Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Wednesday voiced opposition to the proposed rationalisation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, cautioning that lowering tax slabs would erode the financial resources of States.
Speaking at a meeting of the Group of Ministers on GST rate restructuring in New Delhi, Thennarasu insisted that any reduction of rates must be accompanied by measures to safeguard State revenues. He urged the Centre to extend the Compensation Cess for at least another four to six years to offset the potential losses from rationalisation.
The minister argued that withdrawing the cess while reducing tax rates would severely impact States such as Tamil Nadu, which are implementing large-scale welfare and infrastructure programmes. “If it is not possible to continue the cess on the goods taxed now, alternative mechanisms should be put in place to prevent loss of revenue to the States,” he said, according to an official release.
Thennarasu also demanded that the net borrowing ceiling for States be raised to 4% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) without conditions. While welcoming reforms in principle, he stressed that protecting the fiscal autonomy of States should remain the priority.
The DMK government has repeatedly argued that rationalisation of GST, though framed as benefiting the common people, risks draining State treasuries unless backed by an assured compensation mechanism.
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The second state conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay was held in Parapathi, Madurai, amid much fanfare and heavy mobilisation of cadres. Thousands of vehicles arrived from across Tamil Nadu to the venue, and local liquor shops saw an unusual rush linked directly to the event.
Reporters on the ground noted that while TVK leader Vijay has consistently spoken against liquor consumption, his own cadres were spotted in large numbers at TASMAC outlets in Madurai and Virudhunagar districts. In Aviyur village near Virudhunagar, more than 50 youths wearing T-shirts and flags associated with Vijay’s films and the TVK party were seen queuing outside a government-run liquor shop for over an hour.
Officials had initially announced a one-day closure of TASMAC outlets in Madurai and Virudhunagar for the day of the TVK conference, but the order was later withdrawn. As a result, multiple outlets witnessed surging crowds of TVK volunteers both before and after the event.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of cadres standing in long lines with party-coloured attire, waiting to purchase liquor at the very time the conference was getting underway. Reporters said the images came as an embarrassment to TVK administrators, who had projected the event as a moral and political awakening under Vijay’s leadership.
The episode immediately drew comparisons to the behaviour of DMK “oopi” cadres, who are often criticised for crowding TASMAC shops during party events and public holidays. Observers pointed out that despite Vijay’s public opposition to “temporary pleasures”, his cadres appeared to have followed the same path, undermining the image TVK has tried to build as a reformist force in Tamil Nadu politics.
The contrasting reality, a leader denouncing liquor while volunteers flaunted loyalty at TASMAC counters has left many questioning whether TVK is any different from the established Dravidian outfits it claims to challenge.
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Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) held its second state conference at Parapathi, Madurai, with grand fanfare amid a lot of chaos too. The event was projected to be a turning point for the party, with Vijay himself addressing a massive crowd. However, the speeches delivered by the TVK leader once again revealed a troubling pattern – there was nothing new or original in his political rhetoric. As an actor, he acted in remakes that were blockbusters in Telugu and Malayalam – be it Ghilli, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Badri, Ninaithen Vandhai, etc. Now, he’s onto copying and lifting dialogues from other politicians, especially NTK’s Seeman.
The “Kutty Story” Lifted from NTK Chief Seeman’s Speeches
One of Vijay’s highlights at the Madurai conference was his much publicized ‘kutty story’ about a king testing ten generals with boiled paddy seeds. Nine faked their way with fresh seeds, while one candidate returned honestly with nothing grown, earning the king’s trust. Vijay used the story as a metaphor for honesty in politics, framing himself as the alternative leader people should trust.
But this was not new. The same tale, widely known as the Chinese parable The Emperor’s Seed, has been repeatedly narrated on stage by NTK chief Seeman over the years. Political observers and audiences familiar with Seeman’s speeches immediately recognized Vijay’s recycling of the anecdote.
விஜய் பெரிய அளவுக்குப் பணம் செலவு செய்து அருகில் வைத்திருப்பது, வியூக வகுப்பாளர்கள் அல்ல, நகல் இயந்திரங்கள் (Xerox machine). pic.twitter.com/Sy46ZXifTe
Vijay also tried to attack the ruling DMK over its shifting stance toward the BJP. He spoke about how the DMK once released black balloons in protest but now appears soft after being raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He mocked the Chief Minister for changing colours once in power, claiming that pressure had turned the ruling party’s aggression into silence.
