Postponement of college exam for CM’s visit in Pudukottai triggers row

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay, had planned to visit Pudukottai on November 2 to inaugurate a new bus stand and distribute welfare measures. However, this visit coincided with semester examinations at the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Government Arts College for Women, which were scheduled to take place on the same day.

As a result, the college authorities decided to postpone the examinations, citing concerns over the difficulties students might face in reaching the institution from the bus stand. The college, an autonomous institution, typically begins its semester exams on October 30 and concludes on November 19. Despite the postponement, the college office will remain in operation on November 2 as usual.

Students from rural areas of the district were informed about the change through a mobile messaging platform, which was also shared with faculty members. The opposition party, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, expressed significant disapproval of the decision, with the party's leader, T. Velmurugan, stating that the Chief Minister's visit was deemed more important than the students' educational future.

He further criticized the government for failing to ensure adequate security and transportation arrangements for the official function. Meanwhile, preparations were underway for the Chief Minister's visit to Pudukottai, where he was set to inaugurate the new bus stand and distribute welfare assistance to approximately 2,000 beneficiaries.

The total welfare assistance to be provided on that day stood at Rs. 100 crore, earmarked for 14,000 beneficiaries in the Pudukottai district.