CHENNAI: Hours after chief minister M K Stalin’s DMK govt credited a ‘Special Summer Grant’ of Rs 5,000 to 1.31 crore beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Urimai Thogai scheme, leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday dismissed the move as a last-minute “election-time cash transfer” born out of fear of electoral defeat.Responding to Stalin’s announcement enhancing the monthly assistance from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 as a poll promise, EPS questioned the timing of the decision. “Have you seen what the fear of electoral defeat is making the CM do?” he asked in a social media post, wondering why no such summer package was announced in 2024 or 2025.Refuting the CM’s allegation that a “gang in Delhi” and its “subservient forces” in TN were attempting to stall the Kalaignar Urimai Thogai scheme citing elections, the AIADMK general secretary said no one tried to block any welfare measure. “It is amusing to see the CM theatrically claim that ‘they are trying to stall it’,” he said.Stepping up his attack, EPS alleged that the DMK regime delayed implementation of the scheme for 28 months after assuming office in 2021. He claimed that since its launch in Sep 2023, the govt disbursed Rs 34,000 in total to beneficiaries, while each family suffered a minimum loss of Rs 3.5 lakh during the period.He further contended that the sudden announcement reflected the ruling party’s anxiety over the AIADMK’s ongoing door-to-door campaign, ‘Vidiyal Aatchi, Veetu Bill Saatchi’, aimed at highlighting what he described as the “true cost” borne by households under the present administration.Questioning the govt’s credibility, EPS said TN was reduced to a state where women—from young girls to elderly mothers—felt unsafe, and asked whether they would trust what he termed a “patchwork” financial gesture timed ahead of elections.Asserting that the AIADMK would return to power with the people’s mandate, he reiterated his party’s promise to implement the ‘Kula Vilakku Thittam’, under which Rs 2,000 per month would be provided to every ration card holder upon formation of the next govt.
