A controversy has erupted in Madurai after the statue of M. Karunanidhi in the Simmakkal area was allegedly left uncovered despite the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct following the announcement of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Leaders of parties belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have accused officials of acting with bias, claiming that statues of some political leaders were covered while Karunanidhi’s statue remained uncovered.

The election schedule for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls was announced on Sunday (15 March 2026) evening, after which the Model Code of Conduct came into effect across the district. As part of the guidelines, authorities began covering statues, photographs, and political symbols associated with party leaders across Madurai district.

According to officials, municipal staff covered the full statues of MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa in the KK Nagar area using cloth, in line with the election rules.

However, NDA functionaries alleged that the full statue of Karunanidhi located in Simmakkal had not been covered, raising questions over the uniform implementation of the election guidelines.

Opposition leaders claimed that despite the Model Code coming into force and the district administration being under the supervision of the District Collector during the election period, some officials were allegedly acting in favour of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

They questioned whether free and fair elections could be conducted if such alleged bias continued and demanded that officials responsible for the lapse be transferred immediately.

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The post Madurai: Karunanidhi Statue Left Uncovered, MGR, Jayalalithaa Statues Covered After Code Of Conduct Comes Into Force appeared first on The Commune.

The Supreme Court on 22 September 2025 rejected the Taamil Nadu DMK government’s plea to use public funds for installing a statue of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Tirunelveli district.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Prashant Kumar Mishra ruled that public money cannot be used to glorify former leaders. “It is not permitted. Why are you using public funds for glorifying your former leaders?” the bench observed.

The state had sought permission to place a bronze statue and name board near the public arch entrance of the Valliyoor Daily Vegetable Market on the Main Road. The apex court dismissed the plea, upholding the Madras High Court’s earlier decision, which had also denied permission for such installations.

The High Court had cited public inconvenience, including traffic congestion, as a reason for its ruling. It noted that permissions to erect statues in public spaces often create hardships for citizens.

Senior advocate P. Wilson, representing the state, requested clarification regarding the arch, which was not specifically challenged, but the Supreme Court declined to entertain the submission and dismissed the appeal.

The bench advised the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its Special Leave Petition (SLP) and, if necessary, approach the High Court for appropriate relief.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)

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The post “Why Are You Using Public Funds For Glorifying Your Former Leaders?” Supreme Court Rejects DMK Govt Plea To Use Public Funds For Karunanidhi Statue appeared first on The Commune.

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Chief Coordinator Seeman, who recently faced a defamation case for his comments on former DMK Chief Minister Karunanidhi, has issued a sharp warning to the DMK regarding the future of the statues of Kalaignar (Karunanidhi). Seeman linked the potential destruction of such statues to events in other countries, citing examples such as the removal of the statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh and the demolition of statues of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy by the public. He asserted that if Tamil were in power, such statues (Karunanidhi) would be torn down, just as seen in these global examples.

Seeman made these comments during a press interaction at the Thoothukudi Vagaikulam Airport on 11 November 2024.  Seeman’s statements were delivered in a strong tone, warning the DMK not to take their power for granted, adding that if a Tamil leader with integrity came to power, they would likely destroy all such statues. He was referring to past instances where public sentiment had led to the destruction of monuments, emphasizing that such actions would be repeated if a true Tamil patriot did not hold the power in Tamil Nadu.

Seeman warned, “Just take a look at Bangladesh and Sri lanka that are nearby. Look at what happened to the father of its nation Mujibur Rahman, where is it? like the same Jagan Mohan Reddy kept his father’s name Rajasekhara Reddy to all the places. Chandrababu Naidu was not even in andhra, he was in Delhi before he took oath, they have buldozed it to nothing. The same situation will happen here, people’s money is going to become a waste of money. Even if you cry on that day, it won’t come. Wont this power will go another someday? If it goes to a good self respected tamil if will be bulldozed. You should be very carefull in plays.”

