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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
After PM snub, OPS looks for options
Chennai: Denied an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Tamil Nadu over the weekend, former chief minister O Panneerselvam is considering moving out of NDA to some place where he may get more respect, if not assembly seats. Sources told TOI that OPS, facing pressure from his supporters to move out, would consult his advisor Panruti S Ramachandran before taking a decision in a couple of days. "An alliance with Vijay's TVK is a possibility," said a close OPS aide. "I don't think he will remain in NDA for long, but his legal battle to reclaim AIADMK from Edappadi Palaniswami will continue." OPS had sent a letter to Modi requesting permission to receive and see him off at Tuticorin airport. In the letter, he sought the "gracious approval" of Modi which would be "deeply valued and remembered with gratitude". The OPS camp believes that remaining in NDA would further diminish his standing. He had recently said it is regrettable that he wasn't invited during Amit Shah's repeated visits to Tamil Nadu. Shah also visited Chennai to revive the poll tie-up with AIADMK. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "Even if we get to contest in a few seats in AIADMK-BJP alliance, AIADMK cadres will sabotage the prospects," said a OPS camp member. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Time Could You Save with Clearer Writing? Grammarly Install Now Undo "Continuing here has become untenable." While some close associates still hope for a possible merger with AIADMK, a majority of OPS supporters feel this is unlikely. "EPS won't agree and will even quit the alliance if compelled to unite with the OPS group. The enmity is for all of you to see," said an AIADMK leader. The possibility of OPS and TVK joining hands hinges on an official announcement of severing ties with BJP, as the actor-politician has made his anti-BJP stance clear. OPS is likely to address media on Wednesday.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Why EPS' call for anti-DMK alliance meets only rejection and silence
On 7 July 2025, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) launched a statewide campaign, 'Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' (Let us protect the people, let us reclaim Tamil Nadu), in Coimbatore. Political analysts in Tamil Nadu say the shadow of AIADMK's alliance with the BJP is complicating a potential partnership with the Opposition AIADMK in the state. Chennai: In a bid to forge a formidable anti-DMK alliance for the 2026 assembly elections, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami extended a public invitation to parties including the ruling DMK allies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI and CPM, apart from Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Seeman's Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)—only to face rejection or silence. But with AIADMK firmly aligned with the BJP in the NDA Alliance, his overtures were met with sharp rejections. Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy said that the rejections and the cautious silence were largely due to the AIADMK's association with the BJP, which remains a polarising force in Tamil Nadu's Dravidian-dominated political landscape. 'Although EPS's invitations were strategic, aimed at consolidating anti-DMK forces under AIADMK's leadership, being in alliance with BJP is a barrier for other parties. Although rejections of VCK, CPI and CPI(M) may be because of their long standing understanding with the DMK, the rejections from Seeman's NTK and Vijay's TVK are largely because of the BJP, which they consider as an opponent in the state's political landscape,' N Sathiya Moorthy said. It was on 16 July, during his campaign in Chidambaram, that EPS openly courted the VCK and left parties, pointing to their treatment in the ruling coalition. 'Despite being allies of the ruling party, DMK is not even allowing them to hoist their party flags nor hold their party meetings or conferences,' EPS said referring to VCK, CPI and CPI(M). He also wondered why they were still in the DMK alliance, enduring humiliation. 'We will lay a red carpet to the alliance parties,' EPS said. However, on 17 July, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan rejected the call stating that they are committed to the secular alliance formed under the leadership of DMK. 'We have made it very clear that VCK won't be part of any alliance which has BJP and PMK. EPS's attempt to destabilise us won't work,' Thirumavalavan told the reporters in Chennai. CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan criticised EPS' campaign and said, 'This is nothing but a desperate bid to protect himself and his ally BJP.' Political analysts like Priyan Srinivasan said that the AIADMK leader is losing political dignity by inviting anti-BJP parties. 'As a former Chief Minister and the opposition leader of the state, he should maintain a level of political decorum. Having BJP by his side and inviting all anti-BJP parties does not look good for him politically. It will not only make him uneasy, but also the BJP, which has joined the AIADMK alliance one year before the assembly elections,' Priyan Srinivasan said. However, when asked about the rejection of the DMK allies, EPS said in Cuddalore on 16 July that he was only referring to how they are being treated in the DMK alliance and did not invite them for an alliance. Subsequently, on 22 July, during his campaign in the Delta districts, EPS invited NTK and TVK to join his alliance against the ruling DMK. 