue at party office

More than 140 AIADMK leaders from the Tuticorin district have been sacked by party&#39;s convenor O Panneerselvam and Tamil Nadu&#39;s Chief Minister K Palaniswami today.

The members have been expelled for bringing &#39;disrepute&#39; to the organization.

The two leaders issued a joint statement announcing the expulsion of 144 office-bearers from the party&#39;s different organizational units in Tuticorin.

The party members have been instructed not to have any ties with the expelled leaders.

In August 2017, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam merged their respective factions. Party members were previously warned of action against those who would go against the party.

AIADMK lost the RK Nagar assembly bypoll to TTV Dhinakaran on December 21, 2017.

The party had expelled a number of functionaries and key aides of Dhinakaran previously.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The party members have been instructed not to have any ties with the expelled leaders.

More than 140 AIADMK leaders from the Tuticorin district have been sacked by party's convenor O Panneerselvam and Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister K Palaniswami today. The members have been expelled for bringing 'disrepute' to the organization. The two leaders issued a joint statement announcing the expulsion of 144 office-bearers from the party's different organizational units in Tuticorin. The party members have been instructed not to have any ties with the expelled leaders. In August 2017, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam merged their respective factions. Party members were previously warned of action against those who would go against the party. AIADMK lost the RK Nagar assembly bypoll to TTV Dhinakaran on December 21, 2017. The party had expelled a number of functionaries and key aides of Dhinakaran previously. (With inputs from PTI)

AIADMK expels 144 office-bearers for bringing 'disrepute' 

Shortly after late J Jayalalithaa&#39;s portrait was unveiled on Monday in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the opposition DMK moved the Madras High Court seeking its removal.&nbsp;

DMK leaders sought the removal of the portrait stating that the late AIADMK supremo was found guilty on corruption charges.

When the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose commenced proceedings on Monday at about 10.30 am, DMK&#39;s counsel P Wilson made an urgent mention and requested the court to take up the plea.

According to the petitioner, Jayalalithaa was convicted by a special court on graft charges. Later the same was set aside by the Karnataka high court while the Supreme Court found all the accused guilty of the charges. In view of her demise, appeals against Jayalalithaa were treated as abated, the petitioner said.

Members from the DMK have already filed a plea in the high court seeking removal of Jayalalithaa&#39;s photos. The plea also seeks to remove her name displayed or mentioned in government offices, buildings, public sector undertakings and government schemes.

The plea alleged that the Speaker, P Dhanapal,&nbsp;&quot;arbitrarily&quot; took a decision on February 10 to unveil a portrait of Jayalalithaa in the assembly hall in the presence of the chief minister and the deputy chief minister.

The plea called the speaker&#39;s decision unconstitutional, tainted with illegality, highly arbitrary and unreasonable.

&quot;It is antithetical to standards of morality and probity enshrined in our Constitution and expounded by the Supreme Court of India from time to time,&quot; the counsel said.

&quot;The intention of the then Speakers to display photographs.. inside the Assembly was to serve as an example and reminder to all the members of the august assembly that the elected representatives should live and conduct themselves like these leaders whose life is an example of the highest standards of public life,&quot; the petitioner submitted.

&quot;It could never have been the intention of the then speakers to hang portraits of convicts, culprits or persons convicted of offences involving moral turpitude like corruption,&quot; the petitioner said.

The petitioner has urged the court to direct the authorities to remove the portrait of Jayalalithaa from the precincts of the assembly.

(With inputs from agencies)

The seven-ft high portrait was successfully unveiled this morning

Shortly after late J Jayalalithaa's portrait was unveiled on Monday in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the opposition DMK moved the Madras High Court seeking its removal. DMK leaders sought the removal of the portrait stating that the late AIADMK supremo was found guilty on corruption charges. When the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose commenced proceedings on Monday at about 10.30 am, DMK's counsel P Wilson made an urgent mention and requested the court to take up the plea. According to the petitioner, Jayalalithaa was convicted by a special court on graft charges. Later the same was set aside by the Karnataka high court while the Supreme Court found all the accused guilty of the charges. In view of her demise, appeals against Jayalalithaa were treated as abated, the petitioner said. Members from the DMK have already filed a plea in the high court seeking removal of Jayalalithaa's photos. The plea also seeks to remove her name displayed or mentioned in government offices, buildings, public sector undertakings and government schemes. The plea alleged that the Speaker, P Dhanapal, "arbitrarily" took a decision on February 10 to unveil a portrait of Jayalalithaa in the assembly hall in the presence of the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. The plea called the speaker's decision unconstitutional, tainted with illegality, highly arbitrary and unreasonable. "It is antithetical to standards of morality and probity enshrined in our Constitution and expounded by the Supreme Court of India from time to time," the counsel said. "The intention of the then Speakers to display photographs.. inside the Assembly was to serve as an example and reminder to all the members of the august assembly that the elected representatives should live and conduct themselves like these leaders whose life is an example of the highest standards of public life," the petitioner submitted. "It could never have been the intention of the then speakers to hang portraits of convicts, culprits or persons convicted of offences involving moral turpitude like corruption," the petitioner said. The petitioner has urged the court to direct the authorities to remove the portrait of Jayalalithaa from the precincts of the assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

DMK moves HC after Jaya portrait unveiled in TN assembly

In the wake of loss faced in the December&#39;s RK Nagar bypoll, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has expelled over 150 office-bearers.

Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Palaniswami issued a joint statement stating that the move was taken against the party members who acted in &quot;contravention to the party&#39;s policies and ideals,&quot; and for &quot;bringing disrepute&quot; to it.

Former Minister G Senthamizhan and senior leader Parithi Ilamvazhuthi were also among those expelled. The expelled office-bearers belonged to the party&rsquo;s South Chennai (South) and Cuddalore West units.

Both Senthamizhan and Ilamvazhuthi are the supporters of TTV Dhinakaran who won the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll.

The members have been expelled from their present posts and have also lost AIADMK&rsquo;s primary membership.

Palaniswami and Panneerselvam merged their respective factions in August 2017. The leaders also warned of action against those who would go against the party.&nbsp;

The members have been expelled from their present posts and have also lost AIADMK’s primary membership.

In the wake of loss faced in the December's RK Nagar bypoll, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has expelled over 150 office-bearers. Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Palaniswami issued a joint statement stating that the move was taken against the party members who acted in "contravention to the party's policies and ideals," and for "bringing disrepute" to it. Former Minister G Senthamizhan and senior leader Parithi Ilamvazhuthi were also among those expelled. The expelled office-bearers belonged to the party’s South Chennai (South) and Cuddalore West units. Both Senthamizhan and Ilamvazhuthi are the supporters of TTV Dhinakaran who won the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll. The members have been expelled from their present posts and have also lost AIADMK’s primary membership. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam merged their respective factions in August 2017. The leaders also warned of action against those who would go against the party.

AIADMK expels over 150 office-bearers

Tamil Nadu MLA TTV Dhinakaran&#39;s recent remark has sparked a controversy. Dhinakaran on Friday claimed that he can get the Tamil Nadu government dissolved.

&quot;If I want, I can get TN government dissolved but many MLAs are sending me feelers asking me not to do it yet. They said they will throw out those anti-Amma people from the government soon,&quot; Dhinakaran noted.&nbsp;

Dhinakaran also blamed the state government for not taking up the Cauvery issue properly with the central government due to political reasons.

&quot;The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is at the Centre and is going to fight elections in Karnataka, so this Tamil Nadu Government does not want any problems to be created due to the Cauvery issue for BJP in Karnataka. And, that is why they (TN Government) have not taken up this issue properly with the Centre,&quot; Dhinakaran alleged.

Meanwhile, the ruling AIADMK on Friday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aiadmk-expels-over-150-office-bearers-32323">expelled over 150 office-bearers</a> in the wake of its loss in the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll.

Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Palaniswami issued a joint statement stating that the move was taken against the party members who acted in &quot;contravention to the party&#39;s policies and ideals,&quot; and for &quot;bringing disrepute&quot; to it.

The members have been expelled from their present posts and have also lost AIADMK&rsquo;s primary membership.

(With inputs from ANI)

Meanwhile, the ruling AIADMK on Friday expelled over 150 office-bearers

Tamil Nadu MLA TTV Dhinakaran's recent remark has sparked a controversy. Dhinakaran on Friday claimed that he can get the Tamil Nadu government dissolved. "If I want, I can get TN government dissolved but many MLAs are sending me feelers asking me not to do it yet. They said they will throw out those anti-Amma people from the government soon," Dhinakaran noted. Dhinakaran also blamed the state government for not taking up the Cauvery issue properly with the central government due to political reasons. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is at the Centre and is going to fight elections in Karnataka, so this Tamil Nadu Government does not want any problems to be created due to the Cauvery issue for BJP in Karnataka. And, that is why they (TN Government) have not taken up this issue properly with the Centre," Dhinakaran alleged. Meanwhile, the ruling AIADMK on Friday expelled over 150 office-bearers in the wake of its loss in the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll. Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Panneerselvam and Chief Minister Palaniswami issued a joint statement stating that the move was taken against the party members who acted in "contravention to the party's policies and ideals," and for "bringing disrepute" to it. The members have been expelled from their present posts and have also lost AIADMK’s primary membership. (With inputs from ANI)

I can get Tamil Nadu government dissolved: TTV Dhinakaran

The ruling AIADMK today expelled over 90 office-bearers of the party&#39;s Kanyakumari unit, including a former minister, in continuation of its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aiadmk-expels-144-office-bearers-for-bringing-disrepute-30901" target="_blank">action against dissidents since its defeat in the RK Nagar </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aiadmk-expels-144-office-bearers-for-bringing-disrepute-30901" target="_blank">bypoll</a>.

AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and Co-coordinator K Palaniswami announced the expulsion of 93 office-bearers of the party&#39;s Kanyakumari unit for bringing &#39;disrepute&#39; to the organisation.

Those who were shown the door today included former state Minister KT Pachaimal.

In a joint statement, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami said these persons were being expelled from AIADMK for &quot;acting in contravention to the party&#39;s policies and ideals,&quot; and for &quot;bringing disrepute&quot; to it.

They were being expelled from all their present posts, besides from the party&#39;s primary membership, the two leaders said.

They asked party workers not to have any truck with expelled members.

Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, who merged the factions led by them in August 2017, had last month warned of action against those who go against the party line, following its loss in the December 21 RK Nagar Assembly bypoll which was won by sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran.

They had earlier too expelled a number of functionaries, while stripping some of the key aides of Dhinakaran of party posts.

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami had yesterday removed 123 office-bearers of the party&#39;s units in Tiruchirappalli, Erode, Vellore and Ramanathapuram.

AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and Co-coordinator K Palaniswami announced the expulsion of 93 office-bearers of the party's Kanyakumari unit for bringing 'disrepute' to the organisation

The ruling AIADMK today expelled over 90 office-bearers of the party's Kanyakumari unit, including a former minister, in continuation of its action against dissidents since its defeat in the RK Nagar bypoll. AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and Co-coordinator K Palaniswami announced the expulsion of 93 office-bearers of the party's Kanyakumari unit for bringing 'disrepute' to the organisation. Those who were shown the door today included former state Minister KT Pachaimal. In a joint statement, Panneerselvam and Palaniswami said these persons were being expelled from AIADMK for "acting in contravention to the party's policies and ideals," and for "bringing disrepute" to it. They were being expelled from all their present posts, besides from the party's primary membership, the two leaders said. They asked party workers not to have any truck with expelled members. Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, who merged the factions led by them in August 2017, had last month warned of action against those who go against the party line, following its loss in the December 21 RK Nagar Assembly bypoll which was won by sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran. They had earlier too expelled a number of functionaries, while stripping some of the key aides of Dhinakaran of party posts. Panneerselvam and Palaniswami had yesterday removed 123 office-bearers of the party's units in Tiruchirappalli, Erode, Vellore and Ramanathapuram.

AIADMK expels 93 office-bearers in Kanyakumari district

Former AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala&#39;s brother V Divakaran said Wednesday that former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa died at 5.15 pm on December 4, 2016 and not December 5.&nbsp;

The news of Jayalalithaa&#39;s death was announced to the public at 11.30 pm on the night of December 5, and O Panneerselvam was hurriedly sworn in as chief minister on December 6.&nbsp;

Jayalalithaa had died at Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

Divakaran said Wednesday that the hospital authorities had delayed the announcement of her death so that the safety and protection of its personnel and various branches could be ensured.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/the-making-of-amma-the-audacious-and-vulnerable-jayalalithaa-9792" target="_blank">The making of &#39;Amma&#39; -- the audacious and vulnerable Jayalalithaa</a>

Apollo had denied the allegation.&nbsp;

Jayalalitha was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22, 2016. She was at the time suffering from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/afraid-of-sasikala-we-lied-about-jayalalithaas-health-tamil-nadu-minister-20559" target="_blank">fever and dehydration</a>.&nbsp;

Jayalalithaa stayed in hospital for 75 days, and there has been much controversy over her death and when exactly it took place.&nbsp;

An inquiry commission led by a retired judge is currently investigating the death.&nbsp;

Divakaran&#39;s allegation was made while addressing a public meeting on the occasion of late chief minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran&#39;s birth anniversary at Mannargudi in Tiruvur district of Tamil Nadu.

Divakaran said Jayalalithaa died at 5.15 pm on December 4

Former AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala's brother V Divakaran said Wednesday that former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa died at 5.15 pm on December 4, 2016 and not December 5. The news of Jayalalithaa's death was announced to the public at 11.30 pm on the night of December 5, and O Panneerselvam was hurriedly sworn in as chief minister on December 6. Jayalalithaa had died at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Divakaran said Wednesday that the hospital authorities had delayed the announcement of her death so that the safety and protection of its personnel and various branches could be ensured. Also read: The making of 'Amma' -- the audacious and vulnerable Jayalalithaa Apollo had denied the allegation. Jayalalitha was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22, 2016. She was at the time suffering from fever and dehydration. Jayalalithaa stayed in hospital for 75 days, and there has been much controversy over her death and when exactly it took place. An inquiry commission led by a retired judge is currently investigating the death. Divakaran's allegation was made while addressing a public meeting on the occasion of late chief minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran's birth anniversary at Mannargudi in Tiruvur district of Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalitha died on December 4, not December 5: Sasikala's brother

Actor Kamal Haasan on Thursday alleged that money power was behind TTV Dhinakaran&#39;s win in the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll, drawing sharp rebuke from the sidelined AIADMK leader who accused the star of maligning voters.

In a stinging article as part of his weekly series in the latest issue of Tamil magazine &#39;Ananda Vikatan,&#39; the veteran star described the bypoll, held due to the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, as a &quot;stain&quot; on Indian democracy.

Responding to Haasan&#39;s salvo, Dhinakaran hit back saying the actor was making such allegations as he could not digest his win in the bypoll.

Amidst accusations of money distribution by rival sides - the AIADMK and the Dhinakaran camp - the former Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP, contesting as an independent, had trounced the ruling party candidate E Madhusudhanan.

He won by a margin of 40,000 votes, giving a jolt to the Chief Minister K Palaniswami led dispensation.

Both Dhinakaran as well as the ruling party have denied charges of money distribution during the hustings.

In his article, without naming Dhinakaran, Haasan said the RK Nagar bypoll win was a &quot;purchased&quot; one, alluding to alleged money distribution by the rebel camp.

&quot;RK Nagar bypoll is a big stain on Tamil Nadu politics; it is a big stain on Indian democracy. I won&#39;t call this purchased win even a scam....This is a day light crime,&quot; Haasan charged.

He recalled Election Commission rescinding the bypoll for this city segment when it was to be held in April last year following complaints of money distribution. 
Dhinakaran was the ruling party candidate then but was later sidelined by the Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues.

The chief minister and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was then a rebel leader, merged their respective factions in August last year.

Dhinakaran contested last month&#39;s election as an independent candidate and polled over 89,000 votes.

Haasan charged that both the &quot;independent&quot; and the &quot;ruling side fixed rates&quot; for voters.

Alleging that people had voted for money, Haasan, in the article, said &quot;you have been sold out.&quot;

Dhinakaran, responding to Haasan&#39;s allegations, hit out at the award-winning star, saying he had &quot;insulted&quot; and &quot;hurt&quot; the RK Nagar voters by making such allegations.

Haasan&#39;s charge was &quot;strongly condemnable,&quot; he told reporters.

&quot;This doesn&#39;t befit his age and experience. Under the garb of attacking the winner, he is attacking the people, who are mainly from poorer sections, saying they voted for money,&quot; Dhinakaran said.

He denied bribing the voters, saying, if at all money would have played a role in the electoral outcome, &quot;Two Leaves (AIADMK) would have won.&quot;

&quot;Whether you accept or not, people of RK Nagar have voted for me. Don&#39;t hurt those loveable people (by making such allegations),&quot; Dhinakaran said.

Questioning whether Kamal Haasan was a &#39;judge&#39; or &#39;God,&#39; Dhinakaran said the actor should have contested the bypoll to face the reality.

Apparently hitting out at the actor&#39;s political ambitions, Dhinakaran asked &quot;can such people survive in politics.&quot;

&quot;Politics is not some scripted movie where one can mouth dialogues written by someone else,&quot; he said.

On his victory, he said RK Nagar voters have &quot;recognised we are Amma&#39;s (Jayalalithaa) successors. Those who are apprehensive due to this are saying such things (of bribing the voters)&quot;.

Dhinakaran dared those making such allegations to reiterate them by holding a public meeting at RK Nagar.

Haasan, who has announced his intentions of entering politics, has been vocal on a number of issues ranging from corruption to right wing extremism.

Dhinakaran hit back saying the actor was making such allegations as he could not digest his win in the bypoll.

Actor Kamal Haasan on Thursday alleged that money power was behind TTV Dhinakaran's win in the December 21 RK Nagar bypoll, drawing sharp rebuke from the sidelined AIADMK leader who accused the star of maligning voters. In a stinging article as part of his weekly series in the latest issue of Tamil magazine 'Ananda Vikatan,' the veteran star described the bypoll, held due to the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, as a "stain" on Indian democracy. Responding to Haasan's salvo, Dhinakaran hit back saying the actor was making such allegations as he could not digest his win in the bypoll. Amidst accusations of money distribution by rival sides - the AIADMK and the Dhinakaran camp - the former Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP, contesting as an independent, had trounced the ruling party candidate E Madhusudhanan. He won by a margin of 40,000 votes, giving a jolt to the Chief Minister K Palaniswami led dispensation. Both Dhinakaran as well as the ruling party have denied charges of money distribution during the hustings. In his article, without naming Dhinakaran, Haasan said the RK Nagar bypoll win was a "purchased" one, alluding to alleged money distribution by the rebel camp. "RK Nagar bypoll is a big stain on Tamil Nadu politics; it is a big stain on Indian democracy. I won't call this purchased win even a scam....This is a day light crime," Haasan charged. He recalled Election Commission rescinding the bypoll for this city segment when it was to be held in April last year following complaints of money distribution. Dhinakaran was the ruling party candidate then but was later sidelined by the Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues. The chief minister and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was then a rebel leader, merged their respective factions in August last year. Dhinakaran contested last month's election as an independent candidate and polled over 89,000 votes. Haasan charged that both the "independent" and the "ruling side fixed rates" for voters. Alleging that people had voted for money, Haasan, in the article, said "you have been sold out." Dhinakaran, responding to Haasan's allegations, hit out at the award-winning star, saying he had "insulted" and "hurt" the RK Nagar voters by making such allegations. Haasan's charge was "strongly condemnable," he told reporters. "This doesn't befit his age and experience. Under the garb of attacking the winner, he is attacking the people, who are mainly from poorer sections, saying they voted for money," Dhinakaran said. He denied bribing the voters, saying, if at all money would have played a role in the electoral outcome, "Two Leaves (AIADMK) would have won." "Whether you accept or not, people of RK Nagar have voted for me. Don't hurt those loveable people (by making such allegations)," Dhinakaran said. Questioning whether Kamal Haasan was a 'judge' or 'God,' Dhinakaran said the actor should have contested the bypoll to face the reality. Apparently hitting out at the actor's political ambitions, Dhinakaran asked "can such people survive in politics." "Politics is not some scripted movie where one can mouth dialogues written by someone else," he said. On his victory, he said RK Nagar voters have "recognised we are Amma's (Jayalalithaa) successors. Those who are apprehensive due to this are saying such things (of bribing the voters)". Dhinakaran dared those making such allegations to reiterate them by holding a public meeting at RK Nagar. Haasan, who has announced his intentions of entering politics, has been vocal on a number of issues ranging from corruption to right wing extremism.

