Annamalai Calls UK a 'Dead Economy', Questions Vijay's London Investment Trip
K Annamalai criticised Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's UK visit, calling Britain a 'dead economy' and urging a focus on domestic industrial hubs.
Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai has criticised Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's recent visit to the United Kingdom, questioning the rationale for seeking investments from what he described as a "dead" economy.
In a post on X, Annamalai said the UK's growth stands at just 1% and argued that investment flows are largely one-directional, with Indian companies — including Mahindra — putting money into Britain rather than the other way around.
He contrasted the two economies, noting that India's GDP is around $4.1 trillion while the UK's is approximately $3.4 trillion. "Why go to that country with such a large delegation from here? What is the point of all this?" he asked.
The former BJP leader, who founded 'We The Leaders' after leaving the party, suggested that instead of travelling abroad, the Chief Minister should meet industrialists within Tamil Nadu. He called for incentives to be offered to companies in cities such as Coimbatore and Madurai to encourage local investment.
Vijay returned last week from a week-long trip to Britain. The state government says the visit yielded investment proposals worth Rs 15,300 crore, with the potential to generate more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. The proposals cover automobile components, research and development, manufacturing, renewable energy and Global Capability Centres.
The government has framed the visit as part of a broader push to establish Tamil Nadu as a global investment and industrial hub, with a long-term goal of expanding the state's economy to $1.5 trillion by 2036.
Separately, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin took aim at Vijay, mocking him for relying on "cinema-style punch dialogues and acting" rather than addressing substantive governance questions. Udhayanidhi claimed that when the Chief Minister speaks in the Assembly, he sidesteps direct answers and instead delivers theatrical one-liners aimed at cameras, waiting for cue-like moments and using dramatic movie-style delivery.