- 16 hours ago
Thirupparankundram, a temple town 30 minutes from Madurai, has become the centre of a heated political showdown following clashes in December 2025 over Karthigai Deepam.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:04We're coming a little away from the city, about 30 minutes away.
00:11A lot of devotees will stream in here on a daily basis, very famous locally.
00:17But why is it that we've come here?
00:28Panakkam from Tirupara Kundram, a small hillock just about 30 minutes away from Madurai City.
00:34But what brings me here to this particular land, you may have guessed from the peacock next to me,
00:39that we're in the abode of Lord Muruga.
00:42And the reason I've come here is because unlike ever before,
00:45my political reporting has brought me to a hill shrine,
00:50to a temple that's in the midst of a heated political showdown.
00:53And it's never happened in Tamil Nadu that you've seen politics over a place of worship actually take centre stage.
01:01Tirupara Kundram is a location that's known to locals in Tamil Nadu,
01:04to Tamil Nadu people as a sacred location for Lord Muruga.
01:07But today it's known for much more nationally, for being a huge political flashpoint.
01:13We're going to be getting you those details, but first, soak in the beauty, Tirupara Kundram.
01:30Tirupara Kundram, just 30 minutes from Madurai, is now at the heart of a political showdown,
01:36courtesy of what happened in December 2025.
01:46I'll get to that in a bit.
01:48But first, about the Murugan temple itself.
01:57This right here is the Tirupara Kundram Koil.
02:00It's a Murugan temple in Madurai.
02:02It's about 30 minutes away from Madurai actually.
02:04You can see it's bustling.
02:06A lot of devotees who stream in here on a daily basis, very famous locally.
02:10But why is it that we've come here?
02:12Because perhaps for the first time in Tamil Nadu politics,
02:16you have a temple at the heart of a political showdown.
02:19Ask me in 2021 when I came to Madurai, when I came across Tamil Nadu,
02:23if I knew of this temple, not really.
02:25I'd heard of it, but never really in the context of politics.
02:28Today, that's changed.
02:30And we're going to explore why, what is the showdown about,
02:33and very importantly, the three-way fight that's playing out for the Tirupara Kundram seat.
03:02And viewers and viewers.
03:04I'm going to hear you.
03:05You're going to see a huge fight.
03:05I'm going to see you next time.
03:05I'm going to see you there.
03:05And so you get to see you that's pretty great.
03:06I can't see you there.
03:07He did not know his makeup, but he did not know his job and he did not know his job.
03:13He was a kid at work at a time.
03:19I saw him, and he had a break.
03:22And he did not know his marriage.
03:25I'm going to go there.
03:55What do you think about this coil's importance?
03:58In Tamil Nadu, there is a 6th place.
04:04There is a 6th place.
04:06There is a 6th place.
04:06There is a 6th place.
04:07There is a 6th place.
04:08There is a 6th place.
04:10There is a 6th place.
04:36What is the temple called the Murugan Temple?
04:38Do you say the first time the temple has a speciality.
04:42Do you ever see the name of the temple in my life?
04:45The temple is the speciality.
04:47We have a place in the last few months.
04:50We have a place in Murugan,
04:51and we have a place in the house.
05:00The biggest festival in Musla Murugan Koeil is in the Karthikaai Deepa, so do you like that?
05:07No, the main festival is in the Karthikaai Deepa.
05:22The first festival is in the Karthikaai Deepa.
05:40So let's get to the controversy now.
05:51Karthikaai Deepa, the divine day for Lord Murugan, saw clashes in December 2025,
05:56as a court order to light the Deepaam on the hilltop next to a dargah was ignored.
06:25Vettrivel Murugan, a temple official and a BJP worker who is there on the night of the showdown,
06:29tells me what happened, what he saw.
06:32What happened? I think four months ago is when there was a showdown on the Deepaam.
06:39There was no problem. Hindus and Muslims, they have no problem.
06:45Before 70 years, 70 years to 80 years, we do the lamping on the Deepaam, on the top of the
06:54Deepaam.
06:57This was about 80 years ago.
06:59This was about 80 years ago.
06:5980 years ago.
07:02300 years before, we were lamping on the top of the Deepaam.
07:09But nowadays, the government creates some problems.
07:14But why did it suddenly become an issue?
