Ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Minister Aadhav Arjuna has been caught peddling a blatant falsehood, claiming that mayors are deliberately obstructing essential civic works to tarnish the image of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government.
In a fiery speech to party cadres, the Highways Minister declared: “Mayors are obstructing civic works like solid waste management, sewerage clean up, power cuts and water supply, to cause bad name to the govt.”
“To bring a bad name to the Chief Minister, MLA, the Local Administration is not allowing to collect garbage, give water, deliberately cutting electricity. All these are being done by the Mayors in the Local Administration. All DMK Mayors, Municipal Heads, are not supporting our MLAs.”, Aadhav Arjuna said.
The claim, however, is factually incorrect and misleading, as pointed out by journalist Omjasvin M D in a detailed fact-check posted on X.
Mayors and councillors in urban local bodies, including the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), hold no executive authority over day-to-day civic administration.
The real power lies with the GCC Commissioner — a senior Indian Administrative Service officer appointed by the state government and functioning under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department, which reports directly to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Mayors and elected representatives are restricted to ceremonial and oversight roles: chairing zonal and council meetings, approving projects, and conducting site inspections. They have zero control over the actual execution of solid waste management, sewerage works, or any operational decisions.Even more glaring is the minister’s reference to “power cuts.”
Power supply is managed exclusively by TANGEDCO, a separate state-owned corporation that does not fall under the Greater Chennai Corporation or any mayor’s jurisdiction. It operates under its own minister in the Vijay cabinet.
Aadhav Arjuna’s desperate attempt to blame powerless mayors for the TVK government’s mounting failures in civic services exposes not just his dishonesty, but the deep incompetence plaguing Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s administration. Instead of owning up to governance lapses and delivering on promises, TVK leaders are busy manufacturing scapegoats — a classic sign of a regime already running out of excuses.
Highways Minister @AadhavArjuna in a speech said “Mayors are obstructing civic works like solid waste management, sewerage clean up, power cuts and water supply, to cause bad name to the govt.”
Is it factual?
Mayors nor councillors have any power over the executive authority… pic.twitter.com/wZbcCmYjCc
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) June 7, 2026
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