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NTK Candidate Reveals How A Sugar Factory Became A Liquor Manufacturing Plant Under The DMK Depriving Farmer Families Of Livelihood

By
The Commune
-

Sugarcane farmers in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Thirumandangudi in Papanasam, have been embroiled in protests and demonstrations for several months due to unpaid dues and concerns over the conversion of “defunct” sugar mills into distilleries.

Speaking to a YouTube channel, Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Kaliammal revealed several facts which pointed to DMK MPs Kanimozhi and TR Baalu. Kaliammal revealed that a sit-in protest was initiated by sugarcane farmers on 30 November 2022 and it has crossed 480+ days in March 2024. The farmers accuse the state government of not fulfilling promises made regarding the recovery of dues from Thiru Arooran Sugars Limited, which fraudulently obtained loans in the name of farmers between 2016 and 2018.

The protesting farmers are advocating for the reopening of the nearby Thiru Arooran Sugars Ltd, a sugar factory that had ceased operations due to purported losses. The livelihoods of 10,000 to 15,000 families depended on the factory, with many having invested in it. Approximately ₹202 crores, owed to the farmers, remained inaccessible. However, the factory, valued at ₹1516 crores, was acquired for a mere ₹87 crores by Kanimozhi and TR Baalu of the DMK under the pretext of repaying the factory’s loans in installments.

Instead of reopening the sugar factory, NTK’s Kaliammal alleges that Kanimozhi and TR Baalu converted it into a liquor manufacturing plant. Although officially designated as a sugar factory on paper, access for inspection has been restricted. Despite numerous petitions, no action has been taken.

Despite assurances from the state agriculture department, including the provision of no objection certificates (NOC) from banks and appealing against the National Company Law Tribunal’s decision for full payment of dues, progress has been lacking. It is noteworthy that the locality has been designated as a Protected Agricultural Zone.

Concerns have been raised over the adverse impact of setting up a distillery in the agriculturally rich Cauvery delta area, potentially jeopardizing agricultural operations and the local economy.
The situation has garnered significant attention, with large-scale rallies and demonstrations organized in solidarity with the protesting farmers.

One must also remember how DMK’s Kanimozhi waxed eloquently about the impact of liquor and TASMAC on families and that it left many a young woman widowed in Tamil Nadu. She has often promised to close down TASMAC.

She also promised that the first signature that the DMK will put when it comes to power would be to eradicate liquor and TASMAC from the state.

However, she also does double speak stating that DMK never promised to close down TASMAC completely.

Overall, the plight of sugarcane farmers in Tamil Nadu reflects broader issues surrounding agricultural practices, debt burdens, and industrial conversions in rural areas. Despite assurances and protests, concrete action from government authorities remains elusive, leaving farmers in a state of uncertainty and financial distress. As the protests persist and calls for intervention grow louder, the fate of these farmers and the future of agricultural livelihoods in the region hang in the balance.

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BJP Leader Annamalai’s UPSC Score Was Higher Than General Category Cut-Off, More Details

By
The Commune
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The DMK IT Wing has been resorting to spreading false narratives about BJP leaders over and over again. Just recently, they reshared an old video featuring South Chennai BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan as if the incident happened in the present. Another instance was when they caught wind of a news channel twisting Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai’s statements over “quota system”. The DMK IT wing hastily opposed him and initiated a campaign to criticize him. However, to their misfortune couldn’t have been so worse, as their efforts to undermine the Tamil Nadu BJP and Annamalai typically end up backfiring on them.

