As the suspense over the selection of Kerala’s next Chief Minister continued, with the Congress leadership still unable to arrive at a final decision even ten days after the Assembly election results were declared, posters targeting Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra surfaced in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts, exposing growing tensions within sections of the party rank and file. This comes amid the ongoing power struggle within the United Democratic Front (UDF), as reported in Times of India.
The posters appeared on the name board of Rajiv Bhavan, the District Congress Committee (DCC) office in Kalpetta, as well as near Priyanka Gandhi’s MP office at North Karassery in the Thiruvambady Assembly constituency of Kozhikode district.
Printed in English, the anonymous posters carried sharp warnings directed at the Gandhi siblings. One poster read, “Mr Rahul and Priyanka forget Wayanad. You won’t win again from here.” Another stated, “RG and PG, this is not a warning, Kerala never forgive you for this blunder.” A third poster directly targeted Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal, saying, “Mr Rahul, KC might be your bag bearer but people of Kerala never forgive you.”
Residents and party workers noticed the posters on Wednesday (13 May 2026) morning. It is believed that unidentified persons pasted them during the night hours on Tuesday (12 May 2026). Similar posters appearing nearly 50 kilometres apart in Kalpetta and Karassery triggered speculation that the same group or individuals were behind both incidents.
#WATCH | Wayanad, Keralam | As suspense over Keralam’s next CM continues after Congress-led UDF’s victory, posters targeting Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the party high command have appeared near the Wayanad District Congress Committee office pic.twitter.com/SqxcGCsuzl
Following the controversy, the District Congress Committee leadership intervened and removed the posters from both locations. Party leaders reportedly obtained CCTV footage showing the person who pasted the posters and initiated an internal enquiry to determine whether any Congress workers were involved in the incident.
DCC leaders said such actions would not be tolerated and warned that strict disciplinary action would be taken if any party member was found responsible for putting up the posters.
The latest episode comes amid intensifying factional tensions within the Congress over the choice of Chief Minister following the UDF’s decisive victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. Internal differences have reportedly sharpened between supporters of opposition leader V. D. Satheesan and those backing K C Venugopal for the top post.
Last week, protests were staged by local Congress workers at North Karassery against attempts to project Venugopal as Chief Minister instead of Satheesan, who had led the UDF campaign and played a central role in the alliance securing victory in 102 Assembly seats.
Satheesan had earlier staked his political future on the election outcome, publicly declaring that he would quit politics if the UDF failed to cross the 100-seat mark in the Assembly election.
The ongoing flex and poster war within the Congress has also taken a curious political turn after a CPM worker was found allegedly putting up a flex board supporting Venugopal in Thrissur district earlier this week.
At Vadanappally in Thrissur on Monday, a flex board carrying the slogan “Let KC Lead” along with Venugopal’s photograph appeared in public and was attributed to a group calling itself the “Save Congress” faction.
However, CCTV footage later showed that the flex board had allegedly been installed by A Mohammed, a local committee member of the CPI(M). The incident gained widespread attention after the CCTV visuals surfaced publicly, raising further questions over the political messaging and internal power struggle unfolding within the Congress camp even after the UDF’s electoral victory.
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The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has once again made it clear that it considers Kerala’s education department its political stronghold, refusing to give up control of the powerful portfolio in any future United Democratic Front (UDF) government and triggering renewed concerns among critics over the growing communalisation of the education sector in the state, as reported in The New Indian Express.
Senior IUML leader and likely ministerial candidate K M Shaji openly declared that the League would not compromise on the department under any circumstances and was instead planning to further consolidate its influence by merging the General Education and Higher Education departments into one super ministry under the next UDF government.
The statement comes amid reports that the Congress leadership had internally explored reclaiming the education portfolio this time by offering the IUML another major department in exchange. However, the League has now firmly shut the door on any such possibility.
The controversy intensified after BJP leader and newly elected Kazhakoottam MLA V Muraleedharan warned that once again handing over the education department to the IUML would have “far-reaching consequences” and would further strengthen “communal interests” within Kerala’s education system.
Muraleedharan’s remarks struck at a long-running criticism in Kerala politics – that the education sector, which shapes generations of students, should not remain under the prolonged political influence of a party openly rooted in community-based identity politics.
However, instead of softening its stand, the IUML doubled down. Responding sharply, Shaji claimed that Muraleedharan’s criticism had only strengthened the League politically within the UDF alliance.
Drawing a comparison with former SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, Shaji said every attack from Natesan in the past had only increased public support for the IUML and that Muraleedharan was now playing a similar role.
