Tamil Nadu sees uncontrolled price rise and power woes, says DMK chief Stalin

DMK president M.K. Stalin says Tamil Nadu has seen an uncontrolled rise in prices and inflation in the five months since the TVK‑led government took office. He blames the administration for failing to keep essential commodity prices stable and calls Food Minister P. Venkataramanan's claim of no price rise a blatant lie that has angered people. Stalin points to power shortages, noting that opposition warnings about cuts were ignored. He says the Electricity Minister only cited Punjab's situation while the chief minister travelled to London. The state is now buying electricity on the open market at ₹35 per unit, after cancelling earlier agreements, a rate he says is unheard of elsewhere. The leader also alleges the ruling party is trying to buy 15 AIADMK MLAs, citing Revenue Minister K. A. Sengottaiyan's comment that the MLAs will soon join TVK. He questions whether money is being spent on politicians instead of power procurement. In agriculture, Stalin says the Kuruvai crop failed and the government, ignoring farmers, opened the Mettur dam on a date advised by an astrologer. He notes that only barricades costing ₹5 crore were erected during the chief minister's dam‑opening visit, and that the Samba crop now faces uncertainty.

Context

Tamil Nadu’s price surge and power issues come amid a new administration struggling with seasonal crop failures and political disputes, highlighting the challenges of managing a large state's economy and utilities.