Located on the banks of the Thirumanimuthar River, Salem is a major city in the Salem district of the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located northwest of Tiruchirappalli, northeast of Coimbatore, southeast of Bangalore and southwest of the state capital, Chennai. Covering an area of 124 sq. km, it is the fifth-largest state in Tamil Nadu. Historically, the city was a part of the Chola dynasty. But Salem became a part of the Salem district after Indian independence in 1947. Technically, Salem city was formed on November 1, 1866. Salem is also surrounded by hills; Nagaramalai on the north, Jarugumalai on the south, Kanjamali on the west and Godumalai on the east. The Thirumanimuthar River flows through the city also dividing it into two.
Interestingly, Salem is famous for its silver jewellery as it produces world-class artistic silver anklets such as neck chains, toe rings, pendants and silverware. Notably, Shevapet, Sivathapuram and Panangadu are the areas where the silver products are manufactured in cottage industries. Also, Salem is a major textile industry in Tamil Nadu with over 125 spinning mills, weaving units and garment units. The city also houses a number of Sago factories for the production of starch.
In cuisine, Thattu vadai settu is a savory snack and popular street food which is said to be originated in Salem.
Apart from these, Salem also holds religious importance as it has a number of Hindu temples such as The Kottai Mariamman Temple which has an annual five-day festival, Sugavaneshwarar Temple and Gopuram. The city also boasts a fair number of tourist spots; Kiliyur Falls, Kailasanathar Temple, Kurumpapatti Zoological Park to name a few.
Actor Prakash Raj has questioned the election defeat of MK Stalin, seeking a probe into whether the DMK leader genuinely lost or was made to lose. Prakash Raj raised doubts regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, claiming that it could result in the removal of nearly 16 crore votes due to absent or not-at-home markings. He also opposed delimitation, terming it a betrayal of Tamil Nadu and stating he would oppose any party supporting it. Commenting on Chief Minister Vijay, Prakash Raj noted that people have chosen him in a democracy and should give him time. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami launched a sharp attack on Tamil Nadu minister Adhevarajana. EPS accused Adhevarajana of switching allegiances across parties, including DMK, VCK, and TVK, alleging he previously sought an AIADMK Deputy General Secretary post. EPS maintained that AIADMK does not sell posts and asserted his own massive victory margin in Edappadi.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Vijay Joseph opened the sluice gates of the Mettur Dam in Salem, releasing water to farmers across the Cauvery Delta region following an 80-day delay. The traditional June opening was postponed to September due to severe rainfall deficits and inadequate water releases from Karnataka into the Stanley Reservoir. Current water storage provides roughly 35 to 40 days of irrigation, missing the Kuruvai planting season and leaving Samba cultivation reliant on future reservoir inflows and the northeast monsoon. TVK spokesperson Sathya Kumar cited natural conditions for the delay, emphasizing plans to pursue dialogue and enforce Supreme Court rulings regarding Karnataka's water allocations. A broadcast discussion further addresses legal and diplomatic avenues in the Cauvery water dispute, alongside Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s proposal to link the Godavari and Kaveri rivers. The report also details political protests in Karnataka over alleged recruitment irregularities and covers flood aftermath and survivor accounts from Nepal's Trishuli region.
Water was released from the Mettur Dam in Salem district after water levels reached the required 90-foot mark, bringing crucial relief for farmers in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Delta region. The opening, delayed by nearly 80 days from the customary June 12 schedule due to low rainfall and delayed inflows, provides irrigation support for kuruvai, samba, and thalaidi crops. The Tamil Nadu government has planned a water release for 45 days, subject to storage and continuous inflows. However, concerns remain regarding long-term water security for the state's agricultural belt, which remains heavily dependent on sustained southwest monsoon rains and water releases from upstream Karnataka. The broader inter-state conflict over Cauvery river water sharing and the proposed Mekedatu dam project continues to be a subject of contention and legal dispute before the Supreme Court.
At the India Today Roundtable in Chennai, the proposed delimitation of Lok Sabha seats triggered a sharp clash over the future of South India’s political influence, with Opposition leaders warning that a population-based formula would punish the state for successfully controlling population growth. The BJP countered, arguing that the South would not be disadvantaged. MDMK leader Durai Vaiko, Congress leader Praveen Chakravarthy and DMK representative Salem Dharanidharan questioned the fairness of linking representation solely to population, citing Tamil Nadu’s contribution to the national economy and its success in family planning. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, however, defended the Centre’s approach, saying the proposed expansion of Parliament would ensure that southern states retain their political weight while also enabling women’s reservation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi became India's longest continuously serving elected head of government, marking 4,399 days in office.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, DMK spokesperson Salem Dharanidharan discussed the political landscape in Tamil Nadu following actor Vijay's stunning electoral victory with his party, TVK and if this means the end of the road for Dravida parties.
