DMK, CPI and PMK MLAs Refuse Official Cars in TN Assembly Citing State Debt

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai on Friday that all 59 DMK MLAs would refuse to accept the official cars offered by the state government, citing the state's current fiscal health.

Speaking on the floor of the assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin stated that the decision was taken on the direct instructions of DMK president M K Stalin. He referred to statements made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who had repeatedly claimed that the state government is burdened with heavy debt and that the previous administration had wiped off the state exchequer. In light of these financial concerns, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the DMK's 59 elected members decided not to take the vehicles.

The move comes in response to an announcement by the TVK government that all MLAs would be provided with official cars. Under the proposed scheme, legislators were also set to receive a monthly allowance of ₹75,000 for fuel and vehicle maintenance, alongside an additional ₹25,000 for an assistant.

Udhayanidhi Stalin suggested that rather than providing vehicles to all legislators across the board, the facility should be restricted to economically weaker MLAs based on their declared election affidavits.

Following the DMK's announcement, other political parties also rejected the government vehicle allotment. CPI floor leader T Ramachandran announced that party MLAs would forgo the state-provided cars. PMK leader Sowmiya Anbumani similarly stated that two MLAs from her party would turn down the vehicles, proposing that the funds earmarked for the scheme be redirected toward building paddy procurement centres.

In response to the opposition's refusal, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna defended the government's measure, maintaining that the scheme was not a luxury. Arjuna stated that the initiative was aimed at ensuring equality among legislators, noting that many newly elected MLAs come from humble backgrounds.