07:1770-80 years, they have been lighting the Deepaam here?
07:19That's the court order.
07:20So, one member putting the case against the Deepaam.
07:24Who put the case?
07:25Rama Ravikumar, the Hinduist.
07:28Rama Ravikumar.
07:29But not political party.
07:30He is a political party.
07:32But Hindus, Adhravala.
07:35So, they are putting the case on High Court.
07:38The High Court briefly allowed all the sessions.
07:45They create the history of the Deepaam and put the order.
07:51Dr. Swaminathan, they put the order.
07:54Correct.
07:55So, you were here.
07:56You were here at that time.
07:57What happened that day when you were supposed to light the lamp?
08:00That day, the judge will give the order of lamping on the Deepaam.
08:06But the government, protect the police.
08:10Make the protection with police.
08:13They did not allow it.
08:14Because of some problems or greater, 100 problems.
08:17They put 144 and no one can go to the top of the hill.
08:23What do the locals have to say?
08:24Are the locals feeling that unnecessarily some disturbance has been started?
08:29Local people getting aggressive.
08:30Why are you angry?
08:33Why are you angry?
08:36Because of...
08:37Because of...
08:38They are Hindus.
08:40The Hindus value.
08:42These are Hindus value.
08:44Hindus rights.
08:46So, the government will stop the rights and do nothing for Hindus ideology.
08:54So, you have no sentiment that we were trying, that everything was peaceful.
09:00Suddenly, there was a political movement started.
09:02That's why we are paying the price.
09:04There is a tension.
09:05There is no sentiment.
09:06No.
09:07That's all.
09:07The government will create.
09:09Create the problem.
09:10No.
09:14No.
09:22No.
09:23No.
09:30No.
09:31No one issue created in the .
09:33Muslim are Hindus.
09:35But the government created a Muslim Hindu's problem.
09:38Because of they are getting minority votes.
09:41Minority supports.
09:42These are only the main reason.
09:44Sir, you have the court case.
09:46Last year.
09:47Last year.
09:48No.
09:49Last year.
09:50No court case.
09:51Who stopped there?
09:53There is no court case.
09:54Who stopped there?
09:54There is not a court case.
09:55There is a court case.
09:55H.R.C.E. Department.
09:57H.R.C.E.
09:58H.R.C.E. Department.
09:59By the order of the government.
10:02The no...
10:02Not allowed.
10:03Not allowed.
10:04Not allowed to any...
10:05Any prosperity nearby.
10:08The Dharka.
10:24So, we have actually come on a day that's a grand festival.
10:26It's referred to as Tiruvila here in Tamil Nadu.
10:29The symbol you see are the many symbols of Lord Murga.
10:32But the one that you will see define Tamil Hindus largely is the veil, which is the spear.
10:37It's considered to be, of course, the weapon of Lord Murga.
10:42And so, for devotees, the reason the veil holds such significance is it's considered to be a symbol that protects
10:49them.
10:49That wards off negativity.
10:52So, almost every part of Tamil Nadu that you see, Hindus, practicing Hindus, you will see that they hold with
10:58them some symbol of the veil.
11:00Either with them in their homes or even on their vehicles.
11:03It's considered to be one of the most symbolic messages of devotion to Lord Murga.
11:12This time, Tiruparak Kundram is also seeing an intense fight.
11:16DMK's first-timer, Dr. Kirtiga, is squaring off against TVK's CTR, Nirmal Kumar, and the incumbent AIA-DMK MLA, Rajan
11:24Chalappa.
11:28Hot, hot day in Tiruparak Kundram.
11:30It's the case everywhere in Tamil Nadu. So, it doesn't stop us. We're meeting all of the candidates.
11:34And look, there's a superstar who's entered the political fray.
11:37And so, his candidates get a super campaign.
11:41I'm joining, right now, CTR Nirmal Kumar, the candidate in Tiruparak Kundram, in a flashy red car with the party
11:47colours on.
11:48Sir, Panakkam.
11:50Panakkam, Panakkam.
11:50Thank you so much for having us. Can I join you on the drive?
11:52Yes, yes, definitely. We are starting the campaign.
11:54Okay, great. I'm coming.
11:55Please.
11:58Let's go.
12:00Let's go.
12:07So, Mr. Nirmal Kumar?
12:08Yes.