Shortly after skimming through the video titles of the news, without thoroughly examining Annamalai’s complete video statement, S Bala, the State Deputy Secretary of the DMK IT Wing, released a video statement accusing Annamalai of deceiving the people, saying, “After studying IPS, IIM, BE through quota, you are cheating the town like this @annamalai_k”

In the video statement S Bala said, “Hello Annamalai, you are campaigning stating that you didn’t study through quota system. You have studied BE engineering in PSG Tech, how did you study that? You studied through BC quota, who gave that BC reservation? You studied engineering in PSG Tech in the BC quota brought in 1975 when Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) was the Chief Minister. After that you studied management in IIM Ahmedabad, what is that quota? That was the quota brought in by Manmohan Singh’s higher education reservation in 2006 as advised by Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), that’s how you studied at IIM. After that, you were selected for IPS how was that? that’s when VP Singh brought 27% OBC reservation in 1990, that too was advised by Kalainar (Karunanidhi) from that you became IPS. So, when you studied BE, the quota was brought in by Karunanidhi, studied IIM with quota, then IPS also with quota brought in by VP Singh.” Then S Bala, the Deputy Secretary of the DMK IT Wing, expressed his disbelief in the statements made by Annamalai, alleging deceitfulness. Bala pointed out Annamalai’s contradictory claims regarding his educational background, accusing him of misleading the educated populace. Bala challenged Annamalai, questioning whether he would deceive others as well.

He referred to Annamalai’s anecdote about traveling to college with his father using three buses and two tin boxes, suggesting that Annamalai inquire about how his father managed to afford his education. Bala attributed Annamalai’s ability to get education because of the free electricity provided during the tenure of Karunanidhi as the Chief Minister, insinuating that Annamalai owed his education to the Dravidian movement. Bala concluded with a tone of superiority, asserting that in Tamil Nadu, those who once carried tin boxes have risen to prominent positions due to Dravidian ideologies, contrasting Annamalai’s “alignment” with Gujaratis and Nagpur RSS, which, according to him, could lead Tamil Nadu back to a state where people would have to resort to carrying tin boxes for survival.

As the quota debate ignited across social media platforms, everyone expressed frustration towards the apparent arrogance of the DMK. The DMK IT Wing state deputy secretary’s speech, explicitly linking Annamalai’s success to fidelity to the DMK and Dravidian ideology, fueled this ire. This sentiment is not novel; previously, a DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi insinuated that Dalit judges in the Madras High Court owed their positions to the alms provided by the Dravidian movement. Such statements echo the DMK’s historical stance, akin to a feudal landlord asserting dominion over land and its inhabitants.

So Did Annamalai Achieve So Much Through The Quota System As Claimed?

Annamalai’s academic achievements suggest that irrespective of his background, he achieved all that he did through hardwork and merit. However, the DMK expects any Tamil individual who achieves eminence from humble beginnings to acknowledge their indebtedness to the party’s leadership and its supposed benevolence. Over its 70-year existence, the DMK has sustained itself by eroding the self-assurance of Tamils, consistently propagating the notion that reservation is their sole avenue for advancement. Yet, increasingly, people from various communities in Tamil Nadu regard Annamalai as one of their own. His narrative of self-assurance and unwavering conviction unsettles the DMK.

Annamalai was a topper in All India Civil Services exam in the IPS cadre conducted by the UPSC in 2010, he surpassed the General Category cut-off marks, scoring 970 against the mains cut-off of 904, and 1180 against the combined mains and interview cut-off of 1134. It’s notable that in the UPSC exam, if a Reserved Candidate utilizes any of the relaxations provided for the Reserved Category, they are then eligible solely for Reserved Category seats. By this standard, it’s evident that Annamalai exceeded the General Category cut-off even in the prelims, as he did not utilize any Reserved Category relaxations, thereby securing an Unreserved seat purely on merit.

 

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Notably, the highest achiever in each IPS cadre earns the opportunity to make an address at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Annamalai delivered his speech before President Pranab Mukherjee in 2011.

Despite Annamalai’s statement to the reporters had no mention of the reservation quota system, the DMK’s aim to criticize Annamalai resulted futile. This incident serves as a poignant reminder of Annamalai’s accomplishments and serves as a lesson to the DMK regarding their approach and mentality.

