- 14 hours ago
The Tamil Nadu government faces political turbulence as Chief Minister Vijay appoints a personal astrologer as an Officer on Special Duty, drawing criticism over administrative credentials. Ahead of a crucial assembly floor test, thirty rebel AIADMK MLAs led by S.P. Velumani and C.V. Shanmugham have pledged support to the TVK-led government, officially severing ties with the BJP. During the session, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his controversial stance on Sanatana Dharma. Administratively, the state announced the closure of seven hundred liquor shops near schools and temples, alongside new bans on political hoardings and the creation of women's safety task forces. In Kerala, a leadership struggle for the Chief Minister post has emerged between K.C. Venugopal and V.D. Satheesan following the UDF election victory. Meanwhile, in Telangana, a POCSO case was filed against Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son, Bandi Sai Bhagirath. The broadcast also confirmed the return of actor Mohanlal for the third installment of the Drishyam film franchise.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Often, do you see an astrologer move from reading horoscopes to sitting in the corridors of power?
00:06Not often.
00:07But in Tabarnado's newest political twist, under a government that's promised change,
00:13Vijay's personal astrologer, his name is Rikki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel.
00:18He's been appointed as officer on special duty to the chief minister.
00:22Why?
00:23Well, we don't really have the answer to that.
00:25What really is his credential? What experience does he have to be OSD to the chief minister?
00:30Again, we don't know.
00:31But we know this.
00:32He predicted Vijay's victory.
00:34And now, the man once known for decoding stars and lucky numbers has been pulled directly into Tabarnado's political machinery.
00:42Let's be clear that as OSD to CM political, he may not have the powers to go ahead and sign
00:46off on official letters,
00:48but crucial to how the government and how chief minister Vijay himself functions.
00:52Radhan Pandit, for months, has aggressively pushed the narrative that Vijay's political rise was written in the stars.
00:59Interviews, YouTube appearances, public speeches.
01:01He described Vijay's horoscope as what he called a political tsunami that would reshape the state.
01:07He even broke down the numerology behind the name Tamirugavetri Kargam,
01:11claiming letters and numbers align perfectly with Vijay's destiny.
01:14And then came the results. TVK's victory triggered a flood of old prediction clips on social media.
01:20Supporters hailed him as a visionary who foresaw the shift before anyone else.
01:25But there's more to the story.
01:27Who we're talking about?
01:29Radhan Pandit is a new to Tamirugavetri's power circles.
01:31He was once closely associated with Amma, Jailalitha,
01:35until one disastrous prediction reportedly shattered that relationship.
01:38He had allegedly assured Jailalitha she would avoid jail in the DA case.
01:42That didn't happen in 2014. She was imprisoned.
01:45And so Jailalitha reportedly cut ties with him completely.
01:48The astrologer quietly moved to Singapore.
01:50Politics, however, loves comebacks.
01:53Even if it's not of politicians, sometimes of astrologers too.
01:56After resurfacing in Delhi and rebuilding connections,
02:00Radhan Pandit has found a new opening through Vijay's party.
02:03And slowly his influence became visible.
02:05He publicly predicted TVK's rise.
02:08And now he's gone from astrologer to insider.
02:11And everyone's wondering one thing.
02:13How much will astrology decide Chief Minister Vijay's moves now?
02:18Because he's no longer an individual watching his stars.
02:21He's steering a state now.
02:23And his personal astrologer has now become OSD to the Chief Minister.
02:28Not a small responsibility.
02:30And what is his credential?
02:31Just that he is an astrologer who Vijay trusts.
02:37Right trial government, you can see.
02:39Good quality government.
02:41Poor, upper middle class, middle class, everybody can be equally visioned.
02:45No caste bar, no communal bar, no religion bar.
02:48Very easily, lovely, we can enjoy our life, brother.
02:51Like Charan Chengu Tum time or Karigal Chodan time.
02:54Not Raj Raj Chodan.
02:55Even nearly a thousand years before he had kingdom was there.
02:57It was with Karigal Chodan and then Charan Chengu Tum.
03:00I believe that kingdom is coming back.
03:02Like Kilari, what is the life they lived?
03:04We don't know.
03:05Now we can see now.
03:06What a great life we are going to get.
03:08You know, I made all of the questions about how Vijay would do in a matter of 48 hours.
03:11He's already quoted controversy with this move.
03:13And I'd like to bring in Pramod Madhav and Anaka Keshav, both joining us live from Chennai.
03:18Pramod, good evening.
03:19Were you surprised by this decision by Chief Minister Vijay?
03:22Look, we all knew.
03:24We all knew that Vijay always consults his astrology before taking any decision,
03:28including when the swearing-in ceremony was supposed to happen.
03:32But for that personal relationship to translate into becoming the OSD to Chief Minister,
03:37it's a very powerful position, Pramod.
03:39Good evening, Yakshita.
03:40In fact, we just put forward these questions to TVK leaders as well.
03:43And to make one thing very clear, we're not trying to say, you know, defend the Chief Minister.
03:46But what we got in response from Tamarigavitchi Karakam leaders is like,
03:50what has gone wrong with all the decisions that the Chief Minister has made so far?
03:53One being closing 717 TASMAC shops, and then also like various other decisions,
03:59like, you know, meeting with the other leaders of the government,
04:02be the Chief Minister, former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and such.
04:04So that's the only kind of like, you know, explanation or rebuttal we are getting from the TVK.
04:10But very certainly, this has turned out to be a controversy.
04:12But very clearly, TVK also says that the new OSD is going to be in a role of an advisor.
