Palaniswami slams TVK-led regime for not taking steps to curb spr

Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government of failing to act with urgency on dengue, while AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran separately criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over power-sector issues and law-and-order concerns.

Palaniswami questions dengue response

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary said the government had not taken steps to curb the spread of dengue.

He said newspapers and people had cautioned the government about the prevalence of the disease, but the administration had not shown similar swiftness in preventing dengue.

Palaniswami contrasted this with what he described as the government’s “alacrity” in attributing the death of a student of the Anna University to scrub typhus.

He also condemned the absence of Health Minister K.G. Arunraj at a review meeting taken by the Director of Public Health.

According to the AIADMK leader, the Minister was only “trying to portray” the picture that the impact was less this year compared to previous years.

Palaniswami said it was true that the impact was more than that of last year.

He called upon the government to take intensive steps for awareness creation and other preventive measures.

His criticism centred on the government’s response to the prevalence of dengue and on what he described as a mismatch between the speed shown in explaining one death and the speed required for prevention.

Dhinakaran targets Chief Minister over power utility visit

Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, in a post on his social media handle, referred to the visit of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation.

Dhinakaran criticised the Chief Minister for indulging in “posting social media reels” even when he walked and stood.

He said this was being done instead of attempting to solve issues such as shortage of electricity, power hike and law and order.

Dhinakaran asked the Chief Minister why he did not pay attention to the demands of those who were agitating near the headquarters.

The demands he referred to were that vacancies in the power utility be filled and those selected through the Tamil Nadu Public Services Commission be issued appointment orders.

The AMMK leader also ridiculed Energy Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar.

According to Dhinakaran, the Minister had been offering comment on all matters other than those concerning his department, as if “he knew everything.”

Dhinakaran urged the State government and the power utility to make efforts for uninterrupted power supply in the State.

AMMK leader raises crime and drug abuse concerns

In another post, Dhinakaran came down on the Chief Minister over his reported instruction to authorities to adopt a “no-compromise” attitude towards crime against women and drug abuse.

Dhinakaran criticised the remark on the ground that no “meaningful step” had been taken by the government in this regard.

He said the government should deal, with “an iron hand,” cases regarding crime against women and drug abuse.

Taken together, the statements from Palaniswami and Dhinakaran placed public health, electricity supply, power utility vacancies, law and order, crime against women and drug abuse at the centre of their criticism of the State government.

The report was published on September 23, 2026, at 06:22 pm IST.

Source: The Hindu