12:08Is the party also in the driver's seat like you are?
12:11No, no, definitely. Like, because today we wanted to start. I thought I'll drive.
12:14Correct.
12:15And we have our district secretary, so we both, we thought we'll drive and we'll start. We'll do the campaign
12:19today.
12:20So, why, why have you chosen Tiruparak Kundram?
12:22See, see.
12:23It's in the midst of a controversy also.
12:25See, one thing like, which we thought is like, at one end, DMK is the one party who made this
12:33issue very big.
12:34Yeah.
12:34Because they had the law and order in their control, and they had all power in control, and they had
12:40their intelligence in control, and they know like this is going to boom up.
12:43Hmm.
12:44And if they would have, like, at least had some five percentage, taken some five percentage steps, they would have
12:51stopped this issue long back itself.
12:53Hmm.
12:53Because when they started, like, first time something is going to happen, they should have stopped it.
12:58They let this issue happen, and they made this issue as a bigger issue, and at the other end, BJP,
13:06they wanted to create one more IOD, where they used ADMK as a puppet here.
13:13And ADMK did not even open their mouth on this, and at last, ADMK supported without knowing what is going
13:18to happen.
13:18No, so what is the DVK standard of this?
13:20See, one thing, see, with respect to Tamil Nadu people, and with respect to Tamil Nadu, see, none of the
13:27Tamil Nadu people are interested in creating any issues in Tamil Nadu.
13:31Like religious?
13:32Religious, or community, or anything.
13:35Any issues, like, because like more than 25 years, this state is very peace.
13:38Hmm.
13:39And we wanted to maintain the same.
13:40Since BJP don't have any hold, they created this emotional issue, and they wanted to boom this issue.
13:46Definitely no one, I know the people of Tirupanuram here, in and around.
13:50None of the people did not like this approach.
13:52Since you mentioned the BJP, I think we'll end this once and for a while.
13:55Was there an attempt by the BJP to reach out to your party?
13:59Regarding…
14:00Alliance?
14:01See, you know…
14:01Because last week, everyone was talking about it.
14:02No, no, see, you know, every party wanted to have alliance with us.
14:06Including BJP?
14:06No, no, everyone.
14:07See, from before the party was started, before our leaders started the party, you know,
14:12Seeman was one who was expressing that, Tambi is going to come in to start the party and
14:17etc.
14:18From Seeman, from ADMK, and all parties wanted to have alliance with us, because they could
14:23see a huge momentum in Tamil Nadu.
14:25But our leader thought is entirely different.
14:27But, you know, an election is about more than support, sir.
14:30A campaign, to ensure you have the kind of, you know, money power, to ensure you have
14:35the kind of influence.
14:36Otherwise, you see what's happening even right now, the crackdown by authorities constantly.
14:40No, see…
14:40You're not able to campaign…
14:41You see, if you wanted to just acquire power, then you are not the person fit for right
14:48politics.
14:49So, getting power, getting money, getting contracts, and living with that power is not the politics
14:55which our leader is looking into it.
14:57Getting power alone is not for politics.
14:59That approach needs to change.
15:00So, we wanted to work for the people, and we wanted to help the people, and we wanted
15:04to change the life of the people here.
15:05I'll ask you one thing.
15:06Yes.
15:07The manifesto and the promises, TVK is made.
15:09Yes, yes, yes.
15:09It's not different, sir, from other political parties.
15:11Same fair freebies, what you're talking about.
15:14No, no.
15:14See, it is not freebies.
15:16It is…
15:17That's freebies, sir.
15:17Tamil Nadu is known for this.
15:18No, no, no.
15:19Every party does it.
15:19Now, TVK also is doing it.
15:20It is not freebies.
15:22It is for the people.
15:23And it needs to be given to the people in a proper way.
15:25So, when you see the budget, and when you see all the debit which has been, the loan
15:30the government has been taken, when you compare all this, when you take 30 percentage,
15:34it is more than some 4-5 lakh crores has been spundled by these politicians in the last
15:39five years alone.
15:40If you spend that properly, you can give, you can support people more than this.
15:44This is very minimum.
15:45Sir, this is big money that you're talking about.
15:47Yeah, yeah.
15:47Which is the other question.
15:49Yeah, yeah, definitely.
