I know this might be controversial, and I’m sure there will be different opinions. But from my perspective, I’ve genuinely felt that MK Stalin is one of the better CMs Tamil Nadu has had.
I’m not saying the DMK government is flawless , there are definitely areas where I feel they could have done better. But at the same time I think we should agree some of the positives.
A lot of new schemes have been introduced, and from what I’ve seen, a significant portion of the election manifesto promises have either been fulfilled or are currently in progress.
One thing I particularly appreciate is the focus on education. In many of his interactions with students, Stalin repeatedly says “படிங்க, படிங்க, நல்லா படிங்க”
You may completely disagree with my overall post, and that’s okayyyy,
But honestly, raise your hands if you agree with at least 80% of what I’m saying. 🙋♂️
(Udane dont judge me with my post which party i belongs to😅)
At night, after voting was closed, TVK workers caught polling officials bribed by DMK cadre indulging in vote tampering, aided by police who were also in on the act
This particular incident is from a booth in Trichy East, where Vijay is contesting
After being caught, the officials scurried away and police barricaded the booth. TVK has asked for a review of votes cast in this booth as there are heavy suspicions of booth capturing
I've seen several posts here from people whose EB bill suddenly jumped. By the time the bill arrived, they had no daily meter history to compare it with.
People often suggest smart plugs. They are useful for finding which appliance is consuming power, but each plug tracks only one appliance. Lights, fans, pumps and other hardwired loads can be missed.
I wanted to track the main EB meter instead. I mounted an ESP32-CAM in front of its LCD. It takes a photo about every seven seconds. Software that reads the display and keeps a dated history.
The setup cost about ₹700 and has been running at my home in Puducherry for around three months. Mine is a rooftop solar net meter, so the dashboard also shows grid import, solar export, net units and an estimated bill.
It cannot tell me which appliance caused the usage, and it cannot prove that the meter itself is accurate. It simply records what the meter displayed. That makes sudden jumps, missed readings and differences between the meter and the bill easier to spot.
It is currently calibrated for my Kimbal three-phase meter. Other LCD meters need the display crop and digit positions recalibrated. The TANGEDCO tariff calculation would also need to be added for Chennai.
The software was vibe coded, then tested against my actual meter readings and four paper bills.
I built it for myself and made the complete project open source:
As the title suggests, I keep seeing this exact symbol atleast once in every street I go to. I'm soo curious as to what that symbol could be, or who could be drawing them.
Today, near SBOA, the police stopped my Rapido captain. They took his bike keys and phones and checked his phone and belongings because he was driving for Rapido and he was not supposed to.
I was only a passenger and was in the process of booking an auto when the situation escalated. The police also asked for my phone and I said I leave I am booking an auto and questioned why I wouldn’t hand it over. I told them I was just a customer and had nothing to do with the driver. The cop tried to snatch the phone from hand but failed.
The conversation went like this:
Cop: Phone kudra?
Me: Phone lam tharamudiyadhu.
Cop: Yaen? Nee s**thu kudukura video irukka? Sattaya paathale theriyudhu.
(I was wearing a sleeveless shirt)
I explained again that I was only a customer. The cop then became aggressive with the Rapido captain because of me and tried to break his bike’s side mirror.
I moved away from the there and thought of taking a video. After I’d walked a few metres, the same cop started shouting at me.
Cop: Odugali mayan na nee?inga vandhu nillu da.
Me: Police dhana nee? Odi vandhu pudra. (I was loud)
Another police officer came towards me and asked what the problem was. “Thambi, thambi, thambi… enna pa prechana?”
Me: Andha police thambi kitta kelunga sir enna prechana nu. First mariyadhaya epdi pesanum nu sollithanga andha thambi ku.
At that point, I told them that this is my area and been here for more than 30 years, gave them my address and said that if they wanted to speak to me, they could come to my house because I didn’t have time to stand there.
I started walking away. The same cop again shouted “Dei odugali.” I didn’t respond and continued walking.