Shaji further revealed that even before Muraleedharan’s remarks, the League had already internally decided that the education portfolio would not be exchanged with the Congress under any formula. He also confirmed that the IUML intended to unify both school and higher education under one ministry, thereby centralising even greater control over Kerala’s education sector.
Sources inside the League said the party leadership had internally debated whether continuing to hold such a politically sensitive department could become a burden amid repeated allegations of community-driven influence in education. Despite this, the IUML leadership reportedly concluded that surrendering the portfolio would weaken the party’s long-standing institutional grip within the UDF power structure.
The party is now finalising its list of five ministerial nominees for a future UDF cabinet. Shaji categorically stated that there was “no question” of the IUML accepting fewer than five cabinet berths.
The education department has historically remained closely tied to the IUML ever since the formation of the UDF coalition in Kerala. Over the decades, this arrangement has repeatedly triggered accusations from rival parties and sections of civil society that a critical public institution was being steadily transformed into a political and ideological sphere of influence for a community-based party.
The repeated control of the education sector by the IUML raises larger questions about the secular functioning of educational administration in Kerala, particularly when curriculum influence, institutional appointments and educational policy shape the cultural outlook of future generations.
C H Mohammed Koya was among the earliest IUML leaders to control the education portfolio between 1967 and 1973 under the governments led by E. M. S. Namboodiripad and C. Achutha Menon. Decades later, P. K. Abdu Rabb handled the department during the last UDF government between 2011 and 2016.
The renewed debate has also reopened historical discussions about Muslim leaders handling India’s education ministry after Independence.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was India’s first Education Minister from 1947 to 1958 who was trusted personally by Jawaharlal Nehru during the formative years of the Republic.
Additionally, figures like Humayun Kabir, M. C. Chagla and Syed Nurul Hasan also held education-related roles at different points. Now whether these appointments can be viewed as part of an organised community-based political bargaining structure is something that must be debated.
Overall, the IUML’s present insistence on permanently retaining Kerala’s education portfolio reflects a far more explicit attempt to preserve political and institutional influence over one of the state’s most sensitive sectors.
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The Karnataka government on Wednesday (13 May 2026) issued a major order withdrawing with immediate effect its February 2022 directive that had effectively banned the wearing of hijab and other religious symbols in aided and private schools and pre-university colleges across the state, as reported in LiveLaw.
In a fresh circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, the government permitted students to wear limited traditional and faith-based symbols along with the prescribed uniform. The order specifically allows the use of hijab, turban (Pete), sacred thread (Janivara), Shivadara, Rudraksha and other similar symbols, provided they do not interfere with institutional discipline, safety requirements or student identification procedures.
The move formally nullifies the Government Order dated 5 February 2022, which had directed all government, aided and private educational institutions in Karnataka to strictly enforce prescribed uniforms, thereby prohibiting students from wearing the hijab and other visible religious symbols inside classrooms. The 2022 order had triggered nationwide protests, political controversy and prolonged legal battles before the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court.
In March 2022, the Karnataka High Court had upheld the state’s position and ruled that wearing the hijab was not an Essential Religious Practice under Islam and therefore did not receive constitutional protection under Article 25. Subsequently, a two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on petitions challenging the 2022 order, resulting in the matter being referred to a larger Bench. That reference remains pending before the apex court.
The latest order also comes shortly after the Karnataka High Court issued notice to the state government in a public interest litigation challenging the alleged denial of entry to students wearing sacred thread during the Common Entrance Test (CET) 2025 conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority. The PIL sought a declaration that preventing such students from appearing for the examination was unconstitutional.
Referring to provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 and Rule 11 of the Karnataka Education Institutions (Classification, Regulation and Prescription of Curricula etc.) Rules, 1995, the government stated that educational institutions may permit limited use of traditional and practice-based religious symbols as long as they do not obstruct orderliness or institutional functioning.
The preamble to the government order also laid out the constitutional reasoning behind the withdrawal of the earlier ban. It stated that secularism under the Constitution does not mean opposition to individual faith or belief systems, but instead requires equal respect for all religions, institutional impartiality and non-discriminatory conduct by the state.
The order further stated that the government was of the view that “institutional discipline and orderliness can be preserved without mandatorily prohibiting limited traditional and practice-based symbols that students commonly wear.”
The circular specifically directed that no student wearing such permitted symbols should be denied admission, academic progress, examinations, competitions or participation in educational activities. It also stated that no student shall be compelled to remove such symbols and that no institution or authority may forcibly remove them.