15:49And I think what we'll do is we'll take a small break.
15:51Yes, yes, yes.
15:52Because it's extremely hot, sir.
15:53I don't know if you feel it, but I feel like it's very, very hot.
15:56Yes, yes.
15:56So, we'll stop for a brief break and then we'll continue this conversation.
15:59Sure, sure, sure.
16:07Sir, can you tell me about your money or...?
16:09Yes, yes.
16:11Yes, yes.
16:11Sir, can you tell me about your money or...?
16:12Yes, yes.
16:13Sir, what's your money?
16:16Yes, yes.
16:17Will you see him campaigning here, sir?
16:19No, definitely.
16:20Yes, definitely.
16:21Definitely our leader will come here.
16:23Because we have to plan on the bigger road.
16:25Because like...
16:26You have over 200 seats to cover.
16:28No, definitely.
16:28Maximum our leader will cover.
16:30And with similar situations like lapse of security yesterday.
16:36So, our leader is more concerned again on the safety of the people other than the campaign.
16:41So, definitely that is the reason.
16:42After what happened?
16:42That was the reason our leader has cancelled the programme yesterday.
16:48So, tell me something, sir.
16:49Are you a fan of Vijay?
16:51Of the actor?
16:53See, definitely.
16:53No, no.
16:53See, definitely.
16:54He was the only person whose movie I used to go and watch in theatre.
16:59Which is your favourite?
17:00I mean, Leo was the one.
17:01Leo?
17:01Which I watched several times.
17:03And Leo movie was the one I...
17:05Whenever I sit home, I used to go to there and watch the movie from OTT.
17:10So, Leo movie, I love you.
17:11Watch him.
17:11See, he is the same person.
17:13Really?
17:13Same attitude.
17:15Meaning like very calm.
17:17No, no, no.
17:17He is very strong.
17:18See, whenever...
17:19See, that is what the person needs to be.
17:20Whenever you want to be calm, you have to be calm.
17:22Whenever you are very strong, you need to take a strong decision.
17:25See, I have seen him taking that stand a lot of times.
17:29He is not a politician.
17:31He is a statement.
17:32Yeah, I gave my statement.
17:33I am into it.
17:34Not like that.
17:34He follows up.
17:35He takes a stand.
17:37Definitely he is in the stand.
17:38100%.
17:39And definitely 100% he will work for the people.
17:42He is the talapati of Tamil Nadu.
17:43Yeah, definitely.
17:45He will be the only person who can be the talapati of people.
17:48Not like other political...
17:51Duplicate talapati.
17:52Duplicate talapati.
17:53I like that one.
17:54We will see, sir.
17:54We will continue our drive.
17:55Sure, sure.
17:56I would love to see more of Tirupara Kundra.
17:58Sure.
17:59Anandana.
18:00Anandana.
18:05Anandana.
18:06So, why is Mr. Vijay fighting in two seats?
18:08Because there is one theory, which is that one he is keeping as a backup seat.
18:12In case he loses one, he has got another one as backup.
18:14Most politicians do it.
18:15See, definitely whichever tough seats, if you think, if our leader contests, he will win
18:22with the maximum majority.
18:24So, both seats?
18:25No, no.
18:26See, whichever.
18:26You think some other constituency is very tough for a TVK.
18:30Our leader contests there.
18:33Definitely he will win with a huge majority and a huge difference.
18:36No, but are you choosing seats based on minority vote, based on urban pocket?
18:41No, no.
18:42There should be a thinking, sir.
18:43What is the strategy?
18:44Center of Tamil Nadu, which DMK thinks it is their heart.
18:48Okay.
18:48Center of Tamil Nadu.
18:49And the next is Chennai.
18:51Chennai, North Chennai.
18:52Chennai, they think, DMK thinks like every time Chennai people will, they do some parks.
18:58They make some parks for several hundred crores.
19:00And they were cheating these people for some 60, 70 years.
19:04And definitely we wanted to break DMK and what they have been doing.
19:36What does the DMK have to say about the showdown?
19:39Well, with the current candidate and newcomer being rather media shy,
19:43I asked the question of the Tirupara Kundram controversy to Minister PTR.
19:49I'll raise one example of what's been happening here.
19:52You know, I'm sure of what's happening close to Madurai.