But once again, these very lines have been delivered by Seeman in his rallies. Seeman has for years accused the DMK of double standards when dealing with the BJP – militant in opposition, submissive in power. Vijay’s words in Madurai echoed those speeches almost verbatim, leaving little doubt about their source.
The Madurai event was meant to showcase Vijay’s originality as a political leader, but it instead reinforced the perception that TVK is running on borrowed political language. From Chinese folklore to Seeman’s rhetoric, Vijay’s speeches appear more like a patchwork of borrowed lines than fresh political vision.
Even fans present at the venue admitted the actor’s speeches carried little that they had not already heard before. What was intended as an inspiring debut instead revealed Vijay’s dependence on narratives crafted by others.
Nothing New to Offer?
With Tamil Nadu politics already saturated with strong personalities and sharp rhetoric, a new entrant is expected to provide fresh ideas or a different perspective. But Vijay’s conference speech showed a leader leaning heavily on recycled stories, lacking originality in both thought and expression.
The second state convention of TVK in Madurai thus raised more questions than it answered. If Vijay continues to parrot what others have said before, his political journey risks being dismissed as a mere performance, another script with nothing original to offer.
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What was meant to be Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) grand political showpiece in Madurai on 21 August 2025 – the TVK Madurai Maanadu spiraled into chaotic and heartbreaking scenes – of babies crying, people “caged” and water bottles thrown at them, followers falling down after the bars/barricades were greased.
The party’s maiden conference in Madurai and second one in TN, intended to project power, instead exposed a catastrophic failure in planning, leaving thousands of supporters stranded under a brutal sun without basic amenities.
A Scorching Ordeal Under The Open Sky
With temperatures crossing 39°C (102°F), thousands of attendees, many brought in since 10 AM under the scorching sun, collapsed due to dehydration, lack of shade, and inadequate facilities. The event didn’t begin until 4PM!
With inadequate shade, many sought refuge under lorries or lay on the ground, overcome by the heat. The scene was less a political rally and more a desperate struggle for survival against the elements.
While medical experts have been warning in general about avoiding outdoor exposure during peak heat hours, TVK volunteers instructed people to gather early, leading to mass fainting spells. Hospitals reported treating hundreds, with estimates suggesting over 2,000 people were affected.
Babies In Ordeal
Infants and young children were brought to the venue despite prior warnings from the leaders. The heat caused them to be in great discomfort, and they were taken away (from the parents) to the medical room.
In a stark display of exploitation, the very essentials for survival were commodified. Instead of ensuring free and accessible water stations, the event organization allowed vendors to charge exorbitant prices – about ₹60 for a water bottle and ₹70 for a basic curd rice, the menu also stated tamarind rice ₹80, veg biryani ₹120, and Sharbat ₹80, ice cream ₹100. Supporters, with no other options, were forced to pay to stave off dehydration. This high pricing was allegedly due to the overpriced stall rates – TVK allegedly collected ₹10,000 per stall at the conference venue.
The much-touted “drone water sprayers” advertised by the party’s media team were dismissed as a cruel gimmick, with observers noting they were utterly incapable of providing relief to a crowd of that size.
Observers likened the scene to a “Gaza-type crisis” where ordinary people were left to suffer in hostile conditions while the leadership remained in air-conditioned comfort.
Youth Dies Of Suffocation
An 18-year-old youth who attended the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) second state conference in Madurai on Thursday died after suffering from suffocation in the crowd.
The deceased has been identified as Roshan, a resident of Kotagiri in Nilgiris district. According to reports, Roshan arrived in Madurai around noon with friends, had breakfast, and proceeded to the conference venue. Around 2:30 PM, he experienced difficulty in breathing due to the heavy crowd and was given immediate first aid by medical staff at the spot.
While returning to Nilgiris later in the day, Roshan reportedly suffered another bout of breathlessness midway. His friends rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Attendees Caged & Water Bottle Thrown At Them Like They Are Slaves; Bars Greased To Prevent People From Climbing
The people attending the TVK conference were placed inside compartmented zones which had sky high bars preventing them from climbing up and trying to come close to the actor-politician.