At the same time, the order carved out a limited exception for examinations, stating that national and state-level dress code regulations prescribed by competent authorities may still apply wherever necessary.
The government further directed that implementation of the revised policy must remain uniform and free from religious or communal discrimination. School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), College Development Committees (CDCs), governing bodies and heads of institutions were instructed not to humiliate, insult, demean or subject students to derogatory treatment for wearing permitted symbols.
The order also invoked the teachings of 12th century social reformer Basavanna, quoting the phrase “Iva Nammave” (“They are ours”) and directing educational institutions in Karnataka to follow the principle in their conduct towards students.
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V.M.S. Mustafa (Madhar Badurudeen) the founding president of the Tamil Nadu Muslim League (TNML) and the TVK MLA from Madurai Central has declared that his party has entered the political field to eradicate Sanatana Dharma.
Speaking to reporters, he said “We also have Periyar, Ambedkar and we’ve entered the field to eradicate Sanatana (Dharma).”
Ironically he’s the MLA of Madurai Central where the world-famous historic Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple is located.
Moving on to comment on the TVK government’s move to close liquor shops near schools, hospitals and religious places, he said “First we’ve closed the liquor shops. No government has done this before. We’ve assured protection for women, temple, church, schools, bus stands. Especially the wish of Tamil Nadu women has been fulfilled by closing 217 shops.”
Joseph Vijay Doesn’t Object To Eradicate Sanatana Dharma Hate Speech
On 12 May 2026, leader of opposition and DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin once again triggered controversy after reiterating remarks against Sanatana Dharma during his speech in the Assembly, while Chief Minister Joseph Vijay was looking on in the House.
“Victory to Tamil. Long live Tamil Nadu. Sanatanam, which divides the people, must certainly be eradicated. Thank you, greetings.”, Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
However, Vijay nodded and greeted Udhayanidhi with his hands folded as the latter concluded the speech.
This is Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterating that he stands by his hateful ‘eradicate Sanatana Dharma’ comments which he made as Deputy CM of the state back in 2023 in a conference titled ‘Eradicate Sanatana Dharma’ conference.
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On 12 May 2026, Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay appointed his personal astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as ‘Officer on Special Duty’ to Chief Minister but within 24 hours, the order as revoked.
The news of Joseph Vijay’s in-house astrologer being made an OSD was met with skepticism and anger among the public. This is especially since the OSD is a taxpayer funded role and people questioned why an astrologer and in what capacity he was needed in that role.
After massive backlash on social media and from his own alliance parties, Joseph Vijay’s TVK government revoked the appointment.
Who Is Radhan Pandit?
Born as Vettrivel in Erode, Radhan Pandit has publicly claimed close associations with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, V. K. Sasikala and several senior political figures across India.
Vikatan states he is from Oothukuli in Tiruppur. About 30 years ago, he reportedly started as a small-time astrologer in Tiruppur district.
He got his first big break through a local AIADMK ‘VIP’ after predicting a bright future post-election loss in 1996. Post-1996, he was introduced to Erode Muthusamy, then to Jayalalithaa and Sasikala – both of whom placed extraordinary faith in astrology.
In 2001, after Jayalalithaa returned to power, he reportedly became the court astrologer of Poes Garden – the official residence and nerve centre of AIADMK power. Following the Sasikala fallout, a serious rift developed between him and Sasikala and thus the “doors of Poes Garden were closed” to him. After falling out with Sasikala, he reportedly left Tamil Nadu for Delhi, changed his name to Rathan Pandit, and reinvented himself as a North Indian-style astrologer.
During his Delhi years, he reportedly worked with senior BJP leaders including L.K. Advani and M.M. Joshi, and with the Sharad Pawar family. He also had a business stint in Singapore.
In 2020, he is said to have established contact with actor Vijay.
On his website and in interviews, he describes himself as a “spiritual mentor” who guided leaders, ministers, governors, business executives and influential personalities through astrology, meditation and numerology.
He has a YouTube channel with over 8 lakh subscribers.
Claims Of Advising Jayalalithaa
His website (down at the moment) gives an elaborate description. Among his most controversial claims are assertions that he advised Jayalalithaa on election timing, legal strategies, candidate selection and even changes to the spelling of her name from “J. Jayalalitha” to “J. Jayalalithaa” for numerological reasons. He further claimed that court dates, advocate selections and political decisions during her tenure were influenced by his astrological guidance. He also stated that he altered Sasikala’s public name to “V. K. Sasikala” and played a role in naming entities such as “Jaya TV” and “MIDAS Distilleries.”
