Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Newsmakers of Tamil Nadu in 2014

They've been newsmakers in 2014 for various reasons and with 2015 just around the corner it's time to take a look at the people and personalities who made headlines and caused quite a stir in the year gone.




Here are the top 15 newsmakers in Tamil Nadu:


(01) J. Jayalalithaa:

She left for Bengaluru as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu but returned to Chennai as a convicted. Ms. Jayalalithaa was convicted of amassing assets disproportionate to her income while she was in power from 1991-96 and removed as CM. Jayalalithaa and her three associates--N Sasikalaa, Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran--were sentenced to four years in prison. While she was fined Rs100 crore, the other three were fined Rs10 crore each and sent to prison. She moved the Supreme Court in October, which suspended her sentence for two months and granted her interim bail. 
Government notices and press releases still take her name and she pulls the strings from her home but the AIADMK star has been barred from elections for 10 years. Now her party calls as "People's Chief Minister"
At the peak of her political career (winning 37 LS Seats out of 39 without any ally; making AIADMK as the third largest political party in Lok Sabha), her conviction becomes ‘sweet news’ for all other parties in Tamil Nadu. Her political life now hangs in the hands of Karnataka High Court, which will hear it from Jan 2015 (judgement might come April 2015)


(02) Khushbu:

No stranger to newsmaker lists or trouble, Khushbu spent 2014 making her presence felt--if not her mark--in the political world. In the run-up to the 2014 elections, Khushbu--who has both star appeal and strong opinions--hit the campaign trail for DMK though Stalin's dislike of her was an open secret. In 2013, stone throwing Stalin supporters attacked her house after she said DMK general council would choose Karunanidhi's successor. Despite having MK's support she was unable to make much headway. She left the party in June, and after lying low for a few months, joined Congress in November

(03) N. Srinivasan:
Just like he did last year, India Cements chief N Srinivasan made news all through 2014 for his role as a cricket administrator. The IPL betting scandal that broke in 2013 extended all the way into 2014 and a court-appointed committee indicted his son-in-law and team principal of Chennai Super Kings for betting. In 2014, the Supreme Court ordered him to stay away from BCCI activities and asked him to prove that there is no conflict of interest, despite him wearing multiple hats as BCCI chief and managing director of India Cements, which owns Chennai Super Kings

(04) Viswanathan Anand:
It wasn't easy for Viswanathan Anand to lose the World Chess Championship to Magnus Carlsen for a second year running, but experts said that he was back at his best this year. His biggest achievement, in fact, was to qualify for the final against Carlsen by beating the best in the business in the Candidates event and even after the Carlsen defeat, Anand showed he has not lost the hunger by winning the London Classic

(05) G. K. Vasan:

After years of laying low, G K Vasan decided to break away from Congress. The former Union minister launched Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) in November, saying he was “deeply worried about the functioning of the Congress in Tamil Nadu“. After the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha pollsearlier in the year, Vasan decided to forge his own path by harnessing the power of his father's name and followers. He took 22 district Congress presidents and 31 former MLAs and MPs, including S R Balasubramaniam and S Peter Alphonse, with him and invited “all famous, respected individuals“, including Rajinikanth, to join him

(06) Dipika Pallikal:
India's top-ranked woman squash player Dipika Pallikal won herself a bronze at the Asian Games at Incheon after briefly considering dropping out over allegations that the singles draw was manipulated for the third time in a row. In the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, Chennai girls Dipika and Joshna Chinappa, both longtime friends and teammates, won the gold in the women's doubles event

(07) Sathish Sivalingam:
Became the first person from Tamil Nadu to win an individual gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam perhaps did not expect to achieve success so early in life — maybe not at the age of 22 — when he lifted a total 328kg to claim the gold medal in the 77kg category at the Commonwealth Games. He did so in style, setting a Games record by lifting 149kg in snatch. Sathuvachari near Vellore District became famous due to his win. Then all the media galore those tiny village and found that there are many youth aspiring to become weightlifting champions in a small gym. Due to health problem, he not participated in the Asian Games 2014.

(08) P. Sathasivam:
40th Chief Justice of India. Appointed as the Governor of Kerala (Aug 2014). He was the first judge form Tamil Nadu to become CJI (Jul 2013). When he was appointed as the Governor of Kerala, it created a big controversy (retired CJI must not be posted as Governor). Some media said that, as a Judge he released Amit Shah (now BJP President) in a case, and for that BJP offered P. Sathasivam Governor Post. However, both BJP and Sathasivam denied such allegations.

