KV Lakshmana is the Tamil Nadu bureau chief of Hindustan Times. He covers social, economic and political changes in the state and neighbourhood.
Articles by KV Lakshmana
Tamil Nadu transport strike enters 7th day, unions say stir will continue
The unions had earlier told the Madras high court that they will call off the strike only if the government holds talks with them on their wage-hike demand.
Updated on Jan 10, 2018 09:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Tamil Nadu to double MLAs’ salaries amid transport workers’ strike for better pay
DMK working president MK Stalin condemned the wage hike for MLAs as cruel. An MLA gets a salary of Rs 55,000 per month.
Updated on Jan 10, 2018 10:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Six days on, striking transport workers in Tamil Nadu dig in their heels
The AIADMK government’s decision to recruit temporary drivers and conductors to get the state-run buses on the road has not provided relief to the public.
Published on Jan 09, 2018 02:15 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
No respite for travellers in TN as bus strike enters fifth day
Striking employees of road transport corporations have refused to heed a Madras high court order restraining the strike and have also ignored the government’s appeals.
Updated on Jan 08, 2018 06:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Oppn boycotts TN governor’s address in assembly, questions rationale behind letting ‘minority govt’ rule
No sooner had TN governor Banwarilal Purohit begun his speech with a vanakkam (greetings) that members of the opposition began shouting slogans.
Updated on Jan 08, 2018 04:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Transport workers strike cripples bus services for third consecutive day in Tamil Nadu
Transport workers abstain from works defying a Madras high court order.
Updated on Jan 06, 2018 07:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Madras HC directs transport workers to call off strike or face action; unions refuse to budge
The striking unions say the high court’s order is against “all principles of natural justice.”
Published on Jan 05, 2018 08:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
PETA asks Rajinikanth to stop fans’ goat sacrifice plan for his political success
The request came after one of the oldest Rajinikanth fan clubs in Madurai said it will sacrifice goats at the local Alagarkoil shrine on January 7 and host a feast for at least 1,000 people as part of a special prayer for his political success.
Updated on Jan 05, 2018 08:39 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
Bus strike over wage hike leaves thousands stranded in Tamil Nadu
While the employees’ unions demanded a 2.57% hike in wages, transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar said the government agreed to 2.44%, that found support from a few unions.
Updated on Jan 05, 2018 04:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana, Chennai
Kamal Haasan slams AIADMK, Dhinakaran over cash-for-vote row in RK Nagar bypoll
Actor Kamal Haasan statement against the alleged misuse of money power in the recently-held assembly bypolls in Tamil Nadu’s prestigious RK Nagar.
Updated on Jan 04, 2018 05:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Rajinikanth calls on Karunanidhi to seek blessings
The superstar-turned- politician termed the visit a courtesy call on a “towering political personality.”
Updated on Jan 04, 2018 08:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK puts up unity show, discusses strategy to deal with Dhinakaran in assembly
The party says there is no threat to the Edapaddi Palaniswami-led government amid speculation that many of its MLAs are in touch with rebel group led by TTV Dhinakaran
Updated on Jan 03, 2018 07:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Rajinikanth clarifies his ‘spiritual politics’ remark, says it’s ‘honest and secular’
The Tamil superstar declined to comment on the name of his proposed party, saying he himself does not know.
Updated on Jan 02, 2018 10:19 PM IST
Hinidustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Rajinikanth may have entered politics, but he still has a long way to go
Both experts and political parties believe the actor will have to do a lot of ground work and convince the voting public about his motivations to make it big in Tamil Nadu.
Updated on Jan 01, 2018 05:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
What Rajinikanth’s X factor could mean for Tamil Nadu politics
With a legion of diehard fans across the state and beyond, 800 registered fan associations and many unregistered ones, Rajinikanth has an enviable base of goodwill to feed off.
Updated on Jan 01, 2018 11:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Superstar Rajinikanth confirms entry into politics, to form party and fight elections
Ending speculation, Rajinikanth announced his plans to form a political party, and called on people to become his army, not cadre, to fight corruption from the base.