RK Nagar bypoll win was a 'purchased' one: Kamal Haasan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnikanth-announces-entry-in-politics-28150" target="_blank">Tamil Nadu actor Rajnikanth</a> who is all set to enter politics, visited DMK chief Karunanidhi at his residence in Chennai on Wednesday.

Talking to the media, the Tamil actor said that Karunanidhi&nbsp;is the senior most politician in the country and he&nbsp;took his blessings before entering into politics.&nbsp;

He added that he respects the DMK chief and that they share a very good friendship.&nbsp;&nbsp;

DMK Working President and Karunanidhi&#39;s son MK Stalin was also present in the meeting.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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He is senior most politician in the country. I respect him a lot. We have a very good friendship. I took his blessings as I am entering politics. I am feeling very happy after meeting him: Rajinikanth after meeting DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai <a href="https://t.co/WYhiTgouTi">pic.twitter.com/WYhiTgouTi</a>
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<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/opinion-politicians-in-tamil-nadu-should-worry-thalaivar-is-coming-now-28175" target="_blank">Tamil superstar Rajnikanth </a>announced his much-awaited&nbsp;entry into politics on Sunday.

The legendary Tamil actor, who has a cult status in Tamil Nadu, said he will form his own political party and contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu in the next assembly elections.

Talking to the media, the Tamil actor said that Karunanidhi?is the senior most politician in the country and he?respects him a lot

Tamil Nadu actor Rajnikanth who is all set to enter politics, visited DMK chief Karunanidhi at his residence in Chennai on Wednesday. Talking to the media, the Tamil actor said that Karunanidhi is the senior most politician in the country and he took his blessings before entering into politics. He added that he respects the DMK chief and that they share a very good friendship. DMK Working President and Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin was also present in the meeting. He is senior most politician in the country. I respect him a lot. We have a very good friendship. I took his blessings as I am entering politics. I am feeling very happy after meeting him: Rajinikanth after meeting DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai pic.twitter.com/WYhiTgouTi — ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018 × Chennai: Rajinikanth met DMK chief M Karunanidhi at his residence in Chennai; DMK Working President MK Stalin was also present pic.twitter.com/APgJ8y7dfB — ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018 × Tamil superstar Rajnikanth announced his much-awaited entry into politics on Sunday. The legendary Tamil actor, who has a cult status in Tamil Nadu, said he will form his own political party and contest all constituencies in Tamil Nadu in the next assembly elections.

Rajinikanth meets DMK president Karunanidhi

Dhinakaran flexing his muscles following the R K Nagar bypoll win, the ruling AIADMK today convened a meeting of party MLAs ahead of next week&#39;s Assembly session and advised them to maintain decorum even if there was &quot;any kind of provocation.&quot;

Top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami convened the meeting in which 103 MLAs attended, party sources said.

Seven other MLAs, including three ministers, had &quot;excused&quot; citing personal and official reasons, they said.

This will be the first time that the assembly is meeting since the disqualification of 18 pro-Dhinakaran legislators in September last year.

The session, being convened on January 8, will see Dhinakaran making his debut in the assembly after having won the December 21 bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes against ruling party candidate E Madhusudhanan.

Fresh from the bypoll win, Dhinakaran has said &quot;5-6&quot; senior ministers, including Palaniswami, should step aside for the continuance of the AIADMK government.

Senior party leader and Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the ministers could not attend due to official engagements, while the others could not make it due to reasons such as pilgrimage and illness. 
They had given letters in this regard, he added.

At the meeting, the legislators were advised to maintain &#39;decorum&#39; at any given situation and abide by the party whip, the sources said.

&quot;They were advised (by the top two leaders) to maintain decorum even if there was any kind of provocation,&quot; they added.

While chief minister Palaniswami is the AIADMK co-coordinator, his deputy Panneerselvam is the coordinator.

The meeting also discussed the prospects of the ruling party launching its own TV channel and daily, especially in the absence of a dedicated mouthpiece following differences with the family of deposed leader, VK Sasikala.

AIADMK organs-- Jaya TV and Tamil vernacular Dr Namadhu MGR, controlled by Sasikala&#39;s family, were earlier party mouthpieces but have been openly critical of the Palaniswami camp after it sidelined Dhinakaran, her nephew.

Next week&#39;s assembly session would commence with the customary address by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, his first after assuming charge in November 2017.

Speaker P Dhanapal had disqualified the 18 MLAs for revolting against Palaniswami in August last year.

These MLAs had met the then governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and said they had lost confidence in the chief minister, a day after the formal merger of the two factions led by Palaniswami and then rebel leader and Panneerselvam on August 21.

The High Court, while not granting any stay on the disqualification, has restrained the Election Commission from conducting bypolls to the 18 constituencies and the assembly from holding a trust vote.

Meanwhile, the party today announced 12 leaders, including former ministers C Ponnaiyan, P Valaramthi, S Gokula Indira and Vaigaiselvan as AIADMK spokespersons.

According to a release from Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, the others in the panel include former MP KC Palanisamy and former MLA JCD Prabhakar.

Top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami convened the meeting in which 103 MLAs attended, party sources said

Dhinakaran flexing his muscles following the R K Nagar bypoll win, the ruling AIADMK today convened a meeting of party MLAs ahead of next week's Assembly session and advised them to maintain decorum even if there was "any kind of provocation." Top AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami convened the meeting in which 103 MLAs attended, party sources said. Seven other MLAs, including three ministers, had "excused" citing personal and official reasons, they said. This will be the first time that the assembly is meeting since the disqualification of 18 pro-Dhinakaran legislators in September last year. The session, being convened on January 8, will see Dhinakaran making his debut in the assembly after having won the December 21 bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes against ruling party candidate E Madhusudhanan. Fresh from the bypoll win, Dhinakaran has said "5-6" senior ministers, including Palaniswami, should step aside for the continuance of the AIADMK government. Senior party leader and Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the ministers could not attend due to official engagements, while the others could not make it due to reasons such as pilgrimage and illness. They had given letters in this regard, he added. At the meeting, the legislators were advised to maintain 'decorum' at any given situation and abide by the party whip, the sources said. "They were advised (by the top two leaders) to maintain decorum even if there was any kind of provocation," they added. While chief minister Palaniswami is the AIADMK co-coordinator, his deputy Panneerselvam is the coordinator. The meeting also discussed the prospects of the ruling party launching its own TV channel and daily, especially in the absence of a dedicated mouthpiece following differences with the family of deposed leader, VK Sasikala. AIADMK organs-- Jaya TV and Tamil vernacular Dr Namadhu MGR, controlled by Sasikala's family, were earlier party mouthpieces but have been openly critical of the Palaniswami camp after it sidelined Dhinakaran, her nephew. Next week's assembly session would commence with the customary address by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, his first after assuming charge in November 2017. Speaker P Dhanapal had disqualified the 18 MLAs for revolting against Palaniswami in August last year. These MLAs had met the then governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and said they had lost confidence in the chief minister, a day after the formal merger of the two factions led by Palaniswami and then rebel leader and Panneerselvam on August 21. The High Court, while not granting any stay on the disqualification, has restrained the Election Commission from conducting bypolls to the 18 constituencies and the assembly from holding a trust vote. Meanwhile, the party today announced 12 leaders, including former ministers C Ponnaiyan, P Valaramthi, S Gokula Indira and Vaigaiselvan as AIADMK spokespersons. According to a release from Panneerselvam and Palaniswami, the others in the panel include former MP KC Palanisamy and former MLA JCD Prabhakar.

AIADMK MLAs advised to maintain 'decorum' during session

TTV Dhinakarn has rejected the claims of the ruling AIADMK&#39;s calling his victory the result&nbsp;of a &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rk-nagar-win-for-dinakaran-aiadmk-alleges-tacit-understanding-with-dmk-27622" target="_blank">tacit understanding</a>&quot; between him and the DMK.

While addressing media persons in Chennai, Dhinakaran said that DMK appeared to have made &quot;an arithmetic mistake&quot; and was &quot;overconfident&quot;.

The E Palaniswami-O.Panneerselvam AIADMK faction had claimed that TTV Dhinakarn had won the RK Nagar bypoll&nbsp;due to a &quot;conspiracy&quot; of Stalin and Dhinakaran.They added that it will not have any effect on their party.

Dhinakaran&nbsp;said he might have received DMK votes as those voters may have also preferred him, &quot;but a DMK worker will not vote for someone else even if their party leader asks them to do so,&quot;.

