TN This Week: AIADMK to Take on Congress, But Unsure About Poll Symbol

Chennai: School students in Tamil Nadu have a major setback in learning skills, revealed the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2022) survey released on January 18. However, the state scored high in indicators such as student enrolment and school infrastructure.

Hundreds were hurt and injured in the ‘Jallikattu’ bull-taming events held around the Pongal festival. A 24-year-old participant and a 25-year-old spectator died in the events held in Madurai and Pudukottai, respectively.

As on January 19, more than two crore consumers have linked Aadhaar with power connections in Tamil Nadu. The state has around 2.67 crore subsidised consumers, who have to link their Aadhaar to receive the benefits.

Dalit political parties and organisations in Tamil Nadu demanded the demolition of the overhead water tank in which human faeces was found at Vengaivasal Panchayat in Pudukkottai.

Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu directed district collectors to ensure no caste-related discrimination comes up during the Republic Day celebrations. This is in light of the discriminations reported during the 2022 Independence Day celebrations.

Fearing the loss of livelihood and coastal damage, fisherfolk near Marina Beach in Chennai opposed the construction of a pen-shaped monument as a part of the Kalaignar Karunanidhi memorial.

Chennai drops to third place among the least polluted cities in India as the air quality level dips. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Chennai was the second least polluted city in the country after Vijayawada in 2019 in terms of PM 2.5 levels.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre for proposing "one nation, one election" and said that the saffron party has not understood the purpose of the democratic exercise called elections.

The BJP state unit president K Annamalai will embark on a year-long state-wide ‘padayatra’ from April 2023 to reportedly expose corrupt politicians in the state. 

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the happenings this week in Tamil Nadu.

BYPOLL BATTLE BEGINS

Following the demise of Congress MLA E Thirumahan Everaa, the bypoll for the Erode (East) assembly constituency is scheduled for February 27.

Congress will once again contest the seat, backed by the DMK-led alliance. The alliance comprises the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) candidate was the runner-up in the 2021 assembly election from this constituency, but TMC forgo the race in support of ally All Inda Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). But, it is unclear whether AIADMK will get the two-leaves symbol, which still holds sway among the people.

Expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam’s faction would also contest the by-election.

BJP has not come out with its stand, whether to support ally AIADMK or the OPS faction or go solo.

GUV’S CLARIFICATION NOT ACCEPTED

After raking continuous controversy, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, on January 18, said it was "erroneous and far-fetched" to infer that he had suggested changing the name of the state with his recent comments on "Tamizhagam".

The governor’s clarification did not go down well with the political parties. DMK claimed that his intention was to project it as a divisive party.

The CPI(M) staged a protest in Chennai, on January 20, demanding the Union government recall Governor Ravi.

HEALTH SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has planned to set up a total of 708 urban clinics across the state by February, following the Delhi model of ‘Mohalla clinics’.

Although accident cases have increased in 2022 in the state, fatalities reduced by 3% under Innuyir Kaapom Nammai Kaakum 48 scheme, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday.

Further, for the second year in a row, the Tamil Nadu government is holding district-level health assemblies to enhance health indices. Read more

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and AIADMK’s ‘interim’ general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on January 19 condemned the DMK government for dishing out ‘wrong data’ regarding the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme and ‘cheating the people of the state’.

FARMERS PLAN RALLY TO DELHI

Demanding the Union government to announce the promised Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,000 per tonne for sugarcane, farmers from the state have decided to take out a rally from Kanniyakumari to Delhi starting March 1.

They plan to seek the support of non-BJP ruling state chief ministers during their march.

Meanwhile, farmers in Ranipet district are upset that the state government is not treating them on par with their counterparts in the Delta region. They said that preferential treatment is visible in the allotment of subsidised agriculture inputs and farm machinery.