MLAs rush to meet 90-day deadline to complete civic projects

CHENNAI: MLAs of the Dravidian majors, cutting across party lines, are now working on a three months’ deadline with Pongal as the finish line for the ongoing civic works in their constituencies.

The next three months will mark the inaugurals of parks, playgrounds, bridges, causeways, community halls and new EB transformers, a government official attached to the Municipal Administration department said.

After Pongal, the state will go into poll mood and getting the dates of political leaders will become difficult, so the MLAs want to finish all the inaugurals in the next 90 days, he added.

“Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar had also increased his visits to native Puddukkottai district focussing on two Assembly constituencies, including the Viralimalai constituency. Further, Ministers in Cauvery Delta are also known for the spendthrift Pongal gifts to voters,” an AIADMK town panchayat secretary told DT Next, confirming that the maximum inaugurals and government functions will be from western Tamil Nadu covering Salem, Coimbatore, Erode and Namakkal.

Amid coronavirus spread in Chennai, the DMK MLAs have also increased their routine inspections related to ongoing civic works.

“A few projects like stormwater drains and construction of parks in Egmore got delayed due to the lockdown, but the works have been speeded up and in the next two months there will be a series of civic projects getting inaugurated,” said Egmore constituency legislator KS Ravichandran.

According to AIADMK party headquarters sources, several MLAs are also planning to organise the annual Jallikattu events in their native districts as it would set a prelude to the next year’s Assembly polls campaign.

The ruling AIADMK MLAs are also planning inaugural functions in their districts during the visit of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in November and December.

In Chennai, DMK MLAs are also fast-tracking the projects to ensure that the voters are kept in a jubilant mood ahead of the election campaign season and are keeping DMK president MK Stalin informed on the developmental projects mooted by them.

Maximum such inaugurals and government functions for civic works will be from western region covering Salem, Coimbatore, Erode and Namakkal