Udhayanidhi Stalin, TN CM Vijay, MK Stalin (File photo)
NEW DELHI: DMK president M K Stalin and leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday intensified their attack on the ruling TVK government, accusing chief minister C Joseph Vijay of administrative failure, deteriorating law and order and turning the Tamil Nadu Assembly into a “film shooting spot.”The remarks come days after Vijay mocked Udhayanidhi in the Assembly, saying he was searching for his “appa” (father), referring to M K Stalin, who was absent from the House following the DMK’s defeat in the Assembly elections.Responding to the jibe, Udhayanidhi said the people of Tamil Nadu were now searching for something far more important.”Tamil Nadu once had governance. Today, the people of the state have begun searching for where it has gone,” he said while addressing a wedding function in Pudukkottai.At another function in Orathanadu in Thanjavur district, Udhayanidhi said the government’s failures had become evident within a month of taking office.He alleged that ordinary citizens were struggling with power cuts, water shortages and worsening law and order.Referring to Vijay’s remarks in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi said Perambur voters were searching for their MLA, while people across Tamil Nadu were searching for electricity, water and public safety. He also criticised the functioning of the Assembly, saying it resembled a film set rather than a legislature.”It makes us wonder whether this is an Assembly, a cinema theatre, or a shooting spot,” he said.Udhayanidhi alleged that the chief minister appeared more focused on camera angles than governance and accused him of staging a performance every day.He further claimed that the TVK government continued to target the DMK while welcoming “corrupt forces”, which, he alleged, became “pure forces” after joining the ruling party.Defending flagship welfare programmes introduced during the previous DMK government, Udhayanidhi said schemes such as the ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ and ‘Puthumai Penn’ remained popular among the public and alleged that the government was struggling because it was unable to discontinue them.Calling on party workers to remain united, he urged them to take responsibility for resisting what he described as the government’s “anti-people activities.”Addressing a separate event at the DMK headquarters in Chennai, former chief minister M K Stalin claimed Tamil Nadu was in danger of “descending into a state of deep mess” within a month of the change in government.He alleged that industries were reluctant to invest in Tamil Nadu and were instead choosing other states.”Industrial units are reluctant to invest in TN and are preferring other states. There are sexual assaults, burglary and murders everywhere. Saddest part is that ruling party members are accused in many of the crimes,” Stalin said.He claimed the state had witnessed rapid development during the DMK’s tenure, attracting global investments and generating employment through welfare and development programmes.”But now there are power outages everyday while farmers in the delta are in distress,” he said, alleging that the government was running the administration in a “‘take diversion’ mode.”Stalin also claimed that people had realised they had made a mistake by voting for the TVK and said both those who voted for the ruling party and those who did not were now suffering.Warning party workers to remain prepared for a fresh electoral battle, Stalin said elections could be held earlier than expected.”Elections could be there anytime, in three months or six months. So be prepared,” he said.He also alleged that the TVK government continued to survive because of support from its former allies.”But we don’t know when that would end,” Stalin said.
