Articles by KV Lakshmana
New NEET admission policy kills medical dreams, Tamil Nadu girl commits suicide
Anita S, who believed that the newly launched entrance test was detrimental to the interests of students from rural areas, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her house in Ariyalur district on Friday morning.

Updated on Sep 02, 2017 12:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
MBA student hangs himself in Puducherry, Blue Whale Challenge suspected
Shashikant Borha’s classmates said he had downloaded the game on his mobile phone and his laptop and had sent messages that he was the admin of the Blue Whale group.

Updated on Sep 01, 2017 06:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
TN CM Palaniswami uses Jaya’s speech to woo rebel MLAs, Dinakaran may move HC
State revenue minister RB Udayakumar released a CD containing Amma’s speeches praising EPS and telling the cadres as to how he stood with her in fighting the onslaught of ‘the family that was ousted but still was trying to interfere in the party and government affairs.”

Published on Aug 31, 2017 06:38 PM IST
Blue Whale challenge: You can enter but not leave, says teen before suicide
A 19-year-old college student Vignesh in Madurai is suspected to be the first victim in Tamil Nadu of the Blue Whale Challenge game.

Updated on Aug 31, 2017 11:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Still waiting for hearing on Isha Foundation’s illegal construction in TN: Activists
The Foundation has been embroiled in a controversial legal battle over its compound in Coimbatore since 2012 and has even received demolition notices from the state government in the past.

Updated on Aug 30, 2017 06:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Tamil Nadu opposition to seek President’s intervention for floor test in assembly
Opposition parties including DMK, Congress and the Left will meet President Kovind to urge him to ask governor Vidyasagar Rao to order a floor test

Updated on Aug 30, 2017 04:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK rebels refuse to blink; EPS-OPS combine holds its fire against Sasikala
The EPS-OPS combine was expected to sack AIADMK’s jailed general secretary Sasikala but it only resolved to convene the party’s general council where the decision could be taken.

Updated on Aug 28, 2017 10:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana, Chennai
AIADMK meeting starts in Chennai, to take decision on Sasikala expulsion
All MPs, MLAs and office bearers of the AIADMK huddled at the party headquarters in Chennai for the meeting, led by chief minister E Palaniswami.

Updated on Aug 28, 2017 11:05 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
DMK meets governor, presses for floor test as AIADMK factional feud deepens
The war is set to escalate further with Palaniswami-Panneerselvam combine convening a meeting of office bearers, MLAs, MPs on Monday where a resolution to unseat Sasikala could be adopted.

Updated on Aug 27, 2017 07:54 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger: Panneerselvam-Palanisami bonhomie grows even as Dinakaran seethes
Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam thanked chief minister E Palanisami on Wednesday for bringing him back to the fold and promised to tread the path chosen by MGR and Amma.

Updated on Aug 23, 2017 11:54 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK drama: Security tightened as Tiruchirapally braces for mega OPS-EPS rally
Wednesday’s rally will serve as a show of strength by Palanisamy and Panneerselvam, who challenged the dominance of the Sasikala-led Mannargudi family over the AIADMK to merge their factions two days ago.

Updated on Aug 23, 2017 11:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger: Drama continues in Tamil Nadu as different actors step up action
DMK working president Stalin said the current government was reduced to a minority after 22 MLAs withdrew support and as such its continuation was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Dinakaran launched his attack against the EPS-OPS camp by “sacking” R Vaithialingam, MP from AIADMK.

Updated on Aug 22, 2017 05:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger: MLAs loyal to Dinakaran take shelter at sea-side resort as DMK demands floor test
Dinakaran’s move could prove problematic for the AIADMK, whose Palaniswami and Panneerselvam factions merged on Monday, as the party won’t reach the majority mark of 118 in the Tamil Nadu assembly without the 19 dissidents.

Updated on Aug 23, 2017 12:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Dinakaran loyalists gather at Jaya memorial after AIADMK merger, DMK ups ante
The merger of two AIADMK factions would in no way be beneficial to the people of Tamil Nadu, DMK MP and the party’s women’s wing leader Kanimozhi has said.

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 11:42 PM IST
Chennai, Hindustan Times | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger: End of the road for Sasikala? 7 reasons OPS camp wants her out
One condition laid down by the Panneerselvam camp for the merger of the AIADMK factions was that VK Sasikala be dismissed from the party.

