AIADMK Leader Sellur Raju Criticizes DMK Government for Electricity Price Hike

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 18: AIADMK leader Sellur Raju has criticized the DMK government for increasing the electricity tariff. He stated that the MK Stalin-led government has given the electricity tariff hike as a ‘gift’ to the people who voted for the DMK in 40 constituencies in the last parliamentary election.

On July 16, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) announced that it had to increase the electricity tariff to cover growing financial losses. Raju pointed out that the DMK government has raised the electricity tariff three times during its tenure.

Raju also expressed concerns about the safety of political leaders in Tamil Nadu, mentioning that they are afraid to walk on roads in Madurai due to political assassinations. He announced that AIADMK would hold protests across Tamil Nadu against the hike in electricity charges and the assassination of political leaders.

He added that the people of Tamil Nadu are ready to overthrow the DMK government and that AIADMK will win the upcoming assembly elections and return to power.

Earlier, four people were arrested after a Naam Tamilar Katchi Party worker was hacked to death in Madurai’s BB Kulam. The victim, Balamurugan, was attacked while walking in the area on Tuesday morning, according to Police Commissioner Loganathan.

TANGEDCO reported that the financial loss of the Tamil Nadu Power Generation and Distribution Corporation increased from Rs 18,954 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 94,312 crore in the last 10 years. The corporation has been forced to take loans due to non-commitment in the past, leading to a significant increase in debt.

Opposition leaders, including AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami and BJP State President Annamalai, also condemned the DMK government for the power tariff hike.