In some of his interviews, he claims that he must have had 2000 meals with her.
“From 2001 to 2006, she would have coffee and biscuits with me daily every morning and then only leave for office. I’ve had most of the lunches with her.“, he claims.
Radhan Pandit additionally claimed that he successfully predicted Jayalalithaa’s 1991 electoral victory as well as her political setbacks and possible imprisonment during the mid-1990s. According to accounts cited in political circles, his relationship with Jayalalithaa reportedly deteriorated after he allegedly assured her she would avoid imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case, only for her to later be jailed in 2014. Sources familiar with the episode claim she subsequently distanced herself from him, after which he relocated abroad, including spending time in Singapore and Delhi.
During his Delhi phase, the astrologer reportedly reinvented himself under the name “Radhan Pandit,” adopting a more North Indian public identity in an effort to expand his reach among national and international clientele. His website states that he has advised “senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office,” chief ministers, ministers, governors, university leaders and global corporate executives. He also claims to have over 950 clients worldwide and says he has travelled extensively across India, Dubai, Sri Lanka and other countries.
🚨Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s astrologer appointed as OSD to CM in TN Govt.
Usually Tamil politicians say they dont want to take orders from Delhi. But TVK vijay will take astrological help from Delhi based Radhan Pandit
— Srinivas Karlapudi 🇮🇳 (@skarlapudi) May 12, 2026
During the time former CM J Jayalalithaa was alive, Radhan Pandit who then called himself Dakshinamurthy Vetrivel, claimed to have been providing astrological consultations at her residence for nearly 15 years; he submitted a complaint petition to the Chennai City Police Commissioner alleging that he and his family had been receiving repeated death threats. In the petition, Vetrivel reportedly claimed that unidentified individuals were continuously threatening to kill him along with his family members, prompting him to seek police protection and request immediate action from the authorities.
பழைய பேப்பர்!
அரசு பதவி வழங்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் விஜயின் ஜோதிடர் ரிக்கி ராதன் பண்டிட் வெற்றிவேல் பற்றிய பழைய வரலாறு இது. ஜெயலலிதாவின் ஜோதிடராக இருந்த இவர் 2008-ஆம் ஆண்டு போலீஸ் கமிஷனர் அலுவலகத்தில் எதற்காக புகார் கொடுத்தார்? சசிகலா குடும்பம் இவரை ஏன் மிரட்டியது? ஜெயலலிதாவிடம் எப்படி… pic.twitter.com/yvJwuNipfi
It is reported that in 2008, he gave an interview to Junior Vikatan alleging that Sasikala obtained his signature on blank stamp papers, and threatened to destroy his family.
Before becoming closely associated with Vijay, Radhan Pandit had repeatedly spoken about actor Ajith Kumar in astrological terms during interviews. In one widely circulated appearance, he described Ajith as possessing a “Chief Minister horoscope” and compared his public stature to legendary actor-politician N. T. Rama Rao. He praised Ajith’s intellect, personality and public appeal, while also claiming the actor had astrological combinations suitable for political leadership in the future. However, observers note that Ajith never publicly entertained the astrologer’s political overtures, following which Radhan Pandit increasingly aligned himself with Vijay’s political rise.
ஓ..இவர்தான்..Ricky ponting….Chi …Ricky Radhan Pandit..
இதுக்காக தான் அய்யா அங்க @TVKVijayHQ பக்கம் தாவிட்டாரு போல… AK Fans
கேட்டுங்கோங்க இன்னும் 10 , 15. வருஷம் கழிச்சு பாத்துக்கலாமாம்#AjithKumarpic.twitter.com/uMQdcejl7d
In another interview, he says, “He is a hugely lucky man, no doubt at all. I really approached him. But his people said since he met with many accidents and he was not keen on all this (astrology). So I retreated.”
“I approached #AjithKumar first for politics. But he refused”
In 2019, he reportedly predicted a massive Congress victory as can be seen from his video. He said, “The 2019 election is not easy for BJP; Congress is the one in favour. In February this year, I had said the same thing in a similar video clip back in February 2012. In the 2019 election, Congress has the chance to come to power. The reason is that both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are in a very good period astrologically, while Modi sir is to some extent in an unfavourable period.”
2019 மக்களவை தேர்தலில் காங்கிரஸ்தான் வெல்லப் போகிறது என்பதை ஜோதிடத்தின் மூலம் துல்லியமாக கணித்த ராடன் பண்டிட்! pic.twitter.com/c6Uwo48Jvv
And we know how that ended for Rahul Gandhi, a humiliating defeat for the Congress party for the second time.
