CM Vijay at Madurai | தவெக-வை சீண்டும் எடப்பாடி பழனிசாமி! | Imperfect Show

The Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections have turned into a key political contest between AIADMK, TVK and DMK. Both seats were won by AIADMK in the 2026 Assembly election, but the sitting MLAs later resigned and joined TVK, making the defections a central issue in the bypoll campaign. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has launched an aggressive campaign, seeking to win back the two constituencies and repeatedly targeting the TVK government. EPS has also spoken about the possibility of an anti-TVK political alignment, while the PMK has chosen not to support any party in these by-elections.For TVK and CM Vijay, these are the party’s first by-elections after forming the government. The party has re-nominated the two former AIADMK MLAs, while DMK has fielded its own candidates in both constituencies. The campaign has increasingly focused on the defections, governance and the changing political equations between the three parties. So, what is the political calculation behind EPS’s campaign? Can AIADMK turn the defection issue into electoral support? How is Vijay’s TVK responding, and what role does DMK play in this three-way contest?In this episode of IPS, we examine EPS’s strategy, AIADMK’s challenges and the evolving political battle between TVK, DMK and AIADMK ahead of the by-elections.

The Indian stock market remains under pressure, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex witnessing sharp volatility amid elevated crude oil prices, high US bond yields, foreign fund outflows and geopolitical uncertainty. On September 29, the Nifty closed at 22,716.20, while FPIs remained net sellers. In this volatile environment, what should investors actually watch? Is this merely a short-term correction, or are there larger global and domestic factors influencing the market’s direction? The spotlight is also firmly on Tata Sons. The RBI has rejected Tata Sons’ request to remain outside the mandatory listing framework, bringing a potential stock-market listing into focus. However, Tata Trusts has now proposed restructuring Tata Sons by merging Tata Electronics Systems Solutions and Tata Consulting Engineers with it, a move that could potentially allow the group to avoid the listing requirement if approved by the relevant authorities.Meanwhile, investors will also be watching August IIP (Index of Industrial Production) data for clues about the strength of India’s industrial activity and the broader economic outlook. The episode also examines the India–US MFN (Most Favoured Nation) trade issue, its implications for Indian businesses and how developments in global trade could affect market sentiment. In this episode of IPS Finance, we decode the market panic, Tata Sons’ listing uncertainty, August IIP data and the India–US MFN issue — and examine the key factors investors should track next.

TVK Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s visit to Madurai has added fresh momentum to the political contest in Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s public engagements and political statements come at a time when the rivalry between TVK and AIADMK is becoming increasingly visible.AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has stepped up his criticism of TVK and Vijay, questioning the ruling party’s approach to governance and its political claims. TVK, meanwhile, continues to position itself as an alternative to the established political parties. With the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections also intensifying the political battle, the exchanges between TVK and AIADMK have taken on added significance.What did Vijay say in Madurai? Why is EPS targeting TVK? What does the growing confrontation between the two parties reveal about the changing political equations in Tamil Nadu? In this episode of Imperfect Show, we decode CM Vijay’s Madurai visit, EPS’s criticism of TVK and the political developments shaping the contest between the two parties.

The Indian stock market has been under pressure, with the Nifty 50 witnessing sharp volatility amid global uncertainty, crude-oil movements, foreign fund flows and weakness across several sectors. Recent trading sessions have also highlighted how quickly market sentiment can shift. But when could the market see a sustained positive phase? What are the key levels and triggers investors should watch instead of simply reacting to short-term movements?The episode also looks at Coal as a market in its own right. With power plants facing fluctuations in coal inventories and the government increasing rail shipments to replenish stocks, supply, demand and pricing are becoming important factors for the power and mining sectors. Meanwhile, fresh TRAI data and regulatory developments are putting the telecom sector in focus. TRAI has released its latest August 2026 subscriber data and has also mandated telecom operators to offer more voice-and-SMS-only tariff options, a move that could affect pricing strategies and telecom stocks.The insurance sector is another area to watch as investors assess regulatory changes, earnings and sector-specific developments. In this episode of IPS Finance, we decode the market correction, the factors that could trigger a recovery, the changing dynamics of the coal market, the latest TRAI data and key developments in the insurance sector.

The Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections, scheduled for October 6, have become an important political contest involving the ruling TVK, opposition DMK and AIADMK. Both constituencies fell vacant after former AIADMK MLAs K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama resigned and joined TVK.For TVK, the bypolls come just months after forming the government and are being closely watched as an early electoral test of its administration and organisation. For AIADMK, both seats carry an additional significance because the vacancies were created by the defection of its former MLAs. The DMK, meanwhile, is seeking to challenge TVK in both constituencies, fielding I. Paranthamen in Madurantakam and S. Suganya in Dharapuram. Senior leaders from all three parties have stepped up campaigning as the contest intensifies.What would a victory mean for each party? How important are these two seats for TVK’s government, DMK’s opposition strategy and AIADMK’s political recovery?In this episode of Imperfect Show, we examine the stakes for TVK, DMK and AIADMK, the constituency-level factors and what these by-election results could mean for each party’s political strategy.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing intensified criticism from opposition parties over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Opposition leaders have alleged that the Election Commission’s actions could benefit the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and have demanded Kumar’s resignation or removal. Congress-led protests have now spread across several states, with demonstrations reported on September 25–26. The controversy has also been fuelled by reports of differences within the three-member Election Commission. Opposition parties have highlighted objections reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over certain decisions connected with the electoral-roll process. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that these were internal observations and that decisions were taken through the Commission’s institutional process. So, what are the allegations against Gyanesh Kumar? What does the SIR controversy actually involve? And why have opposition parties escalated their campaign against the Election Commission? In this episode of IPS, we examine the allegations, the reported internal differences within the ECI, the opposition protests and the Election Commission’s response.

Small-cap and mid-cap stocks have continued to attract strong investor interest, with recent data showing healthy inflows into these segments. In August, small-cap mutual funds saw record inflows of around ₹7,973 crore, while mid-cap funds also attracted significant investments. But what is driving this momentum? Is it earnings growth, domestic liquidity, sector rotation or investor enthusiasm? At the same time, market analysts have raised concerns that some mid- and small-cap stocks are looking expensive, making valuations an important factor to watch.The episode also looks at an important investor question: If a company makes higher profits, is it legally required to pay a higher dividend?Under India’s Companies Act, a profitable company is not generally required to distribute a fixed or higher percentage of its profits as dividend. Companies can retain earnings for expansion, debt reduction, working capital and other purposes, subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Certain sectors, such as banks, also have specific dividend rules from regulators such as the RBI.So, why are Small Cap and Mid Cap stocks moving up? And how do profits, retained earnings and dividend payouts actually work? In this episode of IPS Finance, we decode the Small Cap–Mid Cap rally and explain the rules behind corporate dividend payments.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is facing renewed political scrutiny amid the ongoing debate over the Election Commission’s functioning and allegations raised by opposition leaders. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has called for Kumar’s removal, while the Election Commission has faced wider criticism over issues surrounding electoral rolls and the SIR exercise. At the same time, campaigning for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections is intensifying ahead of the October 6 polling. TVK, DMK, AIADMK and the Left parties are contesting the two seats, with senior leaders stepping up their campaigns. The campaign has also seen allegations and counter-allegations over MLA defections, horse-trading and alleged cash distribution. AIADMK has submitted a complaint to the Election Commission seeking an inquiry into alleged voter inducement in both constituencies; these are allegations that require investigation. What are the key controversies surrounding Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission? What is driving the increasingly intense battle in Madurantakam and Dharapuram? And what issues are dominating the bypoll campaign? In this episode of Political Lab, we examine the Election Commission controversy and the major political developments shaping the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections.

Could rising crude oil prices and geopolitical risks put renewed pressure on petroleum product prices in India? With India’s crude import costs already elevated, the direction of global oil prices remains an important factor for inflation, fuel costs and the broader economy. Meanwhile, Copper has been showing strong momentum, with copper futures gaining around 4.6% over five trading sessions as of September 23, amid supply disruptions and concerns over production. Steel and other metal stocks have also been gaining alongside the broader commodity rally.The latest SEBI developments are also important for commodity-market participants. SEBI has been reviewing position limits and penalty provisions for commodity derivatives, while the regulator has also been examining ways to deepen the commodity-derivatives ecosystem. What is driving the movement in Copper and Steel? Are petroleum product prices showing early signs of another rise? And what do the latest SEBI developments mean for commodity traders and investors?In this episode, Commodity Expert Shyam Sundar analyses Petroleum Products, Copper, Steel and the latest SEBI developments in the commodity market.

A major legal controversy involving M.K. Stalin and Vikatan has once again come into focus. Stalin had filed a defamation case over a Vikatan report concerning an alleged ₹500-crore political donation, while subsequent electoral-bond disclosures brought renewed attention to the figures and the political debate surrounding them.At the same time, the Gem Granites Veeramani POCSO case continues to widen, with investigators examining allegations concerning the earlier handling of the case and an alleged financial trail involving several individuals. Police have also questioned people linked to the suspected money transactions as part of the ongoing investigation. These remain allegations under investigation and have not been established as facts by a court. What happened in the ₹500-crore case involving Stalin and Vikatan? What was the court’s position? And why is the Gem Veeramani investigation now attracting intense political and public attention? In this episode of IPS, we examine the Vikatan–Stalin legal battle, the ₹500-crore controversy and the latest developments in the Gem Veeramani case.