Udhayanidhi Stalin Declares Readiness for Assembly Elections, Touts DMK's Record
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has publicly stated his willingness to contest from whichever constituency Chief Minister M.K. Stalin designates for him in the forthcoming state assembly elections. Speaking at a government event in Tuticorin on Saturday, he emphasized the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) administration's commitment to its electoral pledges, asserting that the party has successfully fulfilled an impressive 99% of its promises made to the people.
Major Infrastructure Inaugurations and Welfare Announcements
During the event, Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated four significant infrastructure projects with a combined cost of Rs 177.70 crore. These included a state-of-the-art superspeciality maternity hospital at the Tuticorin Government Medical College, constructed at Rs 136.35 crore, and a modern maternity and child welfare block at the Tiruchendur Government Hospital, built for Rs 38.53 crore. He highlighted these developments as part of the Dravidian model government 2.0, underscoring the administration's focus on enhancing healthcare facilities across the region.
In a major welfare announcement, the deputy chief minister revealed plans to increase the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme's monthly financial assistance from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, aiming to provide greater economic support to women beneficiaries. He also distributed welfare assistance totaling Rs 110.66 crore to nearly 4,000 individuals, which included house site pattas worth Rs 40.09 crore for 1,755 residents and Rs 63 crore allocated for the construction of 1,800 houses under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam initiative.
Tuticorin's Industrial Growth and Economic Impact
Udhayanidhi Stalin praised Tuticorin district's rapid industrial advancement, noting that it is now competing with Chennai in terms of development. He attributed this progress to substantial investments such as a Rs 14,000 crore thermal power station at Udangudi and a Rs 36 crore Mini Tidal Park. According to him, these strategic projects have contributed significantly to Tamil Nadu achieving a robust economic growth rate of 11.19%, driven by the effective implementation of welfare and infrastructure schemes.
Educational Achievements and Social Welfare Initiatives
Linking the state's Naan Mudhalvan initiative to recent successes, Udhayanidhi pointed out that two of the top ten rank-holders in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations were from Tamil Nadu and were beneficiaries of this educational program. He hailed this as a triumph of the Dravidian Model, stating that the government is advancing towards ambitious goals, including achieving 100% smart classrooms and eliminating school dropouts among Adi Dravidar and tribal students by the year 2030.
He also highlighted the Vidiyalai Payanam scheme, which has facilitated 960 crore free bus journeys for women across the state, with 12 crore of these journeys occurring specifically in Tuticorin. Additionally, he mentioned the distribution of specialized motor vehicles to disabled individuals and an increased relief amount of Rs 8,000 for the fishing community, demonstrating the administration's comprehensive approach to social welfare.
Financial Support and Political Attendance
Udhayanidhi Stalin disclosed that over the past five years, a substantial Rs 1.30 lakh crore in bank loans has been disbursed to self-help groups (SHGs), empowering women and fostering economic self-reliance at the grassroots level. The event was attended by key political figures, including Social Welfare Minister P. Geetha Jeevan and Fisheries Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, along with senior district officials, underscoring the collective effort behind these developmental initiatives.
