Palaniswami challenges TVK government’s claim of clean administration

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has challenged the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government’s claim that it is running a corruption-free administration. Palaniswami raised the issue on Saturday while addressing voters at Achirapakkam in the Madurantakam Assembly constituency.

A by-election in the constituency is scheduled for October 6. He alleged that ₹70 was being collected per bag of paddy at direct purchase centres. He also referred to searches by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption during the previous five months.

According to Palaniswami, the vigilance agency had recorded the seizure of unaccounted cash amounting to ₹1.7 crore. He asked whether the government could be described as a “clean regime” against that backdrop. Palaniswami also criticised the State’s financial position.

He said Tamil Nadu’s GST collections had declined even as gross collections increased nationally. He asked how the government intended to address the situation. The AIADMK leader said outstanding loans had reached ₹10 lakh crore.

He argued that falling revenue collections would increase the debt burden and could eventually require higher taxes on the public. Palaniswami then asked voters whether an administration he described as incompetent should remain in office. The source material does not include a response from the TVK-led government to his allegations.

His remarks were made during campaigning for the Madurantakam bypoll. The material identifies him as the AIADMK’s general secretary but does not provide further details about the contest or the government’s position on the figures and allegations he cited.