In what is seen as a derogatory move, the volunteers are seen throwing water bottles at the attendees as if they are some slaves begging for water.
To prevent overenthusiastic volunteers from climbing electric poles or barrier bars, a problem witnessed during the first state conference when fans refused to come down, the organizers this time resorted to greasing the poles at the venue. While Vijay has repeatedly stressed discipline within the party, critics argue that he has failed to rein in the unruly behavior of his supporters, often referred to by political opponents as “whistling chicks.”
Lawlessness And A Breakdown Of Order
The crisis was compounded by a complete breakdown of security and order. Multiple reports emerged of widespread theft, with purses and mobile phones being stolen – especially when people went towards the food stalls to purchase. Police complaint booths were reportedly set up to handle the volume of grievances, pointing to an environment of lawlessness within the event grounds.
Chairs were left broken after the event. The people delivering and taking back the chairs were aghast to see about 500 chairs lying broken at the end of the event.
Further tarnishing the event, scenes of drunkenness and sacrilege emerged. Supporters were allegedly found with alcohol, and in one jarring incident, a bottle of liquor were spilled on the premises of the Thiruparankundram temple, a site of religious significance, causing outrage and showcasing a blatant disregard for decorum and respect.
A Conference Of Self-Deception
The Madurai Maanadu will be remembered not for its political messaging, but as a catastrophic event where poor planning, exploitative practices, and a blatant disregard for human safety turned a political rally into a desperate crisis. For the thousands who fainted, were robbed, or paid a week’s wages for water, the event was less a political awakening and more a traumatic ordeal, a “Gaza-type” zone where the basic rules of humanity and care were the first casualties.
At the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) state conference in Madurai, large-scale damage to hired furniture has been reported after unruly behaviour by sections of actor Vijay’s fans.
A supplier from Dindigul said that out of 15,000 chairs brought for the event, nearly 500 were broken. Each chair was valued between ₹300 and ₹350, resulting in significant losses for the business. “Half of our investment is gone. We don’t know if we’ll get any compensation,” he said.
The supplier alleged that fans climbed and stood on the chairs in groups, with up to 10 people piling onto a single chair, causing them to collapse. He added that attempts to stop the crowd were met with hostility, forcing workers to remain outside the venue.
An 18-year-old youth who attended the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) second state conference in Madurai on Thursday died after suffering from suffocation in the crowd.
The deceased has been identified as Roshan, a resident of Kotagiri in Nilgiris district. According to reports, Roshan arrived in Madurai around noon with friends, had breakfast, and proceeded to the conference venue. Around 2:30 PM, he experienced difficulty in breathing due to the heavy crowd and was given immediate first aid by medical staff at the spot.
While returning to Nilgiris later in the day, Roshan reportedly suffered another bout of breathlessness midway. His friends rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The death of the young participant has caused grief among his family and friends in Kotagiri and has cast a shadow over the high-profile conference attended by lakhs of TVK functionaries, volunteers, and fans.
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AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday launched his first direct political attack on actor-turned-politician Vijay, founder of the Tamil Nadu Victory Party (TVK). Speaking at meetings in Kancheepuram and Uthiramerur, Palaniswami without naming Vijay accused him of aspiring for “rewards without toiling for it” and asserted that such political dreams would not succeed.
The remarks came hours after Vijay, at his party’s second state conference in Madurai, declared that the 2026 Assembly elections would be a straight contest between the TVK and the DMK. Responding sharply, Palaniswami reiterated that the AIADMK remained the only credible force to challenge the DMK and dismissed Vijay’s comments as politically immature.
Taking exception to Vijay’s veiled criticism of the AIADMK’s leadership, Palaniswami questioned how cadres could place trust in a leader who, according to him, did not even know who heads the party. He pointed out that the TVK had completed only two conferences and described it as a “1.5-year-old child” that had yet to contest even a single Assembly election.
