Tamil Nadu Today Newsletter: Ammonia spills rise to nine

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay addresses the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai on June 23, 2026 | Photo credit: X/@CMOTamilnadu

1. CM Vijay’s note on ‘party funds’: TVK, DMK engage in heated debate at rally

A heated debate erupted between MLAs of the ruling TVK and the main opposition DMK in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly today (June 23, 2026) on the last day of the session over Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s remarks on alleged siphoning of money in the name of “party funds” under the previous regime.

Reacting to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s vote of thanks in the House, Mr. Vijay launched a political attack on the previous DMK government. “If administrative efficiency means committing one corrupt act after another and then escaping accountability, this government will never indulge in such corrupt administrative practices. The money looted in TASMAC in the name of party funds is now returning to the government coffers,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK MLAs strongly objected to the Chief Minister’s remarks about “party funds”. All DMK MLAs rose from their seats and raised slogans. While the Chief Minister was speaking, the DMK MLAs later staged a strike.

2. Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak: death toll rises to nine

Another woman, Anjila Soren from Assam, died following a gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district on Sunday, claiming nine lives today (June 23, 2026). All the nine victims were women workers from Odisha and Assam.

According to the media bulletin of the Ministry of Health, a total of 69 people are currently being treated in various hospitals.

3. Thirupparankundram row: TVK government moved Supreme Court

The TVK-led Tamil Nadu government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay moved the Supreme Court challenging the orders passed by the Madras High Court to light a lamp at a stone pillar near the Thirupparankundram hill dargah.

A division bench of the Supreme Court earlier in January this year upheld an earlier order of a single judge bench, which directed the management of the Subramaniya Swamy temple in Thirupparankundram to light the Karthigai Deepam at the “deepathoon” (stone pillar) on top of the hill, in addition to the usual places.

The previous DMK regime in the state failed to convince the court that lighting a lamp could stir a hornet’s nest and lead to riots. The single judge dismissed the state’s arrest as an “imaginary ghost”. The Bench observed that such a turn of events will happen only with the blessings of the State and not otherwise.

Published – 23 Jun 2026 19:22 IST