According to insiders, the ‘surplus revenue’ from Tasmac bars is traditionally distributed to grassroots workers of the party in power.
Published: 19th June 2023 06:26 AM | Last Updated: 19th June 2023 06:26 AM | A+A A-
Representational image (File photo| R Satish Babu, EPS)
What’s in a name?
A few days back, union minister Smriti Irani, who was speaking at the Women 20 summit, attempted to quote a couplet from the Thirukkural. Although her reading of the couplet was more or less accurate, she pronounced Thirukkural as ‘Thirukal’ thrice. Given the BJP, since coming to power, has named union government schemes in Hindi, forcing many a non-Hindi speaker to struggle to pronounce, one might have expected more of an effort from the union minister in nailing the pronunciation. After all, Prime Minister Modi quotes from the Thirukkural quiet often and ensures he gets the name right.
Domino effect
An official in the finance department of Tangedco has not turned up for work in the last two weeks since central agencies started raids against minister Senthil Balaji. It also seems he has not notified his superiors about his leave of absence. The series of events has brought promotions and transfers in the public corporation to a standstill and left many employees, who were confident until recently of promotion or favourable transfer, worried.
Road safety and the devil
The next time accidents happen on roads, blame it on the devil and not on rash driving or traffic violations, or at least that’s what cops seem to say. After two motorists died in an accident on the Poonamallee bypass near Vanagaram, the traffic police under Avadi City Police Commissionerate performed rituals and also got a trans-woman to smash a pumpkin on the road at the spot ‘to ward off evil’. And the irony, the spot turned dangerous for two-wheeler riders as pumpkin pieces lay strewn all over.
Reviving traditions
The reallocation of Tasmac portfolio to a new minister has allegedly brought cheer among a section in the ruling party. According to insiders, the ‘surplus revenue’ from Tasmac bars is traditionally distributed to grassroots workers of the party in power. This tradition was disrupted when Senthil Balaji got the portfolio in 2021 and party workers believed it was being taken by someone else. With changes in portfolios, they are hopeful in reviving the age-old tradition.
Shifting centres
Of late, there has been a growing demand among police personnel seeking posting in suburban areas like Tambaram and Avadi, where real estate and new industries are thriving. Usually, the Chennai city police commissioner’s office is the preferred destination as it is mostly filled with personnel who hold recommendations from political leaders. It will have to be seen if there is a shift in this traditional trend as DGP C Sylendra Babu will be retiring at the end of the month and a major shuffle is expected in the department.
(Contributed by Subashini Vijayakumar, S Guruvanmikanathan, Gautham Selvarajan, S Kumaresan and Sahaya Novinston Lobo; Compiled by Affan Abdul Kadar)
O
P
E
N
Comments
Disclaimer : We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the newindianexpress.com editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines.
The views expressed in comments published on newindianexpress.com are those of the comment writers alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of newindianexpress.com or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of The New Indian Express Group, or any entity of, or affiliated with, The New Indian Express Group. newindianexpress.com reserves the right to take any or all comments down at any time.
Latest
Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat braces for landfall this evening; NDRF teams deployed for rescue ops
6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Philippines: US Geological Survey
UNGA adopts resolution introduced by India to honour fallen peacekeepers
Death toll rises to 106 after Nigeria boat disaster
India’s power shortage for June soars as demand peaks
ED grip lands minister Senthil Balaji in hospital
The Morning Standard | Dinamani | Kannada Prabha | Samakalika Malayalam | Cinema Express | Indulgexpress | Edex Live | Events Xpress
Contact Us | About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |
Home | Nation | World | Cities | Business | Columns | Entertainment | Sport | Magazine | The Sunday Standard
Copyright – newindianexpress.com 2023. All rights reserved. Website Designed, Developed & Maintained by Express Network Private Ltd.