04:18Is it going to be an astrological advisor?
04:19Or this is going to be something very important in a way with multiple advisors is going to happen.
04:23We'll have to wait on what's that.
04:24I'm telling you again, we're not trying to defend the Chief Minister,
04:27but it is a rebuttal that I've got from the TVK on this matter.
04:31There are questions, and Anagar, I'll bring you in on this.
04:33There are questions being asked right now by even allies like the Congress,
04:37who have rubbished this move.
04:38You've got MPs publicly saying, why?
04:41Why is an astrologer being made OSD to the Chief Minister?
04:45Look, there's no problem if Vijay himself believes in astrology,
04:48takes decisions based on what his astrologer tells him.
04:51We are no one to question what his personal faith or belief is.
04:54But to mention and make that person get a bumper promotion,
04:57put him as the OSD to the Chief Minister, give him an official position,
05:01is uncalled for, will lead to questions
05:03about whether this is the change in governance he was referring to.
05:08That's right.
05:09In fact, and this would also mean that the Rajan Pandit Petrivel
05:13would also be on government's payroll.
05:15And I think a lot of questions about his credibility in the first place.
05:20Although it is the Chief Minister's prerogative
05:23to choose who he wants to, to serve as an OSD.
05:26But, you know, a lot of people would say that
05:28at least that person should be qualified enough
05:31in terms of experience, in terms of years served as an official.
05:36But the only qualification that he seems to have
05:38is that he's an astrologer.
05:39Really raising a lot of questions about the choice
05:42of the Chief Minister in the first place.
05:45Anagar Pramod, I request both of you to stay with me.
05:47So on one hand, you have all of this controversy playing out
05:50over the choice of a personal astrologer
05:52moving to OSD to Chief Minister.
05:54And as Anagar points out,
05:55he's also going to be on the government's payroll.
05:57What's his credential?
05:58He's nothing but an astrologer.
06:00Yes, he predicted a TVK sweep.
06:02But does that really go ahead and qualify him
06:05to be an OSD to the Chief Minister?
06:07We leave it to you to decide.
06:09But this has led to a controversy.
06:11Let's cut across now to breaking news that's coming in.
06:21It's D-Day for Chief Minister Vijay tomorrow in the Assembly.
06:25Why am I saying that?
06:26Because tomorrow morning is that all-crucial floor test.
06:30And ahead of that,
06:31Chief Minister Vijay, kind of counting down on the numbers,
06:34is holding a meeting with all the TVK MLAs
06:37to understand really what kind of numbers he has,
06:40what should be his strategy.
06:41Remember that in the last 48 hours,
06:43Vijay has been busy.
06:44He's reached out to the DMK.
06:46He's reached out to every political party.
06:48The MDK, the MDMK, the NTK, PMK, everyone,
06:53including meeting the AIA-DMK rebels.
06:56One question that's being asked right now
06:58is how dependent Chief Minister Vijay will be
07:02on those numbers from the AIA-DMK rebels right now.
07:05Pramod, what's the sense you get on this floor test?
07:08Will it be smooth sailing for Vijay?
07:10Or is this going to be the first real test that he faces?
07:14Absolutely, Akshita.
07:15First of all, I'm sorry that you had to struggle
07:17with the acronyms for all the parties
07:18in the state of Tamil Nadu.
07:19But that's how it is.
07:21And considering now,
07:21he has made it very clear,
07:23let me just say it this way.
07:24He has met with the leaders of DMK,
07:26CPI, CPIM, IUML,
07:28VCK and Seemaan Aspen, that is NTK.
07:31Along with it, he also has gone ahead
07:33and met the rebel leaders of AIA-DMK.
07:35Until now, he has not met with Eda Pani K. Paniswami.
07:38However, VCK leader Tholtur Mavalan said
07:40that they have placed a request with Vijay
07:42as the Chief Minister to do so
07:43and he has agreed to it.
07:44Now, coming to the important aspect,
07:46these optics are also going to play
07:48a very important role in tomorrow's floor test.
07:50DMK very clearly said
07:51that they are not going to cause any kind of trouble
07:52at least for the next six months.
07:54CPI, CPIM, IUML and VCK
07:56are with the Chief Minister, Vijay's TVK.
07:59So, very clearly, tomorrow
08:00doesn't seem to be having any problem
08:01considering now, even 30 MLAs from AIA-DMK
08:04have assured that they are going to extend
08:05their support to TVK, Akshita.
08:09Okay, so we'll have to see
08:11if in fact Vijay passes this test.
08:13This is going to be the first test right now
08:16for him as far as the numbers go.
08:18You know, everyone's been talking about
08:19how at 120, Vijay is just precariously
08:22over the majority mark
08:23and so going forward,
08:25he'll need more numbers than that.
08:26So, if those actual more numbers come in,
08:28we'll know right now.
08:30We'll know come tomorrow,
08:31especially with the situation
08:32that the AIA-DMK is in.
08:33We'll talk about the AIA-DMK in just a bit.
08:36But focusing on Vijay,
08:37let me also tell you about the big announcements
08:39that he made today.
08:41The biggest being on liquor stores.
08:44It's called Tasmak in Tamil Nadu.
08:46Essentially, they are owned by the government.
08:48So, it's the Tamil Nadu liquor stores
08:50and there's been a huge controversy debate over this.
08:53In a welcome move now,
08:55what has Chief Minister Vijay done?
08:57He's announced that all of these liquor stores,
09:00about 700 of them,
09:03717 Tasmak outlets,
09:05these are located near places of worship.