In a more recent post, he claims he is 60 years old and that he wants a life partner. He also describes some secret meditation technique capable of making people extraordinarily wealthy and successful, saying he would teach it only to selected individuals after analysing their horoscopes and in exchange for 10% of their future earnings. He further stated that he intended to train a limited number of people globally, warned that the method could become “dangerous” in the hands of “bad people,” and claimed that those taught by him could eventually dominate lists of the world’s richest individuals. But the whole video ends up sounding more like a Ponzi scheme rather than a real technique.
After the Karur stampede, here is what he said: “He made the whole country turn back and look at him. Over 40 people died in the stampede. And this news is flashed in Chinese newspapers, in newspapers in South Africa. Everyone is watching. Everyone is not paying attention to the people who died after they came to see an actor. It is more on the actor who the people went to see. They were present right up until the very moment of death. So they only look at the grace that he had.”
கருர் சம்பவம் குறித்து என்ன மாதிரியான பார்வை பாருங்க..
அதை கூட பப்ளிசிட்டி கிடைக்க பயன்படுத்தி இருக்கானுங்க…
Explaining why Vijay would win, he said, “Vijay will cross the bad time in December. I am boldly giving you this interview. Call me back on January 31st. But before that it will be clear that he is the next CM. That is because the people’s mentality will change. Read psychology books. Do you know why Hitler couldn’t win? Many people think they are Hitler. They are tormented by Hitler. Lakhs of jews are massacred. Somehow this spreads everywhere. Everyone thinks and fears that Hitler will destroy the world. That fear makes him keep thinking, now everyone’s mental power goes there. If 10 people think of you, you will gain their energy. Because of this incident, about 500 crore people would have thought about Vijay.”
For more than a year, Radhan Pandit has functioned as one of TVK’s most visible unofficial defenders in television debates, interviews and online discussions. He frequently predicted Vijay’s political ascent and publicly projected confidence that TVK would emerge as a major political force in Tamil Nadu. According to sources, he also advised Vijay on symbolic and astrological aspects of his political campaign, including recommending that he contest from a constituency beginning with the letter “V.”
It is also alleged that the astrologer maintains extensive investment and business connections in Singapore and Malaysia, with links to entrepreneurs, investors, software firms and diplomatic circles. Sources claim his role within the broader TVK ecosystem goes beyond astrology and symbolism, extending into facilitating investment discussions and development proposals connected to Tamil Nadu. Diplomatic representatives from Singapore were reportedly present during multiple meetings with Vijay and also attended his swearing-in ceremony, according to sources familiar with the interactions.
Guys, Pandit has significant investment connections in Singapore and strong links with major investors, business leaders and even government circles. His role is not just symbolic or limited to giving suggestions he actively helps build investment opportunities for TN.
Vijay’s decision to appoint Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty has raised larger questions about judgment, transparency and the use of public office. The controversy is not merely about one astrologer’s personal beliefs, but about whether a taxpayer-funded administrative role is being used for political loyalty, symbolism or private influence rather than governance.
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In a development without precedent in Tamil Nadu’s political history, the three most consequential positions in the State’s constitutional and political order – the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and the Leader of the Opposition are simultaneously held by men who openly and publicly identify as Christians. What makes this development more than a statistical coincidence is what each of these three men has said and done in the very first week of the new government’s existence.
The Speaker: Bible Verses From The Chair
John Christian Devavaram Prabhakar, whose full name is itself a declaration of faith, was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 12 May 2026, with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay himself proposing his name. He is a devout Christian and an active lay evangelist who has spent over two decades running a personal Bible distribution ministry across Tamil Nadu, beginning in 2004 with 50 Bibles distributed on Chennai buses and beaches, a mission that grew to 5,000 Bibles a month.
On taking the Chair, Speaker Prabhakar addressed the House and quoted three passages directly from the Bible. He cited Job 9:10 – “He performs great deeds that cannot be fully investigated, and wonders that cannot be fully counted” – followed by Proverbs 3:27, “When you have the capacity to do good, do not refrain from doing good to those who deserve it” and concluded with the Great Commandment from Mark 12:31 – “Love your neighbour as yourself.” He added that these words have never left his heart for a single day.