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What TNM-NL Won’t Disclose In Their ‘Project Electoral Bond’

By
The Commune
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Since the Supreme Court ruling on 11 February 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has disclosed comprehensive details regarding the purchases of electoral bonds, including information on donors, amount donated, and recipients. Consequently, a wave of commotion erupted, with political parties pointing fingers at each other regarding who has benefited more.

Furthermore, media outlets with aligned ideologies, such as Newslaundry and The News Minute, have come under scrutiny for selectively focusing on donations received by the BJP while neglecting to highlight contributions to the I.N.D.I alliance parties in an attempt to peddle a favourable narrative to them.

What the news media and the journalists who are purportedly leaning with the I.N.D.I Alliance fail to disclose regarding the Electoral Bonds is exemplified by the case of IFB Agro Industries Ltd, a distillery and bottling company situated in Kolkata.

IFB Agro Industries Ltd

In June 2020, IFB Agro Industries Ltd made a public announcement through the National Stock Exchange concerning the temporary shutdown of its Noorpur facility in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, due to an assault by approximately “150 armed individuals“. The company expressed frustration at the perceived ineffectiveness of law enforcement in addressing the situation. Notably, the affected distillery unit fell within the jurisdiction of the Diamond Harbour constituency, represented by Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

By December 2020, IFB Agro, in a regulatory filing, lamented that despite seeking assistance from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and key ministers responsible for finance, commerce, and industry in the state, no perpetrators had been apprehended.

In January 2021, the company’s third-quarter financial results highlighted the challenges faced by its alcohol business in West Bengal, citing pressure from certain excise officials who were allegedly making unlawful demands and targeting IFB Agro.

In October 2021, IFB Agro disclosed its decision to allocate funds for political party contributions through Electoral Bonds, citing the company’s interests and the ongoing challenges it encountered. Initially capped at ₹25 crore, this contribution was later increased to ₹40 crore, as reiterated in an April 2022 stock exchange filing.

In a filing to the stock exchange on 1 April 2022, IFB Agro Industries Ltd announced that, with the utmost consideration for the company’s welfare and the interests of all its stakeholders, the board has sanctioned contributions to political parties. These contributions would be made through subscriptions to electoral bonds, amounting to a total of up to ₹40 crore for the fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the board deliberated on matters pertaining to excise that have been impacting the company. In total, IFB Agro Industries invested ₹92 crore in Electoral Bonds, with a significant portion, ₹42 crore, directed towards the Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in West Bengal. This scenario depicts a clear instance of coercion and bullying orchestrated by regulatory bodies and local individuals affiliated with political groups. The implication is that in order for the company to conduct business smoothly, they are expected to make financial contributions to the political parties operating within the state.

Avees Trading And Finance Pvt Ltd

In another instance, Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, has been notably silent on the matter of Electoral Bonds. However, there seem to be compelling reasons behind this silence. A Kolkata-based company named Avees Trading and Finance Pvt Ltd has emerged as a significant player in this context. Despite being incurring financial losses, Avees purchased Electoral Bonds worth ₹112.5 crore. The primary beneficiaries of these bonds were the Congress party (receiving ₹53 crore) and the Trinamool Congress (receiving ₹45.5 crore). Notably, Avees also contributed ₹10 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party, ₹3 crore to the Biju Janata Dal, and only ₹1 crore to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Interestingly, Avees Trading, despite its financial downturn, engaged in substantial transactions involving Electoral Bonds. For instance, in the fiscal year 2019-20, it faced a loss of ₹51.7 crore but still purchased Electoral Bonds worth ₹24 crore. Similarly, in 2022-23, Avees bought bonds worth ₹13 crore despite incurring a loss of ₹29.1 crore.

What raises eyebrows is the fact that loss-making companies like Avees had contributed sizable sums to political parties such as the INC and TMC. This prompts questions about the nature and motives behind such contributions. Will Mamata Banerjee provide an explanation for this apparent contradiction? Furthermore, it beckons the attention of news agencies like The News Minute and Newslaundry, who have been vocal about the issue of Electoral Bonds, to scrutinize these dubious transactions.

