Palaniswami hits out at DMK for running ‘advertisement-model government' in Tamil Nadu
As part of his Makkalai Kappom Tamizhagathai Meetpom campaign, the Leader of the Opposition addressed a public meeting in Tiruchendur. He said the AIADMK government's schemes were being rebranded with new names, including the Amma Arogya Thittam introduced in 2016, which had now been rebranded as Nalam Kaakkum Stalin.
Referring to the DMK's Ungaludan Stalin grievance redress camps, he said: 'For the past 50 months, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has never thought about the people. Now, he is conducting camps where people can submit petitions for 46 types of grievances. If these could not be resolved in four years, how will they be resolved in eight months?'
Mr. Palaniswami emphasised that the 2026 Assembly election would be crucial in putting an end to dynastic rule and family politics.
'The DMK made 525 announcements during its election campaign. However, till today, they have not been fully implemented. Whenever the Chief Minister is questioned on this matter, he lies and claims that 98% of the promises announced by the DMK have been fulfilled,' he added.
'They also promised to extend the 100-day employment scheme to 150 days. But has it increased?' he asked, and added that not only was the extension never implemented but the wage disbursement was also delayed. In reality, it was the AIADMK that negotiated with the Centre to get ₹2,999 crore in the first phase for wage disbursement, he claimed.
Stating that Tiruchendur, a sacred, spiritual land known across the world, has many farmers, fishermen and palmyra climbers, he highlighted the various welfare schemes launched for them during the AIADMK regime and assured them that once the party returned to power, banana farmers would be compensated for crop damage caused due to strong winds. In addition, he said fishing ban period assistance would be increased and relief funds would be provided to salt pan workers during the monsoon. He added that a separate welfare board would be established for salt pan workers. He alleged that the price of essential commodities and construction materials had skyrocketed under the DMK government.
Stakeholder interaction
As part of the campaign, Mr. Palaniswami held a meeting with industrialists, farmers, and salt manufacturers in Thoothukudi on Saturday. The meeting saw the participation of the lorry owners' association, country boat fishermen's union, small traders' association, Cruz Fernandez People Forum, and SPIC Workers' Welfare Union, among others. He said after the AIADMK formed the government in Tamil Nadu, drug trafficking would be eradicated and sale of narcotics would be curbed.
During the meeting, representatives put forth demands such as the establishment of a commercial hub in Thoothukudi, a skill training centre for workers, development of industrial parks, designated parking facilities for lorries, increase of relief during fishing ban period, improving the functioning of the fishermen cooperative society, construction of flyover at the VVD junction, and desilting of 53 irrigation tanks connected to the Tamirabharani.
Responding to them, Mr. Palaniswami said that during the AIADMK regime, about 750 acres of land had been acquired and funds had been allocated for a new airport terminal in Thoothukudi. After the DMK came to power, some additional land was acquired, but the groundwork had already been laid by the AIADMK government.
Noting the growth of the palm industry, he said his government would extend all possible support to those involved if voted to power and assured them that his government would desilt irrigation tanks under the Kudimarathu Scheme.
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