[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]But it is too early to say that the proposal can go down without hiccups, and another split won’t happen a few months or years down the line
By Vikram Kilpady
The perils of being closely associated with someone as brazen with corruption as TTV Dinakaran is said to be the reason why the VK Sasikala-led faction of the new grand old party that MG Ramachandran and the J Jayalalithaa built is inching closer to the other faction headed by master Amma loyalist and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Notice no one is saying they want to leave the party and consolidate what they have because Sasikala has been jailed in Parappana Agrahara central prison in Bangalore after being held guilty of corruption. Or for that matter Jayalalithaa.
The leadership vacuum after Jayalalithaa which was usurped by the Sasikala-led faction seems to have been short-lived. The spectacle of Chinnamma lording over party and Tamil Nadu led to the sudden change of mind that O Panneerselvam had on a late Tuesday night. He landed up at the Amma Samadhi along the Marina, but without an Ouija board to communicate with the late supremo. OPS didn’t need the Ouija board since Jayalalithaa’s spirit seemed to have told him to go for broke and pitch his own tent. His detractors say OPS had a lot of WhatsApp chats with certain powerful people in New Delhi and had transferred loyalties with a remote control to that. It’s not OPS who rules Tamil Nadu now, it’s another PS but of the Sasikala camp. His name is Edapaddi Palaniswami, therefore EPS as opposed to OPS. Now, the EPS-led camp wants to be rid of Sasikala and the rest of the Mannargudi mafia in one go. They can do this by uniting themselves with the OPS wing.
Battles for succession make for gory sights, the winner takes all. Be it the one between the much-praised Dara Shikoh and the much-maligned Aurangzeb or the one that put M Karunanidhi at the head of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after CN Annadurai’s demise. The silver-tongued VR Nedunchezhiyan, said to be Anna’s chosen successor, was out-manoeuvred by the quick-thinking, focused Karunanidhi. Similarly, MG Ramachandran (popular as MGR) broke away when Karunanidhi began ignoring him after becoming jealous of the actor’s ability to rouse the crowds with his workman Tamil.
The two-pronged Dravidian political establishment of the last 40-odd years is now shaped like a trident with the DMK and the two AIADMK factions. Of course, there are other offshoots like the Marumalarchi DMK of Vaiko being the most prominent, now left as the rump that conveniently coalesces like putty to fill spaces in alliances of the NDA kind.
It makes great sense for the AIADMK wings to swallow their differences by remembering the good times they had prostrating full-on sashtanga namaskaar at Jayalalithaa’s feet and wondering whether their ageing knees can take the torture again for Sasikala. But will they or won’t they is best left to them. Questions also populate that board: Will OPS allow EPS to be CM? Who will be the party general secretary and such?
These are decisions they have the leisure to take before Sasikala, who took an extremely cinematic 3-slap vow at the Jayalalithaa Samadhi before leaving for incarceration in Bangalore, returns or her nephew TTV Dinakaran gets time from the Delhi Police chasing him in the alleged case to bribe an Election Commission of India official for the now-frozen two leaves symbol. But not for too long though.
If they remain separate entities, they are likely to take the path of Vaiko and become the BJP’s buddy, or even worse, be swallowed by the saffron party that could do with some hardcore cadres in the state.
Unlike the much-vaunted bid to forge unity among the various communist parties split on nuances of interpretation and make-believe, the AIADMK factions have it easier.
Indeed, AIADMK leaders have an enormous responsibility on their shoulders right now, to the people of the state, especially the farmers who are battling a second successive drought year. Their protests in New Delhi have been on for a month at Jantar Mantar but the only time they grabbed eyeballs is when they stripped naked outside the PMO after they were not allowed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
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