Avees Trading, headquartered in Kolkata, is a company with opaque operations with no website on its name. Its registered office is situated on Waterloo Street, a location notorious for housing numerous companies that share the same registered address. The company, led by three directors – Bhal Chandra Khaitan, Ramesh Kumar Saraogi, and Mahesh Kumar Dhanuka – has drawn attention due to its involvement in significant financial transactions despite its directors’ affiliations with various industries.

Portals like TNM seem to willfully propagate the claim that the companies subjected to ED and CBI raids donated to BJP through Electoral Bonds. Upon examination by The Indian Express, total bonds purchased by these companies from April 2019 to February 2024 amounted to ₹5,179 crore. Contrary to the assertion, it was found that the parties benefitting from these donations included BJP, which secured the bonds purchased by these companies, as well as other ruling parties such as TMC (18.29%), DMK (11.35%), BJD (4.48%), and BRS (8.59%). The Congress, governing in three states, received 11.97%. This indicates BJP got only 37% and Opposition Parties got 63%, This distribution clearly illustrates that there is no direct correlation between CBI and ED raids and the Electoral Bonds donated to political parties.

Between April 2019 and February 2024, these 26 companies bought ₹700.65 crore in bonds before facing agencies’ actions and ₹4,479.6 crore after. Notably, ten of these companies each donated at least ₹100 crore. For instance, Future Gaming, a top donor owned by Santiago Martin (Lottery Martin), did not purchase any electoral bonds until a year after facing an ED probe for alleged money laundering. Surprisingly, it purchased bonds worth ₹503 crore favouring the DMK and ₹542 crore favouring the TMC, with only ₹100 crore going to the BJP. This challenges TNM’s claim that companies only purchased bonds after coming under central agencies’ scrutiny, as the funds were distributed to state parties like TMC and DMK not wholly to the BJP.

In July 2019, the Enforcement Directorate seized assets of a company valued at more than ₹250 crore following the commencement of a money laundering investigation earlier that year. Future Gaming entered the electoral bond arena in October 2020, directing all purchases until October 2021 to the DMK, YSRCP, and TMC. It only began acquiring bonds favouring the BJP in October 2021, initially investing ₹50 crore, and repeating the same amount in January 2022.

On 2 April 2022, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth ₹410 crore. Subsequently, the company procured ₹100 crore in bonds favouring the DMK not to the BJP. In July 2022, it acquired ₹25 crore in bonds favouring the TMC and ₹50 crore favouring the DMK and not the BJP.

Therefore, the assertions made by these news outlets seem to be aimed at garnering approval from their political superiors rather than portraying the truth.

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Condolences Pour In For BJP Supporter And Activist ‘Roaming’ Raman

By
The Commune
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Pattabi Raman, a prominent supporter of BJP and fondly called as ‘Roaming Raman’ passed away on 26 March 2024. Roaming Raman was known for his social media posts supportive of BJP and also a pro-BJP activist who many recalled as an altruistic man extending help to the needy.

Raman hailing from Madippakkam, Chennai was a former franchise sales manager at BSNL and later went to found his own business enterprise Rams Tectronix that deals electrical and electronic items and their repairs.

Condolences are flooding in following the passing of ‘Roaming’ Raman, known for his tireless efforts in promoting the party’s ideals and initiatives. His unwavering dedication and commitment to the BJP’s cause earned him respect and admiration within political circles and beyond.

A few hours before his death, he had posted on his X page about the need to redesign railway platforms. He reportedly passed away when he was travelling to Trichy by train.

As news of his demise spreads, tributes pour in from fellow party members, supporters, and individuals from all walks of life who have been touched by his work and passion.

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Puthiya Thalaimurai Distorts Annamalai’s Statement On MLA Quota Seat To Peddle Propaganda

By
The Commune
-

Lately, whenever the Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai makes a statement, it quickly gains popularity in the region. Media outlets often swarm around him to boost their viewership ratings.