Dhinakaran won the RK Nagar bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes.

DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, acquiring&nbsp; 24,651 votes while AIADMKs&#39; E Madhusudanan came second.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

While addressing media persons in Chennai, TTV Dhinakarn rejected claims of the Palaniswami-Panneerselvam camp that his victory was the result of a 'tacit understanding' between him and DMK

TTV Dhinakarn has rejected the claims of the ruling AIADMK's calling his victory the result of a "tacit understanding" between him and the DMK. While addressing media persons in Chennai, Dhinakaran said that DMK appeared to have made "an arithmetic mistake" and was "overconfident". The E Palaniswami-O.Panneerselvam AIADMK faction had claimed that TTV Dhinakarn had won the RK Nagar bypoll due to a "conspiracy" of Stalin and Dhinakaran.They added that it will not have any effect on their party. Dhinakaran said he might have received DMK votes as those voters may have also preferred him, "but a DMK worker will not vote for someone else even if their party leader asks them to do so,". Dhinakaran won the RK Nagar bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes. DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, acquiring 24,651 votes while AIADMKs' E Madhusudanan came second.

Dhinakaran rejects AIADMK's charge of 'tacit understanding' with DMK

The ruling AIADMK on Sunday alleged there was a &quot;tacit understanding&quot; between TTV Dhinakaran and the opposition DMK to defeat it in the RK Nagar bypoll, in which the sidelined party leader emerged victorious.

The party is also likely to brainstorm on today&#39;s defeat at a meeting here tomorrow, party sources said.

Asserting that the win achieved by &quot;conspiracy&quot; by Stalin and Dhinakaran will not affect AIADMK, party coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator K Palaniswami said DMK, their party&#39;s arch rival, faced its &quot;worst defeat&quot; in an election to any Assembly segment in Tamil Nadu so far.

Dhinakaran won the bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes while DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, garnering 24,651 votes, in the process losing deposit. AIADMKs&#39; E Madhusudanan came second.

The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting MLA and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

&quot;The result of the RK Nagar bypoll is an outcome of the tacit understanding between DMK Working President MK Stalin and Dhinakaran,&quot; Panneerselvam and Palaniswami said in a joint statement tonight.

Rejecting the charge, Stalin alleged it was the state ministers under the charge of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam who aided the Dhinakaran camp in distributing money to the voters.

Responding to reporters&#39;&nbsp;queries on the charge by AIADMK, he asserted that the DMK faced the poll only in &quot;alliance with democracy&quot;.

&quot;Hence this poll is not a loss for DMK. It is a huge defeat for the Election Commission,&quot; Stalin claimed.

The joint statement said the bypoll result showed how Stalin and Dhinakaran &quot;planned to defame&quot; party founder, the late MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa by &quot;joining hands to defeat&quot; Two leaves, the AIADMK&#39;s symbol.

&quot;People are amazed how DMK is pushed to a situation where it could not even get the primary votes it has in RK Nagar. At the same time, they are questioning how DMK can enter into a conspiracy with Dhinakaran to defame Amma,&quot; they added.

Stalin had entered into such a &quot;tacit understanding&quot; unmindful of his party&#39;s performance as his sole intention was to target the AIADMK government, they alleged.

Taking a swipe at Dhinakaran, the two leaders said he had earlier been expelled from the party by Jayalalithaa along with other relatives of her confidante VK Sasikala.

They also accused him of &quot;betraying&quot; Jayalalithaa even after her death by allegedly joining hands with DMK.

They cited Dhinakaran&#39;s response to the acquittal of DMK leaders Kanimozhi and A Raja, in the 2G spectrum allocation case on December 21, that he was happy for them as they hailed from Tamil Nadu.

&quot;The election outcome shows he (Dhinakaran) received DMK votes as a reward for this. Realising he cannot take on AIADMK and Two Leaves directly, Stalin has diverted his party votes to Dhinakaran,&quot; they charged and accused the DMK leader of &quot;betraying&quot; his party.

The two AIADMK leaders also levelled allegations of money distribution against Dhinakaran.

They said Dhinakaran&#39;s victory cannot be accepted as the &quot;thought process&quot; of the people of entire Tamil Nadu.

The win achieved by &quot;conspiracy&quot; by Stalin and Dhinakaran will not affect AIADMK nor was it a setback, they said.

They vowed to take forward the &quot;Amma rule&quot; and deliver welfare and commit to upholding Jayalalithaa&#39;s fame.

In Coimbatore, senior BJP leader L Ganesan said this was a victory of Jayalalithaa and AIADMK should introspect about the results, which would have been different had it remained a single entity.

On his party&#39;s performance, Ganesan said people had not not taken into considering the BJP&#39;s presence in the contest. This was a factor to be thought about, he added.

Senior AIADMK leader and Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai said the result proved that DMK was not able to break the Jayalalithaa citadel and its campaign had no impact on the people.&nbsp;

TTV Dhinakaran, the nephew of jailed leader VK Sasikala, trounced his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the ruling AIADMK by over 40,000 votes

The ruling AIADMK on Sunday alleged there was a "tacit understanding" between TTV Dhinakaran and the opposition DMK to defeat it in the RK Nagar bypoll, in which the sidelined party leader emerged victorious. The party is also likely to brainstorm on today's defeat at a meeting here tomorrow, party sources said. Asserting that the win achieved by "conspiracy" by Stalin and Dhinakaran will not affect AIADMK, party coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator K Palaniswami said DMK, their party's arch rival, faced its "worst defeat" in an election to any Assembly segment in Tamil Nadu so far. Dhinakaran won the bypoll by a thumping margin of over 40,000 votes while DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, garnering 24,651 votes, in the process losing deposit. AIADMKs' E Madhusudanan came second. The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting MLA and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa. "The result of the RK Nagar bypoll is an outcome of the tacit understanding between DMK Working President MK Stalin and Dhinakaran," Panneerselvam and Palaniswami said in a joint statement tonight. Rejecting the charge, Stalin alleged it was the state ministers under the charge of Palaniswami and Panneerselvam who aided the Dhinakaran camp in distributing money to the voters. Responding to reporters' queries on the charge by AIADMK, he asserted that the DMK faced the poll only in "alliance with democracy". "Hence this poll is not a loss for DMK. It is a huge defeat for the Election Commission," Stalin claimed. The joint statement said the bypoll result showed how Stalin and Dhinakaran "planned to defame" party founder, the late MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa by "joining hands to defeat" Two leaves, the AIADMK's symbol. "People are amazed how DMK is pushed to a situation where it could not even get the primary votes it has in RK Nagar. At the same time, they are questioning how DMK can enter into a conspiracy with Dhinakaran to defame Amma," they added. Stalin had entered into such a "tacit understanding" unmindful of his party's performance as his sole intention was to target the AIADMK government, they alleged. Taking a swipe at Dhinakaran, the two leaders said he had earlier been expelled from the party by Jayalalithaa along with other relatives of her confidante VK Sasikala. They also accused him of "betraying" Jayalalithaa even after her death by allegedly joining hands with DMK. They cited Dhinakaran's response to the acquittal of DMK leaders Kanimozhi and A Raja, in the 2G spectrum allocation case on December 21, that he was happy for them as they hailed from Tamil Nadu. "The election outcome shows he (Dhinakaran) received DMK votes as a reward for this. Realising he cannot take on AIADMK and Two Leaves directly, Stalin has diverted his party votes to Dhinakaran," they charged and accused the DMK leader of "betraying" his party. The two AIADMK leaders also levelled allegations of money distribution against Dhinakaran. They said Dhinakaran's victory cannot be accepted as the "thought process" of the people of entire Tamil Nadu. The win achieved by "conspiracy" by Stalin and Dhinakaran will not affect AIADMK nor was it a setback, they said. They vowed to take forward the "Amma rule" and deliver welfare and commit to upholding Jayalalithaa's fame. In Coimbatore, senior BJP leader L Ganesan said this was a victory of Jayalalithaa and AIADMK should introspect about the results, which would have been different had it remained a single entity. On his party's performance, Ganesan said people had not not taken into considering the BJP's presence in the contest. This was a factor to be thought about, he added. Senior AIADMK leader and Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha M Thambidurai said the result proved that DMK was not able to break the Jayalalithaa citadel and its campaign had no impact on the people.

RK Nagar win for Dinakaran: AIADMK alleges 'tacit understanding' with DMK

The loss in RK Nagar bypoll - late chief minister Jayalalithaa&#39;s constituency - has not gone down well with her party, the AIADMK.

The party on Monday removed S Vetrivel, Thanga Tamil Selvan, Rangaswamy, Muththaiya, VP Kalairajan,&nbsp;Va Pugazhenthi, Nanchil Sampath, CR Saraswathi&nbsp;and Sholinghur Parthiban after a high-level committee meeting. The meeting was called to discuss party&#39;s performance in RK Nagar bypoll in which VK Sasikala&#39;s nephew <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ttv-dhinakaran-leads-rk-nagar-bypoll-says-aiadmk-government-will-go-in-three-months-27589">TTV Dhinakaran</a> emerged victorious.

These nine office-bearers were removed as they were supporting Dhinakaran, sources said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dhinakaran-wins-rk-nagar-bypoll-in-big-blow-for-aiadmk-27597">Dhinakaran won the bypoll</a> to the prestigious seat by a whopping margin of over 40,000 votes -&nbsp; higher than the margin of 39,495 votes secured by late Tamil Nadu chief minister last year - while DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, garnering 24,651 votes, in the process losing his deposit. AIADMK&#39;s E Madhusudanan came second.

The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting MLA and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Dhinakaran&#39;s victory is seen as a jolt to the AIADMK which was expected to retain the seat in view of the Election Commission alloting it the &#39;Two-Leaves&#39; symbol beside being in power.

