The Mullaperiyar dam issue has always been a subject of dispute for Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments. And the verbal battle over the dam continues ever since the informal agreement was made between the two states. Now the issue is dragged into political debates as well with both the Chief Ministers of the States accusing the other for trying to take political mileage from the issue. Karunanidhi also accuses the Kerala government for not acting upon his demand for an independent team to study regarding the dam safety.
-- MP

Karunandihi's DMk has announced its decision to cancel the protest rally which was scheduled to be held in Madhurai on Nov 1st. The rally was organised by the party to stage its displeasure towards Union minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's consent to the Kerala government to conduct survey fora new dam. However it was deferred to a later date, citing that the arguments were already before the apex court. Meanwhile the Congress at the center too seemed to have intervened in the matter.
-- MP

Now the great Lankan Tamil scholar Prof. Karthigesu Sivathamby himself is pulled into the controversy over his attending the upcoming World Tamil meet scheduled to be held in Coimbatore for next year. The cultural conference being organised by the M K Kaurnanidi led DMK government at the State is seen with great political significance as well. And caught in the political drama is Sivathamby who indicated that he was not sure of attending the meet while Karunanidhi dismissed saying that the professor has given assurance to take part in the event.
-- MP

Congress party has tried to play down the significance of the protest called by the DMK over the dam issue. The protest which is to be held in Madhurai on Nov 1st is against the Union Minister Jairam's decision granding permit to the Kerala government to conduct survey for a new dam. A senior Congress leader maintained that it was another party's decision to call upon the protest and they had the democratic rights to raise an objection. However he pointed out that the same DMK was also an ally of the ruling UPA at the Center.
-- MP

To highlight the protest on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, DMK is planning to stage a protest meet in Madhurai on November 1st. The move is seen as a direct protest against the Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also the Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment who has given the consent to Kerala to conduct survey for building a new dam across the Mullaperiyar river. While Tamil Nadu wants the present dam, Kerala has been pushing for a new dam citing the safety reasons of the 113 year old dam. Madhurai has been chosen for the protest considering the large number of farmers in the region who are affected by the water issue.
-- MP

The Madras University has announced introduction of a PG course on Kalaignar thoughts after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Though the move was criticized by many academians, the demand for such courses would be weighed on the basis of the  number of students willing to take up the course. According to the university officials, similar courses on the likes of Periyar and Anna thoughts are also in the anvil. The University has also come up with an array of schemes to promote science based research, education aid for the  poor and to address students grievances.
-- MP

The Tamil Nadu delegation of MPs who visited the Sri Lankan President has returned after their 5 day tour and said to have submitted their report of findings to the Chief Minister. Meanwhile the MLAs visit was criticised by the opposition parties who slammed the government for failing to include other members from all parties in the delegation visit. The 10 member delegation of MPs of DMK and its allies was sent to study and review the situation of lakhs of Tamilians staying in the Lankan camps who were dispaced by the war and to facilitate rehabilitation operations for them.
-- MP

India born American scientist Venkatraman Ramakrishnan hailing from Chidambaram of Tamil Nadu State has won this year's Nobel prize for Chemistry along with two other scientists. The coveted prize was awarded for their findings on ribosomes which could help in the development of antibiotics. 57 year old Venkatraman shares the $1.4 million award with US scientist Thomas Steitz and Israli scientist Ada Yonath.
-- MP

Now after walking away from the AIADMK, PMK now toying with the idea of forming a third front in Tamil Nadu. PMK founder and party chief S. Ramadoss remarked that he was ready to go ahead for a third front, if people really wants to and offers the support. Criticising the AIADMK for factionalism and infighting, the PMK leader maintained that his party's priority would be to demand for common education policy, fighting for river water rights and gaurding the state interests in solving the Mullaperiyar and Palar issues.
-- MP

S Ramadoss led Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has once again quit its alliance partner AIADMK, making it for the sixth time quitting one party to the other. Though this time before the LS elections it quit Cong led UPA government to join AIADMK, the election results were a setback for the party which eventualy hurt the alliance. Added to it, lately an AIADMK former minister's threat to take action against PMK founder Ramadoss and his son has irked the PMK which has triggered the PMK to walk away from its ally.
-- MP

Hundreds of fossilised dinosaur eggs were found in Ariyalur district near Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu which has ignited excitement among geologist across the country. The eggs found were traced by geologists from the Periyar University in Salem, who discovered them from the Cauvery river basin region. The eggs claimed to be as old as 65 million years were found in clusters and believed to be that of the largest dinosaur species.
-- MP