For a change, Minister raises question during Question Hour in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Though the Tamil Nadu Assembly procedures do not permit a Minister to raise a question during Question Hour, Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on Monday (August 31, 2026) allowed Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth to raise a question on preparations for the Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam, scheduled to be held in 2028.

DMK member E.V. Velu questioned whether this was permissible. The Speaker said although it was not part of the Assembly procedure, he would allow the Minister to raise the question as it was related to a very important event. He also said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister could give a reply if he was prepared to do so.

HR&CE Minister Ramesh said he had already held a meeting with the District Collector and other officials to discuss preparations for the Mahamaham. He said the Heritage Committee had visited temples in connection with the kumbabishekam and that the government would expedite the works for the event, which was expected to attract devotees from across the world.

CM Vijay sits with Ministers in Assembly

In yet another unusual event, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay left his seat in the Assembly and sat with the other Ministers. He sat next to the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister and watched the proceedings.

He had also sat with the other Ministers during the proceedings last week.