BJP leader K Annamalai has strongly criticized the DMK government’s recently announced Space Industrial Policy, alleging that it is designed to benefit Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s family—particularly his son-in-law, Sabareesan, who is linked to a newly established space-tech company.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Annamalai wrote, “The Tamil Nadu Space Industrial Policy released yesterday was expected ever since TN CM Thiru @mkstalin’s son-in-law floated a space-tech startup. Thiru Sabareesan, the shadow CM of TN, is the designated partner of Vaanam Space LLP, incorporated on 22.07.2024. With this firm expected to receive a 20% capital subsidy, it would be appropriate to call this industrial policy the Gopalapuram family’s industrial policy. The State is suffering with lack of investments, struggling for fresh investments in FY25 and here’s an authoritarian govt releasing an industrial policy to benefit his family. Shame!”
The Tamil Nadu Space Industrial Policy released yesterday was expected ever since TN CM Thiru @mkstalin’s son-in-law floated a space-tech startup. Thiru Sabareesan, the shadow CM of TN, is the designated partner of Vaanam Space LLP, incorporated on 22.07.2024.
With this firm… pic.twitter.com/4OyZQYZP5T
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 18, 2025
It is noteworthy that Vaanam, India’s first private space tech accelerator, is MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan’s brother, Hariharan Vedamurthy’s brainchild and has Padma Bhushan awardee Nambi Narayanan as its mentor.
On 17 April 2025, the Tamil Nadu government has approved its Space Industrial Policy, aiming to attract ₹10,000 crore in investments, create 10,000 high-value jobs, and develop a skilled space-tech workforce. The policy focuses on full-stack space innovation—beyond manufacturing to include services and downstream analytics—targeting startups, MSMEs, and major players through dedicated “Space Bays.” Incentives include wage subsidies and patent filing support.
#TamilNadu is strapping on boosters to liftoff into the #spacetech orbit !
In a landmark decision today, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet has approved the Tamil Nadu Space Industrial Policy 2025 a bold blueprint to catapult our state into the high-orbit economy of space technology and… pic.twitter.com/uxBMiDti2H
— Dr. T R B Rajaa (@TRBRajaa) April 17, 2025
This initiative aligns with ISRO’s new spaceport under construction in Kulasekarapattinam, Thoothukudi, designed for Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) launches. Unlike Sriharikota, Kulasekarapattinam allows straight southward launches without risky maneuvers over Sri Lanka, improving cost-efficiency for small rockets.
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