DMK govt has pushed Tamil Nadu into severe debt crisis: Sasikala

Coimbatore: All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK) general secretary V K Sasikala on Friday said the DMK govt lacked accountability and had pushed the state into a severe debt crisis."The govt has borrowed nearly Rs12 lakh crore and is paying around Rs7,000 crore every month as interest. How will it fulfil its election promises under such financial strain?" she questioned, calling the upcoming polls a decisive election to "end DMK governance". Campaigning for her party candidates Rahul Gandhi in Coimbatore North constituency and Mallika in Kavundampalayam assembly seat, Sasikala accused DMK govt of facilitating illegal mining activities. "If they return to form govt for another five years, hills in regions such as Krishnagiri could disappear, similar to what has happened in parts of Tenkasi, with resources being exploited and sold as M-sand," she said, alleging that revenue was not reaching the state exchequer. Sasikala said people were struggling owing to inadequate public transport and lack of new buses. She urged voters to support AIPTMMK and its allies, promising a welfare-oriented governance model similar to that of former chief minister, the late J Jayalalithaa. She said the party had released a manifesto with 60 promises based on feedback gathered during her outreach across the state. Sasikala also flagged administrative and environmental issues, including the absence of a vice-chancellor at Bharathiar University and dumping of waste at the foothills of Marudamalai which she said was affecting wildlife.