Udhayakumar Questions Purpose of CM Vijay’s London Trip

Udhayakumar alleged that details of meetings with industrialists and firm investment commitments remained scarce during the visit, but an MoU involving investments of Rs. 12,300 crore was announced in a hurry on Monday only after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other Opposition leaders and economic experts raised doubts over the lack of clarity on investments.

He also took exception to Vijay travelling to London to sign an agreement with the Motherson Group, headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, which already has 32 operational plants in Tamil Nadu. The agreement could have been signed in Chennai, he said.

Moreover, he pointed to the absence of the industries minister from a visit meant to attract investments, while Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna and others not connected with the state administration accompanied the Chief Minister.

Seeking transparency on the expenditure incurred on the trip and the persons who accompanied Vijay, Udhayakumar alleged that the TVK government had not made several government orders relating to appointments and key decisions public.

Further commenting on Vijay’s meeting with actor Ajith Kumar at the Silverstone motor racing circuit, Udhayakumar alleged that the public display of camaraderie was intended to tap the actor’s fan following for the political gains of the TVK. He sought clarity on whether the London visit was an official investment-promotion exercise or a publicity trip aimed at consolidating Vijay’s political influence.

Udhayakumar also raised concerns over the proposed new Secretariat at a cost of Rs. 1,200 crore when Tamil Nadu’s debt burden was around Rs. 11 lakh crore, asking the government to explain the rationale behind the expenditure.