Tamil Nadu government at six months: six disputes and its response

Six months after taking office following the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, the Vijay-led government faces disputes over infrastructure, appointments, defections, electricity purchases and library books. Opposition parties question its experience and delivery of election promises. The government says it has introduced schemes, is fighting corruption and has given police operational freedom.

The period also brought by-elections after six AIADMK legislators resigned and joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, or TVK. Two of the vacated seats went to the polls, adding a dispute over alleged inducements to the wider debate about governance. Allegations described below remain allegations, not findings of wrongdoing.

Parandur airport cancellation

The previous DMK government had pursued a second airport for Chennai at Parandur in Kancheepuram district and begun land-acquisition work in surrounding villages. Residents opposing it said farmland, water bodies, homes and livelihoods would be affected.

Vijay met protesters at Ekanapuram on 20 January 2025 and promised that a TVK government would abandon the project. On 24 August 2026, he announced its cancellation in the assembly, saying the aim was to protect farmers' livelihoods and people's homes.

Questions remain about the earlier acquisition work and what happens to steps already taken. The government says it will examine alternative sites with less impact on agriculture and homes and expand capacity through a fifth terminal at Chennai airport. Whether that will meet future traffic demand is part of the debate.

Appointments close to the chief minister

Early appointments included astrologer Ricky Radhan Pandit Vetrivel as an officer on special duty to the chief minister. That order was withdrawn after objections. Vijay's manager Jagadish Palanisamy was appointed private secretary for political affairs, and film producer K. Venkat Narayana became Tamil Nadu's special representative in Delhi.

Opposition parties questioned why the Delhi role had not gone to someone from Tamil Nadu, noting that Venkat Narayana was not from the state. The appointments also prompted debate about qualifications, selection criteria and the influence of people personally close to the chief minister.

Defections and inducement allegations

Beginning on 25 May after TVK took office, six AIADMK MLAs resigned their seats and joined the ruling party. The AIADMK alleged financial inducements, and related disputes reached court. Those accusations should not be treated as established payments.

By-elections were held on 6 October in the reserved constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram, and TVK won both. Representatives leaving the party on whose ticket they were elected so soon after the change of government drew questions, including from Left parties supporting the administration.

Proposed secretariat at Pattinapakkam

In September, the government gave in-principle approval to a new secretariat and assembly complex at Pattinapakkam, Chennai, estimated at 12 billion rupees, or 1,200 crore. An 8 September order covered preparation of a detailed project report and designs. It was not final project approval.

Fishers opposed the coastal location, saying construction and security restrictions could affect fishing, boat parking, net maintenance and access supporting their livelihoods. Environmental concerns were raised too. After protests, minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar said the location had not been finally decided and alternatives were being studied.

Electricity purchase prices

To meet October demand, particularly at peak times, Tamil Nadu's electricity distribution company agreed to purchases at up to 37 rupees a unit. Opposition parties criticised the price. A later tender for subsequent months attracted offers as high as 41.50 rupees a unit.

Nirmal Kumar subsequently announced cancellation of the high-priced tender, saying there was enough electricity for the next three months. The government described the purchases as demand management, while the earlier 37-rupee agreement and later 41.50-rupee bids raised questions about procurement planning.

Periyar Arivulagam library books

Books bought for the recently opened Periyar Arivulagam library in Coimbatore became another dispute. Writer Perumal Murugan alleged inaccuracies and questioned some author names and their authenticity. He also suspected that some titles might have been produced using artificial intelligence. These were his allegations, not established conclusions about every book.

The dispute led to questions about book selection and purchasing. The DMK and TVK gave differing accounts of which administration began procurement, when the contract was finalised and when books were bought. Alleged irregularities remain under investigation.

Wider criticism and the government response

Senior journalist Lakshmi Subramanian argues that Vijay's promises created high expectations that have not been met. In her assessment, the administration has failed to perform, and ruling-party complaints about officials not cooperating have been accompanied by greater attention to image-building than administrative repair. This is her assessment, not an official finding.

She says competing centres of authority within TVK affect government work and questions Vijay's administrative experience and understanding. She also says the reason for the chief minister's silence is unclear to her.

DMK leader and former chief minister M.K. Stalin attacked the government's six-month record on social media, portraying law and order as critically ill and administration as unresponsive. He accused Vijay of behaving as a part-time chief minister and full-time content creator.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami blamed the government for price pressures and law-and-order problems, called it ineffective and said no major notable schemes had appeared. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran raised allegations about law and order, drugs, police safety and Cauvery water management. These are opposition criticisms.

Responding to criticism, Nirmal Kumar said the government had brought in multiple schemes over six months and was working to remove corruption at every level. He said police had been given full freedom on law and order.

The minister said about 6,700 cases had been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, including around 2,800 incidents reported during the previous administration. Those figures are his account of the government's action, while the competing political assessments remain disputed.