Udhayanidhi Stalin Slams TVK Government Over Power Cuts, Price Rise in Tamil Nadu
Udhayanidhi Stalin criticised the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government over power cuts, rising prices and law and order, and urged voters to teach the ruling party a lesson in the bypolls.
Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led Tamil Nadu government of failing to address power cuts, rising prices of essential commodities and law and order concerns in the State.
Speaking at a function in Chennai, he said the people of Tamil Nadu were confronting new problems every day under the present administration. He pointed to frequent power cuts, the deteriorating law and order situation and the increasing cost of essential goods, and said the Chief Minister had been unable to respond when these issues were raised. According to him, the government was instead levelling defamatory allegations against the DMK and its leader, M.K. Stalin.
Mr. Udhayanidhi said the DMK was entering a significant phase, with the party set to celebrate its 'Mupperum Vizha' in two days. Reflecting on the party's 77-year history, he said the DMK had seen many victories and defeats, but had always stood with the people beyond electoral outcomes. Although the party missed the chance to return to power, he said it was functioning effectively as an Opposition and that its cadre would continue to stand by the people.
He also criticised the Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, describing him as a "dummy" and "uncivilised" — remarks that mark an escalation in the Opposition's rhetoric against the ruling party. Mr. Udhayanidhi alleged that the TVK government had not implemented any new schemes since coming to power, and accused it of renaming and rebranding programmes launched by the previous Dravidian model government.
Urging voters to deliver a strong message in the upcoming bypolls, he said the outcome would mark the beginning of the current regime's downfall.
The remarks come amid mounting criticism of the State government over its handling of power supply, with leaders from other parties also raising concerns about undeclared load shedding and the government's approach to meeting high electricity demand.