Madurai, Oct 26 : Senior AIADMK leader R B Udhayakumar has criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, accusing his government of focusing on office decorations and security arrangements instead of addressing public issues such as heavy rains, rising prices and disaster management.
In a video statement on Monday, Udhayakumar questioned the administrative priorities of the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. He also alleged a lack of transparency in the state government’s recently introduced scheme to sell fine-grain rice at ₹30 per kg.
AIADMK Questions CM Vijay’s Governance Priorities
Udhayakumar questioned whether the Chief Minister was giving enough attention to essential administrative responsibilities. He said the government should prioritise disaster management during heavy rains and take effective measures to control the rising prices of essential commodities.
The AIADMK leader also accused the government of diverting police personnel to provide security for Vijay’s friends and associates travelling along the East Coast Road (ECR). He argued that police resources should instead focus on public safety and missing persons cases.
AIADMK Raises Questions Over ₹30 Per Kg Rice Scheme
Expressing concern over rising rice prices, Udhayakumar claimed that open-market prices had increased by ₹30 to ₹60 per kg over the previous three months.
He said the government introduced the ₹30 per kg fine-grain rice scheme to provide relief to consumers and prevent prices from rising further. However, he alleged that the scheme lacked transparency and raised concerns about the quality of the rice being sold.
According to Udhayakumar, the government was repackaging free rice distributed under a scheme introduced by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and selling it as fine-grain rice for ₹30 per kg. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Consumers Complain About Rice Quality, Claims AIADMK Leader
Udhayakumar claimed that consumers in districts such as Ariyalur, Salem and Namakkal had complained about the quality of the rice sold under the scheme. He alleged that some buyers reported a foul smell and demanded refunds.
The AIADMK leader also compared the alleged issue to an earlier controversy involving the sale of poor-quality onions to control market prices under the previous DMK government.
Udhayakumar Demands White Paper on Rice Procurement
The senior AIADMK leader demanded that the Tamil Nadu government release a white paper explaining the procurement process for the ₹30 rice scheme.
He sought details about where the rice was purchased, whether tenders were issued, the quantities procured and the prices paid by the government. He also questioned whether Chief Minister Vijay and the Food Minister could provide clear answers about the scheme.
AIADMK Accuses Vijay Government of Lack of Transparency
Udhayakumar further criticised Chief Minister Vijay for allegedly remaining silent on key issues affecting the state. He said the administration needed clear leadership and timely directions, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and rising commodity prices.
The former minister also questioned whether Vijay was aware of the alleged irregularities in the rice scheme. He said the government’s promise of clean and transparent administration should be reflected in its policies and implementation.
The allegations have placed the ₹30 per kg fine-grain rice scheme and the TVK government’s handling of essential commodity prices under political scrutiny.