High political drama was witnessed in West Bengal as Trinamool Congress candidates protested outside strongrooms in Kolkata, alleging EVMs manipulation by the BJP and election officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Madurai on March 1 and may offer prayers at the Thiruparankundram Murugan temple.
TVK chief Vijay held a high-voltage rally in Vellore, launching a sharp attack on Chief Minister MK Stalin and the ruling DMK.
Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran has issued a formal apology following widespread backlash over his controversial remarks concerning actor Trisha Krishnan and actor-turned-politician Vijay.
In a high-decibel political rally in Salem, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay launched a scathing attack on both the DMK and AIADMK, positioning the upcoming electoral battle as a direct contest between his party and the ruling DMK.
A 37-year-old man named Suraj from Maharashtra died during a Tamilar Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay in Salem, Tamil Nadu, sparking a political row.
A political row has erupted in Tamil Nadu following the death of a participant at a rally organised by Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Salem. AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan reportedly posted an insensitive remark, suggesting attendees should 'carry your coffin to attend Vijay's rally'.
A clash broke out between Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers and journalists in Salem following a rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay.
A tragedy has struck TVK leader Vijay's political rally in Salem, where one person reportedly fainted and subsequently passed away. The individual, who was reportedly from outside Tamil Nadu, was rushed to the Salem District Hospital but could not be revived.
Speaking at the India Today Tamil Nadu Roundtable, Felix Gerald, Spokesperson, TVK, Kovai Sathyan, Spokesperson, AIADMK, Salem Dharanidharan, Spokesperson, DMK, Vinoj P Selvam, Spokesperson, BJP, share their perspective on this and more.
On this news bulletin, political analyst Shekhar Iyer critiques the long-term impact of Dravidian parties on Tamil Nadu's growth. He asserts, 'The Dravidian parties have presided over the stagnation of the state,' arguing that the state would have reached greater heights had the BJP been given an earlier opportunity. The discussion contrasts the 'double engine' development model of BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh with the performance of Tamil Nadu and other southern states. Iyer also addresses the 'Vijay factor,' noting the actor-turned-politician's recent silence amid censor hurdles for his film 'Jananayakan.' He highlights the prevailing anti-incumbency issues facing the DMK government and the competitive 'dole politics' between the DMK and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The segment explores whether the narrative of regional development versus central empowerment will resonate with voters in the upcoming electoral battle.
This debate explores the constitutional crisis in the Tamil Nadu Assembly following Governor R.N. Ravi's decision to stage a walkout for the third consecutive year. The unidentified host highlights the friction between Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the Governor, who refused to read the customary address, citing 'inaccuracies' and 'misleading' claims. A key quote from the discussion notes: 'The Governor reads out the scripted speech. And the speech will always be congratulatory to the government of the day.' Panellists, including DMK spokesperson Salem Dharani Dharan and Supreme Court Advocate K.V. Dhananjay, debate whether the Governor's actions constitute a violation of constitutional conventions. The discussion further examines allegations of the Centre using Governors to interfere in non-BJP ruled states, with legal experts suggesting that such repeated walkouts set an 'unhealthy precedent' for Indian democracy and federalism.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the escalating constitutional crisis in Tamil Nadu as Governor R.N. Ravi staged a walkout from the State Assembly for the third consecutive year. The Governor refused to deliver the customary address prepared by the DMK government, claiming it contained 'unsubstantiated claims' and 'inaccuracies' regarding investment figures and women's safety. He further alleged that his microphone was muted and the national anthem was insulted. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin countered these claims, accusing the Governor of insulting the people of Tamil Nadu and acting at the behest of the Centre to stall state administration. Legal experts and political analysts on the panel debated whether the Governor’s actions violate constitutional conventions, with some calling for his recall to prevent an 'unhealthy precedent.' The programme explores the deepening rift between the Raj Bhavan and the state government ahead of the upcoming elections.
This Special Report examines the escalating political confrontation in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where Governor R.N. Ravi staged a walkout for the fourth consecutive year. The Governor declined to deliver the customary address, alleging the state-prepared text contained inaccuracies regarding investment figures and women's safety. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin retaliated by moving a resolution to record only the approved speech, accusing the Governor of violating constitutional traditions. The program also investigates a fatal infrastructure failure in Noida’s Sector 150, where 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta died after his vehicle plunged into a 30-foot deep, water-filled construction pit. The report highlights allegations of administrative negligence and delayed rescue efforts during the 72-hour recovery operation. Additionally, the broadcast covers the ongoing plight of Rameswaram fishermen facing arrests and harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Strait. Panelists including Salem Dharanidharan and K.C. Palaniswamy debate the erosion of democratic conventions and federal friction in non-BJP ruled states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
