A video of Tamil Nadu Finance and Human Resource Management Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan questioning civic officials over a recurring drainage issue in his constituency has gone viral after it was shared by the AIADMK IT Wing on Tuesday, sparking online debate.
The incident occurred during PTR’s field visit a few days ago to the Manjamedu area in Komaspalayam, under the Madurai Central constituency, where residents complained of a blocked drainage canal causing foul odour. The minister, who was on a routine inspection to address public grievances, confronted the officials present and asked why the issue had resurfaced despite having been resolved when he was an Opposition MLA.
“When I was in the Opposition, we solved this drainage problem. But now, when I’m in the ruling party, the same issue has come up again. How did this happen? Has the population increased? What has changed?” PTR is heard asking in the video, which was later circulated on social media by the AIADMK’s digital team.
He further questioned, “There were no issues when I was in the Opposition; why are they happening now when I’m in the ruling party?”
தான் எதிர்க்கட்சி MLA-வாக இருந்த போது சிறப்பாக இருந்த பகுதியில், தான் ஆளுங்கட்சி MLA-வாக, அமைச்சராக இருக்கும் போதே இவ்வளவு பிரச்சனைகள் வருவது ஏன்? என்ற @ptrmadurai அவர்களின் கேள்வி தான் இந்த ஒட்டுமொத்த திமுக ஆட்சிக்கான Report Card.
எதிர்க்கட்சி MLA-க்கள் தொகுதி என்றெல்லாம்… pic.twitter.com/vXcqO0rqJT
— AIADMK IT WING – SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@AIADMKITWINGOFL) November 4, 2025
The clip has since been widely shared online, with AIADMK members highlighting the minister’s remarks as an admission of governance lapses under the DMK administration. Meanwhile, local residents said the drainage issue had been recurring for months and was causing persistent hygiene concerns in the area.
Minister Thiagarajan later urged officials to ensure that the problem was permanently resolved, directing the corporation to conduct follow-up inspections to prevent further recurrence.
(Source: India Today)
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