— విష్ణు వర్ధన్ రెడ్డి-विष्णु वर्धन रेड्डी🇮🇳 (@vishnureddy_899) May 13, 2026
So, adding up the Bible distribution and his meeting with missionary agent Mother Teresa, one can deduce that he is pretty much committed to spreading the ‘word of God’ to ‘reach the unreached’.
The Chief Minister: Joseph Vijay’s Promise To Minorities
Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister on 10 May 2026, becoming the first non-Dravidian leader to hold the post in 59 years. His oath ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai was attended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as chief guest, alongside senior party leaders and political figures.
In his maiden address after taking oath, Vijay made a pointed assurance about minorities. He promised a “transparent administration focused on secularism and social justice” and explicitly signalled that the welfare of minorities would be a priority of his government. “Our uncompromising fundamental principle is equality for all births and all living beings. My minority brothers and sisters, the TVK government will stand firmly with you. You need not have any doubts about that,” he told the crowd, projecting a personal bond with the minority communities.
The name on every official document he signs is Joseph Vijay – a fact his government has made no attempt to obscure.
On 13 May 2026, during his speech after the floor test, he once again said he was with the minorities.
Speaking to the Assembly after the vote, Vijay said, “We received 34.92% votes that translate to 1.72 crore votes of the public. They sent us to the Assembly as the single largest party. Within 3 years of forming the party, we have missed forming a majority government by hair’s breadth. So, if anyone considers this as a minority government, we are happy about it. We ourselves are saying, this is a minority government. A government that genuinely upholds the protection of minority communities.”
The Leader Of Opposition: Udhayanidhi Repeats The Call For Sanatana Dharma’s Eradication
Leader of Opposition and DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, who has on multiple occasions publicly identified as a Christian, used his very first address as LoP in the newly constituted Assembly to repeat his now-infamous call for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma. Addressing the House on 12 May 2026, he said,“Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated.”
This was not a new statement – it was a deliberate repetition. In September 2023, Udhayanidhi had first made the remark at a conference, comparing Sanatana Dharma to malaria, dengue and coronavirus and calling for its destruction rather than mere opposition. The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench, while adjudicating a related case in January 2026, held that his remarks amounted to hate speech, with Justice S. Srimathy noting that the expression he used was not Sanatana ethirppu (opposition) but Sanatana ozhippu (eradication). The Supreme Court had previously ordered in March 2024 that no fresh FIR be registered against him without its permission over these remarks, and a contempt petition in the matter is pending before the apex court.
Despite all of this, the Supreme Court’s pending proceedings, the High Court’s hate speech finding, and a contempt petition listed for hearing on 19 May 2026 – Udhayanidhi repeated the identical statement on the floor of the Assembly on 12 May 2026, fully aware that Article 194(2) of the Constitution shields legislative speech from judicial scrutiny.
The Pattern
These three events – a very Christian Speaker quoting the Bible from the Chair, a Christian Chief Minister pledging special care for minorities at his swearing-in, and an Opposition leader who claims repeatedly claims he is Christian and has repeatedly called for the eradication of the majority community’s faith did not occur in isolation. They occurred within the same week, in the same Assembly, involving three men who all identify as Christians, in a State where Hindus constitute the majority of the population.
Will TN Now See Acceleration Of Missionary Work?
The simultaneous occupation of Tamil Nadu’s three highest political positions by openly Christian leaders raises an important question: does the concentration of State power in the hands of a religious minority accelerate the pace of religious conversion? The concern is structural. When a Chief Minister’s first speech singles out minorities for special protection, the Speaker quotes Biblical scripture from the constitutional Chair, and the Leader of the Opposition calls for the eradication of the majority community’s faith while himself being a professing Christian, the institutional conditions for an emboldened conversion ecosystem are arguably in place. Access to State machinery – bureaucratic sympathy in welfare delivery, land clearances for churches, and the soft power of a political class that signals which identity is favoured has historically been the most effective accelerant of conversion activity, far more potent than individual missionary effort alone. Tamil Nadu already has active evangelical networks and a documented history of targeted religious conversion activity. With political power, police command, legislative authority and the Speaker’s Chair all now aligned under openly Christian leadership, will the State’s institutional guardrails against coercive or inducement-based conversion become thinner than they have ever been?
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The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay on the operation of a takedown notice issued by the Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu police directing X Corp to suspend or block 18 URLs and social media posts, including content shared by YouTuber Maridhas.
A Division Bench comprising Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar passed the interim order while hearing a writ petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) office-bearer P. Chockalingam, who challenged the legality of the notice issued by the Cyber Crime Wing.