AIADMK alleged that there was a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rk-nagar-win-for-dinakaran-aiadmk-alleges-tacit-understanding-with-dmk-27622">&quot;tacit understanding&quot;</a> between Dhinakaran and the opposition DMK.

However, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator K Palaniswami asserted that the win would not affect the party.

The two leaders also took a swipe at Dhinakaran, saying he had earlier been expelled from the party by Jayalalithaa along with other relatives of her confidante V K Sasikala.

They also accused him of &quot;betraying&quot; Jayalalithaa even after her death by allegedly joining hands with the DMK.

These nine office-bearers were removed as they were supporting Dhinakaran, sources said

The loss in RK Nagar bypoll - late chief minister Jayalalithaa's constituency - has not gone down well with her party, the AIADMK. The party on Monday removed S Vetrivel, Thanga Tamil Selvan, Rangaswamy, Muththaiya, VP Kalairajan, Va Pugazhenthi, Nanchil Sampath, CR Saraswathi and Sholinghur Parthiban after a high-level committee meeting. The meeting was called to discuss party's performance in RK Nagar bypoll in which VK Sasikala's nephew TTV Dhinakaran emerged victorious. These nine office-bearers were removed as they were supporting Dhinakaran, sources said. Dhinakaran won the bypoll to the prestigious seat by a whopping margin of over 40,000 votes - higher than the margin of 39,495 votes secured by late Tamil Nadu chief minister last year - while DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh finished third, garnering 24,651 votes, in the process losing his deposit. AIADMK's E Madhusudanan came second. The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of sitting MLA and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Dhinakaran's victory is seen as a jolt to the AIADMK which was expected to retain the seat in view of the Election Commission alloting it the 'Two-Leaves' symbol beside being in power. AIADMK alleged that there was a "tacit understanding" between Dhinakaran and the opposition DMK. However, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator K Palaniswami asserted that the win would not affect the party. The two leaders also took a swipe at Dhinakaran, saying he had earlier been expelled from the party by Jayalalithaa along with other relatives of her confidante V K Sasikala. They also accused him of "betraying" Jayalalithaa even after her death by allegedly joining hands with the DMK.

RK Nagar bypoll loss: AIADMK removes 9 office bearers

ith early trends of counting of votes for RK Nagar bypoll favouring independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran, the sidelined leader today said it showed that people want a change of regime.&nbsp;The sidelined AIADMK leader said, &quot;We are the true AIADMK... People of RK Nagar have elected Amma&#39;s successor&quot;.

He also sought to make light of the K Palaniswami camp winning the Two Leaves symbol after both camps staked a claim for it before the Election Commission.&nbsp;&quot;During my recent visits to various parts of Tamil Nadu such as Avinashi (Tirupur) and Arumanai (Kanyakumari), people said the pressure cooker (his poll symbol at RK Nagar) will win. They want a change of this regime,&quot; he said.

Dhinakaran&#39;s statement to reporters here came in response to the early leads he had taken against his AIADMK rival E Madhusudhanan and DMK&#39;s N Maruthu Ganesh.&nbsp;Claiming victory, he said &quot;this is the best gift for the 1.5 crore party supporters&quot; on the 30th death anniversary of party founder, the late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, fondly addressed as MGR.

On the symbol issue, with the Election Commission awarding it recently to the Palaniswamy-led camp, Dhinakaran said only a candidate determines the symbol.&nbsp;&quot;We are the true AIADMK. A candidate determines the symbol. I have already said the &#39;Two Leaves&#39; will be a success symbol only if it was with Puratchi Thalaivar (MGR) and Amma (Jayalalithaa). Will the people vote if it is handed over to MN Nambiar and PS Veerappa&quot;, he asked, amidst chuckles from his supporters.

Nambiar and Veerappa are famous yesteryear villains, with the former being cast against MGR in many of the matinee idol&#39;s films.&nbsp;Dhinakaran said the Palaniswami government will &quot;end in three months&quot;. Meanwhile, jubilant supporters of Dhinakaran celebrated by distributing sweets and bursting crackers, while exuding confidence that their leader would triumph with a thumping margin.

Jubilant supporters of Dhinakaran celebrated by distributing sweets and bursting crackers while exuding confidence that their leader would triumph with a thumping margin

ith early trends of counting of votes for RK Nagar bypoll favouring independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran, the sidelined leader today said it showed that people want a change of regime. The sidelined AIADMK leader said, "We are the true AIADMK... People of RK Nagar have elected Amma's successor". He also sought to make light of the K Palaniswami camp winning the Two Leaves symbol after both camps staked a claim for it before the Election Commission. "During my recent visits to various parts of Tamil Nadu such as Avinashi (Tirupur) and Arumanai (Kanyakumari), people said the pressure cooker (his poll symbol at RK Nagar) will win. They want a change of this regime," he said. Dhinakaran's statement to reporters here came in response to the early leads he had taken against his AIADMK rival E Madhusudhanan and DMK's N Maruthu Ganesh. Claiming victory, he said "this is the best gift for the 1.5 crore party supporters" on the 30th death anniversary of party founder, the late Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, fondly addressed as MGR. On the symbol issue, with the Election Commission awarding it recently to the Palaniswamy-led camp, Dhinakaran said only a candidate determines the symbol. "We are the true AIADMK. A candidate determines the symbol. I have already said the 'Two Leaves' will be a success symbol only if it was with Puratchi Thalaivar (MGR) and Amma (Jayalalithaa). Will the people vote if it is handed over to MN Nambiar and PS Veerappa", he asked, amidst chuckles from his supporters. Nambiar and Veerappa are famous yesteryear villains, with the former being cast against MGR in many of the matinee idol's films. Dhinakaran said the Palaniswami government will "end in three months". Meanwhile, jubilant supporters of Dhinakaran celebrated by distributing sweets and bursting crackers, while exuding confidence that their leader would triumph with a thumping margin.

RK Nagar: Dhinakaran says trends reflect people wanting change

The counting of votes in the RK Nagar bypoll has begun.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKNagarByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RKNagarByPoll</a>: Counting of votes begins; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from outside a counting center in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/c1OSHQ03Tf">pic.twitter.com/c1OSHQ03Tf</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKNagarByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RKNagarByPoll</a> Counting of votes underway ; Visuals from a counting center in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/00fT9mYX4Q">pic.twitter.com/00fT9mYX4Q</a>
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RK Nagar is seen as not only politically symbolic but also as a litmus test for the ruling AIADMK.&nbsp;

This is where five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from, which is why the ruling AIADMK will be keen to retain it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The seat fell vacant after her death last year.&nbsp;

The bypoll is also being seen as a litmus test for the minority AIADMK government, with commentators saying the psychological fallout of a loss could affect it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bypoll&nbsp;this time is a three-way contest between the AIADMK&#39;s E Madhusudhanan, rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran who is fighting as an independent candidate, and the opposition DMK&#39;s N Maruthu Ganesh.

First reports are saying Dinakaran is in the lead.&nbsp;

The RK Nagar by-elections were held on Thursday, with voter turnout recorded at&nbsp;77.68 per cent.

The election commission said the turnout was the highest figure since 2011.

The by-election was actually scheduled for April this year but was postponed after allegations surfaced of voters being bribed.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

RK Nagar is seen as politically symbolic -- this is where five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from -- and a litmus test for the ruling AIADMK

The counting of votes in the RK Nagar bypoll has begun. #RKNagarByPoll: Counting of votes begins; #Visuals from outside a counting center in #Chennai pic.twitter.com/c1OSHQ03Tf — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × #RKNagarByPoll Counting of votes underway ; Visuals from a counting center in #Chennai pic.twitter.com/00fT9mYX4Q — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × RK Nagar is seen as not only politically symbolic but also as a litmus test for the ruling AIADMK. This is where five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from, which is why the ruling AIADMK will be keen to retain it. The seat fell vacant after her death last year. The bypoll is also being seen as a litmus test for the minority AIADMK government, with commentators saying the psychological fallout of a loss could affect it. The bypoll this time is a three-way contest between the AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan, rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran who is fighting as an independent candidate, and the opposition DMK's N Maruthu Ganesh. First reports are saying Dinakaran is in the lead. The RK Nagar by-elections were held on Thursday, with voter turnout recorded at 77.68 per cent. The election commission said the turnout was the highest figure since 2011. The by-election was actually scheduled for April this year but was postponed after allegations surfaced of voters being bribed.

RK Nagar bypoll: Counting of votes begins; first reports say TTV Dinakaran in lead

While addressing the media after&nbsp;scoring thumping majority&nbsp;in the RK Nagar&nbsp;bypolls, AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran&nbsp;has said that the existing AIADMK government will go in two months.&nbsp;

Dhinakaran was referring to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Edappadi K&nbsp;Palaniswami and O&nbsp;Panneerselvam government.

He added that the two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma.&nbsp;

He said &quot;the symbol was now with villains, so how can they win.&quot;

The Election Commission had earlier acknowledged the EPS-OPS&nbsp;faction as &quot;real AIADMK&quot;&nbsp;and awarded the two leaves symbol to their party.&nbsp;

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Chennai: It&#39;s a victory for all. This government will not be here for two more months. Two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma. But now it&#39;s with villains, how can they win: TTV Dhinakaran after his victory in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKNagarByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RKNagarByPoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/ew8R4SIi5V">pic.twitter.com/ew8R4SIi5V</a>
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Dhinakaran had earlier&nbsp;said that the government will go in three months.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said that he was an independent candidate for namesake and all the AIADMK workers were with him. He also added that he had Amma&#39;s (J Jayalalithaa) wishes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming three months you will see this government go,&quot; Dhinakaran said.