'Only a united opposition can topple the Stalin government,' EPS said, while addressing the gathering in Delta districts. However, on 23 July, speaking to the reporters in Villupuram, NTK leader Seeman rejected the call stating that one corrupt party cannot be used to uproot another corrupt party. 'Fire cannot be doused with another fire. Water is needed to put out the fire and we are the water that will douse corruption,' Seeman told the reporters. Vijay's TVK, although not responding directly to EPS' call, posted on its official X handle that their leader would be the people's favourite chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 assembly elections. 'We will create history by delivering a massive victory in 2026 and make Thalapathy Vijay our CM candidate,' the post read. Also read: No coalition govt, alliance only for 2026 polls—EPS contradicts Amit Shah on AIADMK-BJP tie-up PMK, DMDK keep cards close to chest While DMK allies have clearly rejected EPS' call, former AIADMK allies, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) are yet to reveal their stand. On 15 July, while addressing the gathering in Neyveli, EPS said PMK was already in an alliance with the AIADMK. However, on 16 July, in their foundation day message, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said that the party will be part of the coalition government formed after the 2026 assembly elections. 'PMK is not here to make any party to win the election and rule Tamil Nadu. We should also rule. Only when we are part of the government, will we be able to establish social justice,' he said in his foundation day message to party workers. Since Anbumani Ramadoss's statement came a day after EPS' call, it was assumed to be a demand from the PMK for a coalition government. When asked about it, EPS backtracked and clarified that it was his suggestion that PMK join the alliance. 'I made a statement that PMK might join the alliance. For now, PMK is not in the AIADMK alliance,' he said. When asked about the demand of the PMK, he said that they will think about it after the PMK joins the alliance. In 2021, PMK contested in as many as 23 seats as part of the AIADMK alliance and won in five seats. The DMDK, founded by actor turned politician Vijayakanth, a former ally of AIADMK in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, also kept EPS at arm's length. DMDK has said that the party will announce their stand on an alliance at their public meeting in Cuddalore in January 2026. Political analyst Priya Srinivasan noted that EPS' early push to unite the Opposition makes him appear desperate and weakens his position. 'Alliance is something that is meant to be formed just 50 to 60 days before the election. But, he forged an alliance with BJP a year before the election and called all the parties to join the election. Political parties still have time to weigh their options before joining an alliance. EPS' call for an alliance shows he is not confident of the existing alliance,' he said. Nevertheless, a former AIADMK minister told ThePrint that they forged an alliance with the BJP much earlier to blur the lines between the workers of both the parties. 'The intention was to overcome the differences between workers of both parties on the ground and to work together for the 2026 assembly election,' the former AIADMK minister said. However, political analyst P. Sigamani reiterated what other experts have said—the AIADMK is not getting the desired response because of their early alliance with the BJP. 'They wanted their cadre to work together. But, instead, it is creating more divisions among the workers because of EPS' call for alliance with multiple partners, including those who are traditionally against the national parties, especially BJP,' Sigamani said. On 22 July, EPS reiterated that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will continue intact and will win the election. 'I invite all the like minded parties to join the anti-DMK coalition,' he told the gathering in Thanjavur. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Why EPS had a change of heart & greenlit AIADMK-BJP alliance talks ahead of Tamil Nadu polls
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Fiery Op Sindoor debate in Parliament today, Shashi Tharoor unlikely to speak
After a week of disruptions, Parliament will begin debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday during the Monsoon Session. A key point of interest is whether Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be allowed to speak. Tharoor led a delegation to the United States and other to Congress sources, Shashi Tharoor is unlikely to speak during the debate. 