‘Drinking water crisis getting dragged due to civic polls delay’

Addressing people in Tirupparankundram Assembly constituency, which goes to the bypolls on May 19, Stalin said his party had held over 12,500 village level meetings and listened to the grievances of the people.

“You have listed the problems of your region. If you look at the basic problems, there are several of them like providing drinking water, road and bus facilities, and sanitation and hygiene,” he said.

“If you ask the reason for such problems, this government has not held the local body elections. Had civic polls been conducted (and if elected bodies had taken charge) there is no scope for such grievances,” he observed.

Assuring that the DMK would solve the problems of the people, Stalin said the government should address issues pertaining to the handloom sector (Tirupparankundram is home to handloom weavers), with the Centre’s support.

“This (State) government, however, is unable to solve even basic problems...this is a minority government as it does not have the numbers in the Assembly. It is not worried about the poeple,” he alleged.

The DMK had for long been working for the welfare of handloom weavers, he said, and recalled that party founder C N Annadurai and late leader M Karunanidhi had sold handloom goods by going door to door for the benefit of handloom weavers.

Also, 100 units of electricity was provided free of cost to handloom weavers to help them, he said.

“This is the history of DMK,” he said and assured that such bonding with handloom weavers would continue for ever.