Political News

Several DMK cadres were detained during protests across Tamil Nadu following the arrest of Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin. The protests began outside the Madras High Court, where demonstrators voiced opposition to the arrest, which stemmed from allegations of “derogatory” remarks made against Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha. Demonstrations involving DMK protesters occurred in multiple locations across the state. Former Tamil Nadu minister P Geetha Jeevan and several party workers were detained near the old bus stand in Thoothukudi during a road blockade protest. Geetha Jeevan described the arrest as political vendetta after Udhayanidhi Stalin was taken into custody by Thanjavur East Police. He was booked under various legal provisions, including sections 61, 79, 192, 196, 296(b), 351(2), 352 of BNS, Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, and Section 67 of the IT Act.Leading the protest, Geetha Jeevan stated, “Unable to answer the DMK’s questions and debate in the Legislative Assembly, the TVK government has arrested Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin out of political vendetta. This action is strongly condemnable. The TVK government continuously suppresses democratic protests and stifles the voice of the people. The DMK will never bow down to such oppression.” In Ranipet district near the Muthukadai Bus Stand, former minister R Gandhi led DMK workers in another protest. The demonstrators alleged that the ruling TVK government had registered a case against Udhayanidhi Stalin and arrested him with vindictive political motives. They raised slogans against the government and demanded his immediate release. A brief scuffle ensued as police moved to detain the protesters, who were then taken into custody.

Ranipet is one of the 234 Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) constituencies in Tamil Nadu. This seat can be classified as Semi Urban and falls in the Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu. The reservation status of this constituency is General. Ranipet Assembly constituency falls within the Arakkonam (General) Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, Ranipet voted on Thursday, April 9, 2026 and the counting of votes is set to take place on Monday, May 4, 2026.There were a total of 245853 registered voters on the electoral rolls for the 2026 Assembly election in Ranipet Assembly constituency, of whom 119090 were male, 126719 female and 44 belonged to the third gender. In the 2021 Assembly elections, there were a total of 266481 registered voters, of whom 128748 were male, 137715 female and 18 belonged to the third gender. In the 2016 Assembly elections, there were a total of 247501 registered voters, of whom 120741 were male, 126760 were female and 0 belonged to the third gender. In 2011 elections, there were a total of 198641 registered voters in this constituency, of whom 99184 were male, 99457 were female and 0 belonged to the third gender. The number of service voters in this Assembly constituency was 779 in 2021, 132 in 2016, and 835 in 2011. The electorate gender ratio (number of female voters per 1000 male voters) in this constituency in 2026 was 1064, in 2021 it was 1070, 1050 in 2016, and 1003 in 2011.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran accused the ruling alliance led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of engaging in horse-trading to secure a majority in the Assembly. He made the allegations following a district executive meeting of the BJP’s Dindigul unit on Saturday. “It is true that horse-trading is going on in Tamil Nadu. The horse-trading people have taken the lead in talking to show their government a majority,” Nagendran told reporters. The controversy escalated on June 1 after TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja claimed he was offered Rs 35 crore and threatened to influence his vote in a legislative resolution. Police subsequently registered a case and arrested three individuals. Further turmoil followed the arrest of senior DMK MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan, who alleged political coercion against members of the newly formed TVK. Radhakrishnan was taken into custody on Friday in connection with a case registered at Athoor Police Station. Upon arrest, he said the legal action was an attempt to force his resignation and induce him to defect to the TVK, describing the proposals as “not horse-trading, but camel-trading that was offered to me; it will never happen.” Elaiyaraja’s complaint filed with the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on June 29 stated that a person named Thirunavukkarasu, claiming to run an opinion polling organisation called Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS), contacted him on behalf of members of a major political party. Nagendran also expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, citing an alleged rape case in Ranipet. “A 60-year-old woman was raped by a 23-year-old youth in Ranipet while under the influence of ganja. Law and order is in a state of disarray in Tamil Nadu,” he said. However, he emphasised that the BJP’s intention was not to attack the government but to perform its democratic duty as the opposition. “We have no intention of criticising the government. The opposition party’s true democratic duty is to point out possible mistakes,” Nagendran added. The remarks follow recent concerns raised by the state BJP over law and order under the TVK-led government in recent weeks.

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election results for the Arcot Assembly Constituency reflected the voters’ mandate in the region. The result highlighted the performance of the contesting candidates and political parties, providing an important indication of the political landscape in Arcot and the wider Ranipet district.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and popular actor Vijay has revised and expanded his much-watched Tamil Nadu tour, adding select Sundays to his earlier Saturday-only schedule and extending it well into 2026.TVK sources said the move reflects Vijay’s plan to deepen his grassroots outreach ahead of his first major electoral test. Vijay, who launched TVK earlier this year after formally stepping into politics, began his maiden statewide tour on September 13 in Ariyalur, Tiruchirappalli district, and completed the first leg on September 20 in Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur. Initially set to end on December 20, the tour will now run into early 2026, covering nearly every key district in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to the revised schedule, Vijay will visit Namakkal and Karur districts on September 27. In October, he is slated to travel to Vellore and Ranipet on the 5th, Puducherry and Cuddalore on the 11th, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli on the 18th, and Tiruppur and Erode on the 25th. In November, Vijay will campaign across Perambalur and Kallakurichi on the 1st, Krishnagiri and Tirupattur on the 8th, Villupuram and Thiruvannamalai on the 15th, Salem and Dharmapuri on the 22nd, and Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai on the 29th. December’s schedule includes Pudukottai and Dindigul on the 7th, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram on the 13th, and Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram on the 20th. The extended leg in early 2026 will see Vijay reaching Madurai, Theni, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Chengalpattu and Chennai. Party insiders said the change signals TVK’s determination to build a strong, district-level presence and energize cadres well ahead of the next Assembly election. Vijay’s political debut has generated significant buzz across the state. His TVK, seen as an alternative to the Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK, has attracted large crowds during its early public meetings. The star, long known for weaving social themes into his films, declared that “the time has come to translate words into action” and launched TVK with a message of change, anti-corruption, and youth empowerment. Political observers note that extending the tour allows Vijay to consolidate support and address diverse local issues, from employment and agriculture to urban infrastructure. It also positions TVK as a serious player capable of sustaining momentum beyond celebrity appeal. Party leaders say the expanded schedule is just the beginning of a long-term grassroots engagement plan.