Tamil Nadu's politics is deeply rooted in Dravidianism, shaped by iconic leaders who defined generations. The political landscape began with Periyar's social justice movement in the 1930s, followed by CN Annadurai who formed the DMK in 1949 and brought Tamil identity into governance after the 1967 victory. The friendship between M Karunanidhi and MGR ended in 1972 when MGR was expelled from DMK, leading him to form AIADMK in 1977. After MGR's death in 1987, Jayalalithaa emerged as AIADMK leader following a power struggle. The rivalry between Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi became intensely personal, especially after the 1989 assembly incident where Jayalalithaa vowed to return only as Chief Minister. Both leaders passed away within two years – Jayalalithaa in 2016 and Karunanidhi in 2017. MK Stalin took over DMK leadership, while AIADMK saw factional struggles with Sasikala, OPS and EPS. Now, actor Thalapathy Vijay has entered politics with his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam party, projecting himself as the new MGR, raising questions about the future of Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described India as one of America’s most important strategic allies, confirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the US for a standalone bilateral meeting in addition to the G20 summit.
China hosted the Russian and American presidents in consecutive state visits, positioning Beijing at the centre of global geopolitics. The Russian leader's two-day visit marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of a bilateral friendship treaty, resulting in a joint declaration advocating for a multipolar world and expanded trade using local currencies.
Rubio, initially caught off guard, asked for clarification. Upon learning which comments were being referenced, he dismissed the creators of those remarks as 'stupid people.'
As Delhi reeled under temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kept his remarks brief during the inauguration of the new US Embassy Support Annex building and joked about the capital’s scorching heat.