Seeman issued a stark warning, saying, “Take a look at what happened in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,  next to us. Look at what happened to the the founder of Bangladesh, Mujibur Rahman’s statue—where is it now? Similarly, in Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy named everything after his father, Rajasekhara Reddy, but when Chandrababu Naidu was in Delhi, before even taking office, they had those (statues bulldozed). The same thing will happen here. All the people’s money spent will be wasted, and no matter how much you cry, it won’t bring it back. Won’t this power go to someother one day? If it falls into the hands of a true, self-respecting Tamil, those (statues) will be demolished. So, you need to be very careful and play.”

கலைஞர் சிலைகள் உடைக்கப்படும் – சீமான்#Thoothukudi #Seeman #NTK #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/V3kbdDL46f

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) November 11, 2024

Seeman also voiced concerns about Indian fishermen allegedly fishing illegally across the maritime border with Sri Lanka. He responded to statements made by Sri Lankan President Anurakumar Dissanayake, who had warned of strict actions against Indian fishermen. Seeman questioned why similar action had not been taken against Kerala fishermen and criticized Sri Lanka for its past violence against Tamils, including the killing of Tamil fishermen and the destruction of their nets. He demanded that India’s central government—comprising the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Prime Minister, and Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister—take stronger steps to address the issue, even suggesting an economic embargo on Sri Lanka as a means of exerting pressure.

In a further escalation of his rhetoric, Seeman reiterated his call for an economic embargo on Sri Lanka, which he called a “small country” that was repeatedly taking actions against Tamil fishermen. His remarks were not just limited to the fishermen’s issue but also tied into his broader nationalist agenda. Seeman stressed that Tamil nationalism and Dravidian ideals should work together for the development of the Tamil people, but warned that Dravidian politics, as practiced by the DMK, would ultimately lead to the downfall of Tamil interests. He emphasized that while Tamil nationalism could be a unifying force, Dravidian politics could turn the state into a “graveyard.”

As the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections approach, Seeman expressed confidence that his political ideas and strategies were gaining traction. He claimed that all political parties were following his lead and adopting similar strategies to appeal to voters, particularly in terms of populist measures such as monetary promises for the underprivileged. He also criticized political parties for their election-time rhetoric, claiming that leaders would make promises to secure votes but were ultimately uninterested in the real needs of the people.

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The post Seeman Warns DMK Of Karunanidhi’s Statues Being Razed Down If Power Shifts To ‘True, Self Respecting Tamil’ appeared first on The Commune.

The controversy around the erection of late Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s statue at Salem Modern Theatres is gaining momentum. 

Earlier in February 2023, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took a selfie before the arch when he came for a government meeting. Chief Minister Stalin’s “fond memories” of the location, shared on social media during his visit, prompted him to initiate discussions with Modern Theatres family who claim ownership of the land.

The victim, Modern Theatres’ family, states that they have not decided on installing the statue. They accuse District Collector Karmegam and government officials of undertaking “anarchic activities” without their approval. The family is calling for urgent intervention by the Chief Minister to protect their rights, highlighting the ongoing discussions regarding the installation of the Karunanidhi statue.

Speaking to the media, Vijay Varman said, “On 15 February 2023, our TN Chief Minister took a selfie, you may have seen it. It was evening, around 530pm, he took the selfie. That night at around 11.30 PM, the district collector sent me a message on WhatsApp, which said “Hi, CM wants to meet you.” We met the CM. He asked me if I was ready to give away the land. I replied to him saying, I have to discuss it with my family and let you know. He asked me if I had any interest in the design of the arch. The District Collector called me home. Only at that time he clearly told me that they had an idea of erecting the statue of Karunanidhi on the interface of the arch.”

When asked if he had any idea about the purpose of the statue, he said, “The collector openly told me that they wanted to erect Karunanidhi’s statue there.”

He added, “On 1 December 2023, officials from the revenue department, corporation, Highways dept, all together came and surveyed the premises and locked the gates and left. The next day, they opened the gates and without my permission, the Highways department started demolishing. I never thought that this would escalate into such a big problem and receive so many threats and torture.”

முதல்வர் ஆசைப்படுகிறார் என்பதற்காக ஒட்டுமொத்த அரசு நிர்வாகமும் ஒரு தனி நபரை பழிவாங்குகிறது.