19:54I was there yesterday, Tirupara Kundram, and the controversy surrounding it.
19:58The question that's constantly raised is when a court is given an order,
20:01why was the government so hesitant in just implementing that order?
20:04I mean, listen, this is a very complex issue.
20:09I've already opined on it like 50 times.
20:11I don't, like I have a brain that doesn't feel like doing the same thing again and again.
20:16So I apologize. I'll send you a clip you can refer to it.
20:19But I think about new thoughts. I don't keep saying the same old thing.
20:25This is a manufactured controversy that neither the litigant was local,
20:30nor was this never, you know, in judicial, what do you say, site before.
20:39There was already a two judge, bench judgment on this.
20:44There was a lot of legal issues about it.
20:46It's a complicated thing. I don't want to get into it.
20:48But it is effective. Court order should be implemented.
20:52Yeah, then there are constitutional remedies for that.
20:56There was a 144 issue. There was a mob. There was all kinds of things.
21:00I'm bored of the topic. Which was because it wasn't.
21:02Yeah, I'm bored of the topic. I've already explained it at length.
21:04I can refer you to half a dozen videos.
21:06I can't keep saying the same thing again and again. I'm a busy man.
21:09Okay.
21:15On to the next.
21:16We meet AIADMK's candidate, the strongman of the region, Rajin Chalappa.
21:26He's out on RWA duty.
21:37But we're just about ensure he takes time out for us.
21:39Yes, sir.
21:40Everyone says that this is a strong seat.
21:44Yes, sir.
21:44Yes, sir.
21:45Yes, sir.
21:47What's the definition of this strong seat?
21:49It's not a big deal.
21:50Everyone is here.
21:53We're here.
21:55We're here.
21:56We're here.
21:57We're here.
21:57We're here.
21:58We're here.
21:59We're here.
22:00We're here.
22:03We're here.
22:04We're here.
22:15All right.
22:16All right.
22:17you're not here, Sam.
22:25Okay, sir.
22:26All right, sir.
22:29You know,
22:34you can see the right, right?
22:34We have to receive the service from our own.
22:36We have to receive the service from our own service.
22:43In this case, we have a very good job.
22:45We have to get the service from our own service.
22:51Now, you know, you have to come in your seat.
22:53You know, a national media.
22:56You know what the name is.
22:58What is the name of your name?
23:01What's the name of Mr. Nive?
23:04I am a listener.
23:06I am a listener.
23:07We are working on a team,
23:10and we are working on a team.
23:13We are working on a team,
23:16and we are working on a team.
23:18I am happy with my team,
23:27and we are working on a team.
23:29One person is certain.
23:31They have to come in with a problem.
23:35Or they can tell you something.
23:35When a person is a person,
23:37they can't tell.
23:37Like a person,
23:38maybe they will become a person.
23:41But if they become someone who is a person,
23:44they will tell us.
23:46Their people in person,
23:49they will listen to me.
23:51But in the pidginamader,
23:54they will ask me to ask me why they areتى
23:59They say they're there, they send me emails.
24:02It's my email, they send me email.
24:04They send me email.
24:04That's what I do.
24:07Look at that when we call it,
24:11that's what it tells me.
24:11and they send me email.
24:13They send me email and send me email.
24:15And that's why they send me email.
24:20You go to email,
24:22and they send me email.
24:25There's this email.
24:26They're not going to ask me.
24:28Because of Tmukha's.
24:32We must say the man is the first we can do.
24:33There is also the man who will do the work with the man.
24:36There is a man who will do it for the man.
24:36So the man will dress away during the Kamiis.
24:39Like Kamiis or The Mutika whose man put in the car.
24:43If he was aware of his wife's wife and told him,
24:46he was girls that way.
24:47He was the man.
24:47He was the man.
24:48He was a man.
24:49He was the man.
24:51He was the man.
24:51He was the man.
24:5110, 15, 15, 15.
24:52So he told him he was the man,
24:55He was the man.
24:56He was the man that he was born.
24:57Thank you so much.
25:27But here in Tirupara Kundram, because there's so much at stake, this is a seat that's being watched nationally, you
25:33feel this political atmosphere heating up.
25:36You feel that pressure kind of seeping into the soil of Tirupara Kundram.
25:41The people know it, the candidates know it too.
26:18The people know it too.
Comments