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 06:47 PM IST
AIADMK merger: Panneerselvam becomes deputy CM in Palaniswami govt
AIADMK factions led by chief minister K Palaniswami and rebel leader O Panneerselvam came together on Monday after a bitter split about six months ago.

Updated on Aug 22, 2017 04:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger Highlights: Panneerselvam and Palaniswami unite, Dinakaran to meet governor

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK factions set to merge today, Sasikala to be shown the door
The expected merger of AIADMK factions led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and rebel leader O Panneerselvam is likely to be sealed today with the formal expulsion of the party’s jailed general secretary Sasikala.

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger on Monday? Party may accept OPS camp demand to sack Sasikala
Party’s general council set to meet on Monday, may formalise Sasikala’s ouster to meet precondition set by former chief minister O Panneerselvam for merger.

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 11:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai |
KV Lakshmana
Positive result on AIADMK factions merger in a day or two: Panneerselvam
The much expected merger on Friday night had failed to come off following reported divergent views among the members of the OPS faction.

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 12:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Turning Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence into memorial is easier said than done
Deepa and Deepak Jayakumar, relatives of the late chief minister, insist that they are legal heirs to the coveted property. While Deepak wants the government to acquire their consent for turning the private home into public property, his sister has promised to take the matter all the way to the Supreme Court.

Updated on Aug 20, 2017 07:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger hits Sasikala roadblock, stalls formal announcement by EPS-OPS factions
News of a AIADMK merger were rife on Friday evening but a lack of consensus on the terms of the deal between the EPS and OPS factions put to bed a formal announcement.

Updated on Aug 18, 2017 11:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
AIADMK merger Highlights | OPS, EPS factions unlikely to make announcement as no consensus on deal
The ruling party in Tamil Nadu split in February, two months after its supremo and chief minister J Jayalalithaa died. Two factions emerged: one led by O Panneerselvam, and another by EK Palaniswami that was seemingly in favour of VK Sasikala, the late CM’s confidante.

Updated on Aug 18, 2017 09:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai |
KV Lakshmana
AIADMK factions fail to arrive at consensus, merger talks to continue
The BJP sees an opportunity in the AIADMK bitter internal battle and subdued activities of former chief minister K Karunanidhi’s DMK to capture power in Tamil Nadu.

Updated on Aug 18, 2017 09:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Jayalalithaa death to be probed, CM Palaniswami takes step towards AIADMK merger
An investigation into the death of former Tamil Nadu chief J Jayalalithaa was a demand by the AIADMK faction led by O Panneerselvam ahead of an expected merger with the group under chief minister E Palanisami. Jayalalithaa’s residence, Poes Garden, will be turned into a memorial.

Updated on Aug 17, 2017 05:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Activist Irom Sharmila marries British partner Desmond Coutinha in Kodaikanal
Rights activist Irom Sharmila decided to marry her long-time partner British citizen Desmond Coutinha after she quit politics following her defeat in the Manipur assembly elections.

Updated on Aug 17, 2017 06:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai/Guwahati |
KV Lakshmana and Rahul Karmakar
Dinakaran fights back: 14 MLAs attend his mammoth rally at Melur upsetting AIADMK merger plans
The ousted deputy general secretary of the AIADMK (Amma) faction draws huge support at the rally.

Updated on Aug 14, 2017 11:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
NEET exemption: Tamil Nadu sends draft law to Delhi, Centre non-committal
Union commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters in Chennai recently that the Centre was likely to cooperate with Tamil Nadu if it brought in an ordinance

Updated on Aug 14, 2017 05:28 PM IST
AIADMK factions in merger talks, rival DMK looks to move no-confidence motion
DMK’s working president Stalin alleged that the AIADMK was in utter confusion and thus unable to deal with the problems of Tamil Nadu while also losing the people’s support.

Updated on Aug 11, 2017 06:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai | KV Lakshmana
Superstars joining politics? Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan attend DMK event in Chennai
Kamal Haasan shared the dais with DMK leaders while ‘superstar’ Rajinikanth chose to sit in the audience at a party event in Chennai.

Updated on Aug 10, 2017 11:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times, Chennai |
KV Lakshmana