However, Puthiya Thalaimurai news seems to have adopted a different tactic to gain attention by twisting Annamalai’s words to spread propaganda. Puthiya Thalaimurai recently uploaded a video on its official platform with the headline “None of us came under quota system… I came with two tin boxes…” attributing to Annamalai, aiming to maximize its audience reach.

In the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency, three strong contenders are vying for victory: Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP leader; Ganapathi Rajkumar, a former mayor and DMK candidate; and Singai Ramachandran, the President of the AIADMK IT Wing. Annamalai, addressing reporters in Coimbatore on 25 March 2024, remarked, “In 2002, he (ADMK candidate Singai Ramachandran) didn’t know his father being an MLA got him a seat to study in the college using the quota benefit. AIADMK’s candidate father is an MLA, it’s dynasty politics, Govindaraj. He has come to politics using quota. I came to Coimbatore for the first time in 2002. I was wearing trousers, my father wearing a veshti, we brought two tin boxes from the village, took three buses and came to Coimbatore in 2002.

That was 22 years ago. My age was 17 years. I took a town bus from Gandhipuram bus stand and got down to Peelamedu with two tin boxes. I mean in 2002, my father and I stood in front of PSG Engineering College in Peelamedu with two tin boxes. Then I asked my father, will this town be kind to us? We all come from the village.. 40 houses in total. We reached Coimbatore by boarding three different buses. It is a big city. Will I be able to survive in this city? 

Because I got an opportunity to study in PSG College of Engineering. I was not privileged, I did not get a seat through MLA quota. I came to Coimbatore in 2002 with 2 tin boxes, just as you all work hard as individuals and are in this land. I studied in PSG College of Engineering for 5 years. My wife studied in the same college and was a year junior to me. She studied in PSG College and we both got married and settled in Coimbatore. You have to understand one thing, Annamalai didn’t come in quota system.. Vanathi didn’t come in through quota system, Vanathi did not come here through quota system, Modi did not come here through quota system, no one here achieved all this through quota system.”

Just as in the past, this video title quickly caught the attention of numerous netizens, especially those inclined towards the opposition. Without even watching the video, they immediately began making statements based solely on the title, claiming that the Tamil Nadu BJP chief opposes the quota system and speaks negatively about it. It was only after others provided clarification that they deleted their posts upon gaining clarity. Among those jumping the gun include Dalit activist Shalin Maria Lawrence and political commentator Sumanth Raman.

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DMK IT Wing Peddles Fake Narrative Using Old Video Of Incident Involving South Chennai BJP Candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan, Gets Busted

By
The Commune
-

The ruling party in Tamil Nadu, the DMK, lacking substantial critique against the BJP, has resorted to circulating outdated videos featuring BJP Tamil Nadu leaders, and peddling the narrative as if they were recent incidents.

On 24 March 2024, the DMK IT Wing circulated an older video dating back to September 2018, depicting an incident involving Tamilisai Soundararajan, who at that time served as the president of the Tamil Nadu BJP. The event transpired during a Vinayagar Chathurthi programme organized by the Hindu Munnani. Following the programme, while Tamilisai was addressing reporters, Kathir, an auto driver and resident of Saidapet, interjected, expressing concern about the rising fuel prices.

Before Kathir could finish his query, he was grabbed from behind by the private guards, who reportedly pulled him by his hair and forcibly removed him. The media projected Tamilisai as smiling while Kathir was allegedly getting handled roughly. In a video statement, Kathir explained that he had voiced his frustration over the escalating fuel prices, aiming to represent the grievances of fellow auto drivers. However, he claimed that BJP party members misunderstood his intentions.

In defense against accusations of mistreatment, a BJP spokesperson stated to NDTV, “Our members perceived the manner in which the man posed his question as indicative of inebriation. While he was indeed handled roughly, there was no physical beating.”