09:07There could be temples, schools,
09:09bus stands,
09:10projecting the move as a major public welfare step.
09:13All those liquor outlets will be closed.
09:15The Vijay administration has also ordered a crackdown
09:17on roadblock celebrations
09:20while banning public posters,
09:22giant cutouts to reduce disruption
09:23and improve civic discipline.
09:25So, two very important decisions that have been taken
09:28and both decisions that effectively
09:30are about making change
09:33and addressing civic issues.
09:35That seems to be also Vijay's focus,
09:38core focus right now.
09:40Why do I say that?
09:40Because in 48 hours,
09:42let's tell you about all the big moves
09:44that Chief Minister Vijay has made.
09:46It gives you a sense of his priority areas.
09:47Like I said,
09:48liquor shops are being shut,
09:50717 of them.
09:51These are liquor shops
09:52that are close to places of worship,
09:54that are close to educational institutions as well.
09:57Very, very important.
09:58So, those and bus stands,
09:59they've all been shut down.
10:01717 of them have been identified.
10:03This is a move that's been welcomed,
10:05cutting across political lines.
10:06Secondly, besides this TASMAC crackdown,
10:10the other big move
10:11that Chief Minister Vijay made today
10:13is that he's put out
10:14a detailed post on social media
10:16where he said that,
10:18look, anyone who puts out cutouts,
10:20hoardings,
10:21these giant posters
10:22anywhere in Tamil Nadu
10:23will be penalised.
10:25In a state,
10:26and if you've been to Tamil Nadu,
10:28you know this,
10:28every other wall is plastered with posters.
10:30There are massive hoardings everywhere,
10:32cutouts everywhere
10:33and that was the case for Vijay too.
10:34TVK hoardings were everywhere.
10:36That's what I noticed
10:37when I was in Chennai.
10:38Now, what you're seeing,
10:39essentially,
10:40is Vijay saying,
10:41nope, that will no longer happen.
10:42He's asked for all posters
10:44to be removed,
10:45all cutouts to be removed.
10:47Welcome change again.
10:48And that's not all.
10:49As soon as he was sworn in
10:51as Chief Minister,
10:52what's the first thing Vijay did?
10:53He announced 200 units
10:55of free electricity.
10:56Remember that under the DMK regime,
10:58it was 100,
10:59so he's bumped that up
11:00to 200 units of free electricity.
11:03Again, focusing
11:04on a public first approach,
11:06ensuring that immediate relief
11:08is granted to them.
11:09Two promises that he said
11:10he'd focus on,
11:11women's safety
11:12and on drugs
11:14and the use of drugs
11:15by youngsters.
11:16So, what he's done
11:17is he's announced now
11:18what he calls
11:19the singer-pen force.
11:21It has nothing to do
11:22with the name of my show,
11:23but rather one of Vijay's films
11:24has a very popular song
11:25called Singer-penny.
11:27It's based on that.
11:28There's this women protection force
11:29has been set up
11:30and then you have
11:31the drug crackdown
11:35also with anti-drug units
11:36that have been set up
11:38in each district
11:40to ensure
11:40that there is a crackdown
11:42on drugs
11:43being easily available
11:44in schools
11:45and in educational institutions.
11:48So, as we get you
11:49all of those details
11:51or the steps
11:51that have been taken,
11:52what's very clear
11:53is that Chief Minister Vijay
11:54wants to send across
11:55the right message
11:56with the kind of announcements
11:57that he's been making.
11:58Each one of these
11:59hasn't seen much politics.
12:01In fact, there's been
12:01largely consensus over it
12:03with every political party
12:04saying, look,
12:05we welcome these steps.
12:07I'll bring in Aniga Kesha
12:08for more details on this
12:10and how really Vijay
12:11has kind of projected himself
12:13as someone who wants
12:14to address people's concerns.
12:16You look at the fact that,
12:18okay, Pramodh is with us.
12:20Pramodh, you look at the fact
12:21that there's a crackdown
12:22on TASMAC shops.
12:23Much, much needed.
12:24You know, there's been
12:25a lot of discourse over this
12:26and what's led
12:27to the TVK's decision
12:28is also finger-pointing
12:30at the DMK saying,
12:31why didn't you do something
12:32about this?
12:33717 TASMAC shops
12:35as a result
12:35will be shut, Pramodh.
12:38The important thing
12:39is that, like,
12:40not just now,
12:40back in 2016 elections,
12:41as you and me,
12:43we both actually observed
12:44the biggest aspect
12:45over there
12:46was prohibition
12:47closing of TASMAC shops.
12:48But that did not go well.
12:50And Jayelada promised
12:50that TASMACs
12:51would be closed
12:52step by step.
12:52But even after that,
12:535,500 TASMACs
12:55has almost gone up to
12:566,000 right now.
12:57But the important aspect
12:57that as government order,
12:59TASMAC shops are not...
13:00TASMAC shops means
13:02in the state of Tamil Nadu,
13:04only Tamil Nadu government
13:04has a right
13:05and a license
13:06to run liquor shops.
13:07And these liquor shops
13:08are not supposed to be,
13:09you know,
13:09operating anywhere
13:10500 meters
13:11within a range
13:12of a school,
13:13a residence,
13:14or any kind of place
13:15of worship,
13:15be it called a church,
13:17a temple,
13:17or a mosque.
13:18But however,
13:19such TASMAC shops
13:20have now been identified
13:21and those have been closed.
13:22And this seems to be
13:23a very important move
13:23because in the state
13:24of Tamil Nadu,
13:25quite a lot of women
13:26voted for Vijay,
13:27believing that he will curb,
13:29he will either stop
13:30or curb the menace
13:31of drug,
13:31especially liquor.