He said, “They are asking who is in charge of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam now. I see that he is speaking out of ignorance. If a party is told that it has a leader without even knowing this, how can there be any volunteers who trust him. Think about it, there are so many people, so many ADMK volunteers, administrators, sympathizers, so some people are talking about some opinions as they wish, without knowing what is happening in the country today. But ADMK is not like that. The party founded by our leaders, the party founded by the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the downtrodden, the party that has made countless plans for them and implemented them and has gained momentum through them, the party ADMK, the party does not bear fruit as soon as it takes a tree. First, you have to plant the plant, water it, take care of it, fertilize it, it gradually grows into a tree, and then that tree blooms, grows and bears fruit. That is how a movement grows. No movement can do good to the people. That is how Ponmanachemmal revolutionary leader MGR came to power after giving his hard work for five years after the party was founded. Puratchi Thalaivi is also like that. She did not become the Chief Minister immediately. She worked for the people for many years and gained the respect of the people and became the Chief Minister of the country through that. Anna did not become the Chief Minister immediately after coming into politics. He faced so many struggles in his life. He went to jail for the language. He dedicated his life on the basis of doing good to the people of the country. In this way, all our leaders have lived dedicatedly for the people and have identified the ADMK movement for us.”
Invoking the legacy of MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Palaniswami said that every new party in Tamil Nadu begins by invoking their names but stressed that only the AIADMK carried their true political legacy and had the strength to take on the ruling DMK.
What Did Vijay Say?
Taking a dig at the AIADMK for the first time since he launched the party, Vijay, at the conference in Madurai said, “Who doesn’t know MGR? Who doesn’t know what his “mass” was? As long as he was alive, no one ould even think or dream about that CM seat. MSG is one who even made his enemies beg for the CM seat by saying that they will return it to MGR later – he even made enemies beg! Who is building and protecting the party he started? How is the party today? Do I have to tell that to you? Innocent cadre are unable to say it out loud and suffering in pain. Those innocent volunteers also know very well who to vote for in the 2026 assembly elections and what kind of government they want to have here. That is why no matter how many disguises the BJP comes to Tamil Nadu, all their tricks will not work here.”
In a significant development in the ongoing Dharmasthala burial case, a woman claiming to be the first wife of the so-called “masked man” has publicly denied his allegations and accused him of lying for monetary gain.
Speaking to the media, the woman stated that she married the masked man in 1999 and was together with him for seven years. During this period, she alleged, he physically assaulted her and their children. The couple has a son and a daughter. She claimed that he worked as a sweeper in Dharmasthala, performing tasks such as cleaning toilets, and denied any knowledge of alleged murders, rapes, or burials linked to the case.
“To avoid paying alimony, he lied in court about being unemployed during our divorce. He betrayed me,” she told reporters, adding that her mother took care of the children after their separation. She emphasized her respect for Dharmasthala, asserting that her husband’s claims about crimes in the temple town were false.
Residents of Chikkaballi village in Mandya taluk corroborated aspects of her account, stating that the masked man was a native of Mandya, the youngest of four siblings, and the son of a grama panchayat employee. According to villagers, he was employed in civic work and at a local brick kiln, and the community even built a house for him, which he later sought to transfer into his name. They added that he availed a bank loan to buy cattle but failed to repay it and left the village abruptly in 2014.
The revelation adds a new dimension to the Dharmasthala burial case, which has been under investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Local social activist Snehamayi Krishna has also filed a complaint, and the SIT is expected to issue notices to key individuals involved as part of its ongoing inquiry.
Chennai Gang Allegedly Trained Him
A few days ago, the masked man confessed to the SIT that he was coerced by a gang in Chennai in December 2023 to fabricate allegations of illegal mass burials.
“They asked me how many bodies I had buried when I worked in Dharmasthala. I told them the truth: that I had legally buried the bodies of pilgrims who came for salvation, through the police and gram panchayat,” the complainant stated. “But the gang insisted that I should say that the bodies were buried illegally. They pressured me… they changed my mind.”
The complainant revealed that the gang brought him to Karnataka, trained him on what to say in court, and even provided him with the skull and bone fragments he submitted as evidence which forensic reports later confirmed belonged to a man who died 30 years ago. He further confessed that he was instructed to coordinate his false testimony with another complainant, Sujatha Bhat, who had filed a missing person report for her daughter.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam conference took place in Madurai amid chaos and controversies. Among the speeches, one thing was clear: they had chosen to attack the BJP on religion and go soft on the DMK.
