DMK, Left reject MLA car move; TVK defends ‘essential service’

CHENNAI: The proposed state-funded car facility for MLAs, announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, has drawn strong pushback from five political parties the opposition DMK, DMDK, and BJP, alongside government-supporting allies CPI and CPM.

Meanwhile, the ruling TVK and ally PMK backed the move for legislators who do not own vehicles.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the DMK decided against taking the facility, pointing to the Chief Minister’s earlier admission that the state faced severe financial constraints.

“Considering this, our 59 DMK MLAs do not need cars. The government should provide them only to legislators from economically weaker sections based on their election affidavits,” Udhayanidhi said.

Countering him, Public Works and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna said TVK MLAs who already owned vehicles would not apply for the government scheme. He defended the proposal as part of the standard protocol extended to lawmakers.

“A car is not a luxury, but a necessity for MLAs to travel and meet voters in their constituencies. It is essential for legislators who are free from corruption,” Aadhav said, assuring the Assembly that ruling party members with personal cars would opt out.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition KN Nehru noted that Udhayanidhi, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister as LOP, was required to use the official residence. “If there is anything wrong in any election affidavit, you can file a case against it,” Nehru added.

Aadhav alleged that Udhayanidhi’s objection was politically motivated. “We cannot travel in a Range Rover that wasn’t declared in an affidavit reporting a balance of Rs 10,000,” he charged, in a veiled swipe at former CM and DMK chief MK Stalin.

Intervening in the debate, PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar pointed out that two of his party’s MLAs were from economically weaker backgrounds, suggesting that vehicles be given strictly to those in need. Udhayanidhi reiterated that the DMK was not politicising the issue and supported providing cars to needy MLAs.

Outside the House, the CPM and BJP also demanded the withdrawal of the proposal. In Salem, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam suggested vehicle loans instead.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned spending public money on those who already owned cars, asking the government to exercise fiscal responsibility.