13:33And this seems to be
13:33the first step
13:34towards his action.
13:35All right.
13:36Pramut,
13:36just stay with me.
13:37We're also getting in
13:38a news break coming in.
13:39Yes,
13:39we're focusing on the policies,
13:40but there's a lot of politics
13:42that's playing out right now
13:43as far as the numbers go
13:45and that floor test
13:45that's expected to happen
13:46tomorrow morning.
13:48Amid that,
13:48Chief Minister Vijay
13:49has met with the
13:51AIADMK rebel leaders.
13:52Yesterday,
13:53if he met with
13:53every big political party,
13:55there was a big question mark
13:56on why Vijay
13:57didn't meet anyone
13:59from the AIADMK.
14:00Now,
14:01he's gone ahead
14:02and done that,
14:02but guess what?
14:03He's met the rebel side,
14:04which is CV Shanmugam,
14:05SP Velumani
14:06and the 30 plus MLAs
14:08who are on their side.
14:09It's led to intense speculation
14:11on whether Vijay,
14:12therefore,
14:13is going to bring them
14:14into his government,
14:15is seeking their support
14:16for the protest,
14:17which way is it going
14:17to really go?
14:18But ultimately,
14:19the fact that he's asked them
14:21or met them rather,
14:22has led to questions
14:23about whether the AIADMK
14:25or at least these
14:2530 plus rebel MLAs
14:27are going to be a part
14:28of the government
14:29and then what happens
14:30to the Congress.
14:32So,
14:32a lot that's playing out.
14:33I will also remind you
14:34that there's criticism
14:36that's come in the way
14:37of Vijay.
14:38Why is that?
14:38With the pictures
14:39that you see on your screens
14:40right now
14:41of Vijay meeting
14:42these AIADMK rebels,
14:44mind you,
14:44there are a lot of them
14:45who have multiple
14:46corruption cases
14:47against them.
14:47So then,
14:49will Vijay compromise
14:50on his ideals,
14:51on his principles
14:51and then go ahead
14:52and get their support
14:53because he needs it
14:54for the floor test
14:55or will he say
14:56nothing doing?
14:57I will not join hands
14:58with them.
14:59Pramod Madhav is live
15:00with us.
15:00Pramod,
15:01how do we read
15:01into these images?
15:03You know,
15:03we've had these rebel AIADMK MLAs
15:06this morning,
15:07CV Shanmogam saying,
15:08yes,
15:08we want to support Vijay.
15:10The mandate is for Vijay,
15:11we want to support him.
15:12Is this then
15:13a nod in that direction
15:15that Vijay is saying,
15:16you wanted to give me support,
15:17please go ahead
15:18and give it to me.
15:18I'll accept your support.
15:20Is that how we read
15:21into these images?
15:23Akshita,
15:23we're going back
15:24to the issue
15:24of scenarios once again
15:25and that seems to be
15:27one of the scenarios
15:27but very clearly,
15:28Vijay wants to make sure
15:29that the chief minister
15:30wants to make sure
15:30that his hands are clean
15:32and the important aspect
15:33is just like you mentioned
15:33and as we earlier mentioned,
15:35he has not gone
15:36and met
15:36Edapati K. Paniaswami yet
15:37even though
15:38the general secretary
15:39of AIDMK
15:39it is his birthday today.
15:41However,
15:41Vijay is planning to do that,
15:43the chief minister
15:44and right now
15:45he has gone only to meet
15:46CV Shanmogam,
15:47SP Velumani,
15:48Vijay Bhaskar
15:49and the supporting MLAs
15:51of their bad team
15:52and interestingly,
15:53he got a very,
15:53very warm welcome
15:54over there.
15:55CV Shanmogam,
15:56SP Velumani,
15:56you are so happy
15:57to see Vijay
15:58very clearly showing
15:59that they are going
16:00to support TVK
16:01even if TVK
16:02wants it or not
16:03but TVK right now
16:04does not even
16:05want to respond to it
16:06because imagine
16:06if tomorrow
16:07any other person
16:08from the party
16:08does not want to support
16:09like CPM, CPA,
16:11IUML or VCK
16:12which generally
16:12do not go
16:14after giving a promise
16:15or such and thing like that.
16:16Still,
16:17Vijay is going to have
16:18the support of these MLAs.
16:19However,
16:20the important aspect
16:21is that so far
16:21AI and UMK
16:22is not having
16:23a legislative party
16:24head,
16:25a whip or a kurana.
16:26Both parties,
16:27the Eda Party,
16:27Parishwami's party
16:28and Sanmogam's party
16:29have separately met
16:30with the bottom speaker
16:31and they have given
16:32a saying
16:32so it needs to be
16:33decided as well.
16:34Amidst all this,
16:35it is very clear
16:36that Vijay's party
16:37is safe for now.
16:38Actually,
16:38one more scenario
16:39that is actually
16:40blooming
16:41and there is a possibility
16:42is that like
16:42while speaking to TVK,
16:44we also came to know
16:45that there is a chance
16:46that if the
16:47Srivishanmogam,
16:48SP Belmani
16:48and others
16:49are very,
16:49very interested
16:50in joining TVK
16:51one form or another
16:52and if EPS is going
16:53to be a hurdle,
16:54that is quite a possibility
16:55of them resigning
16:56and then having a TVK ticket
16:58and like, you know,
16:59contesting the elections
16:59as well.
