On 4 May 2025, A. Ashvathaman, the State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu BJP, launched a scathing attack on the DMK government, accusing it of large-scale corruption and misuse of power in implementing key central welfare schemes — the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Jal Jeevan Mission.
In his statement, Ashvathaman claimed that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is working tirelessly to provide housing for all and ensure clean drinking water through these flagship programs, the DMK regime is undermining these efforts through widespread irregularities and malpractice.
“Under PMAY, over 2.69 crore houses have been built nationwide, benefitting millions of economically weaker families. However, in Tamil Nadu, the scheme is riddled with corruption, with allocations being manipulated through bribery and political favoritism,” Ashvathaman alleged.
He further charged that bribes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 are being demanded even for basic water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Citing a specific instance in the Thiruvelliyangudi Panchayat of Thanjavur district, Ashvathaman pointed to a scam involving the panchayat president, who is reportedly affiliated with the DMK. Despite a directive from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to file a criminal case, Ashvathaman said no action has been taken so far.
“Instead of addressing the corruption, residents who have sought justice are being intimidated and slapped with false police cases,” he alleged.
Ashvathaman described these tactics as “anti-democratic” and “authoritarian”, urging the DMK government to stop harassing whistleblowers, uphold the rule of law, and take immediate corrective steps to restore public trust in governance.
The BJP’s accusations come at a time when the party has revived its alliance with the AIADMK after contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately.
In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the BJP-AIADMK alliance won four seats, but in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the DMK-led INDIA bloc swept all the seats. With the alliance now back in place, the BJP is ramping up its opposition campaign against the ruling DMK in anticipation of the 2026 Assembly elections.
“However, in Tamil Nadu, several irregularities and corrupt practices have been reported in various regions. Bribes are being taken for house allotments, and houses are being allocated based on favoritism. Allegations have surfaced in several areas that bribes ranging from ₹10,000 to 15,000 are being demanded to provide drinking water connections. When the public raises complaints against such corruption, instead of taking action against the guilty, the DMK’s so-called Dravidian model government threatens the complainants with false cases. For instance, in Thiruvalliyangudi Panchayat under Thiruppanandal Union in Thanjavur district, a massive corruption scam was exposed involving the DMK-affiliated Panchayat President in the allocation of homes,” he added.
“The Madurai Bench of the High Court had ordered in 2023 that a case be registered regarding the issue. Since the order was not implemented, a contempt of court petition was filed by the public. The court then issued strict directives to file cases against the involved DMK Panchayat President and officials. Following this, on 07.04.2025, the Thanjavur District Collector ordered that a criminal case be filed against the DMK Panchayat President for illegal home allocation. However, to this day, no case has been filed. Now, when members of the public went to the District Collector demanding justice, 12 of them were threatened with false cases by the police under the DMK regime. This has caused widespread anger among the local people. Even though the High Court has issued repeated orders to file cases against the DMK Panchayat President involved in corruption in the PMAY scheme, the Dravidian model DMK government has failed to take action. Instead, it is intimidating the public who are demanding justice by threatening them with false cases,” he further added.
“This authoritarian behavior raises serious questions about whether rule of law, human rights, and basic rights still exist in Tamil Nadu. Similarly, in M. Agaram village in Virudhachalam, Cuddalore district, when the public questioned why money was being demanded to provide tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the police called them to the station and intimidated them severely. People are being threatened with jail and legal cases if they question the corruption in central government schemes like the PMAY or the Jal Jeevan Mission in Tamil Nadu. Using the police to threaten the public with false cases when they question irregularities in central schemes is an anti-democratic trend. This raises the question: Is this a democracy or a dictatorship? The DMK government must immediately stop this dangerous practice of threatening whistleblowers with false cases and must take action on the corruption complaints without delay. All democratic forces must unite to oppose these irregularities,” he further said.
ஊழலை எதிர்த்து புகார் அளிக்கும் பொது மக்களை மிரட்டும் காவல் துறை.
திமுக அரசின் அராஜக போக்கு!Police intimidating the public who raise complaints against corruption.
DMK government's lawless attitude!@blsanthosh @shivprakashbjp @MenonArvindBJP @ReddySudhakar21 @annamalai_k… pic.twitter.com/QU9c67ldBD— Ashvathaman Allimuthu (@asuvathaman) May 4, 2025
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