BJP Leader Announces October Timeline for Madurai AIIMS Opening
During a campaign event in Madurai on Sunday, BJP state president K Annamalai made a significant announcement regarding the long-awaited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) project in the city. He stated that the Madurai AIIMS facility will be opened for public use by October of this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Campaign Trail Accusations Against DMK Government
While campaigning in support of AIADMK candidates, Annamalai launched a series of allegations against the ruling DMK government. At an Arappalayam gathering for Madurai Central candidate Sundar C, he specifically targeted Finance Minister P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan, accusing him of personal attacks despite earlier promises to avoid such tactics.
"PTR claimed he has nothing to do with the corporation, but questions remain over accountability," Annamalai declared, alleging irregularities within the Madurai Corporation amounting to approximately ₹200 crore in corruption. He further criticized the delay in appointing a new mayor following the resignation of the previous incumbent.
Infrastructure and Governance Criticisms
Annamalai expanded his criticism to broader governance issues, accusing the M K Stalin-led state government of misleading the public about the Madurai Metro project. "No formal proposal has been submitted to the central government," he claimed, while promising that the project would be revived if AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami returns as chief minister.
The BJP leader also attacked PTR's tenure as finance minister, alleging financial mismanagement during his administration. "He speaks about governance but has surrounded himself with people previously involved in financial misconduct," Annamalai asserted, connecting individuals associated with the minister to alleged wrongdoing.
Temple Lighting Controversy and Alliance Appeal
Later in Thirupparankundram, while campaigning for AIADMK candidate V V Rajan Chellappa, Annamalai raised another contentious issue. He accused the DMK government of failing to implement a court order related to lighting the temple deepam atop the local hill, framing it as an example of administrative failure.
Emphasizing the need for better state-center coordination, Annamalai cited leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar as examples of cooperation that yields development projects. He urged voters to support the AIADMK alliance in the upcoming assembly elections, calling for a decisive mandate to "remove an anti-people government" that he claimed hindered both development projects and religious observances like the Thirupparankundram deepam lighting.
The campaign events highlighted Annamalai's dual focus: promising concrete development through the AIIMS opening while mounting a comprehensive critique of the incumbent administration's governance record across multiple sectors.