Tamilisai Soundararajan, known for her gentle demeanor, promptly paid a visit to the Kathir’s home bearing sweets. Expressing concern for his well-being, she clarified that she was unaware of the incident and emphasized that it had been misinterpreted. However, Soundararajan asserted that the autorickshaw driver was intoxicated at the time of the occurrence, as reported by the news agency ANI. She refuted the portrayal by the media suggesting that she was smiling during the assault, explaining that she was engaged in conversation with reporters and unaware of the situation behind her. Soundararajan further explained that her colleague intervened to remove the intoxicated Kathir for the safety of others, acknowledging that any form of mistreatment was unacceptable.

As all the incidents described above widely covered in newspapers and videos, the IT Wing of the DMK seized upon this old video and began circulating it as if it happened recently. In response, the Tamil Nadu BJP official took X platform, mocked them, highlighting the absurdity of their actions stated, “DMK in scarcity of content! What is it @arivalayam…. It seems you have dried up without content @arivalayam. You have taken an event that took place five years ago, and dusted it and brought it back, why you are rolling this much for survival @arivalayam? On that day, she @DrTamilisai4BJP went to the auto driver’s house and met him. After doing so much, you forgot to cover the bun over the head @arivalayam!”

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NTK Candidates Spark Controversy – One Takes Oath In Name Of Slain LTTE Chief Prabhakaran While Another Claims No Tamil Knowledge

By
The Commune
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The Lok Sabha election process is progressing swiftly in Tamil Nadu, with just 25 days remaining until polling day. Nominations are set to conclude on 27 March 2024. Candidates in different constituencies across the state are actively submitting their nominations. The nomination process has witnessed a mix of commotions, protests, lively interactions, and verbal disputes among candidates and their supporters.

Recently, the Naam Tamilar Katchi  (NTK) unveiled its candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, causing astonishment among the public and political parties. The nomination of candidates by the party included surprising choices such as the daughter of the notorious Sandalwood brigand, Veerappan. Additionally, another candidate swear in the name of Vellupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Tamil Eelam militant organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Karthika, representing the Naam Tamilar Katchi, is running for the Nagapattinam Lok Sabha constituency. A graduate in Engineering from Coimbatore, Karthika assumes the role of the principal campaigner for the party. On 25 March 2024, She visited the Nagapattinam Lok Sabha election officer to formally submit her nomination papers. During the moment of her nomination swearing-in, she declared, “I promise to work hard in the name of Leader Prabhakaran.”

In a separate incident, when the NTK declined to support even a Telugu-speaking resident of Tamil Nadu as a representative, firmly standing by their endorsement of only Tamil-speaking candidates to represent the Tamil people. Their chosen candidate for Viruthunagar sought assistance from the electoral officer to read the nomination papers during the swearing-in process.

The candidate from the Virudhunagar C. Kowshik, stirred controversy by seeking assistance from the election officer because of his inability to read Tamil. Kowshik, who studied in Oman and unfamiliar with Tamil, requested the Returning Officer, Jayaseelan, to read out the entire election pledge on his behalf. This led to ridicule and mockery directed at the party which cries hoarse every single time beating their chest about Tamil pride.

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Commotion At North Chennai Nomination As DMK Minister Sekar Babu Engages In Uncivilized Clash Of Words With Rival ADMK

By
The Commune
-

Despite the commencement of Lok Sabha candidate nominations on 20 March 2024, candidates opted to submit their filings on 25 March instead due to the day coincides with Panguni Uthiram, a significant auspicious day for Hindus, candidates from various political parties in Tamil Nadu are submitting their nomination papers. Notably, PK Sekar Babu of the DMK, despite controversies related to his actions against Sanathana Dharma, chose this auspicious time to file his nomination.

In North Chennai, prominent candidates like DMK’s Kalanidhi Veerasamy, AIADMK’s Rayapuram Mano, and BJP’s Pal Kanagaraj are in the fray. However, there was a dispute at a polling station in the Mint area regarding the sequence of filing nominations for the North Chennai Parliamentary Constituency.

