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5d ago

Temple Donations at Heart of Tamil Nadu Political Clash

The opposition claims temple donations are being diverted into college building under the HR&CE department, with the government insisting the practice is legally authorised on grounds of long-established precedent.

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Overview

  • AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has accused the DMK government of a “planned conspiracy” to reroute Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department donations into new arts and science colleges.
  • HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu said the department currently operates 25 schools, one polytechnic and nine colleges for over 22,450 students and has spent ₹132 crore on classrooms, labs and libraries.
  • Chief Minister M.K. Stalin pointed to provisions in the HR&CE Act and noted that former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran also used temple funds to establish educational institutions.
  • Parents of students at the Arulmigu Sri Kapaleeswarar Arts and Science College in Kolathur held placards defending the use of temple funds for education.
  • As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, both AIADMK and DMK have escalated the dispute into a broader debate over fiscal transparency, resource allocation and governance.