17:00But this is far-fetched
17:01but like I told you,
17:02whatever is happening
17:02on the ground,
17:03immediate communication,
17:04I am giving it to you.
17:05Never say never
17:06in Tamil Nadu politics
17:07and you can trust
17:08Prabodh Madhav
17:08to get you all
17:09of the right news breaks
17:11of what's playing out
17:12in Tamil Nadu
17:13much before you hear it
17:14from anyone else.
17:15Thanks Pramodh
17:15for joining us
17:16with all of those details.
17:18So you've got now
17:19the AIA-DMK split
17:20right down the middle.
17:2130 MN laser
17:23currently with
17:23SP Velimani
17:24and CV Shanmogam.
17:26And what have they said?
17:27They said that
17:28we want to back Vijay.
17:30We're giving an ultimatum
17:31to EPS.
17:32But at the same time,
17:33here's the mixed messaging.
17:34They say that
17:34EPS,
17:36Adipati Padi Swami
17:36is still very much
17:37the general secretary
17:38of the party.
17:39So it's not
17:40a full-blown rebellion
17:41but at the same time
17:43a warning that's being
17:44issued to EPS.
17:46And the question is
17:47how will EPS react?
17:48Meanwhile,
17:48I'll also highlight
17:49that this rebel group
17:50of 30 MLA say
17:51we have no tie
17:52to any alliance.
17:54We've cut off
17:55any alliance ties.
17:56Essentially suggesting
17:57they're no longer
17:57in the NDA,
17:58they're no longer
17:59with the BJP.
18:01But ultimately
18:01the question will be asked
18:03whether the
18:04strings are being
18:06pulled from Delhi,
18:07whether the strings
18:07are being pulled
18:08by the BJP.
18:09Here are all the details
18:10of what's transpired.
18:16The AIA-DMK
18:18is on the verge
18:19of a split.
18:20A group of 30 MLA's
18:22led by SP Valumany,
18:24CV Shanmugam
18:25and MR Vidya Bhaskar
18:27announced support
18:28to the Vijay-led government
18:29in Tamil Nadu.
18:31Shanmugam claimed
18:32some members
18:33in the party
18:33had suggested
18:34an alliance
18:35with their arch-rival
18:36DMK,
18:37which is not
18:38acceptable to them.
18:39The rebel MLA's
18:41named Valumany
18:42as the leader
18:43of the party
18:44in the assembly.
18:46Our legislative parties
18:47and party men
18:48were not
18:49or against
18:50to that proposal.
18:52We opposed
18:53in the meeting.
18:54We take a decision.
18:56It is against
18:57our party interests.
18:59The group of 30 MLA's
19:01are calling themselves
19:02the real AIA-DMK.
19:06We are A-DMK.
19:07It is A-DMK.
19:10Sir, BJP, RV
19:12with BJP, sir?
19:13We are no alliance
19:14with any party
19:15now today,
19:16as of now.
19:17AIA-DMK
19:18General Secretary
19:19Edapadi K.
19:20Palani Swami
19:21came down heavily
19:22on the rebels.
19:23The party,
19:24in a post on X,
19:26called the rebel group
19:27an alliance of losers
19:29and accused them
19:30of betraying
19:31the party
19:31that fed them.
19:33The AIA-DMK
19:34official handle
19:35alleged that
19:36rebels were seeking
19:37ministerial births
19:38from Vijay
19:38and asserted
19:39that the party
19:40cadre stands
19:41firmly with
19:41Palani Swami.
19:44Amid the face-off,
19:46Palani Swami
19:46visited the Jail Alita
19:48Memorial in Chennai
19:49and paid tribute
19:49to Amma,
19:50a symbolic gesture
19:51that carried
19:52significant weight
19:53given the present
19:54scenario.
19:56Meanwhile,
19:57AIA-DMK's
19:58ally, BJP,
19:59slammed the rebels.
20:01It is very unfortunate
20:03because the party
20:04that was promoted
20:06by MGR
20:07as an alternative
20:09to DMK,
20:10Dravidian party
20:11that remained
20:12in power
20:13for the longer
20:15period of time
20:15more than the DMK
20:17is facing
20:18such difficulties.
20:20The potential
20:21split in AIA-DMK
20:22comes as a boost
20:24for Vijay
20:24ahead of the floor test.
20:26With 30 AIA-DMK
20:27MLAs backing
20:28the TVK,
20:29the Vijay-led government
20:30will be comfortably
20:31placed to cross
20:32the majority mark.
20:34Bureau Report,
20:36India Today.
20:39Meanwhile,
20:40Day 2 of the Assembly
20:42did see a controversy
20:43playing out as well
20:45and guess what?
20:45Once again,
20:46it's got to do
20:47with Sanatana Dharm.
20:48Once again,
20:49it's got to do
20:49with Udayaniti Stalin
20:50who this time
20:51once again
20:52questioned Sanatana Dharm
20:54in the floor
20:54of the Assembly
20:55and everyone's
20:57been questioning,
20:58particularly the BJP
20:59on why Chief Minister
21:00Vijay
21:01didn't object
21:02to the comment
21:02made by the leader
21:03of opposition
21:04by Udayaniti Stalin
21:04who remember years ago
21:05was in a similar
21:07controversy
21:08where it led
21:08to nationwide outrage.
21:10Why?
21:10Because he'd compared
21:11Sanatana Dharm
21:12with dengue,
21:13with malaria.
21:14He's repeated
21:15a similar comment
21:16this time
21:16leading to questions
21:17about whether
21:18this is the DMK's
21:20stand now.
