AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday questioned the need for a new Secretariat costing ₹1,200 crore in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the state is already struggling under a heavy debt burde and referred to CM Joseph Vijay as ‘luxury chief minister’.
Palaniswami made the remarks while campaigning at Saravambakkam in Chengalpattu on September 24. He also criticised Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over reports that he wanted a different office, alleging that the existing Chief Minister’s chamber was not suitable.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s chamber used by former Chief Ministers including C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, M.G. Ramachandran, J. Jayalalithaa, himself and M.K. Stalin, Palaniswami said:
“Recently, an announcement was made that the room was not suitable and that the Chief Minister’s room was not suitable. Why? It was in this very room that Perarignar Anna served as Chief Minister and worked. After that, Kalaignar was there, then Puratchi Thalaivar MGR’s government came, followed by Amma, and then I served as Chief Minister. After that, Mr Stalin came as Chief Minister. All these Chief Ministers worked from that very room. But only for him, that room is apparently not enough. Why? Because he is a costly Chief Minister. If he were an ordinary person like us, even a room half that size would be enough. What did he do? At the Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, on the tenth floor, he shifted the offices there to another location and spent ₹10 crore. Is it so that the sea breeze and beauty should fall on him nicely? Does Tamil Nadu need such a luxury Chief Minister? Think about it.”
Palaniswami then questioned the proposed construction of a new Secretariat, citing the state’s debt obligations.
He said, “The same government had released a White Paper. It said that when it assumed office, Tamil Nadu had a debt of ₹10 lakh crore. It has to pay ₹78,000 crore as interest every year. The Transport Department has a debt of ₹78,000 crore. The Electricity Department has a debt of ₹2 lakh crore and ₹48,000 crore.”
Questioning the proposed expenditure, he added, “At a time when the state has debt and has to pay interest on it, is there a need to construct a new Secretariat at a cost of ₹1,200 crore? There is no revenue from it either. At such a time, what is the need to construct a new Secretariat?”
Palaniswami also targeted the TVK over its political ties with the Communist parties. He claimed that the two Communist parties had supported the TVK when it came to power but were now contesting against the party.
He said, “The Communist parties supported the TVK to come to power. Now, the TVK is contesting against the very parties that supported it. The two Communist parties that supported the TVK government are both contesting against it. They are saying that the TVK candidate should not win. We are not saying this; they are saying it.”
Palaniswami subsequently appealed to voters to work for the victory of AIADMK candidate Arumai Kannitha Sampath by a large margin.
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