E-pass scam created negative image for state govt, admit ruling party men

The situation was such that even senior Ministers D Jayakumar and RB Udhayakumar have to defend the e-pass controversies on a regular basis, a party source noted. The e-pass is a serious issue that has affected the government’s reputation in handling the COVID-19 crisis and the government is now in the process to address the same. The lower level staff involved in e-pass scams have brought a bad reputation to the State, an AIADMK IT wing functionary admitted.

The government has successfully brought the coronavirus recovery rate and those recovering at the government hospitals are higher. Similarly, the quality of food supplied at the government quarantine centres is a hit among the positive patients and the State leads with the maximum number of tests, but issues like e-pass and poor service at some government hospitals are haunting the government’s reputation.

The party IT wing will be expanded in October to start the digital campaign works for the ruling party gearing up for the next year’s Assembly polls, the IT wing functionary added. The party district secretaries have been urged to submit the list of newly appointed IT wing functionaries at zonal levels and they will be appointed next month. The party IT wing which is divided into four regional units will start its full-fledged campaign by October and the party will be promoting brand Edappadi Palaniswami.

Of course, the campaign will have the names of other leaders, but the focus will be more on the Chief Minister, an informed party senior said. A political strategy team led by Sunil Konugalu and independent teams in the western region have also started their survey and pre branding works for the AIADMK, party sources said.