Udhayanidhi Stalin accuses TVK government of dragging Tamil Nadu's development backwards
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin launched a broad critique of the ruling TVK government on Sunday, saying it is dragging the State's development backwards. Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Pattukkottai, he accused the administration of failing to honor key electoral promises, neglecting farmers, and engaging in diversionary tactics instead of answering the Opposition.
Allegations of broken promises and administrative failure
Udhayanidhi alleged that the present administration had failed to honour key electoral promises, including monthly financial assistance for women, subsidised cooking gas cylinders, and unemployment allowances. According to reports by Hindustan Times and ThePrint, on the TVK government's failure to fulfill poll promises such as ₹2,500 per month for women, six free gas cylinders per year, and ₹4,000 per month for unemployed youth, citing a financial crunch (as per The New Indian Express). He described the state administration as a "circus company" rather than a government, alleging that ministers relied on diversionary tactics and social media clips instead of responding to the Opposition's questions on electricity tariff hikes and public grievances.
Referring to his recent arrest during a protest in Thanjavur, Udhayanidhi said police had "abruptly altered the route to Sengipatti station" and made contradictory submissions in court regarding his detention.
Farmer distress and Mettur dam water
A major focus of Udhayanidhi's speech was the plight of Cauvery delta farmers. He alleged that water in the Mettur dam had not been released during June, July, and August, crippling Kuruvai cultivation across the delta region. He criticised the state government for failing to provide drought relief and for confusing basic relief measures with targeted drought compensation.
Udhayanidhi also contrasted this with his own party's record, saying that during DMK rule, water from Mettur dam was released on the stipulated date of June 12, and sometimes even earlier, whereas this year it has yet to be released by end of August. He added that farmers in the delta districts have been affected and need to be compensated for losses. As per one report, he pointed out that in the 105 days of TVK rule, the most affected section of society has been farmers.
Luxury cars for MLAs questioned
The DMK leader also criticised the state government's decision to procure luxury cars for ruling party MLAs, while claiming a lack of funds for farm loan waivers, the promised ₹2,500 monthly assistance for women, free cooking gas cylinders, and unemployment allowances. He reiterated that DMK legislators had flatly refused to accept the government-funded vehicles, and that DMK president M.K. Stalin had decided that DMK MLAs would not receive them.
Comparing governance: DMK vs TVK
Udhayanidhi praised the previous DMK-led government, saying that the 'Dravidian Model' helped Tamil Nadu achieve a primary growth rate of 11.19 per cent. He claimed that during those five years, Tamil Nadu was made the number one State in the country. In contrast, he alleged that the present administration is pushing the state's progress backwards.
He also said that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is not concerned about issues facing the state, and that the people have started realising it. The Chief Minister does not rise to answer when the Opposition is prepared to speak on pressing issues like law and order and farmers' distress, he added. "Only three to four ministers reply to the questions. Anyhow, they remain irrelevant to the questions asked. The Ministers are only engaged in diversionary tactics," Udhayanidhi said, according to The New Indian Express. He further said that Ministers and ruling party MLAs do not come to the Assembly to speak about the issues affecting people, and that all they need is four Instagram reels from Assembly proceedings.
Outlook
Udhayanidhi expressed confidence that the electorate will soon teach a fitting lesson to the present regime. The remarks were made at a wedding function of a party functionary's family.