Madurai Corporation zonal chiefs defy CM Stalin's order to quit, stick to posts
DMK sources said the five chairpersons, including one male and for females, told ministers K N Nehru, P Moorthi and Palanivel Thiaga Rajan who questioned them on Monday about the allegations, to conduct a thorough inquiry before initiating action against them.
When contacted by the TNIE, a zonal chairperson requesting anonymity said they have been told to submit resignation letters to the committee prior to the inquiry.
On Tuesday, corporation sources said no chairperson had stepped down. TNIE made several phone calls to corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan to get a comment on the issue, but she did not respond.
Former minister and senior AIADMK leader Sellur K Raju, accompanied by party councillors and cadres, staged a protest on the corporation office premises demanding action against those involved in tax fraud.
According to sources, cyber crime police found out several irregularities in property tax assessment. Data in the Urban Tree Information System (UTIS) been tampered with and property tax for more than 150 buildings have been altered, resulting in loss of several lakhs of rupees to the civic body.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin challenges Delhi's delimitation plans: 'Orani vs Delhi ani' in 2026
CHENNAI: DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin took to X platform on the occasion of World Population Day, observed on July 11, to raise the issue of 'unfair' delimitation planned by the union government. Mentioning the party's ongoing campaign, Oraniyil Tamil Nadu, Stalin asserted that state will not bow, and stated, 'We rise together. This is Orani vs Delhi ani. (Delhi team)' He also posted an image with the slogan, 'Planned states deserve a greater voice.' Stalin listed the progress made by the state such as population control, empowering women with dignity, delivering healthcare and education for all, and championing sustainable development. He also charged the union government, asking, 'What do we get in return? Fewer seats, less funding, and a voice that is being pushed out of Parliament.' He reasoned, 'Why? Because Tamil Nadu did the right thing. And that threatens Delhi.' Coming down heavily on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Stalin wrote, 'What's worse, EPS and his party are standing with Delhi, not with Tamil Nadu.' Stalin went on to say that the AIADMK was backing the unfair delimitation that punishes the state for its progress. It may be recalled that Stalin has been accusing the union government of deliberately postponing the Census to 2027, with population-based delimitation in mind, something that would reduce Tamil Nadu's representation in the Parliament. Stalin also launched an initiative to renovate 63 temples, which are over 1,000 years old, located in various parts of the state, through video conference from the secretariat on Friday.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Centre yet to sanction money for water project, TN will spend if needed: Minister Nehru
CHENNAI: Though the union government has not yet sanctioned funds under Jal Jeevan Mission for drinking water projects, TN is prepared to use its own resources if necessary to ensure uninterrupted water supply, Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru said on Friday. He was addressing the media after chairing a high-level review meeting at the Directorate of Municipal Administration in Pattinapakkam. The meeting was held to assess the progress of urban infrastructure projects across municipal corporations, municipalities and town panchayats in the state. Nehru said Chennai currently receives 1,100 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water, benefiting over one crore residents. Across the state, 2071 MLD is being supplied through 544 combined water supply schemes. Responding to PMK president R Anbumani's criticism regarding bypassing TNPSC for municipal recruitment, the minister said 200 to 300 positions have already been filled through TNPSC. However, he noted this is not enough to fulfil the staffing needs and, so 2,566 candidates have been selected through a tough examination conducted by Anna University. These candidates will receive their appointment orders within 10 days. On opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami's accusations of property tax irregularities in Madurai Corporation, Nehru said, 'Everything now is being done transparently and within the law.'
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Madras HC presses ECI on AIADMK symbol decision delay
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its 'hesitation' in deciding on representations seeking freezing of AIADMK's poll symbol 'Two Leaves' and election of Edappadi K Palaniswami as the general secretary of the party. There are multiple civil suits pending in courts regarding the issues. When the petitions filed by EPS seeking a direction to the ECI for speedy disposal of the representations, which were submitted by expelled AIADMK party men including former MPs P Ravindranath, KC Palanisamy and Surya Moorthy, came up for hearing, the ECI's counsel Niranjan Rajagopalan told the HC that the commission would take a decision 'as expeditiously as possible' and time frame need not be set by the court. The bench of Justices R Subramanian and K Surender said it could see 'hesitation' on the part of the ECI and asked its counsel whether he wanted the bench to disclose why there is such a 'hesitation'. Making an oblique reference to the timeline set by the Supreme Court to the President regarding granting of assent to bills passed in State Assemblies in the Tamil Nadu Vs Governor RN Ravi case, the bench said, 'If the President can be set a timeline, why can't the Election Commission?" It also asked, 'Is the Election Commission above the President? The ECI counsel responded, 'Everyone is equal in the Constitution.' The two-judge bench directed the counsel to file written instructions by July 21 on the time period by which it can take a decision on the representations and adjourned the hearing.