BREAKING Justices L. Victoria Gowri and N. Senthilkumar of #MadrasHighCourt stay the operation of a notice issued by the Cyber Crime Wing of Tamil Nadu police asking X Corp to suspend/ block 18 URLs/posts including those shared by YouTuber Maridhas. The interim stay is granted…
The disputed notice had been issued by the Tamil Nadu police on May 8 under intermediary liability provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. X Corp was directed to suspend or block the flagged URLs/posts within three hours.
According to sources familiar with the matter, a majority of the posts targeted by the notice allegedly contained criticism of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The inclusion of posts shared by political commentators and YouTubers, including Maridhas, triggered widespread debate online over freedom of speech and the use of cybercrime provisions against government critics.
The police action had drawn sharp criticism from several netizens and free speech advocates, who alleged that the takedown order amounted to suppression of dissent and criticism directed at the newly formed government.
During the hearing, the petition challenged the validity of the police notice and raised concerns over the scope of powers exercised under the IT Rules for directing content removal on social media platforms.
Following preliminary submissions, the Bench granted an interim stay on the operation of the notice, effectively halting enforcement of the takedown directions issued to X Corp until further proceedings in the case.
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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged sexual harassment and religious conversion case linked to the Nashik BPO unit associated with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has widened its investigation, with officials now examining claims that key accused Nida Khan repeatedly visited the victim’s residence, conducted religious rituals, shared Islamic teachings and attempted to influence the victim’s beliefs and lifestyle over an extended period, as reported in MoneyControl.
According to sources cited by CNN-News18 and investigators associated with the probe, officials alleged that Khan visited the victim’s home multiple times and carried out prayers and ceremonies linked to her faith, Islam. The investigators reportedly suspect these activities were not isolated interactions but part of sustained efforts to influence the complainant through repeated religious messaging and behavioural conditioning.
Investigators alleged that Khan encouraged the complainant to adopt religious attire including the burqa, hijab and other traditional clothing associated with Islamic practices. Sources claimed she allegedly demonstrated how such attire should be worn properly and encouraged gradual changes in the complainant’s personal behaviour and appearance over time.
Officials are also examining approximately 171 WhatsApp videos and digital links allegedly sent to the complainant. According to SIT sources, many of these materials reportedly contained religious teachings and ideological content allegedly intended to influence the victim’s beliefs over a prolonged period. Investigators are now attempting to determine whether the alleged actions were limited to a personal relationship or formed part of a broader and organised effort targeting employees in a corporate environment.
The probe has additionally expanded into digital evidence, financial records and possible external connections. SIT officials reportedly said investigators are analysing chats, communications and media files recovered from electronic devices linked to Khan. Authorities are also attempting to identify whether other employees were approached in a similar manner and whether additional meetings or counselling sessions took place.
The latest developments come after Khan was arrested in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the night of May 7 after allegedly remaining absconding for more than 40 days. Her anticipatory bail plea had earlier been rejected by the court. Following her arrest, a Nashik court remanded her to police custody until May 11. The court also reportedly permitted Khan, who is said to be in the early stages of pregnancy, to meet her mother twice daily during custody proceedings.
Investigators stated that another mobile phone allegedly recovered from Khan at the time of arrest has now been sent for forensic examination. SIT sources reportedly suspect the device may contain conversations, digital records and material allegedly linked to religious conversion activities, including communications with other Hindu employees. Earlier, police had already recovered another phone belonging to Khan from Nashik.
Sources further claimed investigators suspect Khan may have attempted to flee with the second phone because it allegedly contained sensitive information relevant to the probe. Authorities are now examining whether there were coordinated efforts involving multiple individuals or groups.
The SIT has also intensified scrutiny of Khan’s financial records. Sources quoted by media reports stated that investigators have seized her bank passbooks and are auditing account activity after earlier informing the court that they suspected she may have received financial assistance from certain groups. Officials are reportedly probing possible international connections as well, including alleged links to Malaysia and an individual identified as Imran, based on submissions made before the court during earlier hearings.
Investigators are additionally questioning Khan and her family members to determine who may have helped her while she was allegedly absconding. Sources alleged that local corporator Matin Majid Patel is being examined over claims that he may have arranged financial assistance for Khan’s household expenses through intermediaries during the period she was in hiding. Patel has also reportedly been accused of sheltering Khan at a property in the Naregaon area. Authorities have allegedly issued a three-day notice concerning suspected illegal construction linked to the premises.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat has demanded an SIT inquiry into the alleged involvement of leaders from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in helping Khan evade arrest. However, AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel rejected the allegations and accused the government of conducting what he described as a “trial by media.”
