MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, rode with friends along East Coast Road on Sunday. He took selfies with the locals and shook their hands during the cycling trip. However, the price of his cycle and his cycling gear sparked a social media debate.

MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, rode a Daijo Pedeleze C2 Elite model bicycle, which costs around ₹ 85000. Pedaleze is an Indian E-Bike brand that offers state of art features and technology making it all the more desirable and worth the investment. Each Pedaleze is built with an eye to quality and perfection. They ensure the best of quality at the highest of international standards.

Headquartered in Ambattur, Chennai, the company sells three types of bicycles. Chief Stalin used a pedal C2 bicycle priced at ₹ 81,500. Only persons weighing up to 120 kg can use this bicycle.

The Pedaleze C2 Elite is a Hybrid Electric Bicycle that features an Aerospace Alloy 6061 frame, a 7Ah lithium-ion battery, and a 250W Pedaleze Advanced Cadence Mid-Drive motor. The Pedaleze C2 Elite has a Shimano 7-Speed rear derailleur with Zoom Mechanical Disc Brakes and a Pre Load Adjuster and Mechanical Lockout. The front of the bicycle is fitted with a ‘Shock Observe Hydraulic’ system.

It was not just the cost of bicycle that has become a point of concern but also the gross misuse of taxpayer’s money on trivial expenditures.

All along the ECR route, police personnel (both men and women) were deployed for every few metres along the ECR road. This has come to be seen as a gross misuse of taxpayer’s money. Many on social media pointed out that if Stalin wanted to create awareness on physical health and exercise, he might rather do by cycling or walking in his home without causing inconvenience to the public.

A resident from Neelankarai said “While the Finance Minister has been crying that the state’s finances is in a mess allegedly due to the mismanagement by AIADMK, his own Chief Minister is wasting taxpayer’s money on these publicity stunt”.

Commenting on Stalin’s cycling trip, Rajeshwari Priya, President of Anaithu Makkal Katchi (All People Party), said: ” CM Stalin, who was urging Tamil Nadu people to wear a mask to control COVID, was not wearing a mask during his cycle trip in ECR. More than 200 local Armed Special Forces police, including an additional commissioner of police, two deputy commissioners, six assistant commissioners, 18 inspectors, and 51 sub-inspectors, were deployed along the route. Is this necessary when there is already a shortage of manpower in the police department?”

It is to be noted that before the 2021 assembly election, CM Stalin was riding a Merida Reacto bicycle that cost ₹178,000.

(with inputs from Dinamalar)

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