AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday accused the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister Vijay of administrative failure, alleging that the state has suffered a loss in GST revenue because of an inefficient administration.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Palaniswami said Vijay is the Chief Minister of all 234 constituencies and should visit every one of them, meet the people and act to resolve local issues. Instead, he alleged, the Chief Minister is travelling only to areas where by-elections are due and distributing welfare assistance there. He said it was clear that the campaign was aimed at the elections.
Palaniswami noted that GST collections have increased in several less-developed states, while reports suggest that tax revenue in Tamil Nadu, a developed state, has risen by only three percent. He attributed this to administrative disorder and an inefficient government.
He further claimed that prices have risen steeply in the six months since the TVK government took office. According to him, rice prices have gone up by as much as Rs 25 per kg, while the prices of sugar, pulses, oil, tamarind and other groceries have risen by 40 percent. He also said the prices of sweets made by Aavin, which people buy in large numbers during Deepavali, have gone up.
Palaniswami alleged that the government has taken no steps to rein in prices and is wasting time by offering various excuses, leaving people to suffer.
