Following the cyclone’s destruction, Chief Minister Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited flood-affected areas like Marakkanam to provide relief. Ponmudi, along with other officials, visited Iruvelpattu on the Villupuram-Trichy National Highway, where floodwaters severely damaged roads. It was during this visit that his car was blocked by angry residents who were frustrated with the delayed response.
The protesters, who had staged a road blockade, voiced their displeasure with the government’s relief efforts and questioned why officials had not arrived sooner. Police intervened, urging them to clear the blockade. Ponmudi and other officials briefly inspected the affected areas before leaving under pressure.
However, police sources alleged that the assailant was not a local resident but Rama alias Ramakrishnan, a 24-year-old BJP sympathizer. Rama’s father, Ramachandran, is reportedly connected to the BJP, and his sister, Siddhi Vijayarani, is associated with the party. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was politically motivated.
The incident sparked political reactions, with opposition parties criticizing the DMK government’s handling of the crisis. BJP leader Annamalai condemned the government’s negligence, and wrote on his official X handle, “This is the current state of affairs in Tamil Nadu. The CM and the Deputy Chief Minister were busy taking photos in the streets of Chennai while the city received very little rain and did not bother to keep track of the happenings beyond Chennai. The DIPR behaves like the media arm of the DMK and is busy promoting the Gopalapuram scion to divert people from the harsh realities of the flood, a clear sign of the government’s neglect. Today, the public’s frustration reached a boiling point as a Corrupt DMK Minister, Thiru Ponmudi, visited a flood-affected area and was met with a barrage of mud.
He further criticized the DMK for failing to address the public’s growing frustration, evident in the mud-throwing incident, and warned, “This is a gentle reminder for DMK about what is on the offing.”
As the investigation into the mud-throwing continues, the ongoing flood relief efforts in Tamil Nadu remain a critical focus.
(With inputs from ABP Nadu)
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