TN politics heats up over reservation; DMK compares Vijay's gesture to RSS salute

UPDATED: Oct 15, 2026 19:52 ISTThe Supreme Court has upheld a Madras High Court ruling that individuals cannot automatically claim backward class reservation benefits after converting from Hinduism to Islam or Christianity, prompting former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to demand an immediate review petition, calling the decision socially unjust. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is witnessing a fresh controversy as the DMK compares Chief Minister Vijay’s signature hand gesture to the RSS Dhwaj Pranam salute, triggering a war of words over its origins and political significance. The state is also seeing renewed political activity, with former BJP chief K Annamalai preparing to contest local body polls, actor Dhanush expanding his fan movement, and the TVK joining protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over Special Intensive Revision-related issues. Separately, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has claimed there is regional consensus on delimitation, adding to the wider political debate. Read MoreVIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONSLATEST VIDEOSRow Over Hand Gesture: DMK Links TVK Chief Minister Vijay's Trademark Move To RSSA hand gesture has triggered a political dispute between the DMK and the TVK in Tamil Nadu. The DMK has compared Chief Minister Vijay's signature slashing hand movement to the RSS Dhwaj Pranam salute, with its IT wing claiming links between the two organisations. However, the motion was originally made by DMK Chief M.K. Stalin during seat-sharing discussions before being adopted by TVK leaders, including V.S. Babu, and popularised by Vijay in the state assembly and during recent election victories. The move has sparked widespread political debate across the state.INDIA Bloc Chennai Protest; TVK Joins Anti-SIR Stir; Resignation Demand For CECOpposition parties of the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, TVK, VCK, CPIM, and MDMK, staged a joint demonstration in Chennai against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision exercise, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The TVK joined the street agitation alongside allies for the first time. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan claimed he had earlier advised DMK leader MK Stalin to switch constituencies away from Kolathur due to concerns over voter deletions under the revision. DMK has attributed electoral setbacks to the deletion of around one lakh voters in Kolathur, while alliance partners alleged democratic backsliding under the current regime.Tamil Nadu Politics: 'Vijay owes his office to the DMK', says Dr Sumanth RamanA debate on whether Tamil Nadu politics is witnessing a structural transformation beyond traditional Dravidian parties, featuring political analyst Dr Sumanth C. Raman and senior journalist Shekhar Iyer. Dr Raman argued that neither actor Dhanush nor former state BJP chief Annamalai match the cinematic mass appeal commanded by TVK chief Vijay. Emphasising the political landscape, Dr Raman remarked, 'Vijay owes his office to the DMK and its ruinous governance of five years.' Shekhar Iyer noted that Annamalai's initial momentum and social media drive had plateaued, leaving him unable to sustain his base for civic polls. The panellists examined whether actors such as Dhanush and Sivakarthikeyan can successfully convert fan associations into viable political vehicles, highlighting the critical role played by caste coalitions, minority backing, and women voters in deciding electoral outcomes across Tamil Nadu.President Accepts Union Minister Resignation; Tamil Nadu Leadership ChurnThe President has accepted the resignation of a Union Minister following advice from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The minister had publicly appealed on social media to step down from the Union Council of Ministers to dedicate focus towards the state of Tamil Nadu. The acceptance of the resignation has triggered discussions regarding an impending churn and potential leadership change in the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party unit. Simultaneously, the departure has fuelled buzz in New Delhi regarding an upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.