Arunraj, a former Income Tax Department officer once considered a close confidant of actor-turned-politician and TVK’s, General Secretary for Policy and Publicity Arunraj made a very typical Dravidianist attack on the BJP. He said, “The Chinese are challenging the Americans and discovering new technologies but what are we doing? We are digging every mosque to check if there is a temple. Should we allow these divisive forces to take root in TN soil? If we trust the DMK, they will leave us astray.”
Then as if giving a lead to Vijay’s speech where he claimed the BJP and DMK were in a secret alliance, he said, “Last week there was an ED raid in one DMK minister’s house. Do you know what will happen? Yesterday it was black balloons, today they say Modi’s arrival is a pride to TN, tomorrow they will even say an alliance is necessary with the BJP for TN. So we must prevent these divisive forces, and the only hope and way for that is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.”
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s massive conference in Madurai kicked off to an energetic start as many observers were waiting to see what actor-turned-politician Vijay would orate this time.
His past speeches have been fairly lacklustre and the Madurai conference speech which lasted about 30-35 minutes was nothing but a rehash of his old speeches.
The song released during the event showcases Annadurai and MGR – who are from AIADMK – it looks bizzare in a video of a political party that is not the ADMK.
But this time, he attacked the RSS. He also claimed the BJP and DMK had a backend dealing with each other for mutual benefit.
Tries To Appropriate MGR & Captain Vijayakanth
He said he was reminded of only one person as he placed his feet on Madurai soil and said it was MGR. He further said, “We all like Puratchi Thalaivar MGR – be it cinema or politics. I did not have the chance to work with him but I did get the chance to work with someone who had the same qualities as him, Captain Vijaykanth, who hails from this Madurai soil, how can I forget him.”
இன்னைக்கு #தளபதி speech semma fire-ah இருந்துச்சுன்னு சொல்றவங்க எத்தனை பேர் 🥵💪🏻🔥
He again calls BJP as fascist and DMK as poison – nothing new – he has already mentioned this several times.
Addresses PM Modi
In what comes across as a clownish attempt to “attack” PM Modi, Vijay once again repeats what he did at a previous event. This time he makes a fool of himself (once again).
He called for PM Modi’s attention towards the fishermen issue in Sri Lanka. He said, “Honourable PM Narendra Modiji, isn’t it you who is holding the reigns for the third time? Did you come to power to help the people of the country as a whole or to conspire against our Muslim brothers and friends? People have several questions to ask you so on their behalf I ask you, Mr Prime Minister.”
Then he exposed himself. He said, “Our TN fishermen, about 800 of them have been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy. We are not asking you to condemn it in a big way. Just do one small thing. Just retrieve Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka so our fishermen are safe.” Vijay forgot it was the Congress in alliance with DMK who handed over Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
These 800 fishermen were killed over 4 decades when DMK and ADMK were in power and so also Congress at the centre. After PM Modi came to power, fishermen deaths have come to almost nil.
Then he talks about NEET and says it is creating problems – we can only see achievers from TN and an increasing number of students from the state entering medical stream. He ends it with “Will you do it Mr Narendrabhai Damodar Modiji?” – cringe at best.
Stalin “Uncle”
In what comes across as cringe but would appeal to the masses, Vijay ended up addressing TN CM Stalin as “uncle” and used a few cinematic dialogues to make his point. He said “Stalin uncle, what Uncle, very wrong Uncle” and then followed it up with a verse from MGR’s song portraying himself as righteous.
He ended his cringeworthy speech by saying, “Not all politicians are smart nor are all cinema stars fools.”
Vijay yet again proves he is DMK 2.0, a DMK Lite by being mild on the DMK and parroting the same lines on the BJP, the surprise was inclusion of RSS somewhere in the middle of his speech.
Overall, people gathered there for filmy Vijayisms, punch lines, voice modulation and dialogues akin to the ones from his movies.
By speaking without clarity and knowledge of the present political scenario, he seems to be reading out a script someone else wrote or he wrote it with his backdated GK. Hence proving he is a master of tharkuris.
Hydra is a political writer.
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