7-Year-Old Tribal Girl Dies, 53 Villagers Fall Ill After Malaria Pill Drive in Andhra

A political row has erupted between the DMK and the TVK government over the decision to scrap the Parandur Airport project in Tamil Nadu. The DMK has alleged that the project was cancelled under the influence of advisers from Andhra Pradesh to benefit their home state, calling the move a betrayal of Tamil Nadu. In response, TVK leaders have claimed that the DMK originally selected Parandur to boost real estate investments held by its own leaders in the area. The dispute follows broader exchanges between both parties concerning governance and policy decisions in the state.

A political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu following the decision to scrap the proposed Parandur airport project near Chennai. The cancellation of the second airport plan has drawn intense scrutiny and criticism across the state's political landscape. Leaders highlighted that Chennai's current airport spans only 1,100 acres and faces infrastructure constraints, unlike larger facilities in Bengaluru and Delhi that can accommodate major wide-body aircraft like the A380. Criticising the withdrawal of the Parandur site, political figures pointed out that identifying a new location, securing central clearances, and completing land acquisition could push the timeline for a second airport to 2036, setting the state's infrastructural progress back by over a decade. While the state government defended the move as a step to protect the rights of local farmers and address environmental concerns, opposition parties have questioned the decision, arguing that delaying a secondary airport impacts connectivity, industrial growth, and the state's economic competitiveness with neighbouring regions.

A political controversy has emerged in Tamil Nadu regarding Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and Chief Minister Vijay's potential projection as the opposition alliance's Prime Ministerial face for 2029. The pitch has encountered strong resistance from alliance partners and criticism from the opposition. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami mocked the ambition, remarking that Vijay could even seek to become the United States President. Key allies, including the Congress and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, rejected the proposal, maintaining that Rahul Gandhi remains the primary choice for Prime Minister for the INDIA bloc. The discussion gained traction following the India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation poll, which ranked Vijay third in national Prime Ministerial preferences with nine per cent, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi at forty-nine per cent and Rahul Gandhi at twenty-seven per cent. The bulletin analysed factors behind his rise, including Gen Z appeal, stardom, and growing national curiosity.

A political debate has emerged within the Tamil Nadu ruling alliance between the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam and the Congress over the projection of the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 general elections. Several legislators and ministers from the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam have suggested that the future Prime Minister will be decided from Tamil Nadu, promoting Chief Minister Vijay for the national role. In response, Congress leaders have dismissed these statements, maintaining that Rahul Gandhi remains the Prime Ministerial face of the national opposition alliance. Congress representatives stated that the regional ally's members are operating in fan mode and asserted that top leadership stands behind Rahul Gandhi. The discussion highlights contrasting national leadership profiles, comparing the regional popularity, youth connect, and anti-establishment image of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with the parliamentary experience, nationwide party apparatus, and established opposition presence of the Congress leadership ahead of future general elections.