அடுத்தவன் சொத்தை அநியாயமாக அடித்து பிடுங்குவது நியாயமா முதல்வரே ? pic.twitter.com/BYuY9FJzYG

— Selva Kumar (@Selvakumar_IN) December 15, 2023

In light of this standoff between owners of Modern Theatre and DMK, the hashtag #செல்பி_எடு_ஆட்டைய_போடு (Take Selfie, Grab It) is trending on social media.

Established by T.R. Sundaram in 1935, Modern Theatres stands prominently on the road from Salem to Yercaud, holding the title of South India’s inaugural major cinema establishment. The Modern Theatres Cinema Company, with a legacy spanning over 150 films in languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and more, is particularly notable for producing the first-ever colour film.

Playing a pivotal role in the careers of influential personalities such as former Chief Ministers Karunanidhi and MGR, along with actor Shivaji Ganesan, Modern Theatres has left an indelible mark on Tamil cinema. The studio’s impact is undeniable, serving as a crucial juncture in the trajectories of these prominent leaders.

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The post “Never Thought We Would Receive So Many Threats And Torture”: Salem Modern Theatre’s Family Over Karunanidhi Statue Erection At Their Land Following Stalin’s Selfie appeared first on The Commune.

Following the issue surrounding Modern Theatres Salem bursting out in social media, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief K Annamalai, hit out at Chief Minister MK Stalin for vying for land that does not belong to him by trying to erect his father’s statue.

Taking to social media platform X, Annamalai shared a press release condemning this action.

He wrote, “Salem Modern Theatre is a famous film production company in Tamil Nadu. Late former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu Amarar MGR, Karunanidhi, Mrs. Janaki Ammal, Ms. Jayalalithaa, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Amarar N.T. Rama Rao and poet Kannadasan, among others, became famous thanks to this company. The company has produced more than a hundred films in seven languages ​​including Tamil and Sinhala. Amarar DR Sundaram Mudaliar, the founder of Modern Theatres, was one of the pioneers of the film industry. He brought many innovations in films such as the first dual role in Tamil cinema, the first talking film in Malayalam, the first colour films in Tamil and Malayalam, and the first English film shot in Tamil Nadu. He was fondly called “Boss” by all the abovementioned Tamil Nadu leaders.”

The BJP leader further added “A memorial arch has been erected on Salem Yercaud Road in memory of this legendary Modern Theatres company. Last February, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin stood in front of this memorial arch and took a photo, which was discussed on social media sites. But no one expected that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin would want to erect a statue of his father at the place where the memorial arch of the company that has created so many famous personalities is located.”

He also pointed out at the alleged interference of the Salem District Collector in his statement. Annamalai said “Saying that the Chief Minister wants to erect a statue of late DMK leader Karunanidhi at the place owned by Modern Theater Company, Salem District Collector has been insisting on giving the place where the memorial arch is located, but since his family did not accept it, the memorial arch belongs to the highway. It seems that the Tamil Nadu government is trying to invade. Furthermore, on another patta land owned by the said family, the construction work being carried out by the said family was also stopped, without any prior notice or permission. It seems that more than 50 policemen have encroached and demolished the structures.”

Annamalai further lambasted the DMK president saying “How is it justified to want DMK leader Karunanidhi’s statue to be placed in all the places where he worked? It is doubtful whether Karunanidhi himself would accept the installation of his statue at the premises created by the immortal T R Sundaram Mudaliar, who founded the culturally important Modern Theatre Company and provided a monthly salary to the late DMK leader Karunanidhi. If he wants, Chief Minister Stalin can erect his father’s statue in Arivalayam or at the thousands of educational institutes and campuses run by members of the DMK. Who’s going to question that?”

“Should Chief Minister Stalin erect his father’s statue by encroaching on a family property? Is this an attempt to establish that Karunanidhi was the founder of the Modern Theatre Company, tomorrow? Land grabbing may be DMK’s legacy. But the Chief Minister must realise that it is no longer valid. He seems to focus on this rather than looking to fix the rising crime rate all over Tamil Nadu, the breakdown of law and order, the calamities due to lack of proper development, the election promises, and the welfare of the people.” Annamalai said coming down heavy on CM Stalin.