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DMDK leader and Vriddachalam MLA Premalatha Vijayakant delivered a sharp and combative speech in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, raising serious questions over transparency, alleged backdoor political dealings and the appointment of individuals close to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to government positions.
In a speech that drew attention across political circles made on the day of the floor test, Premalatha positioned herself as a voice demanding accountability and transparency from the newly formed government, while invoking democratic responsibility and the expectations of Tamil Nadu’s youth.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s recent remarks that there was no need for anyone to “come with their face covered” and that his government would provide transparent governance, Premalatha said, “The Chief Minister said the other day that there is no need for anyone to come here with their face covered, and that his government will deliver a transparent administration for all. In that context, I am requesting right now that the people must certainly be told – who exactly came in a vehicle with their face covered to meet the Chief Minister that day. Because if that is a horse-trading arrangement, there is no greater shame than that in this historically significant Assembly. I certainly expect the Chief Minister to answer for it.”
She then took direct aim at the appointment of Radhan Pandit as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), questioning why a person described as Vijay’s close adviser had been brought into an official government role. She said, “Similarly, when the Chief Minister said, ‘I have not come from a ruling family,’ everyone applauded. But today, I am duty-bound to strongly record in this historically significant Assembly, on behalf of the entire people of Tamil Nadu, that the person who is his ‘Raj Guru’, his royal adviser, a Mr. Radhan Pandit, has been appointed to a government position as an OSD. If he is your personal adviser, keep him in a personal capacity. But by bringing him into a high government post – when the people trusted the youth and voted, what example are you setting for these youth? What history are you trying to write? What message are you sending to the youth and future generations through this? This must certainly be clarified. Because today, the people have trusted democracy and placed governance in the hands of the youth. So this government must certainly set a good precedent and example for the youth and for the future. That is my firm and emphatic demand, which I am placing on record at this moment. Not just that, this government must be an honest government for the people. With faith in democracy and the people, to the point where one can say ‘the verdict of the people is the verdict of God’, this government must, in the future, certainly stand as a good example for the youth and for generations to come.”
“உங்களுக்கு அவர் ராஜகுருவா இருந்தா உங்களுக்கு பர்சனலா அவர வெச்சுக்கோங்க”
In what appears to be a first in the history of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the newly elected Speaker John Christian Devavaram Prabhakar (JCD Prabhakar) opened proceedings by quoting directly from the Christian Bible from the constitutional Chair itself. The moment passed with near-total silence from the same political class, media ecosystem, and civil society that has spent years insisting that religion must be kept entirely out of public and constitutional spaces.
The Speaker: Bible Verses From the Chair
John Christian Devavaram Prabhakar, whose full name is itself a declaration of faith, was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 12 May 2026, with Chief Minister Joseph Vijay himself proposing his name. He is a devout Christian and an active lay evangelist who has spent over two decades running a personal Bible distribution ministry across Tamil Nadu, beginning in 2004 with 50 Bibles distributed on Chennai buses and beaches, a mission that grew to 5,000 Bibles a month – this is per his own admission, as in the below video.
On taking the Chair, Speaker Prabhakar addressed the House and quoted three passages directly from the Bible. He cited Job 9:10 – “He performs great deeds that cannot be fully investigated, and wonders that cannot be fully counted” – followed by Proverbs 3:27, “When you have the capacity to do good, do not refrain from doing good to those who deserve it” and concluded with the Great Commandment from Mark 12:31 – “Love your neighbour as yourself.” He added that these words have never left his heart for a single day.
Apply the simplest test of consistency to this moment. Imagine that a Speaker from a Hindu-majority party had taken the Chair and quoted three verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Within hours, the response would have been volcanic.
All ‘secular’ news channels, MPs, MLAs would have gone ballistic and hurled abuses at the party, the speaker, come to conclusions and what not.
Dravidian parties would have held press conferences denouncing it as Brahminical imposition. The DMK would have moved privilege motions and issued statements calling it a dark day for Tamil Nadu’s rationalist tradition. Social media would have erupted with comparisons to theocracy.
In yesterday’s case, nothing happened.
Is this the first time in the Tamil Nadu Assembly? It is a fair question that the State’s media, political class and constitutional commentators owe the people of Tamil Nadu a straight answer to.
Because if the answer is yes, if this is indeed the first-time religion-based verses have been quoted from the Chair of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, then the question that follows is equally simple: why did it take a Christian Speaker for no one to object?
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