21:21Remember that
21:22in Tamil Nadu,
21:22DMK constantly says
21:23that Sanatana Dharm
21:24means casteism
21:26and that's what
21:26we're against.
21:33Just a day
21:34after taking charge
21:35as leader of opposition
21:36in Tamil Nadu Assembly,
21:39Udayaniti Stalin
21:40has stirred
21:40fresh controversy.
21:42He once again
21:43called the eradication
21:45of Sanatana Dharm
21:46inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
21:48Surprisingly,
21:49the comment was made
21:50in front of
21:51Chief Minister Vijay
21:52and there was
21:53no objection
21:53from any member.
22:08Udayaniti's statement
22:09triggered
22:10immediate backlash
22:11from the BJP.
22:13BJP called it
22:14a toxic rant
22:15that contributed
22:16to DMK's defeat
22:17in the recent
22:18Assembly elections.
22:20BJP also claimed
22:21that if DMK
22:22continues to
22:23toe the same line
22:24then the party
22:25will be eradicated
22:26itself.
22:30Udayaniti also
22:31nudged
22:31the TVK government
22:32to ensure
22:33the state anthem
22:34is played
22:35at the beginning
22:35of all government
22:36events
22:37and not
22:37relegated
22:38to the second
22:39or third position.
22:40The beginning
22:41of the Assembly
22:41session hints
22:42that more fireworks
22:44can be expected
22:45in the coming days.
22:46Bureau Report,
22:47India Today.
22:51One viral moment
22:52from the
22:53Assembly proceedings
22:55is when
22:55Udayaniti Stalin,
22:56the leader of
22:57opposition,
22:58highlighted how
22:58he and
22:59Chief Minister
23:00Vijay went to
23:01the same
23:01college,
23:02Loyola College.
23:03But he
23:03highlighted
23:03that the DMK
23:04in this case
23:05is the senior
23:06to TVK.
23:29Team Mukha is a senior batch.
23:31That's what you know.
23:32I don't know.
23:35We are seniors.
23:37In that case,
23:39we will be ready to share our knowledge and experience.
23:45That's why you are ready.
23:48That's why,
23:49we are the most important part in the world.
23:52That's why you are the most important part.
24:22There is no decision-making process, but that hasn't helped.
24:24There is no decision that's been taken just yet.
24:27Sources say KC Venugopal has emerged as the leading contender.
24:31There is strong MLA backing support from several senior leaders.
24:35But there is also alliance pressure.
24:37IUML leaders, for example, have openly backed VD Satishan,
24:40prompting Delhi to step in with damage control talks.
24:46But who do the people of Kerala want?
24:49Here are the results of a live poll that we're running on the India Today website.
24:55And the India Today poll that's got over 49,000 votes shows VD Satishan ahead,
25:00with 64% of people believing he should be the Kerala Chief Minister.
25:0526% are in favour of KC Venugopal and 10% for Ramesh Chenitala.
25:10This is a poll that India Today ran on the website.
25:14And 49,000 people have had their say.
25:1764% is for VD Satishan.
25:20The reality, however, is that if you look at how things are going down,
25:23especially as far as MLA support is concerned,
25:26there's a KC camp that's much, much stronger and louder right now.
25:30Shibhi Mool is joining us live from Tirvanantapuram.
25:33We'll also have our correspondent from Delhi,
25:36who's tracking all the latest on the meets that's happening in the national capital right now.
25:40Shibhi, you know, you've got two camps, both of them digging in their heels,
25:44saying very clearly that we deserve a chance this time.
25:47But amid that eight days on, there seems to be no indication of the empire's ending,
25:52and the people in Kerala, I'm sure, are getting restless, Shibhi.
25:59Well, absolutely, actually.
26:01In fact, we're seeing very harsh reactions coming in from people.
26:04Initially, everybody took it as a joke.
26:06We saw a lot of memes and trolls going around, very creative ones also.
26:09But right now, there's real anger because there are multiple issues that's been,
26:13that needs to be fixed, you know, as soon as the government comes,
26:17government is formed because the tenth and plus two results are expected in another one or two weeks.
26:22So, there is news that it will get delayed because the government has not yet been formed.
26:26And there's a clear mandate. That's the thing.
26:28It's not like a Tamil Nadu situation where there was a hung assembly.
26:31One front has clear mandate. They were in opposition for 10 years.
26:35The natural question is, what were you doing for 10 years?
26:37Why didn't you finalize something?
26:39It's what the people of Kerala, the Congress supporters are also asking.
26:42So, the people are definitely restless because it's been almost eight days,
26:47you know, more than a week since the results were declared.
26:50They have a very clear mandate. The Congress workers, the IUML leaders have also openly come out and said
26:55that we have not been able to celebrate the victory also because of this confusion.
26:59As of now, it looks like KC Vinogobal right from the beginning had the support of the MLA's
27:03because most of the tickets were distributed to his people.
27:06VD Sardesha enjoys very strong alliance support and also the public sentiment.
27:10That's one of the reasons why this is being delayed because in the last one week,
27:14we've seen very dramatic scenes unfolding in Kerala with the supporters of each leader coming out on street and protesting,
27:20tearing each other's posters.
27:22So, we are hearing that the first question that Rahul Gandhi asked the leaders was,
27:26what is happening in Kerala?
27:27First sort it out and then we will decide the same is what we are learning from the sources of
27:31all these party leaders.
27:32So, that's why we saw all of them coming out and making an appeal,
27:35three of them making an appeal to the people to stop all this war and obey and listen to what
27:39the High Command says.
