‘Stalin ruined Tamil Nadu’s finances with massive borrowing’
Continuing to train his guns on the DMK in the runup to the Lok Sabha poll, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday hit out at Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over his handling of Tamil Nadu’s finances. He said that ever since the DMK came to power three years ago, it had availed itself of a ₹3.50 lakhcrore loan, leaving the State’s finances in the doldrums despite not having implemented any major project.
Addressing an election meeting in Tirunelveli to canvass votes for the AIADMK’s Tirunelveli candidate M. Jancy Rani, he claimed that the loan had to be repaid with interest from the money to be collected from the people in the form of hefty taxes.
After making 560 poll promises in 2021, the DMK had forgotten about them. After promising all women heads of families a monthly aid of ₹1,000, the assistance was given only to “eligible women”, he said.
Mr. Palaniswami said his erstwhile government, with the cordial relationship it had with the Centre, was able to get permission for starting 11 government medical colleges and six law colleges in just a year, and had allocated sufficient funds for establishing them.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Stalin, who could not get permission for even one medical college in the past three years, is now inaugurating the medical colleges we got during our tenure,” he said.
He also accused the State government of failing to secure a NEET waiver and create employment opportunities even as inflation was impacting the public.
“However, the AIADMK ensured 7.5% reservation for government school students in medical admissions,” he said.
He accused the DMK of nurturing “dynastic politics”.