Madurai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched NDA’s election campaign in Tamil Nadu, accusing DMK of corruption and pitching NDA’s commitment to developing the state’s infrastructure.Addressing the NDA rally in Madurai, Modi alleged that there had been a 365 crore cash-for-transfer scam, 900 crore cash-for-job scam, 1,000 crore cash-for-contract scam, 4,700 crore mining scam and a 40,000 crore Tasmac scam in Tamil Nadu. “Usually ministers compete in delivering good work. In DMK, however, ministers compete in scams. They steal from the poor, the youth and farmers,” Modi said.“Such a corrupt govt has no moral right to continue. That’s why the people of Tamil Nadu have decided to bring in an NDA govt. We will give clean and efficient governance,” the Prime Minister said from the stage he shared with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran and TMC leader G K Vasan.Praising Congress stalwart K Kamaraj and AIADMK icons M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa for contributing to Tamil Nadu’s growth, Modi said, “When it comes to honesty in politics, Kamaraj set an example for the whole country. DMK is an example of the exact opposite,” he said.Terming the assembly election as a turning point for the state, Modi said people have made up their mind to “send DMK out” and that “the next govt of Tamil Nadu would be an NDA govt”.Modi said that after 25 long years, DMK got a full majority in 2021, however, it failed to deliver good governance. “They looted the state, furthering dynastic politics and ignored people’s aspirations,” he charged. DMK never liked Madurai and brought “mafia style politics” since the people there stood with MGR, Modi said.Stating that women felt safe during Jayalalithaa’s rule, Modi said once NDA govt was formed, “criminals and drug mafia will be behind bars”.“NDA will ensure your safety, dignity and empowerment,” he said.Hitting back at deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “doesn’t fear PM or his father” remark, Modi said he considered the comment as an appreciation of his “democratic way of governance where nobody fears anyone”.He said Tamil Nadu was the first state to become “Congress mukt”.“For this, Congress avenged TN by ceding Katchatheevu,” Modi said alleging DMK did nothing to prevent the handover of the islet. He alleged that Congress also banned jallikattu, which was lifted by NDA govt.Earlier, participating in a govt event, where he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated Rs4,400 crore infrastructure projects, Modi said historic site of Adhichanallur in the Tirunelveli district will be developed into a global heritage destination. Govt’s ecotourism initiatives around Lake Pulicat and Podhigai Malai will create new job opportunities while preserving the natural ecosystem, he said.Modi said more than 200 manufacturing clusters are being developed across the country and Tamil Nadu would also benefit from the move. Listing out the development works carried out by Union govt in the state, he said more than 4,000km of highways have been built in Tamil Nadu since 2014.“Railway budget allocation for Tamil Nadu has seen a nine-fold increase since our (BJP) govt came in; from 2009 to 2014 the average yearly railway allocation was Rs880 crore. In 2026-27, it had increased to Rs7,600 crore,” he said. He inaugurated eight redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of around Rs105 crore.Modi visits Thiruparankundram templeModi visited the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple at Thiruparankundram where he was accorded with a ‘Purnakumbha’ honour and garlands. Temple priests presented Modi with a portrait of Lord Murugan. He spent around 15 minutes inside the temple and offered prayers. He was accompanied by Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi, Union minister L Murugan and BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran.He then visited the house of P Poorana Chandran who died by suicide in Madurai, “demanding lighting of lamp on the deepathoon atop the hillock on Dec 18, last year”.“I prayed for the prosperity of Tamil Nadu and the entire nation. At the same time, my heart felt heavy when I met Poornachandran’s wife Indhumathi and their two children. It is painful that the insensitivity of DMK govt led up to this. No matter what DMK does, the truth will win. Devotees of Bhagavan Murugan will win,” he said at the NDA rally.
