Author Archives: Sridevi K.

Curtains Down on Tamil Nadu’s 5-Day Drama: Vijay gets 120 last minute

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For five days, Tamil Nadu witnessed a political battle that swung wildly between uncertainty and inevitability. Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, who entered the Assembly election as an outsider challenging the state’s entrenched Dravidian order, spent nearly a week struggling to bridge the final gap between electoral victory and constitutional legitimacy. By Friday night, his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had finally crossed the halfway mark with support from nearly 120 legislators, ending one of the most dramatic government-formation deadlocks in recent state history.

The numbers triggered the crisis from the very beginning. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the majority mark stands at 118. TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, but Vijay vacated one constituency after winning from two seats, reducing the party’s effective strength to 107 MLAs. That left him 11 short of power despite delivering the biggest electoral upset in the state in decades.

Raj Bhavan became the centre of the storm almost immediately after the results. Vijay met Governor R. V. Arlekar within hours of the verdict, staking claim to form the government with assurances of outside support. But the Governor reportedly refused to invite him to take oath without documentary proof that he could survive a floor test. The decision transformed what should have been a straightforward swearing-in into a prolonged constitutional and political showdown.

How Day-2 Turned Feverish

By the second day, Tamil Nadu’s political atmosphere had turned feverish. Rival camps accused each other of attempting “horse-trading” as parties scrambled to prevent defections. TVK insiders claimed the party was in touch with independents and smaller regional groups, while opposition formations explored counter-combinations to stop Vijay from taking office. Reports surfaced that several MLAs had been moved to resorts and secure locations amid fears of poaching.

The uncertainty deepened after dramatic shifts among potential allies. Congress legislators backed Vijay early, taking the tally beyond 110, but support from other parties fluctuated through the week. At one stage, the Indian Union Muslim League publicly denied extending support to TVK, creating fresh doubts about whether Vijay could reach the majority mark before the Assembly deadline.

As negotiations intensified, TVK leaders began direct outreach to Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). Behind closed doors, discussions reportedly centred on preventing a rival coalition led by the DMK or AIADMK from claiming power through post-poll arithmetic. Political circles in Chennai were also rocked by speculation that the two Dravidian rivals were considering tactical cooperation solely to keep Vijay out of office — a possibility unthinkable in Tamil Nadu politics until this election.

When VCK Joined Chorus Last Minute

The breakthrough came late on Friday when VCK formally announced “unconditional support” to the TVK-led bloc. The CPI and CPI(M) also backed Vijay, arguing that the state required stability and should avoid prolonged uncertainty or President’s Rule. The support dramatically changed the numbers. TVK’s tally climbed from 107 to around 120 MLAs, finally crossing the constitutional threshold required to form government.

VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan said the decision was aimed at “protecting democratic stability” in Tamil Nadu and preventing a governance vacuum. CPI(M) leaders also publicly indicated that the oath-taking process was expected to move forward once formal support letters were submitted to the Governor.

On the fifth day of the deadlock, Vijay returned to Raj Bhavan carrying written support from allied parties and independents. Sources indicated that this was his third major meeting with the Governor since the election results were announced. Outside the Governor’s residence, thousands of TVK supporters gathered through the day as speculation mounted that the stalemate had finally ended.

Final Arithmetic Reflects Dramatic Turnaround:

  • TVK: 107 MLAs after vacancy adjustment
  • Congress: 5 MLAs
  • CPI: 2 MLAs
  • CPI(M): 2 MLAs
  • VCK: 2 MLAs
  • IUML and others: remaining support taking the bloc to nearly 120 MLAs.

For Tamil Nadu politics, the implications extend far beyond one government formation battle. The five-day crisis exposed the vulnerability of the traditional DMK-AIADMK structure and demonstrated how Vijay’s entry has disrupted electoral equations that dominated the state for nearly half a century. What began as a celebrity-led insurgency has now turned into a full-scale political realignment with consequences likely to reshape the state’s future.

Asteroid 2025 FA22 Set for Close Flyby on September 18

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The night sky often brings a sense of awe, but every so often, a rocky visitor from deep space captures global attention. This week, astronomers are tracking asteroid 2025 FA22, which will sweep past Earth on Thursday, 18 September, 2025, in one of the year’s most closely monitored celestial events.

According to NASA, FA22 is about 520 feet (160 metres) wide and hurtles through space at over 24,000 miles per hour. On its closest approach, it will pass at a distance of 523,000 miles (841,900 km), tht is slightly farther than the Moon. While that might not sound close, in astronomical terms, it qualifies as a near miss.

The asteroid is part of the Aten group, a class of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) whose orbits cross Earth’s path. Because of their trajectories, they are among the most carefully tracked objects in the solar system.

Despite its size, experts stress that FA22 poses no risk. NASA designates an asteroid as hazardous if it comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth and measures more than 85 metres across. Although FA22 fits the size category, its trajectory keeps it well outside the danger zone.

Still, scientists emphasise that close monitoring is essential. Even small shifts in an asteroid’s orbit, caused by gravitational nudges or solar radiation effects, can change its future path dramatically.

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NASA noted that shortly after its discovery in March 2025, FA22 briefly reached Torino Scale 1, a category that flags objects worth monitoring, though unlikely to impact Earth. Further observations quickly ruled out any threat.

2025 – A Busy Year for Sky Watchers

The September encounter comes during a year filled with notable asteroid activity.

  • January 2025: Asteroid 2025 AB10, a 200-foot rock, passed at 1.2 million kilometres, offering astronomers early tracking practice for the year.

  • March 29, 2025: FA22 was first spotted by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii, triggering the global observing campaign now underway.

  • July 2025: A smaller asteroid, 2025 JX3, skimmed within 400,000 kilometres, just inside the Moon’s orbit, sparking public interest.

  • September 2025: FA22 now headlines as the largest close-approaching asteroid of the year.

  • Later in 2025: Astronomers also anticipate the flyby of 2025 QH5 in December, which, while smaller, will pass even closer than FA22.

These encounters remind us that the Blue Planet shares a dynamic neighbourhood with thousands of NEOs, most harmless, but all worth studying.

Why Should We Care About Every Flyby?

Even when no danger exists, each asteroid provides a chance to refine tracking systems and test planetary defense protocols. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has organised a worldwide observing campaign around FA22. Telescopes across the globe will collect data on its orbit, size, spin, and surface features.

IAWN explained: “For the purpose of the exercise, we will treat this object as a current virtual impactor with a hypothetical impact on September 19, 2089.” In reality, updated orbital calculations show no risk of impact.

Beyond FA22, attention is building toward Apophis, a much larger asteroid due in 2029. In fact, ISRO chief S. Somanath recently outlined India’s plans to join NASA, ESA, and JAXA in asteroid exploration, including potential landing missions. The goal is to understand their makeup, test resource extraction technologies, and sharpen defense strategies.

Past close approaches, such as 2019 OK, which flew within 73,000 kilometres, and 2020 QG, which zipped by at just 3,000 kilometres—show how unexpectedly close asteroids can appear. While FA22 will pass at a safe distance, its visit underscores why constant vigilance is critical.

For amateur astronomers, the event is also a spectacle. On September 18–19, FA22 is expected to reach magnitude 13, visible through small backyard telescopes. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the passage for global audiences.

Though harmless, FA22’s arrival highlights a core truth about our place in the cosmos: the skies above are far from static. Each asteroid encounter is both a reminder of Earth’s vulnerability and a chance to sharpen humanity’s readiness for the unexpected.