Vaiko Praises Vijay Government, Awards TVK 80% for ‘Corruption-Free’ Rule

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko on Monday gave the ruling TVK government in Tamil Nadu an 80 per cent rating, praising Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for what he described as a “corruption-free administration”.

Addressing reporters, Vaiko said the government’s efforts to eliminate systemic corruption were among its major achievements. He claimed that people were no longer required to pay hefty commissions for essential services, including land registration and house construction.

“I give 80 per cent. What do you need from a government other than a corruption-free administration?” Vaiko said, while highlighting the challenges involved in tackling institutional corruption.

Describing the fight against corruption as a “herculean task”, Vaiko said the Chief Minister had remained firm despite resistance from senior officials. Comparing Vijay’s efforts to David defeating Goliath, he said the Chief Minister had ultimately achieved victory. Vaiko also strongly opposed the proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, warning that it could undermine democracy and federalism. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to weaken Parliament and suggested that the move could eventually create conditions for Presidential rule.

On the Mekedatu dam project, Vaiko alleged that the Union government was supporting Karnataka and warned that the project could severely affect Tamil Nadu’s agricultural interests. He called for a mass movement across Tamil Nadu to oppose its construction.

The MDMK leader also criticised the omission of the names of Periyar, B.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru from a state department policy note, calling it highly regrettable and demanding strict action against those responsible.

Reiterating his political position, Vaiko said Rahul Gandhi remains the prime ministerial face of the INDIA bloc, ruling out any alternative. He also urged ministers from alliance parties to avoid contradictory or irresponsible public statements.

Expressing concern over the recent natural disaster in Nepal, Vaiko urged authorities to intensify rescue operations, saying he was distressed over reports that the whereabouts of around 200 people from Tamil Nadu remained unknown.