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I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming 3 months you will see this government go: TTV Dhinakaran in Madurai <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKNagarByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RKNagarByPoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/v5uhgQ6T3J">pic.twitter.com/v5uhgQ6T3J</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944827766658048001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Thanking the people for the massive support, he said the thumping majority is an indication of where the party symbol and the party will remain.&nbsp;

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RK Nagar was represented by &#39;Amma&#39;. The thumping majority which the voters have given is an indication where the Party symbol and the party will remain. I thank the people of RK Nagar &amp; Party workers who have shown massive support for me: TTV Dhinakaran in Madurai <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKNagarByPoll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RKNagarByPoll</a> <a href="https://t.co/PnJrsUuBKu">pic.twitter.com/PnJrsUuBKu</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944827764112211968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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TTV Dhinakaran&nbsp;fought the RK Nagar by-poll as an independent candidate.

He&nbsp;emerged as the leading candidate and celebrated his forthcoming victory by paying&nbsp;floral tribute to&nbsp;AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran at the MGR memorial in Marina Beach.

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TTV Dhinakaran pays floral tribute to late AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran on his 30th death anniversary at MGR memorial in Marina Beach <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chennai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chennai</a> <a href="https://t.co/mcMp9jiHoH">pic.twitter.com/mcMp9jiHoH</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944854404787683329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp; Dhinakaran won the RK Nagar bypoll&nbsp;after beating Madhusudhanan, the candidate of the Panneerselvam-Palaniswami AIADMK faction.

&nbsp;

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TTV Dhinakaran, who fought the RK Nagar by-poll as an independent candidate was leading with 48,808 votes at the end of round 10 counting

While addressing the media after scoring thumping majority in the RK Nagar bypolls, AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran has said that the existing AIADMK government will go in two months. Dhinakaran was referring to the Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam government. He added that the two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma. He said "the symbol was now with villains, so how can they win." The Election Commission had earlier acknowledged the EPS-OPS faction as "real AIADMK" and awarded the two leaves symbol to their party. Chennai: It's a victory for all. This government will not be here for two more months. Two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma. But now it's with villains, how can they win: TTV Dhinakaran after his victory in #RKNagarByPoll pic.twitter.com/ew8R4SIi5V — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × Dhinakaran had earlier said that the government will go in three months. He said that he was an independent candidate for namesake and all the AIADMK workers were with him. He also added that he had Amma's (J Jayalalithaa) wishes. "I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming three months you will see this government go," Dhinakaran said. I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming 3 months you will see this government go: TTV Dhinakaran in Madurai #RKNagarByPoll pic.twitter.com/v5uhgQ6T3J — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × Thanking the people for the massive support, he said the thumping majority is an indication of where the party symbol and the party will remain. RK Nagar was represented by 'Amma'. The thumping majority which the voters have given is an indication where the Party symbol and the party will remain. I thank the people of RK Nagar & Party workers who have shown massive support for me: TTV Dhinakaran in Madurai #RKNagarByPoll pic.twitter.com/PnJrsUuBKu — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × TTV Dhinakaran fought the RK Nagar by-poll as an independent candidate. He emerged as the leading candidate and celebrated his forthcoming victory by paying floral tribute to AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran at the MGR memorial in Marina Beach. TTV Dhinakaran pays floral tribute to late AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran on his 30th death anniversary at MGR memorial in Marina Beach #Chennai pic.twitter.com/mcMp9jiHoH — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017 × Dhinakaran won the RK Nagar bypoll after beating Madhusudhanan, the candidate of the Panneerselvam-Palaniswami AIADMK faction.

TTV Dhinakaran says AIADMK government will go in two months

Sidelined AIADMK leader and independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rk-nagar-bypoll-live-counting-of-votes-begins-early-trends-say-ttv-dinakaran-in-lead-27565">has won the RK Nagar </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rk-nagar-bypoll-live-counting-of-votes-begins-early-trends-say-ttv-dinakaran-in-lead-27565">bypoll</a> beating his rival, AIADMK&#39;s E Madhusudhanan by over 40,000 votes.

Dhinakaran defeated his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the AIADMK by 40,707 votes, officials announced as the counting of votes ended.&nbsp;

Dhinakaran, nephew of Jayalalithaa&#39;s close aide Sasikala won 89,013 votes. Madhusudhanan, the candidate of the O Panneerselvam (OPS) and E Palaniswami (EPS) ruling AIADMK won 48,306 votes. The DMK was represented by N Marudhu Ganesh who won&nbsp;24,651 votes while Karu Nagarajan was the BJP candidate and won 1,417 votes.

The results will come as a big blow to the ruling AIADMK since five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from RK Nagar.

The seat fell vacant after Jayalalithaa&#39;s death last year.&nbsp;

Dhinakaran bettered the record of Jayalalithaa, who had won by a margin of 39,545 votes in the 2016 Assembly polls.

After the results, Dhinakaran said he was confident that the ruling AIADMK government would not last for more than two more months.

&quot;It&#39;s a victory for all. This government will not be here for two more months. Two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma (Jayalalithaa). But now it&#39;s with villains, how can they win,&quot; Dhinakaran said after his victory.

Tamil Nadu chief minister-led K Palaniswami camp was allotted the AIADMK&#39;s &quot;two leaves&quot;&nbsp;symbol by&nbsp;the Election Commission on&nbsp;grounds that enjoyed a&nbsp;majority in the party&#39;s legislative and organisational wings.&nbsp;Dhinakaran contested as an independent on the pressure cooker symbol.&nbsp;

Earlier, as results showed him emerging victorious, Dhinakaran said the thumping majority received by him was an indication of &quot;where the party symbol and the party will remain.&quot;

Dhinakaran said that he believed that the ruling AIADMK government <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ttv-dhinakaran-leads-rk-nagar-bypoll-says-aiadmk-government-will-go-in-three-months-27589">would go in the next three months</a>.

&quot;RK Nagar was represented by &#39;Amma&#39;. The thumping majority which the voters have given is an indication where the party symbol and the party will remain. I thank the people of RK Nagar and party workers who have shown massive support for me,&quot; TTV Dhinakaran said in Madurai.

&quot;I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming 3 months you will see this government go,&quot; he said. 
 
The RK Nagar by-elections were held on Thursday, with voter turnout recorded at 77.68 per cent.

The election commission said the turnout was the highest figure since 2011.

The by-election was actually scheduled for April this year but was postponed after allegations surfaced of voters being bribed.&nbsp;

The EPS and OPS factions had merged in August this year after deposing Dhinakaran and Sasikala, who is serving a four-year jail term in a Bengaluru prison in a corruption case.

(With inputs from agencies)

The results will come as a big blow to the ruling AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam since five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from RK Nagar

Sidelined AIADMK leader and independent candidate TTV Dhinakaran has won the RK Nagar bypoll beating his rival, AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan by over 40,000 votes. Dhinakaran defeated his nearest rival E Madhusudhanan of the AIADMK by 40,707 votes, officials announced as the counting of votes ended. Dhinakaran, nephew of Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala won 89,013 votes. Madhusudhanan, the candidate of the O Panneerselvam (OPS) and E Palaniswami (EPS) ruling AIADMK won 48,306 votes. The DMK was represented by N Marudhu Ganesh who won 24,651 votes while Karu Nagarajan was the BJP candidate and won 1,417 votes. The results will come as a big blow to the ruling AIADMK since five-time former chief minister Jayalalithaa won her last two elections from RK Nagar. The seat fell vacant after Jayalalithaa's death last year. Dhinakaran bettered the record of Jayalalithaa, who had won by a margin of 39,545 votes in the 2016 Assembly polls. After the results, Dhinakaran said he was confident that the ruling AIADMK government would not last for more than two more months. "It's a victory for all. This government will not be here for two more months. Two leaves symbol was a victory symbol when it was with amma (Jayalalithaa). But now it's with villains, how can they win," Dhinakaran said after his victory. Tamil Nadu chief minister-led K Palaniswami camp was allotted the AIADMK's "two leaves" symbol by the Election Commission on grounds that enjoyed a majority in the party's legislative and organisational wings. Dhinakaran contested as an independent on the pressure cooker symbol. Earlier, as results showed him emerging victorious, Dhinakaran said the thumping majority received by him was an indication of "where the party symbol and the party will remain." Dhinakaran said that he believed that the ruling AIADMK government would go in the next three months. "RK Nagar was represented by 'Amma'. The thumping majority which the voters have given is an indication where the party symbol and the party will remain. I thank the people of RK Nagar and party workers who have shown massive support for me," TTV Dhinakaran said in Madurai. "I firmly believe that it is time for this government to go, and in the coming 3 months you will see this government go," he said. The RK Nagar by-elections were held on Thursday, with voter turnout recorded at 77.68 per cent. The election commission said the turnout was the highest figure since 2011. The by-election was actually scheduled for April this year but was postponed after allegations surfaced of voters being bribed. The EPS and OPS factions had merged in August this year after deposing Dhinakaran and Sasikala, who is serving a four-year jail term in a Bengaluru prison in a corruption case. (With inputs from agencies)

Dhinakaran wins RK Nagar bypoll in big blow for ruling AIADMK

&nbsp;Actor Rajnikanth on Friday met Tamil Nadu politician and his close friend Tamilaruvi Manian.

