Chennai Corporation Council meeting | Unlikely allies as parties unite against State govt. over lack of ward funds
Ward 141 councillor A. Raja Anbazhagan said councillors should consider resigning before the next Council meeting if the ward development funds were not released
At the Greater Chennai Corporation Council meeting on Friday, councillors from various political parties rallied together to criticize the State government for withholding ward development funds. The DMK, Congress, AIADMK, BJP, CPI, CPI(M), MDMK, VCK, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, and others joined forces to demand special funds of ₹60 crore per ward for essential projects.
DMK’s floor leader N. Ramalingam tabled a resolution asking for the funds, while ward councillor A. Raja Anbazhagan from Ward 141 even suggested that councillors might resign if the funds were not released before the next Council meeting. BJP councillor Uma Anandan, donning black in support of the resolution, highlighted the lack of capital funds and the stalled flood mitigation works on Subba Reddy Street.
AIADMK councillor T. Sathyanathan condemned the delay in fund release, while AIADMK’s T. Sathyanathan raised concerns about the Commissioner allegedly blocking the funds. The CPI and CPI(M) councillors, along with members from MDMK, VCK, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, also backed the resolution. Standing Committee (Works) chair N. Chitararasu, a DMK candidate from Anna Nagar, claimed the State government was withholding funds to prevent the DMK from winning the local body elections.
Valasaravakkam's V. Rajan questioned the democratic nature of the current regime, hinting at a potential councillor hunger strike if the situation persisted. DMK Karna from K.K. Nagar expressed concern over stalled emergency works and the cancellation of tender for the flood management centre in his ward. Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar suggested providing maternity and menstrual leave to protesting NULM workers, urging the Corporation to consider the GCC's financial constraints.
Mayor R. Priya vowed to formally register dissatisfaction with the State government, while Congress leader M. Samuel Diraviam pledged to raise the issue with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. TVK councillor V.V. Giridharan, who recently joined the TVK, proposed using his saved councillor fund to complete a health and wellness centre in his ward.
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