Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday announced trifurcating the large Vellore district into three and asserted his government's commitment to the two-language formula. In his Independence Day address after unfurling the national flag at Fort St George in Chennai, Mr Palaniswami said dividing Vellore district was following consideration of representations from ministers, MLAs and the public.

Tamil-Nadu CM K Palaniswami hit-out at MK Stalin for blaming his party AIADMK for the cancellation of elections in Vellore-constituency in April and said that it only happened after the seizure of huge-amounts of cash from the houses of "those known" to him. Campaigning in Vellore-LS-constituency, where elections will be held next-month, Palaniswami also accused MK Stalin of telling a "blatant-lie" on the issue.

Repair of roads and bridges affected due to cyclone Gaja in districts including Nagappattinam and Tiruvarur will be taken up at a cost of Rs 200.53 crore, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced Wednesday. Making a statement in the State Assembly, Palaniswami said roads and bridges were badly hit due to the last year's cyclone that ravaged several districts.