After the meeting, Manian said that Rajnikanth will disclose &quot;his plan of action&quot; regarding his political entry on any day from 26 December to 31 December.&nbsp;

He added that thereafter there will not be any doubt regarding his political entry.&nbsp;

Rajnikanth will also meet his fans for six days starting from December 26 till December 31.&nbsp;

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Tamil Nadu: Actor Rajinikanth met Tamilaruvi Manian at his residence in Chennai. <a href="https://t.co/pKDBg6v1y0">pic.twitter.com/pKDBg6v1y0</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944168245396848640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Rajinikanth to meet his fans for six days, from 26th December till December 31 (File picture) <a href="https://t.co/dQvjhimUQD">pic.twitter.com/dQvjhimUQD</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944178745560023047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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On any day from 26th December to 31st December, he (Rajinikanth) will disclose his plan of action, thereafter there will not be any doubt regarding his political entry: Tamilaruvi Manian, Rajinikanth&#39;s close friend
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944180353337409536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Speculations over the Tamil superstar entering&nbsp;politics have been on the rise for a very long time.&nbsp;

In an interview conducted in November, the actor had clearly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/not-joining-politics-right-now-rajinikanth-24876" target="_blank">refused to join politics</a>.

He answered a question by saying that there was no &quot;pressing need&quot; for him to join politics at this moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The actor had earlier hinted on joining politics. While addressing his supporters in an earlier occasion he had urged them to be &quot;ready for war&quot; when the time comes and also added that the &quot;system is rotten&quot;.

&nbsp;

?Actor Rajnikanth today met Tamil Nadu politician Tamilaruvi Manian today

Actor Rajnikanth on Friday met Tamil Nadu politician and his close friend Tamilaruvi Manian. After the meeting, Manian said that Rajnikanth will disclose "his plan of action" regarding his political entry on any day from 26 December to 31 December. He added that thereafter there will not be any doubt regarding his political entry. Rajnikanth will also meet his fans for six days starting from December 26 till December 31. Tamil Nadu: Actor Rajinikanth met Tamilaruvi Manian at his residence in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/pKDBg6v1y0 — ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2017 × Rajinikanth to meet his fans for six days, from 26th December till December 31 (File picture) pic.twitter.com/dQvjhimUQD — ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2017 × On any day from 26th December to 31st December, he (Rajinikanth) will disclose his plan of action, thereafter there will not be any doubt regarding his political entry: Tamilaruvi Manian, Rajinikanth's close friend — ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2017 × Speculations over the Tamil superstar entering politics have been on the rise for a very long time. In an interview conducted in November, the actor had clearly refused to join politics. He answered a question by saying that there was no "pressing need" for him to join politics at this moment. The actor had earlier hinted on joining politics. While addressing his supporters in an earlier occasion he had urged them to be "ready for war" when the time comes and also added that the "system is rotten".

Rajinikanth to enter politics? Actor to disclose 'plan of action'

Hours after getting acquitted in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi on Thursday welcomed the court&#39;s judgement and said it was an answer to all the allegations made against her.

An elated Kanimozhi told ANI: &quot;We are very happy as justice is prevailed. It&#39;s a big day for DMK and my family too. This verdict is an answer to all the allegations and problems that we went through.&quot;

Earlier in the day, the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court acquitted all the accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, involved in the scam.

Further showing confidence on the RK Nagar bypoll held today in Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi stated: &quot;DMK is going to win this time no doubt on that.&quot;

Voting in RK Nagar Assembly constituency, which was left vacant after the death of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, has begun. While the counting of votes will be held on December 24.

The court&#39;s verdict had come nearly seven years after the first arrest made by the CBI in 2011.

The alleged scam relates to the granting of 2G spectrum licence allocations in 2007-08 which caused, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer.

The scam was among the major corruption scandals that came to light during the second term of the UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The bypolls were earlier scheduled for April 12 earlier this year, but were cancelled following allegations that sums of money were distributed in a vote-for-cash scam.&nbsp;

'We are very happy as justice is prevailed. It's a big day for DMK and my family too,' Kanimozhi said

Hours after getting acquitted in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Kanimozhi on Thursday welcomed the court's judgement and said it was an answer to all the allegations made against her. An elated Kanimozhi told ANI: "We are very happy as justice is prevailed. It's a big day for DMK and my family too. This verdict is an answer to all the allegations and problems that we went through." Earlier in the day, the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court acquitted all the accused, including former telecom minister A Raja and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, involved in the scam. Further showing confidence on the RK Nagar bypoll held today in Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi stated: "DMK is going to win this time no doubt on that." Voting in RK Nagar Assembly constituency, which was left vacant after the death of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, has begun. While the counting of votes will be held on December 24. The court's verdict had come nearly seven years after the first arrest made by the CBI in 2011. The alleged scam relates to the granting of 2G spectrum licence allocations in 2007-08 which caused, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer. The scam was among the major corruption scandals that came to light during the second term of the UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The bypolls were earlier scheduled for April 12 earlier this year, but were cancelled following allegations that sums of money were distributed in a vote-for-cash scam.

2G case verdict: Justice prevails, says Kanimozhi

Campaigning for the high-stakes December 21 bypoll to the RK Nagar assembly seat will end on Tuesday evening and the outcome of the hustings is likely to be seen as a report card of the 17-month-old AIADMK government. The political campaign will end by 5pm and the Election Commission has made it clear that there will be no related activities afterward as per rules.

The outcome of the by-election could serve as a report card of the ruling AIADMK which faced turbulence after late chief minister J Jayalalithaa&#39;s death.&nbsp;The campaign witnessed the top leaders of various parties - Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam of the AIADMK, DMK leader MK Stalin and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran - reaching out to voters with hectic campaign schedules.

All parties are keen to make a mark in the election which has become a battle of pride as Jayalalithaa represented the constituency earlier. Her death in December last year necessitated the bypoll.&nbsp;The campaign also saw old rivals Stalin and MDMK founder Vaiko share stage for the first time in many years. The opposition is putting up a united show in a bid to snatch victory in this city segment.

Many opposition parties, including the Congress, the VCK, and the Left have backed DMK candidate N Maruthuganesh.&nbsp;Dhinakaran, who fell out of favour with Palaniswami and also lost the battle for party&#39;s &#39;Two Leaves&#39; symbol to the latter, is fighting as an independent and has expressed confidence that he can spring a surprise against the AIADMK&#39;s E Madhusudhanan as well as the DMK.

With 59 candidates in the fray, the bypoll is virtually confined to old warhorse Madhusudhanan, DMK&#39;s greenhorn Maruthuganesh, and Dhinakaran.&nbsp;Polling will be held on December 21 while the votes will be taken up for counting on December 24.

The campaign witnessed the top leaders of various parties--Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam of the AIADMK, DMK leader MK Stalin and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran--reaching out to voters with hectic campaign schedules

Campaigning for the high-stakes December 21 bypoll to the RK Nagar assembly seat will end on Tuesday evening and the outcome of the hustings is likely to be seen as a report card of the 17-month-old AIADMK government. The political campaign will end by 5pm and the Election Commission has made it clear that there will be no related activities afterward as per rules. The outcome of the by-election could serve as a report card of the ruling AIADMK which faced turbulence after late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's death. The campaign witnessed the top leaders of various parties - Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam of the AIADMK, DMK leader MK Stalin and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran - reaching out to voters with hectic campaign schedules. All parties are keen to make a mark in the election which has become a battle of pride as Jayalalithaa represented the constituency earlier. Her death in December last year necessitated the bypoll. The campaign also saw old rivals Stalin and MDMK founder Vaiko share stage for the first time in many years. The opposition is putting up a united show in a bid to snatch victory in this city segment. Many opposition parties, including the Congress, the VCK, and the Left have backed DMK candidate N Maruthuganesh. Dhinakaran, who fell out of favour with Palaniswami and also lost the battle for party's 'Two Leaves' symbol to the latter, is fighting as an independent and has expressed confidence that he can spring a surprise against the AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan as well as the DMK. With 59 candidates in the fray, the bypoll is virtually confined to old warhorse Madhusudhanan, DMK's greenhorn Maruthuganesh, and Dhinakaran. Polling will be held on December 21 while the votes will be taken up for counting on December 24.

RK Nagar bypoll: Election campaign to end today

An investigating team is probing the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, an Apollo doctor stated.&nbsp;

A doctor from the Apollo hospital has said that Jayalalitha was brought to the hospital in a critical condition.

He said that the late chief minister had shown significant progress during her treatment but that she later succumbed to her &quot;disease pattern&quot;.

&quot;Her disease pattern was such and due to acute respiratory distress syndrome she passed away.&nbsp;He said that his team of doctors did best that they could,&quot; said the founder of Apollo Hospital.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
An inquiry is on. Frmr TN CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jayalalithaa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jayalalithaa</a> was brought to hospital in a critical condition, showed significant progress later,but disease pattern ws such&amp;due to acute respiratory distress syndrome she passed away.Our team of doctors did the best they could:Founder,Apollo hospital <a href="https://t.co/XKDiv1p4d4">pic.twitter.com/XKDiv1p4d4</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/941956942951432192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Jayalalithaa was brought to Apollo Hospital on September 22, 2016, where she spent 75 days.

&nbsp;The AIADMK chief died in hospital on December 5, 2016.&nbsp;

The Apollo hospital staff have been claiming that she was brought to the hospital in a severe state and was given adequate treatment in the hospital.&nbsp;

However, controversies over her death erupted after leaders from her party pointed fingers at VK Sasikala, her close aide.&nbsp;

An investigation had already been initiated by chief minister&nbsp;Edappadi Palaniswami on the demands of&nbsp;Panneerselvam.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An investigating team is probing the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the founder of Apollo Hospital stated

An investigating team is probing the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, an Apollo doctor stated. A doctor from the Apollo hospital has said that Jayalalitha was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. He said that the late chief minister had shown significant progress during her treatment but that she later succumbed to her "disease pattern". "Her disease pattern was such and due to acute respiratory distress syndrome she passed away. He said that his team of doctors did best that they could," said the founder of Apollo Hospital. An inquiry is on. Frmr TN CM #Jayalalithaa was brought to hospital in a critical condition, showed significant progress later,but disease pattern ws such&due to acute respiratory distress syndrome she passed away.Our team of doctors did the best they could:Founder,Apollo hospital pic.twitter.com/XKDiv1p4d4 — ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017 × Jayalalithaa was brought to Apollo Hospital on September 22, 2016, where she spent 75 days. The AIADMK chief died in hospital on December 5, 2016. The Apollo hospital staff have been claiming that she was brought to the hospital in a severe state and was given adequate treatment in the hospital. However, controversies over her death erupted after leaders from her party pointed fingers at VK Sasikala, her close aide. An investigation had already been initiated by chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami on the demands of Panneerselvam.

