The State-wide protest by opposition DMK and its allies in the form of ‘total shutdown’ cripple normal life across the State.  DMK cadres blocked rails, took out rallies and courted arrest protesting against the Centre’s delay in constituting the much-needed Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

Widespread protests have erupted all over the State demanding setting up CMB to ensure water-sharing arrangement between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.  In Chennai, most of the city buses remained off the roads and many autorickshaws remained off the roads, thus putting commuters into huge trouble. Stalin, the DMK’s working president, led the protests by courting arrest in Chennai.

Cadres attempted to stop rail traffic at the railway tracks at Thamirabharani River in Tirunelveli. Similarly, rail traffic was also halted by protesters at Killai Railway Station as well as on the Mayiladuthurai-Villupuram rail tracks. More than 250 protesters were arrested for attempting to block rail traffic. More than 100 DMK cadres were taken into custody when they prevented rail traffic at Lalgudi Railway Station.

DMK and CPI-M cadres blocked rail-traffic at Mathur as the Cuddalore-Trichy passenger train was blocked. Cadres were also arrested at Parktown, Chennai for blocking EMU rail traffic. Similar instances were witnessed at Coimbatore and elsewhere in the State.