27:40We are expecting a decision at least by today or tomorrow because if that decision doesn't come up,
27:45then the alliance partners will openly come out and start questioning the leadership here.
27:50No, but should we just tell me something.
27:52You know, you are saying that largely MLAs are backing KC Venugopal,
27:55which isn't surprising as you highlighted, considering most from his camp got tickets as well.
28:00But how is VD Satishan really putting down his point in such a scenario that he deserves a chance too?
28:11Well, his angle is that he was the one who led this fight in the last five years
28:16because when, you know, this is the first time that the Congress is continuously sitting in opposition.
28:19It's not easy to energize a party that's not a cadre party.
28:23It's not a cadre party. Congress is not a cadre party.
28:25So, he had to bring everybody together, make sure that they are out there fighting as a group,
28:30because we saw them working at an organized level in the last few elections,
28:35whether it was Assembly Lok Sabha or the local body elections also.
28:38So, he was successful in leading the party in all these elections
28:41and he had emerged as this big face leader.
28:44So, you can naturally feel that public sentiment because we see when you speak to people in Kerala,
28:50you can see that love and affection for VD Satishan.
28:52So, if KC Venugopal has made the CM, then there will be repercussions is what VD Satishan has also informed
28:59the party high command.
29:00One more thing that needs to be noted is that if KC Venugopal is becoming the CM, there's a by
29:04-election test before him.
29:05CPM faced a major setback also because the party cadders in most of their bastions voted against the party to
29:13teach the party a lesson
29:15because of some of the stands, because they lost some of the bastions that they have never lost in the
29:18history.
29:18So, the Congress workers here are also reminding the high command that if you're making KC Venugopal get ready for
29:24that by-election test,
29:25which will be very difficult to pass is what the Congress workers and some of the general public is also
29:31sending out high command.
29:32So, KC Venugopal, if chosen as a CM, has a tough task in the next six months of clearing that
29:38by-election test also.
29:39If he wins, there will be another by-election.
29:41Just imagine that, that he's named as the Chief Minister and then there's a by-election battle that makes it
29:45harder for him.
29:46I want to bring in Rahul Gautam as well on this broadcast who's tracking all the updates from Delhi.
29:51Rahul, what's with the delay? You know, the Congress seems to find itself in this position repeatedly.
29:56Now, what's happening? We were hearing a decision by today. That looks unlikely.
30:00It looks like it could be pushed by another 24 hours.
30:06Well, you know, we all know that how Congress has got the majority on its own.
30:11UDF has got, you know, 102 seats.
30:13But clearly, the optics are not right for the Congress party.
30:17Still not. They are not able to decide as to who they're going to pick up for the next, you
30:22know, CLP post or the next Chief Minister post.
30:24And that's what is reflecting very poorly on the part of high command.
30:29And that's why, you know, the party also wants to show that they are taking, you know, vital consultations, you
30:35know, taking everybody on board.
30:37And that's why, you know, ex-PCC presidents, you know, working presidents, they were called to the national capital.
30:43They've already met Rahul Gandhi. They were already given their opinion.
30:47But, you know, it seems that the choice is not going to be an easy one for Rahul Gandhi.
30:53We all know that how Rahul Gandhi...
30:55No, but was this also in a way, Rahul, was this a situation that the high command allowed to happen?
31:01You know, if from the get-go they made it very clear who's their face and hadn't fallen for, you
31:08know, this whole whose camp is which leader and given tickets accordingly, they wouldn't be in the soup right now
31:13where they're having to choose between MLA support and public support.
31:19Akshita, you know, that's where you have to strike a balance, you know.
31:22You have to consider the opinion of, you know, Congress MLA's who have, in majority, have taken the name of
31:29K.C. Benugopal.
31:30That's what we can confirm to our viewers.
31:32He has emerged as, you know, front-runner as far as this post is concerned.
31:36But again, there is sentiment amongst Congress workers who are saying it was VD Satishan.
31:41It was Ramesh Shinni Tala who actually toiled and worked on ground zero and therefore they should be rewarded.
31:46So, therefore, it's not going to be an easy choice.
31:48But we have to really understand that the buck stops with Rahul Gandhi.
31:52It is Rahul Gandhi who has to decide whether he's going to allow or relieve, you know, Mr. K.C.
31:57Benugopal from the position of GSO
31:59and going to give him a graceful exit, you know, for Kerala.
32:04That's the fix. We have to really wait and watch.
32:06But one thing is very clear here that it is not reflecting good on the part of high command.
32:12No, and I'll just highlight once again that we have put out that poll.
32:16India today's poll shows very clearly which way the numbers are going.
32:19The preferred Kerala chief minister, according to India today's poll, 64% for VD Satishan.
32:25And 49,000 votes have already come in, 64% for VD Satishan.
32:29If K.C. Venugopal is chosen, what Shibhi tells us is that there will be a full-blown rebellion, perhaps
32:35by the Kerala Congress workers themselves.
32:38And that could lead to serious trouble for K.C. Venugopal.
32:41And what that will set the stage for is a complete divide, a rift within the Kerala Congress.
32:46And after the kind of mandate they've received, that's the last thing the UDF wants.
32:51There's a crisis that's playing out, and we'll have to see how the leadership actually addresses the situation.
32:56Rahul Gautam, Shibhi, thanks very much for joining us.
33:00Eight days and counting, Kerala still doesn't have a chief minister, and Shibhi is right.
33:04In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where it was a hung assembly, things were sorted out much faster than in a state
33:08like Kerala,
33:09where there's a decisive mandate, but a party that's undecisive.
