Tamil Nadu Timeline

ConflictRise of Dravidian rule

M. G. Ramachandran shot by M. R. Radha

· Chennai

M. G. Ramachandran shot by M. R. Radha
India Post, Government of India, GODL-India · Wikimedia Commons

Actor M. R. Radha shot M. G. Ramachandran at his home weeks before the 1967 election; MGR survived after surgery.

On 12 January 1967, actor M. R. Radha visited M. G. Ramachandran to discuss a film and shot him near the left ear, then attempted to shoot himself. MGR survived after surgery, though the injury affected his voice. Images of him recovering in hospital were widely circulated during the DMK's election campaign. He won the 1967 election to the Assembly from his hospital bed.

Related events

  1. 1962

    1. Feb 1962ChennaiPolitics

      DMK becomes main opposition in 1962 election

      Congress under Kamaraj retained power in 1962, while the DMK won 50 seats to become the principal opposition party.

  2. 1967

    1. 1967ChennaiWelfare

      Annadurai's rupee-a-measure rice scheme

      The first DMK government tried to supply rice at one rupee a measure, an election promise made during an acute rice shortage.

    2. Feb 1967ChennaiPolitics

      DMK wins the 1967 Assembly election

      A DMK-led alliance defeated the Congress, ending Congress rule in Madras State; Kamaraj lost his own seat.

  3. 1971

    1. Mar 1971ChennaiPolitics

      DMK wins 184 seats in the 1971 election

      The DMK, allied with Indira Gandhi's Congress, won a landslide in the first Assembly election held under the name Tamil Nadu.

  4. 1972

    1. 17 Oct 1972ChennaiPolitics

      MGR expelled from DMK; AIADMK founded

      After demanding that DMK ministers declare their assets, M. G. Ramachandran was expelled and launched the Anna DMK.

  5. 1977

    1. 30 Jun 1977ChennaiPolitics

      AIADMK wins assembly election, M. G. Ramachandran becomes Chief Minister

      The AIADMK-led alliance won the 1977 assembly election and M. G. Ramachandran was sworn in as Chief Minister.

Open in the timeline explorer