AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami has criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay over his working hours, questioning how he could maintain law and order if he returned home at 6 PM and met officials only at 9 AM the following morning, as reported in OneIndia Tamil.
Palaniswami also accused Vijay of taking Saturdays and Sundays off like a government employee, taking weekends off alleging that the Chief Minister was failing to address the state’s growing problems.
Palaniswami was in Madurai ahead of Thevar Jayanthi, during which he is scheduled to pay homage at the memorial of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar. Former ministers R.B. Udhayakumar, Sellur K. Raju, Rajendra Balaji and Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, among others, welcomed him upon his arrival.
Addressing reporters, Palaniswami alleged that the six months of TVK rule had been marked by administrative failures, power shortages and deteriorating law and order.
Palaniswami Alleges Corruption in Power Procurement
Palaniswami alleged that the government had failed to take adequate steps to address power cuts. Comparing electricity procurement costs under different administrations, he claimed that the AIADMK government had purchased electricity at ₹5.40 per unit, while the DMK government had procured it at rates ranging from ₹11 to ₹20 per unit.
He targeted TVK minister CTR Nirmal Kumar, who holds the electricity and prison portfolios, alleging that irregularities began after he assumed office.
According to Palaniswami, the Vijay government cancelled a power procurement tender involving electricity priced at ₹20 per unit and subsequently created an artificial shortage to purchase electricity at ₹37.50 per unit.
He alleged that this amounted to corruption under the TVK government and said Vijay and Nirmal Kumar would eventually have to answer for it. The allegations were made by Palaniswami and were not independently established in his remarks.
Questions Over Prison Security and Law and Order
Palaniswami also accused the government of failing to maintain law and order, citing prison escapes and violent crimes.
Referring to Vijay’s inspection of Puzhal Central Prison, he questioned the effectiveness of the visit, claiming that two prisoners escaped from the facility afterwards. He also alleged that 17 prisoners had escaped from a prison in Theni.
Mocking Vijay’s prison inspection, Palaniswami asked whether the Chief Minister had visited the facility to assess security or because an astrologer had advised him to do so.
He further alleged that the government had failed to trace a minor girl from Gingee who had reportedly been missing for 18 days. He also cited murders in public places and killings inside homes as examples of what he described as the deteriorating law and order situation.
Raises Drug Trafficking Concerns
Palaniswami alleged that drug trafficking had increased under the TVK government. He referred to the reported seizure of 137 kg of methamphetamine, valued at ₹400 crore, in Nagapattinam district and claimed that a person named Boopalan associated with TVK had been arrested in connection with the case.
He accused the government of failing to take appropriate action over the incident and criticised Vijay for not publicly responding to the issues raised against his administration.
Palaniswami concluded by accusing the Chief Minister of remaining silent on major controversies and failing to provide answers to the public.
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