33:15Moving on, a POCSO case has been filed against the son of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Bandi Sai Bagheerat,
33:22and has led to a huge controversy, major political storm in Telangana,
33:26with allegations of police delay, of pressure on the survivor's family and demands for an impartial investigation.
33:32According to the complaint filed by the survivor's mother,
33:35the alleged relationship began in June 2025 through mutual contacts and later continued over social media.
33:41The complainant alleges that Bagheerat gained the minor's trust by promising marriage after she turned 18,
33:47and later subjected her to inappropriate physical contact and demands of sexual favours
33:52in multiple locations around Hyderabad.
33:54One of the most serious allegations relates to a New Year gathering in a farmhouse,
33:59where the minor was allegedly coerced into consuming alcohol and molested.
34:03The family has also alleged emotional trauma, self-harm attempts, circulation of private material,
34:08and pressure to settle the matter.
34:10The police has registered an FIR under the BNS and POCSO sections,
34:15and the accused right now, Bandi Sanjay's son, is absconding.
34:19His phone has been switched off for three days.
34:21The BRS, therefore, has accused the police of delaying the FIR,
34:25of shielding the accused due to political influence.
34:28KTR questioned how the son of a union minister could remain absconding in a POCSO case
34:32while the opposition demanded an SIT be formed.
34:50KTR said,
34:56KTR said,
34:59the case complaint law a man the adi and me verify chashi proper the investigation
35:05system BJP ke andre amesha is taraka bar bar is taraka city barare like rape case
35:13ho chai woman assault ho is taraka cases bar bar jibyate hai kai na kai bjp ke neta
35:20usme hoote ya bjp ke karakarta usme hoote ya na to bjp ke family members koji na ko
35:25isme indal jota hai aise am loog pahle bhi dheke karnatak me kis taraka se wahanke neta
35:31nekis taraka kura mahal bana diya ta women's ko mahilaon ko leke kis taraka
35:35par tamizhi se unho na kiya hai dusre se nara raghita hai nari shikpi hai in sab baat
35:39ho mein toh bholta hai par je woh kaam karne ka unka tariqa hai woh amesha women
35:44abusement women ko assault karne ka hi kaam bjp ke neta karte aai abdul bashir for more
35:51details abdul three days on the accused still absconding what's the latest on the investigation
35:57abdul well the investigation is right now ongoing after this case was registered this
36:04case was registered on 8th of may uh at the paid bashirabad the police station on the same
36:09day what we are hearing is that they're in honey trap case was also uh registered against
36:14the victim's family the minors family who have been uh you know demanding five crore rupees is
36:20uh what is being said like starting five crore rupees is what uh bagheerat has filed a complaint
36:25in kareem nagar uh well what we are learning is that in this foxo case uh clear facts that are
36:31coming out what the police is investigating is that on uh 31st of december uh both the minor and
36:37bagheerat had met where he has been sexually assaulting this particular minor is what the
36:41allegations have been stating had been grooming the child uh manipulating emotionally manipulating
36:46and also sexually assaulting is what the allegations have been made against uh bandit bagheerat and
36:52this is how now has bandit sanjay the union minister responded so far abdul any statement from him
36:59the union minister bandit sanjay has clearly said this is politically motivated his family is being
37:03targeted is what is being said and uh he is going to fight uh this uh particular uh allegation that
37:10have been levied against okay so he maintains that his son is completely innocent thanks abdul for
37:14those details and as i wrap up this broadcast i'm leaving you with the report on the much
37:19awaited drishyam 3 mohan lal is back as george kutti and all the teasers suggest that this one
37:26is going to see a lot more twists and turns i'm leaving you with this report thanks very much
37:31for tuning in and i'll see you same time tomorrow
37:54i want his full fire on my desk as soon as possible
38:19george kutti is back calm clever and ready to protect his family once again
38:34drisham 3 marks the return of mohan lal as the brilliant man who is always one step ahead of
38:40danger in this much anticipated third installment of the acclaimed thriller franchise the story picks
38:47up after the events of drisham 2 as george kutti continues to shield his loved ones and the
38:53carefully constructed life he has built
39:13the end of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day
39:17of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the
39:17day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of
39:17the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day
39:17of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the
39:17day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of
39:17the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day
39:17of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the
39:17day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of
39:18the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day
39:18of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the day of the
39:25day
39:33As new, more determined forces begin to close in, cracks start to appear in his plan and
39:39the protective walls around his family, raising questions about how far he is willing to go
39:44when the threat is no longer only from outside.
40:07Alongside Mohan Lal, the original cast including Meena, Ansiba Hassan and Esther Anil returns
40:14to reprise their iconic roles, keeping the emotional core of the series intact.
40:22The Drishyam franchise began in 2013 when the original film where George Kutty, a middle-class
40:28cable TV operator, went to extraordinary lengths to protect his family after they became entangled
40:34in a crime.
40:52Praised for its tight screenplay, suspenseful narrative and Mohan Lal's compelling performance,
40:57the film became a blockbuster and inspired remakes across India.
41:17He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:21He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:24He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:31He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:33He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:35He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:36He is mocking at the NTA police department.
41:36Drishyam 2, released in 2021, continued the narrative seven years after the original events, deepening
41:43the emotional and psychological stakes and cementing the series as one of Indian cinema's most
41:48crippling thriller sagas.
42:02With Alice, Entertainment Bureau, India Today.
42:05Wonderful.
42:06Let's quicker the narrative message.
42:06Mmh!
42:06smiles on the dead.
42:07Come back from now a di.
42:07Test.
42:07Let's try to return this message.
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