TRICHY: Road infrastructure projects that have been stalled over the past 5 years have cost the state its industrial development, TNCC president EVKS Elangovan said here on Friday.
Addressing the media, Elangovan said that "voters are aware that the money coming their way is the money swindled from them. Hence, they are accepting it." However, it would not affect the electoral prospects, he said while answering questions on the possibility of cash being distributed by major parties to buy votes. He said that even if they accept cash, the voters are resolved not to elect not AIADMK.
Listing out a number of stalled road infrastructure projects that were proposed by the DMK when it was in power, Elangovan held J Jayalalithaa responsible for having put projects worth an estimated Rs 11,000 crore on the back burner. While the projects were partially funded by the Union government, Jayalalithaa's demand for 20 per cent commission from road contractors is also a reason for the delay, he said.
Terming the global investors' meet at the fag end of the AIADMK tenure an eye wash, Elangovan said lack of basic infrastructure discouraged industrial investments. Thirty five of the 45 road infrastructure projects announced by her in the assembly under section 110 remain unfulfilled, he said.
Claiming that there are no power cuts in the state is a lie and the chief minister and her fellow ministers continue to lie on the issue, Elangovan said. He said no new project had been set up to improve the power situation.
"Had the state government cooperated with the centre and operated the Kudamkulam nuclear power plant to its capacity, we could have avoided a power crises," said Elangovan.
On the allegations about bribing voters, he said deployment of paramilitary or even the army would only serve the purpose if only the local election officials take an interest in this checking this practice.