Seeman criticises State government’s welfare schemes, fiscal policies

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman on Wednesday criticised the State government’s welfare measures and fiscal policies and said freebies were offset by increased taxes.

He was campaigning in Coimbatore at the Kavundampalayam, Singanallur, Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore South, and Thondamuthur Assembly constituencies in support of the party’s candidates. He said while the DMK had announced coupons worth ₹8,000 for household appliances and implemented schemes such as free laptops and monthly assistance, it had also increased property tax, electricity tariffs, and other levies, leading to higher rents and service costs.

He claimed that there was a lack of access to safe drinking water and proper education, and alleged that narcotic substances had reached schoolchildren under the DMK regime. He said accepting money in exchange for casting votes would be detrimental to the community. The NTK would not compromise on equitable education, quality healthcare, and clean drinking water, he said.

Criticising the DMK government, he said funds were being spent on projects such as Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore and libraries in other cities, while questioning the condition of infrastructure in government school classrooms. He alleged that the ruling party approached people only during elections to seek grievances, and questioned how a government in power for five years could do so without addressing issues earlier.

Mr. Seeman further alleged that under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the State had incurred a debt of ₹4.5 lakh crore over the past five years, taking the total debt to around ₹10 lakh crore. Criticising hereditary politics, he said granting positions based on birth was against democratic principles.

Targeting Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader C. Joseph Vijay, Mr. Seeman said contesting from two constituencies showed his lack of confidence in himself and in the people’s support for him. He also questioned why Vijay had not filed his papers in Karur, where 41 people who had come to see him died during a public gathering. He questioned the role of national parties, including the Congress and the BJP, alleging that both had similar positions on issues such as the imposition of Hindi, State rights and education policy.

On the Katchatheevu issue, he said the ceding of the island had led to the deaths of 840 fishermen and criticised the absence of any commitment to retrieve it in the DMK’s election manifesto.