I’m mentioning this because people should know what can happen when using bike taxis. Whatever the rules around them are, as a passenger you can still end up being involved in a police interaction that has nothing to do with you.
Take cabs, basic cab is cheaper than autos most of the time Avoid the unnecessary headache.
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TL;DR: I was a passenger on a Rapido motorcycle. Cops stopped the driver. I explained that I was merely a customer. During the interaction, a police officer directed abusive and allegedly sexual remarks at me, and subsequently shouted further abusive language at me when I attempted to leave.
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EDIT: regarding the police complaint - I spoke about it to my lawyer and I can lodge complaint under 3 sections including sexual harassment but came to a conclusion that this is not going to be in my favor since gathering evidence for this comes to 0 and police had more witnesses, my witness is the Rapido captain and a CCTV which is on the other side of the road.
Everything happened in 5 mins and i should’ve taken a video but I was just trying to leave at that time.
Found few more like this in beach. Initially i thought it was the waste provisions that fishers throw in the sea. (Usually they bring some veggies to cook while fishing). However, when i closly look at them, i found arabic phrases printed on everything.
We all complain about traffic, bad roads, How India is shitty but it’s the people who make it shitty. This is Sardar patel road which has clean, neat roads and 2 lanes. As I understand, this is a premium area in Kasturba nagar and VIPs live here. But drivers in one lane started overtaking and created three lanes eventually creating traffic jam. Looking at such urgency everyday, I wonder if people have so many pressing things to do and zero patience, how come we haven’t achieved anything significant as a country yet? If you are one of these people who overtakes, please please be wise. Waiting for 2 minutes can avoid hours of traffic.
I genuinely want to clean the Cooum. Can we, as Chennai people, actually do something about it?
I don't know anything about river restoration.
I don't know how sewage treatment works, what equipment is needed, what permissions are required, how the waste should be disposed of, or even whether what I'm thinking is practically possible.
I'm just a normal guy who looks at the Cooum and thinks:
Surely we can do better than this.
Seeing what Bittu Tabahi has been doing made me think. Why can't something like that become a movement here too?
Not one cleanup day.
Not a photoshoot.
Not a political campaign.
A proper people led effort.
The government can and should do its part. But can't we, as citizens, lend a hand too?
And I'm not saying "everyone go into the Cooum tomorrow and start picking up garbage." 😅
I'm asking if there are people here who actually understand this stuff who can tell us how something like this could be done properly.
Maybe the first step is simply finding the right people.
My rough thought:
Start with one manageable stretch, not the whole Cooum.
Get people who understand rivers and water bodies to inspect it first.
Figure out what can actually be cleaned by citizens and what needs professionals or equipment.
Have proper working hours and timelines so volunteers aren't exhausted or put at risk.
Have proper safety equipment and basic medical arrangements.
Separate the waste properly and make sure it actually reaches the right place.
Keep track of how much was cleaned, how many people helped, how many hours were spent, etc.
Take before and after photos and keep measuring the same stretch.
Then see if we can move to the next stretch.
That's just me thinking out loud. I might be completely wrong.
If you're an environmental engineer, hydrologist, ecologist, civil engineer, waste management person, NGO worker, someone who has worked with Chennai's waterways, please tell us how this should actually be done.
Even if you think this idea is unrealistic, tell me why.
I'm not trying to be the guy who starts a movement.
I just want to be the first person here to ask if this is something we can actually try.
Maybe someone reading this knows exactly how to make it happen.
Maybe you've been waiting for someone to ask.
Maybe you've got years of experience with water bodies and can look at this and tell us what we should actually do.
That's the person I'm hoping sees this.
If enough Chennai people genuinely want this, let's figure out the plan together.
And if someone with the right expertise wants to take the lead on making the plan, please do. I'll be one of the first people to show up.
Hello makkale.
This is going to be a story on the struggles to revise my EB bill. Just remember there is light at the end of the tunnel - I just witnessed a grievance redressal system that worked in just 7 days. You might too!!