Adding further, he said “The DMK government has been in power for almost three years only to attempt to distort the conventional history by renaming. Unable to control ministerial corruption or family interference, Stalin has been a total failure in administration. First focus on governance, they can think about keeping names later. If Chief Minister Stalin really wanted to pay respect to his father, it would be better if he erected the statue of the founder of Salem Modern Theaters, Amarar DR Sundaram, where the memorial arch is located, who gave livelihood to his family. It is good for the Chief Minister to realize that if he erects a statue for his father on land belonging to others, it would not be respectable for his father or the statue itself. It would be wrong to expect the public to be patient with the mistakes of their rulers all the time.”

பிறருக்குச் சொந்தமான இடத்தில் தனது தந்தையின் சிலையை அமைக்க முயற்சிப்பது, எக்காலத்திலும் அவரது தந்தைக்கோ, அவரது சிலைக்கோ எந்த வித மரியாதையையும் பெற்றுத் தராது என்பதை தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்கள் உணர்வது நலம். pic.twitter.com/vB4GwFq7ZT

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 13, 2023

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The post TN BJP Head Annamalai Slams TN CM Stalin Over Statue Proposal At Salem Modern Theatres Premises appeared first on The Commune.

In a region rich with cinematic history, Modern Theatres, established by T.R. Sundaram in 1935, stands as a significant landmark on the road from Salem to Yercaud. Recognised as South India’s first major cinema establishment, Modern Theatres Cinema Company boasts a legacy of over 150 films in languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and more. Notably, it holds the distinction of producing the first-ever colour film.

Modern Theatres played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of prominent figures such as former Chief Ministers Karunanidhi, MGR, and actor Shivaji Ganesan. The studio’s impact on Tamil cinema is undeniable, marking a turning point for these influential leaders.

Presently, the only remnant of Modern Theatres Studio is the memorial arch located at the foothills of Salem-Yercaud Hill. This arch has gained recent attention due to a proposal by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to install a statue of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi at this site.

Chief Minister Stalin’s “fond memories” of the location, shared on social media during his visit in February this year, prompted him to initiate discussions with Modern Theatres family who claim ownership of the land.

It is alleged that despite repeated calls from District Collector C. Karmegam and five rounds of discussions, the family has not announced a decision regarding the installation of Karunanidhi’s statue.

Adding complexity to the situation, the highway department claims ownership of the land on which Modern Theatres is situated, citing its location on the national highway. Recent developments include the installation of a notice board by highway officials and the demolition of constructions on a plot of land in the Korimedu area, where the Modern Theatres family.

Expressing their side of the story, the victim, Modern Theatres’ family asserts that they have yet to decide on the statue’s installation. They accuse District Collector Karmegam and government officials of engaging in “anarchic activities” without their consent. The family urges immediate intervention by the Chief Minister to safeguard their rights, emphasising ongoing consultations for the Karunanidhi statue.

Speaking to reporters, wife Vijay Varman (owner of Varma Constructions which claims ownership of the land) said “In February, our CM visited Salem. He took a selfie before the arch when he came for a government meeting. Next day, the Collectorate had called me and my husband. We went and they told that the incumbent CM Stalin had expressed to install the statue of his father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at the spot as that is where his cinema-cum-political career started. The Salem Collector kept following up with us after that meeting. We would’ve met him some 5 times. As preemptive move in case we didn’t give them the land for the statue, the Collector created an issue by demolishing constructions in the land owned by us in Korimedu without giving us any notice with around 70 police and government officials. Their plan is to acquire that land so that we hand over this Modern Theatres arch land.”

She also blamed said that all this is being done at the behest of the Salem Collector and urged CM Stalin to intervene.

(With inputs from ETV Bharat and Sathiyam News)

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The post Salem Modern Theatres Family Facing Threats From DMK Govt Over Karunanidhi Statue Erection? appeared first on The Commune.