Chennai, Jun 1 (PTI) Launching a sharp offensive against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the DMK on Monday accused him of failing to transition from a politician in “campaign mode” to a responsible leader
in the seat of power.
“CM Vijay is again in a campaign mode. It seems he is either in opposition party mode or political party leader mode. Vijay must change to the Chief Minister mode,” DMK leader Dr Ezhilan Naganathan said while addressing a press conference here.
He claimed that the TVK chief’s public address in Tiruchirapalli on Monday left the public confused about whether he was speaking as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu or merely as a party leader.
“People have voted for him and given him full authority. Instead of rendering a clear vision statement on what he plans to achieve for Tamil Nadu with that power, he is repeating the exact same narrative and electoral strategies he used before coming to power,” Ezhilan told reporters.
The DMK leader drew a sharp contrast between the current Chief Minister and past stalwarts of Tamil Nadu politics, including C N Annadurai, M Karunanidhi, M G Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa, who regularly faced the press and replied to questions directly. He expressed disappointment that CM Vijay repeatedly evades the media.
“I see journalists constantly raising microphones and seeking answers, but he refuses to stop and answer your questions. Even when former CM Jayalalithaa was in a hurry, she made it a point to answer the press,” Ezhilan said.
Critiquing the Chief Minister’s Trichy meeting, Ezhilan described it as a managed event with a “captive audience” mobilised through tokens and QR codes, rather than a genuine interactive public gathering.
Ezhilan noted that during the elections, Vijay had promised a shift to monthly electricity billing and 200 units of free power immediately upon taking office.
“Today, it is still bi-monthly, loaded with conditions like 100 units beyond 500 units. In urban areas, a single AC pushes consumption past 500 units. This is not the alternative governance that was promised,” he stated.
He also alleged that while the TVK had promised an unconditional waiver of all farm loans, the administration has since restricted the relief to small and marginal farmers based on strict land acreage limitations. Ezhilan advised the Chief Minister to study the 2006 and 2021 government orders (GOs) passed during the DMK regimes to understand how thousands of crores in loans were waived cleanly without such conditions.
“Please take a look at that GO to see how Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) waived Rs 7,000 crore farm loans… After the DMK government was formed in 2021, please look at that GO to see how we waived agricultural loans and jewel loans taken from cooperative societies,” Ezhilan said.
Ezhilan claimed that the chief minister’s claims of continuous governance are merely a continuation of the landmark schemes initiated by the previous DMK government.
“Whether it is the Magalir Urimai Thogai’ ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’, the free breakfast scheme, or the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ scheme — the Chief Minister keeps saying these will continue. If you are only continuing our work, you are celebrating the achievements of the Dravidian Model governance,” Ezhilan asserted.
Hitting back at the Chief Minister’s plea for “more time” to fix administrative issues, the DMK leader stated that the TVK’s past criticisms are now acting as a “boomerang”.
“You promised that sexual offences and crimes would vanish overnight once you gained authority. Yet, the past month has seen numerous sexual assaults and honour killings. When the DMK questions this deteriorating law and order situation, you ask for more time,” Ezhilan remarked.
He also levelled severe allegations of political horse-trading against the ruling dispensation, pointing to the recent resignations of AIADMK MLAs who subsequently joined the ruling party. “Is this transparent politics, or is it blatant horse-trading?” he questioned.
Expressing concern over the state’s stance on federal and regional conflicts, Ezhilan slammed the chief minister for failing to speak up against the Union Government or neighbouring states on crucial matters like the Mekedatu dam project, the three-language formula, and constituency delimitation.
“Karnataka leaders are openly saying that the absence of a strong DMK government makes it easier for them to proceed with Mekedatu. Because CM Vijay has kept his mouth shut on this, Karnataka is moving ahead with its plans,” Ezhilan claimed.
Ezhilan also called upon the chief minister to advise his cabinet colleagues to face the media. “Ministers are running away from reporters’ questions. The chief minister must instruct his cabinet to stand, face the press, and tell the truth to the public,” he said. PTI JR JR ADB
