Palaniswami alleges ‘mega corruption’ in TVK’s power purchase

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday accused the TVK government of creating an artificial power shortage to procure electricity at higher rates, alleging that the move had raised public suspicions of “mega corruption”.

Speaking to reporters at the party office in Omalur, he said the government’s purchase of 4,400 MW from private companies at ₹35 a unit, after cancelling agreements entered into by the previous DMK government at ₹11 to ₹20 a unit over corruption allegations, raised questions about its decision. The government should have continued or extended the earlier agreements to avoid high-cost procurement, he said.

Citing the ₹2.48 lakh crore debt burden of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) as mentioned in the government’s white paper, he questioned the rationale behind purchasing electricity at higher rates.

He alleged that the government had delayed power procurement for four months, causing severe power cuts and hardship, before creating a situation in which electricity had to be purchased at any cost. Showing a video of Chief Minister and TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay criticising the DMK government’s high-cost power purchases during the April 2026 Assembly election campaign, he questioned why the TVK government was following the same practice.

Mr. Palaniswami also accused the government of failing to control the prices of essential commodities. He questioned Minister for Food and Civil Supplies P. Venkataramanan’s statement that prices were under control.

The AIADMK leader also accused the government of failing to secure Tamil Nadu’s due share of Cauvery water from Karnataka, warning that the shortage could affect samba cultivation in the delta districts. Questioning the 45-day water release scheduled to end on October 15, he said farmers needed irrigation throughout the cultivation period.

With the Mettur reservoir holding about 23 tmc ft, he questioned whether the storage would suffice to meet irrigation requirements. He alleged that the government had failed to secure the pending release of 12 tmc ft from Karnataka. He also criticised Mr. Vijay for not raising the issue during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Chennai, when the two met.

Mr. Palaniswami alleged that the TVK had won the recent by-elections through money power and the use of official authority rather than popular support. Referring to the victory margins in Dharapuram and Marudangam, he questioned claims of the party’s growing popularity. He said Mr. Vijay had described the DMK as an “evil force” during the Assembly election campaign, while parties that had been part of the DMK alliance were now supporting the TVK government. He termed it a “cash-box alliance”.

Dismissing Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna’s claim that 2,000 AIADMK branch secretaries and 1,400 functionaries would join the TVK, Mr. Palaniswami said branch secretaries were the backbone of the AIADMK and the claim was wishful thinking. Taking a swipe at Mr. Aadhav Arjuna, he said being a Minister for Public Works was no different from being an AIADMK branch secretary.

Asked about Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan’s claim that 15 more persons would soon quit the AIADMK, he denied any such development and said the party remained united.

Mr. Palaniswami accused the government of stalling public works by cancelling tenders without issuing fresh ones in some cases. Delays had left projects incomplete and increased the cost of materials such as tar and gravel, adding to the government’s financial burden, he alleged.

Criticising Mr. Vijay’s visit to Andhra Pradesh, he said the Chief Minister had discussed Krishna river water without addressing Tamil Nadu’s immediate water needs. With water availability uncertain, samba cultivation in the State was in doubt, he added.