“It’s not just the public, even ministers are unhappy with the DMK government,” said BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan in a strong statement criticizing the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.She pointed to the case of former Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan, who had earlier raised concerns about a ₹30,000 crore financial transaction. “As a punishment for speaking out, he was stripped of the finance portfolio,” she claimed, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction within the ruling party.
Thiagarajan was given a new department in name only, without the necessary financial power or administrative authority, she said. “This is yet another form of punishment meted out to him for voicing his opinion.”
Vanathi further alleged that the DMK government suppresses dissent. “If someone outside the government speaks against it, they are arrested. If someone from within speaks out, their portfolio is changed as a form of punishment,” she said. This, she added, is why Minister Thiagarajan openly expressed his discontent in the Assembly.
“Ministers are slowly beginning to show their disappointment in their own ways. This government is facing criticism not just from the people but from its own cabinet,” Vanathi remarked.
She concluded that this visible dissent within the ranks signals a deeper crisis within the DMK leadership.
Earlier yesterday, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Palanivel Thiagarajan, expressed his frustration in the state legislative assembly, responding to a request from an AIADMK member for setting up an IT park in Kothagiri, Nilgiris district.
The minister replied, “Whoever has the funds, capabilities, and authority should be approached. I believe they will be able to get it done.” His response, marked by visible discontent, sparked surprise among fellow ministers and DMK MLAs present in the House.
Thiagarajan elaborated on the challenges faced by his department: “Throughout this session, I have highlighted the struggles faced by our department. Funding has been limited, and unlike other states, all tech parks do not function directly under the IT department here.”
He added that only a small portion of the state’s tech initiatives are managed by his department, while major projects such as TIDEL and Neo TIDEL come under the industries department. “Although it’s an unusual arrangement, that’s how it has been for the past 20 years in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Speaker M. Appavu intervened, advising the minister to respond positively to the member’s query. “The member is only raising a request. It would be better to convey this in a positive tone and take the matter up internally with the Chief Minister,” he suggested.