An altercation occurred between Minister Shekharbabu, former Minister Jayakumar, and AIADMK district secretary Rajesh. A video showing the duo synchronously calling ‘Vada Poda’ during the argument has gone viral on social media.

 

Minister Shekharbabu expressed concerns about the sequence of token distribution, alleging that despite AIADMK’s candidate being allotted token number 7, DMK submitted the second token early at 9 am. He emphasized following the Chief Minister’s instructions to avoid conflicts and ensure a peaceful election process.

PK Sekar Babu engaged in a heated exchange with the electoral officer, emphasizing that the candidate had arrived promptly at 9 AM, only to be interrupted by a representative of the AIADMK party who clarified that tokens are issued upon candidate arrival. Frustrated, Sekar Babu sharply retorted, addressing the AIADMK representative disrespectfully and emphasizing the importance of adhering to the token system. The tension escalated as Sekar Babu admonished others nearby in a similar manner, showcasing his irritation.

The confrontation intensified when the AIADMK representative questioned Sekar Babu’s demeanor, prompting a clash of words without civility. Despite the threat of legal action due to recorded evidence, Sekar Babu’s response, marked by a glaring stare, reflected his sense of entitlement as a sitting minister. Despite confirmation from the electoral officer regarding AIADMK’s early arrival, the deadlock persisted, as both major Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK, delayed the nomination process. In response, BJP candidates sought entry, arguing that the two parties were intentionally monopolizing the nomination process.

On the other hand, Advocate Inpadurai representing AIADMK lodged a complaint, alleging misconduct by DMK and threatening the Election Officer. He insisted that AIADMK adhered to the rules and arrived first for nominations.

BJP candidate Pal Kanagaraj criticized both DMK and AIADMK for delaying the BJP nomination process and creating chaos. He accused the Dravidian parties of disrupting the election process and called for the Election Commission’s intervention.

Former AIADMK minister T. Jayakumar clarified that Rayapuram Mano filed his nomination promptly, and they arrived at the designated time. He claimed that DMK’s entry conflicted with their allotted time.

Due to the conflict between two Dravidian parties vying for nomination, ordinary citizens were forced to close their shops to avoid potential damage from enraged party members.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are set to conduct parliamentary elections in a single phase on 19 April 2024. The nomination process commenced on 20 March 2024 with a deadline for filing nominations by 27 March 2024. 30 March 2024 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations, while the scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for 28 March 2024. The counting of registered votes will take place on 4 June 2024, with the results announced on the same day.

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Chaos Erupts During Nilgiris BJP Candidate L. Murugan’s Nomination, Annamalai Cools Tempers

By
The Commune
-

Political

The Lok Sabha nomination process has kicked off vigorously, with candidates rushing to submit their names in their respective constituencies. The BJP had previously announced its intention to file nomination for L Murugan, former Tamil Nadu BJP president and current Minister of State, for the Nilgiris constituency and a time was allotted for that.

Accordingly, on 25 March 2024, accompanied by Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai, L Murugan filed his nomination papers in Ooty, joined by numerous party cadres. However, as they proceeded with the nomination process, police clashed with party volunteers outside, resulting in injuries and ensuing chaos. This action prompted protests from BJP activists, who condemned the police’s actions.

Several BJP workers reportedly sustained injuries during the police baton charge, sparking tension in the area. State President Annamalai, along with L. Murugan, joined the protest, demanding the removal of Ooty SP Sundara Vadivel.

Dinamalar reported that following the outcry, SP Sundara Vadivel apologized for the incident. In response, Annamalai, L. Murugan, and others decided to end the protest and visited the hospital to meet the injured volunteers and offer them consolation.