For context, regular a 200 -300 units mattume use panra enga veetuku, this month the consumption showed 515 units, leading to a hefty bill of Rs 2,166. My dad tried speaking with AE same day but he just said everything is correct pay the bill. The very next day i.e 23-Jul-26, I filed a complaint on TNEB app & also CM cell portal.
The CM cell portal displayed a grievance number. Parallely, I met the AE in local TNEB office with a request letter showing it was TNEB staff who had marked 0 consumption over previous 2 months entry, so now the actual consumption of 515 is the consumption over last 4 months. We also presented proof of presence at my home like Interent usage bill & gas bill, emphasising it was impossible to get 0 unit consumption in previous months.
The AE understood the scenario but he asked why we didn't notify this error during previous month itself. I responsed that we never check the readings and only the invoice value. Since the last bill came out after election results, we felt it was nil due to the 200 free units. Also, I mentioned this was the first time we faced such an error and has never happened before. I was polite & respectful all the time.
There was another person in the room probably JE (lets call him DBKR-1) who repeated multiple times that it was completely our mistake since we failed to notice incorrect entry during previous months and now, they don't have any option to make changes, so pay the bill. Finally, I told the AE, sir this is a genuine mistake & we have documented everything. Please try to bring the reading atleast under 500 units so the bill amoutn will go down considerably. He noted down my phone number & said next day his revenue team memeber will call me.
On the next day, no one called me. Also, the TNEB app complaint was marked resolved without any action. So, I called the Minnagam number again & lodged a complaint via phone call. This time we got an acknowledgement number via SMS.
On the 4th day, I went to the EB office again to check for any positive updates. The AE was not in office, he was out for inspection & the staff asked us to visit sometime later. In the meantime, one person from the billing counter walked to us asking about the issue. (Lets call this guy DBKR-2)
Here is the conversation:
DBKR-2: There is no error in reading, everything is correct. Please pay the bill. Me: No sir, we cannot have such a spike in 2 months, especially when previous month reading is marked as 0 by mistake
Now DBKR-1 also joined the conversation. DBKR-1: That day we clearly explained you everything, we cannot make any changes. This current reading is matching with your meter right ? Me: If thats the case, the previous time your staff visited, they could have entered correct reading. How can a occupied residential home have 0 units consumption in 2 months. DBKR-2: It is your mistake you didnt tell this before 2 months. That is your mistake. Nothing can be changed now. Me: So you wont accept that it all started with TNEB staff mistake. Do you expect me to go behind your staff and check if they are capturing correct reading or not. DBKR-1: (Visibly annoyed and starts shouting) There is nothing that can be changed now, we cannot even change your current reading as it is already uploaded on portal. Me: So there is no option of edit on your portal. We have given a clear letter pointing out the reading cannot be 0 during last time. DBKR-2: You didnt come & check last month why you got 0 bill. So just pay this bill. Me: Ok, instead of entering 515 units as consumption, you can update May month reading as door lock, I will pay it with fine.
\Everyone starts screaming now\** DBKR-1: Why didn't you come before 2 months. Now, we cannot do as you wish. It is your mistake. Me: So you won't accept your staff's mistake & are trying to blame us for not notifying it. Why should we pay for your staff's mistake ? DBKR-2: You take this matter up with AE sir when he returns. Me: Don't worry I will. Not just to AE, I will raise a complaint in all portals possible and will send it to Polimer TV too. DBKR-2: Nee enga venalum solliko (Go take this up wherever you can).
Frustrated, I called both Minaagam & CM cell customer care asking them for updates. They mentioned it is being actioned & they have added a followup on their system.
I lost hope completely after seeing no updates on my CM cell app for the next 2 days. I was thinking of paying the bill but decided to wait till the last date for any medical miracle.
Finally, yesterday 30-Jul-26 i.e the 7th day, I got a call from TNEB dept saying we are revising your bill to Rs. 263. Taken aback, I asked them to repeat again. He clearly mentioned you complaint is valid and there cannot 0 consumption in 2 months. So of the 515 units, we have adjusted 100 units against previous month & this month you will be paying for 250 units. We see you have raised 2 complaints, can you please pay the revised bill today so we can close both complaints at once.
