National

As Tamil Nadu prepares for the upcoming assembly elections in the state, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay would "secularly break votes" across parties, given his status as a popular figure in the state, noting that this could, in turn, create a new "third front" in the political landscape.

"The BJP is a drag as far as Tamil Nadu politics is concerned. While the BJP has succeeded in many parts of India, its brand of politics does not resonate with people in the state. And their brand of politics doesn't gel well with Tamil Nadu. BJP is only looked at from a national prism. And in the national prism, their actions are not something which gels well with the average person from Tamil Nadu," Karti told ANI.

In an interview with ANI, Chidambaram noted that the DMK has been an ally since 2004 and announced that a committee to discuss seat-sharing will be formed on February 22. He added that expectations are high, smaller parties may join the coalition, and some are "flirting on both sides", keeping their options open with other political groups.

Congress leader and Sivaganga MP Karti Chidambaram on Sunday defended Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's Rs 5,000 cash transfer to 1.31 crore women under the Kalaignar Women's Rights Scheme. Speaking with ANI, he dismissed the "freebie" label often attached to cash transfers by critics. Instead, he framed it as a strategic tool to "seed" the rural economy.

The portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham will officially reopen for devotees on April 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM.

Addressing a press conference at the Assembly complex in Shimla on Sunday and later speaking with ANI, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said the first phase of the Budget Session will comprise three sittings.