Updated on Dec 31, 2017 08:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Rajinikanth maintains suspense over entry to politics, says wait till December 31
Rajinikanth remained cryptic over his decision, saying when going into battle, one needed to fight to win, but added that he wasn’t saying he was joining politics.
Updated on Dec 26, 2017 05:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana and Haricharan Pudipeddi
AIADMK acts against Dhinakaran loyalists: Four lose party positions, five booted out
Among those sacked from party positions are district unit secretaries P Vetrivel and Sholingur Partiban, both considered Dhinakaran loyalists.
Updated on Dec 25, 2017 06:15 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
RK Nagar bypoll result: Dhinakaran wins Jayalalithaa seat; setback to AIADMK, DMK
Dhinakaran’s win in the constituency, which has a symbolic value for its association with Jayalalithaa, could catapult him to a place of prominence in state politics and give him a larger role in the 2019 general elections.
Updated on Dec 24, 2017 11:00 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
‘I’m the real successor of Amma,’ claims Dhinakaran RK Nagar bypoll
After the end of five rounds of counting of votes, Dhinakaran with 24,550 votes was way ahead of his rivals.
Updated on Dec 24, 2017 06:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
RK Nagar bypoll Highlights: Dhinakaran wins by a margin of 40,707 votes
The counting of votes for the RK Nagar assembly seat, which was earlier held by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, concluded with sidelined leader TTV Dhinakaran winning by a huge margin. Here are the updates.
Updated on Dec 24, 2017 10:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Sivakasi firework units declare shutdown as cracker sale ban dries up working capital
Manufacturers say dealers have stopped paying them advance after a petition seeking a countrywide ban on sale of firecrackers was filed in the Supreme Court
Updated on Dec 23, 2017 09:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
2G spectrum case: A Raja, Kanimozhi get rousing welcome in Chennai after acquittal
Kanimozhi’s picture was prominently displayed on a board welcoming the two, which also had her father and party patriarch Karunanidhi’s message in Tamil.
Updated on Dec 23, 2017 09:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Madras HC asks Apollo to provide Jayalalithaa’s blood samples
The petitioner S Amrutha had first approached the SC on November 27 seeking a DNA test to prove that she was the late AIADMK leader’s daughter. The apex court had rejected her plea and directed her to instead approach the high court.
Updated on Dec 22, 2017 11:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
RK Nagar records 77.68% voter turnout, polling ends peacefully
The result of the bypoll is likely to be seen as a report card of the 17-month-old AIADMK government.
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 10:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
2G verdict could spark political realignment, boost DMK, Congress prospects: Analysts
A special court acquitted on Thursday all accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam cases, deciding the fate of former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozhi.
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 08:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
I will come out clean in 2G case: A Raja’s words ring true three years later
DMK’s A Raja, who refused bail and defended himself in court in the 2G spectrum scam case, saw himself vindicated on Thursday after a special CBI court judge acquitted all the accused..
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 06:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
2G spectrum scam verdict lifts DMK’s spirits, party says ‘victory begins now’
DMK leader M K Stalin says 2G scam was politically motivated to harass his party leaders.
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 01:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | KV Lakshmana
RK Nagar bypoll highlights: Dinakaran refutes bribe charges in prestige battle against EPS-OPS camp
Voting for the RK Nagar by-election saw a turnout of 77.68%, amid complaints and allegations of widespread corrupt practices. Here are the highlights.
Updated on Dec 21, 2017 10:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai/New Delhi | KV Lakshmana
Jayalalithaa’s video a day before RK Nagar bypoll triggers row
Jayalalithaa’s death, which is now being probed, left a power vacuum in the Tamil Nadu politics and soon a controversy erupted over the secrecy surrounding her condition.
Updated on Dec 20, 2017 08:52 PM IST
Chennai, India | KV Lakshmana