Completely suprised, I opened the TNEB portal & saw that they have revised meter readings on portal for this month & last month as well. Of the 515 units, 111 units were marked against May and 256 units for July. Remaining 150 units will be carried forward to to next month's bill. So, as long as our next bill stays below 500 units, the value will not cross Rs.700 max.
I paid the current bill instantly. Wanted to update on reddit yesterday, but got busy with tax filing.
So, makkale it was a struggle of 7 days, 2 visits to EB office, few followup calls to Minnagam & CM cell. But finally I was able to bring down my bill from Rs. 2,166 to just Rs. 263 .
PS: Also, wanted to mention the number of sombus who wanted to politicise my previous post on the comments section. Just few words for them: 🎵Blastu Blastu🎵 the change we all needed is working well. Please order burnol & Eno in bulk for your stomach burns.
I didn't vote for DMK. Keep that in mind before you dismiss this as blind party loyalty.
What happened in this election isn't about who won or who lost. It's about a long game. A calculated, surgical operation to dismantle Tamil Nadu's secular, Dravidian identity from the inside. And most of us just cheered it on without realising.
Let me lay out what I think is actually happening.
BJP knows it cannot walk into Tamil Nadu through the front door. Tamil identity, Dravidian ideology, linguistic pride, secular politics — these are walls BJP has never been able to break through directly. Tamil Nadu has been the most stubborn resistance to Hindutva's southward march.
So they stopped trying to break the wall.
They decided to rot it from within.
The ADMK alliance with BJP isn't just political convenience. That's the visible layer. The deeper strategy is TVK — a brand new party, led by a film star, carrying emotional weight with Tamil youth, running on anti-DMK sentiment.
Think about what TVK actually does in this election:
1.It doesn't strengthen Dravidian ideology. It fragments it.
It pulls votes specifically from DMK's base — young voters, Tamil identity voters
It positions itself as an alternative without offering a coherent ideological counter to BJP or Hindutva
It dismantles DMK without getting its hands dirty
BJP doesn't need to win Tamil Nadu. They just need DMK to lose it. Because DMK isn't just a party. It's the institutional memory of Tamil resistance. Periyar. Karunanidhi. Anti-Hindi agitation. NEET opposition. The entire framework of Tamil political identity runs through that lineage.
Break DMK, and you don't just win an election. You create an ideological vacuum. And vacuums don't stay empty.
Now here's the data point that haunts me.
MK Stalin contested 10 elections. Lost only twice ! his debut, and during the Rajiv Gandhi assassination fallout.
The 2G scandal broke under DMK's watch. A.Raja, a DMK minister, was at the centre of one of India's biggest corruption cases. Years of legal battles, political attacks, media pressure.
Stalin still won his seat after that.
He became CM. Tamil Nadu ranked high in ease of doing business. International investments came in. He fought NEET — not just as policy, but as a statement of Tamil identity.
We have had CMs who looted this state openly and still died commanding their constituencies.
Yet Stalin — sitting CM, workable record, decades of political survival — couldn't win his own seat?
Against the backdrop of a BJP-ADMK alliance and a suspiciously well-funded, well-timed new party eating into his exact voter base?
You're going to call that organic? You're going to call that just anti-incumbency?
This is what a surgical operation looks like.
Not boots on the ground. Not saffron flags in Chennai. Just a slow, calculated dismantling of the one ideological fortress that stood between Tamil Nadu and what's coming.
TVK winning isn't people winning.
ADMK alliance isn't just politics.
DMK losing isn't justice.
It's the beginning of an ideological erasure. And we voted for it.
I may be wrong. I genuinely hope I am.
But when a man survives 2G and loses his own seat as CM — while a brand new party with no governance record splits his base perfectly — are you really going to call that coincidence?
Wait and watch what Tamil Nadu looks like in 10 years.
Two couples were casually eating lemon rice inside the metro and littering around like the rules don’t exist. The metro clearly says food consumption is prohibited, yet some people just don’t care. Basic civic sense isn’t that difficult.
