S. Semmalai. File
| Photo Credit: J. Johan Sathyadas
1. Semmalai quits AIADMK
In a big blow to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, party veteran and former Minister S. Semmalai quit the party.
Speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Semmalai said that what has been happening in the AIADMK after the recent Assembly elections has caused him pain. He also wanted the general council meeting to be convened so as to resolve the issues within the party.
2. Ooty’s annual flower show begins
The 128th annual flower show at the Government Botanical Garden in Udhagamandalam was inaugurated amid rains.
The theme for this year’s exhibits centred around the protection and preservation of Tamil heritage and culture. To commemorate this, the main attraction was an exhibit of the British-built Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, which was decorated with over 1.14 lakh carnation flowers.
3. DMK will rise like phoenix: Stalin
DMK has risen like a phoenix bird after every defeat, party president M.K. Stalin said while speaking at the wedding of a Tiruvarur District DMK office-bearer’s family member in Thanjavur.
Mr. Stalin, while congratulating the new government, urged it to continue the welfare schemes implemented by his government. “You have seen how the new government has agreed to the request,” he said.
4. CM Vijay condoles Rajan’s death
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay condoled the death of film producer K. Rajan, who died yesterday.
Rajan, 85, drowned in the Adyar river in Chennai.
Published – May 18, 2026 05:46 pm IST