Jayalalithaa's death under investigation: Apollo Doctor

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered M Natarajan, husband of jailed and ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, and his nephew Bhaskaran to pay Rs 25 lakh each in the illegal import of luxury lexus car.

The court also asked the duo to surrender before a trial court and seek bail in the case.

Natarajan and Bhaskaran were given two-year jail term by a special CBI court in 2010. They filed an appeal against it which was pending for seven years before the Madras High Court dismissed it and upheld the sentence in November, 2017.

Their houses were also raided by income tax officials last month in connection with tax evasion.

Natarajan and his nephew are accused of evading tax to the tune of Rs 1.06 crore while importing the lexus car from London in the 90s by forging invoices.

The CBI and enforcement directorate had registred separate cases against Natarajan and others.

Sasikala, who is in jail since February, visited Natarajan when she came out on parole in October this year. Natarajan underwent a liver and kidney transplant and is recovering in a hospital.

Natarajan and his nephew are accused of evading tax to the tune of Rs 1.06 crore while importing the lexus car from London in the 90s by forging invoices.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered M Natarajan, husband of jailed and ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, and his nephew Bhaskaran to pay Rs 25 lakh each in the illegal import of luxury lexus car. The court also asked the duo to surrender before a trial court and seek bail in the case. Natarajan and Bhaskaran were given two-year jail term by a special CBI court in 2010. They filed an appeal against it which was pending for seven years before the Madras High Court dismissed it and upheld the sentence in November, 2017. Their houses were also raided by income tax officials last month in connection with tax evasion. Natarajan and his nephew are accused of evading tax to the tune of Rs 1.06 crore while importing the lexus car from London in the 90s by forging invoices. The CBI and enforcement directorate had registred separate cases against Natarajan and others. Sasikala, who is in jail since February, visited Natarajan when she came out on parole in October this year. Natarajan underwent a liver and kidney transplant and is recovering in a hospital.

Lexus car import case: Supreme Court asks Sasikala's husband to surrender

&quot;To be or not to be&quot; &quot;If chance will have me king it will crown me without my stir&quot;... Shakespeare

Superstar Rajinikanth&#39;s fans are celebrating his birthday on December 12 and expect him to announce the launch of his political party. He has been dithering and delaying far too long. Expectations reached new heights in May this year when in a meeting with his fans he asked his fans to be ready for a war and he would enter politics God willing. This was by far the most definite clue that he has made the decision. Since then he has been meeting political analysts, journalists and even politicians to discuss his plan. Many seem to have advised him that this was the right time for him to take a plunge as Jayalalithaa is dead and DMK leader Karunanidhi has become completely inactive at 94.

More than ten thousand of his fans even gathered in the southern city of Tiruchirappalli recently under the guidance of the leader of the non-political Gandhian movement, Tamilaruvi Manian, perhaps to test the waters. Rajinikanth has consulted Manian several times before. According to Manian, Rajinikanth has made up his mind to start his own party. 
He has delayed it too long. Another popular star Kamal Haasan, who has been making big noises against corrupt politicians of late, has already announced his decision to start a new party. He has launched a new app for enrolling members for his new party. Another filmstar, Vijay, with a sizeable fan following, is also toying with the idea of entering politics. In view of these developments, Rajinikanth has become silent of late. People have been waiting since 1996 when he openly opposed Jayalalithaa saying if people voted for Jayalalithaa even God would not be able to save Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa was defeated&nbsp; in the election. But her defeat could not be attributed to Rajinikanth&#39;s campaign alone. People were highly dssatified with her regime following allegations of corruption and misrule. It was time when people of Tamil Nadu were looking for an alternative to both the Dravidian parties and the then prime minister Narasimha Rao openly invited him to join the Congress party. He dithered perhaps he had a brilliant film career ahead. But it should be noted that Jayalalithaa staged a comeback in the 1998 parliamentary elections winning 18 seats despite Rajinikanth&rsquo;s campaign against her.

He now seems to have realised that celebrity status alone can no longer win elections (he said this in a function to inaugurate a statue of Sivaji Ganesan in which Kamal Haasan was also present). True, he has the biggest fan following but can it be converted into votes? His fans have become older and more mature to vote for a filmstar who has no political background. All these years, he has been desisting from expressing his views on any political issue concerning the common man. His opponents say that he is a non Tamil. He is a Maharashtrian from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should be ruled only by a Tamil. Analysts say that he is too much of a gentleman and lacks the cunning and deceit that have become the essential qualities of a modern day politician and hence will find it difficult to survive in politics. His superstar image alone is not enough to sustain in politics of intrigues. He cannot be compared to the late political giant MG Ramachandran who was nurtured and brought up by the DMK till he outgrew it.

MG Ramachandran very carefully nurtured his own pro-poor and pro-people image, judiciously selecting his film roles and pitched it right when the dissatisfaction against Karunanidhi&#39;s rule was at its peak. He won and till his death none could beat him politically. Jayalalithaa, who took over his party, was lucky to forge an alliance with the Congress in 1991 and catapulted to power by a sympathy wave created by the assassination of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The blame was squarely on the DMK which the people rightly or wrongly thought was responsible for allowing Sri Lankan LTTE to operate in Tamil Nadu.

People are becoming more and more politically aware to confuse the reel image with the real image. Actor Vijayakanthi who started his own party should be regretting now with his party totally in a shambles. In the past, the doyen Sivaji Ganesan who too had a large fan following could not make it in politics.

Rajinikanth&#39;s critics say that he usually makes such noises just before the release of his films which help them to become hits. His two films - Kaala and Entiran - are due for release shortly.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity)

Rajinikanth seems to have realised that celebrity status alone can no longer win elections. His fans have become older and more mature to vote for a filmstar who has no political background.

"To be or not to be" "If chance will have me king it will crown me without my stir"... Shakespeare Superstar Rajinikanth's fans are celebrating his birthday on December 12 and expect him to announce the launch of his political party. He has been dithering and delaying far too long. Expectations reached new heights in May this year when in a meeting with his fans he asked his fans to be ready for a war and he would enter politics God willing. This was by far the most definite clue that he has made the decision. Since then he has been meeting political analysts, journalists and even politicians to discuss his plan. Many seem to have advised him that this was the right time for him to take a plunge as Jayalalithaa is dead and DMK leader Karunanidhi has become completely inactive at 94. More than ten thousand of his fans even gathered in the southern city of Tiruchirappalli recently under the guidance of the leader of the non-political Gandhian movement, Tamilaruvi Manian, perhaps to test the waters. Rajinikanth has consulted Manian several times before. According to Manian, Rajinikanth has made up his mind to start his own party. He has delayed it too long. Another popular star Kamal Haasan, who has been making big noises against corrupt politicians of late, has already announced his decision to start a new party. He has launched a new app for enrolling members for his new party. Another filmstar, Vijay, with a sizeable fan following, is also toying with the idea of entering politics. In view of these developments, Rajinikanth has become silent of late. People have been waiting since 1996 when he openly opposed Jayalalithaa saying if people voted for Jayalalithaa even God would not be able to save Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa was defeated in the election. But her defeat could not be attributed to Rajinikanth's campaign alone. People were highly dssatified with her regime following allegations of corruption and misrule. It was time when people of Tamil Nadu were looking for an alternative to both the Dravidian parties and the then prime minister Narasimha Rao openly invited him to join the Congress party. He dithered perhaps he had a brilliant film career ahead. But it should be noted that Jayalalithaa staged a comeback in the 1998 parliamentary elections winning 18 seats despite Rajinikanth’s campaign against her. He now seems to have realised that celebrity status alone can no longer win elections (he said this in a function to inaugurate a statue of Sivaji Ganesan in which Kamal Haasan was also present). True, he has the biggest fan following but can it be converted into votes? His fans have become older and more mature to vote for a filmstar who has no political background. All these years, he has been desisting from expressing his views on any political issue concerning the common man. His opponents say that he is a non Tamil. He is a Maharashtrian from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu should be ruled only by a Tamil. Analysts say that he is too much of a gentleman and lacks the cunning and deceit that have become the essential qualities of a modern day politician and hence will find it difficult to survive in politics. His superstar image alone is not enough to sustain in politics of intrigues. He cannot be compared to the late political giant MG Ramachandran who was nurtured and brought up by the DMK till he outgrew it. MG Ramachandran very carefully nurtured his own pro-poor and pro-people image, judiciously selecting his film roles and pitched it right when the dissatisfaction against Karunanidhi's rule was at its peak. He won and till his death none could beat him politically. Jayalalithaa, who took over his party, was lucky to forge an alliance with the Congress in 1991 and catapulted to power by a sympathy wave created by the assassination of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The blame was squarely on the DMK which the people rightly or wrongly thought was responsible for allowing Sri Lankan LTTE to operate in Tamil Nadu. People are becoming more and more politically aware to confuse the reel image with the real image. Actor Vijayakanthi who started his own party should be regretting now with his party totally in a shambles. In the past, the doyen Sivaji Ganesan who too had a large fan following could not make it in politics. Rajinikanth's critics say that he usually makes such noises just before the release of his films which help them to become hits. His two films - Kaala and Entiran - are due for release shortly. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity)

Opinion: What Rajinikanth has to learn before joining politics

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