'Shashi Tharoor unlikely to speak on Operation Sindoor. The MPs, who want to speak on certain issues, have to send their requests to the CPP office, however, Shashi Tharoor hasn't done so far,' Congress sources if Shashi Tharoor skips the debate, it could raise questions, as the Thiruvananthapuram MP has had tensions with his party since leading a government-formed delegation abroad on the India-Pakistan conflict, against the Congress line. Tharoor's public support for the government's stand and the pause in hostilities had led to repeated exchanges with party colleagues critical of the ruling BJP-led NDA and opposition parties are set to field their top leaders for the discussions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are expected to present the government's position on key issues. While there is no official confirmation yet, indications suggest that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also step remains to be seen who will open the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor debate for the opposition if the chair invites anti-BJP parties to Rahul Gandhi is seen as a possible starter, he has previously allowed others, like his deputy Gaurav Gogoi during the 2023 no-confidence motion, to initiate the government and Opposition agreed to a 16-hour debate in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on July 25. The discussion will focus on the government's response to the April 22 attack, which killed 26 leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticised the government for alleged intelligence failures and questioned India's international support, especially in light of US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating between India and Pakistan, which the government has denied.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Parliament
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tharoor unlikely to speak on debate on Pahalgam attack, Op Sindoor issues in LS
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is unlikely to speak on the debate on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor that gets underway in LS on Monday. "He has not asked the party to be fielded in the debate. The party too has not approached him either till now," sources said. It is to be seen who opens the debate for opposition or initiates the debate in case the chair asks anti-BJP benches to take the lead. The discussion is not being done under any specific rule of LS procedures and is also not based on any notice, sources said, quoting consultations between opposition, government and Speaker. While the belief is that Rahul Gandhi may start, there have been times like during opposition's no-confidence motion against Modi government on Manipur ethnic conflict in Aug 2023 when he let his now deputy Gaurav Gogoi to initiate, and himself spoke later. But Tharoor skipping the debate would set the tongues wagging, as the Thiruvananthapuram MP has had run-ins with the party since he defied Congress to lead a delegation constituted by Modi government for the global outreach on the India-Pakistan conflict. As Tharoor threw his weight behind the government on the issue of conflict and also on the pause of hostilities, there was a frequent to and fro between him and Congress members who were critical of the government.
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Bengal Cong leaders cautious over Mamata Banerjee's silent message from Martyrs' Day rally
Kolkata: After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a subtle message to Congress by refraining from attacking it at Trinamool Congress' annual Martyrs' Day rally, the state leaders of the grand old party are treading cautiously, accepting this 'silence' as her 'initial friendly gesture', ahead of the 2026 state Assembly polls. At the same time, as regards the Chief Minister's war cry announcing sustained protests against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, the Bengal Congress leaders are taking that war cry with a pinch of salt. They feel that before seeking Congress' support on this issue, the Chief Minister should elaborate on her government's plans to prevent such harassment by taking positive measures to arrest brain-drain and workers' migration from West Bengal to other states. On July 21, while addressing the annual Martyrs' Day rally, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack against the BJP and CPI(M) and accused them of having a clandestine "understanding" in West Bengal. However, in her address, the Chief Minister carefully avoided her pet version of putting 'BJP-Congress-CPI(M)' within the same bracket in the West Bengal perspective, which she had done till the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. According to West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee leader Ashok Bhattacharya, it does not matter for the country's oldest national party whether the Chief Minister remains silent on it or not at the Martyrs' Day rally. 'First, the Chief Minister should make her stand clear on Congress both at the state level and the national level. She should explain why Trinamool Congress ensured BJP's victory in Assembly elections in certain other states like Goa and Tripura by dividing the anti-BJP votes,' Bhattacharya added. Former state Congress president and five-time former party Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, too, feels that the Chief Minister's silence about Congress at the Martyrs' Day rally proves nothing, since there had been several instances in the past where she proved that "Trinamool Congress and BJP are made for each other". According to senior state Congress leader and party spokesman Soumya Aich Roy, while Congress unequivocally condemned the attack and harassment of Bengalis in BJP ruled states and also protested against it, the party's question for the Chief Minister is that what her government is doing to prevent such harassment by taking positive measures to arrest brain-drain and workers' migration from the West Bengal to other state. "Mamata Banerjee is trying to tap into the Bengali sentiment by bringing reference to Bhasa Andolan. Instead of doing this, she must provide jobs to the people so that this migration stops," he said.
