Here are the big stories from Tamil Nadu today
The Hindu
New voter identity cards issued by the Election Commission of India, with enhanced security features
New voter identity cards issued by the Election Commission of India, with enhanced security features like QR code, are out now, said the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo. As many as 16 lakh new voter ID cards have been printed and voters with old cards can get them replaced with new cards, he added.
In the initial phase of the roll-out in the State, the new cards are to be first distributed to voters in Erode East Assembly constituency that is to witness by-election on February 27.
The DMK high command has suspended the party’s Salem South Union Secretary T. Manickam from primary membership of the party for having abused and threatened a Dalit youth who had entered a local temple recently, after a video of the incident went viral. Further, Mr. Manickam has been booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Meanwhile, for the first time in 70 years, Dalits of Thenmudiyanur village in Tiruvannamalai district entered Sri Muthalamman Temple in the village, amid police protection. Some of the caste Hindus who objected to the temple entry protested but were later pacified by the police. Action came after the Dalits petitioned the district administration seeking intervention in the issue.
The Supreme Court is to hear on February 3 a plea by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, claiming that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is refusing to accept his signature as AIADMK party’s interim general secretary during the nomination process ahead of the by-election to Erode (East) Assembly constituency
In an earlier mentioning on January 27, Mr. Palaniswami had complained that ECI was not allowing him to sign on the requisite forms and authorise the party’s candidates for the Erode by-election, citing the pendency of AIADMK general council case before Supreme Court. The last date for filing nomination is February 7.
The Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi announced the change in dates for class 11, 12 practical Board examinations and announcement of results.
No room for complacency till counting is completed, Chandrababu Naidu tells TDP-BJP-JSP contestants. The TDP-BJP-JSP alliance will register a comfortable victory in the general elections over the YSRCP, he says. Alleging that the YSRCP has conspired to create disturbances on the counting day, the TDP national president advises the chief counting agents and their teams to see to it that the officials adhere to norms related to counting.