(09) Tamilisai Soundarajan:

         

 First women president of BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit. She was a National Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party prior to this appointment. Her statements for BJP in television channels are now trendsetting in facebook by various jokes. After Jaya’s conviction, BJP’s voice in the State is in of high tone. BJP is longing to grab the power in 2016.


(10) Vaiko:

          MDMK party chief, who first joined NDA camp ahead of 2014 elections became the first party to come out of the same camp. His voice against BJP leaders was in headlines often ranging from invitation to Rajapkase, release of fishermen form death sentence as a huge drama enacted by BJP, imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit, Cauvery issue and others…




(11) O. Pannerselvam:

          Current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Mr. OPS became the CM of the State for the second time. After Jaya’s conviction, Mr. OPS became the CM. Opposition parties mocked Mr. OPS in several ways but the party / Mr. OPS remained silent. Media and Opposition made Mr. OPS to convene Assembly session. The session begins with Mr. OPS as Chief Minister. Mr. OPS handled the Assembly session in smooth way. Mr. OPS increased the electricity bill and milk rate. Attended CM’s meet in Delhi.

(12) Sheela Balakrishnan IAS:
          

Adviser to the Government of Tamil Nadu. Former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu; when she retired, the then Chief Minister Jaya, appointed her as a special adviser to the government. When Jaya got convicted, her name was also said for CM post. The media circulates that, the Ms. Sheela is the pillar of St. George Fort now guiding the Tamil Nadu government.


(13) Sagayam IAS:

          The person who is hailed as ‘100% clean’ by media and some groups was in news 2014. Removed from Cooptex Secretary (due to clash with Minister Ms. Gokula Indra); then appointed as Indian Medicine and Homeopathy commissioner; then, to the vice-chairmanship of Science City in Chennai. Madras HC appointed Sagayam to investigate the granite scam in the State. The State government rejected this and gone to HC and SC, both court rejected the plea of State government and also imposed a fine. Then with no other way, government gave its order for Sagyam to probe this scam (As of now, it is limited only to Madurai area)

(14) EVKS Elangovan:


          The much troubled congress unit in Tamil Nadu got a new President. Now, the Congress unit in the State is divided with the factions of EVKS, Chidamabram, Thangabalu and Khushubu. The high command thinks that, EVKS can make DMK to bring into the alliance.


(15) Rajinikanth:


Can a list of newsmakers from TN leave Rajinikanth out? The superstar makes news just by breathing. However, he did create quite a few headlines in 2014 with the release of `Lingaa', his rejection of invitations from a phalanx of political parties and moving court to protect his `personality rights' when a Bollywood director tried cashing in on his name and style. Ahead of the LS polls, he posed with Modi but said he supported no one; later, he said, “I am not afraid of politics, but hesitant”


Others:




(i) Kamal Hassan: appointed as ambassador ‘clean India’ campaign by Modi and a winner of 'Padma Bhushan'

(ii) M K Stalin: DMK now comes under the direct control of M K Stalin

(iii) Maran Brothers: Spicejet issue; ED summons them on Aircel-Maxis case

(iv) H Raja: BJP leader who openly warned Vaiko can’t return safely if he criticises Modi and other BJP leaders

(v) Balu Mahendra & K Balachander: the trend setter of Tamil Films passed away.

(vi) Subramanian Swamy: BJP leader who is known for his ‘great’ remarks. ‘Award Bhara Ratna to Sri Lankan President’; ‘I only said to Sri Lanka to release fishermen and keep their boats’; ‘I knew Jaya will be convicted, her political life is over’; ‘Dismiss Tamil Nadu government as the government is supporting LTTE activities’; ‘Vaiko can go out of NDA else we will throw you out – same is applicable for Ramdoss too’; ‘BJP do not need any actors to strengthen its base in TN’ ‘India is a country for Hindus’, etc…..

(vii) Varsha Gautham – Aishwarya Nedunchezhian: Asian Games bronze medalists; also won the 29er youth class in Chennai with a win in the India International Regatta.

(viii) Poomani: Eminent Novelist Mr. Poomani has won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil Literature, 2014 for his fictional, historical novel “Agnaadi”.

(ix) Ashok Kumar: New DGP for Tamil Nadu. Replaced K. Ramanujam who was appointed as Adviser to the Government of Tamil Nadu

(x) A Sarath Kamal and Anthony Amalraj: Table tennis players who won Silver medals in 2014 CWG

See Also the Following links:
2014: Disasters across the world

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