“DMK Minister Gandhi Will Be The First To Be Jailed In 2026 For Corruption,” Annamalai Slams DMK Minister Over Pongal Dhoti Scheme Scam, Demands Resignation

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai has strongly criticized DMK Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, R. Gandhi, accusing him of continuous and widespread corruption in the free cotton dhoti and saree scheme under the Pongal package. Annamalai claims that Gandhi has been reducing the cotton content and substituting it with cheaper polyester, making profits through proxy cooperative companies, and effectively looting public funds. He also called out the DVAC and Chief Minister Stalin for their failure to take action, questioning why, despite the BJP submitting relevant documents and raising the issue last year, no steps have been taken against Gandhi. He further asked whether Chief Minister MK Stalin is complicit in the corruption.

In a post on his official X account, Annamalai stated, “Corruption Minister Commission Gandhi should resign immediately. Minister Commission Gandhi is involved in corruption every year through the free cotton dhoti and saree scheme provided in the Pongal package. Last year, the people were deceived when less cotton yarn, which is priced up to ₹320 per kg, was used, while more polyester yarn, which costs half that amount at ₹160, was used to make the dhotis. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu BJP, we conducted an investigation at the Textile Research Center in Coimbatore, and we found that 78% of the dhotis given to the people were made of polyester, with only 22% being cotton. This reveals the massive corruption in the production costs. On 11th July 2024, officials from the Tamil Nadu Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Department met me at the Tamil Nadu BJP head office seeking explanation against this corruption allegation. As per their request, the inspected dhotis were handed over to the Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Directorate on 13 July. Why has the Tamil Nadu Anti-Corruption and Vigilance Directorate still not taken any action regarding this complaint?”

Annamalai continued, “This year, they have repeated their corruption by reducing the amount of cotton yarn used in the free dhotis provided in the Pongal package to the public and replacing it with cheaper polyester yarn. Additionally, on 3 December 2024, the Director of the Tamil Nadu Government Handlooms Department, IAS officer Mr. Shanmugasundaram, sent a memorandum directing the return of around 20 lakh dhotis that failed the quality inspection to their respective cooperative societies and instructed that the same number of high-quality dhotis be sent to the government procurement warehouse. Since the cooperative societies have failed to comply, on 6 February 2025, Mr. Shanmugasundaram warned that if the required quality dhotis are not sent to the warehouse, compensation action will be taken, and these societies will be barred from future production plans.”

He further added, “However, Minister Gandhi, who is systematically looting public money through his proxy companies in the name of cooperative societies, learned that IAS officer Mr. Shanmugasundaram was blocking his corruption. Within two days, Mr. Shanmugasundaram was transferred from the handloom sector. If the Chief Minister continues to retain him in this position despite knowing about the massive corruption in the handloom sector, does that mean the Chief Minister is also complicit in the corruption? The fact that a government official, who was performing his duty by exposing corruption, was transferred within two days, only confirms this. Isn’t it shameful to have such a government?”

Concluding, Annamalai said, “Minister Gandhi, who has been repeatedly stealing from the free dhotis and sarees meant for the poor and innocent people every year, should no longer hold the position of Handloom Minister. I urge Chief Minister Mr. Stalin to remove him from office immediately.I also wish to inform you that when the National Democratic Alliance comes to power in Tamil Nadu in 2026, Minister Gandhi will be the first corrupt DMK minister to be jailed.”