Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: AIADMK's Women Push In 2nd Poll Candidates' List As EPS Eyes Comeback The AIADMK has released its second list of candidates for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, signaling a strategic shift toward balancing experienced legislators with younger, less-established figures while increasing the number of women in the contest. Party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, known as EPS, is aiming to revive the party’s fortunes after three consecutive electoral losses since the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The list includes 127 candidates, with 29 sitting MLAs, 26 former legislators, and five ex-MPs, reflecting an effort to blend continuity with new energy. Women’s representation has also seen a notable boost, with 17 female candidates listed so far. However, the reshuffle has excluded several prominent figures, including sitting MLAs like Chitra from Yercaud, Senthilkumar from Kallakurichi, and former ministers such as Sevoor Ramachandran and Vaigai Selvan KV Ramalingam. These exclusions suggest the leadership is prioritizing fresh faces and new strategies. Among the new entrants are S Syed Sultan Samsuddin, IT wing secretary from Palayamkottai; Mangulam Mahendran, legal wing member; Dr S Dhivya from Krishnarayapuram; and Maragatham Vettrivel from Pappirettipatti. The party’s core team emphasized that EPS has selected a “fine mix of experience, freshers, and more women,” highlighting the strategic recalibration ahead of the polls. Key contests include Gobichettipalayam, where VB Prabhu faces expelled AIADMK veteran KA Sengottaiyan, now aligned with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).#aiadmk #j_jayalalithaa #tamil_nadu #tvk #edappadi_k_palaniswami
Blocked, censored, and pressured: The long history of Vijay films being stopped before they could reach his fans VijayActor-politician Vijay is still awaiting the release of his final film Jana Nayagan. The film has been stuck in certification limbo for nearly three months, with no official release date announced. This situation, while unprecedented, is not entirely new for Vijay, whose career has repeatedly faced political pressure, legal challenges, and last-minute certification hurdles before his films could reach audiences. In 2013, his film Thalaivaa was set for a global release on August 9. However, theatres in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remained dark. The controversy stemmed from the film’s tagline, “Time to Lead,” which the AIADMK government, led by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, reportedly viewed as a direct challenge to her leadership. Despite the backlash, the film eventually premiered internationally, though its domestic release was delayed. Four years later, Mersal faced scrutiny from the BJP in 2017. The party demanded the removal of scenes in which Vijay’s character criticized the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Digital India initiative. The contentious scene depicted the character pointing out that Singapore charges just 7% GST and provides free healthcare, while India’s higher rates could not guarantee similar benefits. The film also encountered certification issues with the Animal Welfare Board of India, which initially refused a no-objection certificate over the use of animals in production. The Telugu dubbed version, Adirindhi, faced further delays at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), where producers were asked to mute or delete the controversial dialogues. They chose to mute them, sparking outrage among fans who endured long silences in theatres.#kamal_haasan #vijay_actor_politician #aiadmk #j_jayalalithaa #cbfc