 

Annamalai clarified the necessity of his protest, citing the heightened anger among party members due to the police’s use of baton charges against the Nilgiris SP, “We also want to preserve the dignity of the uniform, this police department also has a dignity, we do not allow our men to shout slogans, if they speak ill of you, that dignity will be lost.
How can you do this sir, we also have to deal with it, we have sent a woman to the hospital with a broken bone, a child has been hit here, we need to cooperate a little, sir. You have put us into an unavoidable situation, and if I had said a word I would have been here in five minutes.”

Afterward, he reassured the agitated party members and urged them to regain composure, emphasizing the need for calmness stated, “Whatever we talk about the police now it will attach a stigma to it, doesn’t it? There is no alternative to that. That’s why when you all come, we said don’t raise any slogans against the police, if our party doesn’t respect the police, no other party will respect the police, the incident is very wrong.

That’s what I said to the SP-Sir, Sir, the crowd is very large, if you have something to say to them, just phone me a word and we will come from inside and say it ourselves. We come at the appointed time, we go to the appointed place, we file the nomination form at the given time, but you have lathi-charged like this. As a police department is a brother, it is wrong to talk to them on the road like this, so don’t stay here for long. And when they come down, we come down three times because of our dignity, as far as the Bharatiya Janata Party is concerned, it is a party that always gives respect to the police department and always gives dignity.”

Today, the police found themselves under pressure and responded accordingly. In order to prevent any altercation between the two party cadres, they have handled the situation without leniency. It’s important to clarify that their actions were not deliberate, and SP has apologized for any unintended consequences. As enforcers of the law, it is his responsibility to maintain order. Therefore, we urge everyone to respect the authority of the police, and we will peacefully depart from the protest with dignity.

The Nilgiris region is experiencing political heat as the electoral competition intensifies. The contest in the Nilgiris constituency is particularly fierce, with notable candidates vying for victory. Union Minister of State, L Murugan, has entered the race, adding significant weight to the contest. Additionally, Lokesh Tamil Selvan, the son of former Speaker Dhanapal, is representing the AIADMK in the constituency. Meanwhile, A Raja, the incumbent Member of Parliament, who is also a former Union Minister and DMK’s deputy general secretary.

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Congress Spokie Supriya Shrinate Makes Scandalous Sexist Comments On Actress And BJP MP Candidate Kangana Ranaut

By
The Commune
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Popular Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has been included in the latest list of candidates announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Ranaut, known for her vocal support of the BJP, is set to contest from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, her hometown.

Expressing her gratitude towards the party for nominating her as their Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi, the 37-year-old actress took to social media platform X to share her appreciation. She emphasized her unwavering support for the BJP, stating, “My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta’s own party, Bharatiya Janta party (BJP) has always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birth place Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency) I abide by the high command’s decision on contesting Lok Sabha polls,”

It’s noteworthy that Kangana Ranaut hails from a political background, as her great-grandfather, Sarju Singh Ranaut, served as a Congress MLA.

Following this, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate posted a derogatory and sexist post on her Instagram handle about Kangana Ranaut. 

In the now-deleted post, Shrinate shared a picture of Ranaut with the caption (translated from Hindi), “What is the current rate in Mandi, someone please tell.”

This is not the first time that the two women have sparred with each other. 

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla condemned the comments and wrote, “This is beyond disgusting. The comments by @SupriyaShrinate on @KanganaTeam are despicable! Should be immediately sacked.. Will @priyankagandhi speak up? Will Kharge ji sack her! Where is the “Hathras” lobby now? First they justified Sandeshkhali, then Lal Singh getting a ticket from Congress and now this”

Back in 2021, Kangana Ranaut described India’s Independence in 1947 as “bheek” or alms. Congress spokesperson, Supriya Shrinate, condemned Ranaut’s comments, emphasizing the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. She criticized the government’s silence and called for action against Ranaut. Shrinate stressed that Ranaut’s disrespect towards India’s independence should not be tolerated, especially from someone honored with the Padma Shri. She urged both an apology from Ranaut and action from the government. 

However, this time Shrinate took it to a new low by sharing a picture of Ranaut with an even more disgusting caption. 

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TheCommune
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