EPS Accuses Govt Of Administrative Failure, Power Crisis

AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday accused the six-month-old TVK government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, of administrative failure, mismanagement of power procurement and a breakdown of law and order.

Palaniswami arrived at Madurai airport on Thursday afternoon on way to pay homage to freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar on the occasion of his 116th jayanthi and 64th guru puja at his memorial in Pasumpon village, near Kamudhi, in Ramanathapuram district, on Friday.

Addressing the media at the airport, he alleged that frequent power cuts reflected the government’s failure to ensure uninterrupted supply.

He alleged that electricity minister Nirmal Kumar had cancelled a power procurement contract at Rs. 20 per unit on corruption charges but failed to arrange alternative sources of supply. The subsequent tender for 2,000 units at Rs 41.50 per unit was withdrawn following public and political opposition, he claimed.

Demanding accountability from Vijay and the electricity minister over the alleged financial irregularities, Palaniswami said wastage of public money could not be accepted.

Turning to law and order, he alleged that the government had failed to control criminals outside the prison and to prevent prisoners from escaping.

Vijay was functioning like a government employee, arriving at work at 9 am and leaving at 6 pm, while taking Saturdays and Sundays off, Palaniswami claimed. He further alleged that officials were unable to contact him between 6 pm and 9 am.

He described the police force as a “laughing stock”, and said women and ordinary citizens were no longer safe.

On speculation about a possible meeting between AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran and V.K. Sasikala at Pasumpon on Friday, Palaniswami dismissed reports of differences within the alliance. He said Dhinakaran was already working with them and urged people not to spread ‘baseless rumours’.