‘DMK handled State finances well despite Centre’s indifference’

MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Thursday said the DMK government had handled the State finances well despite the Union government’s indifferent approach towards the State in releasing funds.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchi during his annual New Year meet with journalists, Mr. Vaiko said that during the last four-and-a-half years of the DMK rule, the Union government had discriminated against Tamil Nadu in the release of funds. However, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had managed the State finances well and implemented several welfare schemes with the State’s own resources.

Responding to a question, Mr. Vaiko said the DMK would retain power in the State, even though others drew crowds. People would support the DMK-led alliance, and the Dravidian major would form the next government on its own [after the Assembly election this year], he said.

When it was pointed out that his padayatra, starting from Tiruchi on January 2, was originally announced to create awareness against the drug abuse in the State, Mr. Vaiko said just as its name — Samathuva Padayathirai — suggests, he would emphasise communal harmony, while raising awareness on drug abuse. 

Commenting on Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty’s claim that Tamil Nadu’s debt situation was alarming, MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko said the State had done well on many economic parameters. Its outstanding debthad come down to 26% of gross state domestic product from 27% in 2020-21.

On TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai’s statement that the alliance partners [of DMK-led INDIA bloc] should avoid commenting on the internal matters of the Congress, Mr. Durai Vaiko said there was no issue between the MDMK and the Congress, and that he held Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in high esteem.