DMK MLAs not to take Vijay’s free cars; party cites TN’s heavy debt burden

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly turned into a battleground of sharp words on Friday (August 21) as Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that none of the 59 DMK MLAs would accept the free cars Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay promised to all legislators. The decision came just days after the chief minister’s big announcement of vehicles and monthly support for every lawmaker. Ruling party ministers hit back hard, and the House split into two camps over the issue.

CM’s mega splurge

Chief Minister Vijay had made the announcement earlier this week under Rule 110. He said every MLA would get a government car and a driver. There would also be a monthly allowance of Rs 75,000 for fuel, maintenance and related costs, plus another Rs 25,000 to hire an office helper. The total monthly support works out to about Rs 1 lakh per MLA.

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Vijay explained that many first-time MLAs come from ordinary families and need proper transport to visit their constituencies, meet people and do their work without depending on private arrangements. The move followed requests from some MLAs, including a VCK member who spoke about the long distances and lack of personal vehicles.

Udhayanidhi points to TN’s debt burden

During Friday’s proceedings, Udhayanidhi rose in the House and made the DMK’s position clear. He pointed out that the Chief Minister himself has repeatedly spoken about the state’s heavy debt burden. “Because of that, all 59 DMK MLAs have decided not to take the cars announced by the government,” he said.

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The decision was taken on the advice of former Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin. Udhayanidhi submitted a signed letter from all the party MLAs confirming the refusal. He urged the government to give cars only to those MLAs who are genuinely in financial difficulty, based on the details they filed in their election papers. CPI MLA Thali Ramachandran also said his party members did not need the cars.

TVK reminds DMK of Stalin’s poll affidavit

Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna responded strongly. He said the cars were never meant as luxury items.

“An MLA has to meet 3 lakh people. That is why the government is providing vehicles. It is a basic facility, not a show of wealth,” he argued. He noted that the demand first came from poorer MLAs, including one from the VCK.

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Arjuna then turned the question back on Udhayanidhi: “You have two or three houses of your own, yet you stay in a government bungalow. Can anyone ask why you need that?”

He added that some MLAs from the ruling TVK already own cars and will not apply for the government ones. “You might even claim in your papers that you have no car and only Rs 10,000 in hand,” he remarked, drawing loud reactions from both sides. The remark indirectly targeted Stalin, as the former Chief Minister declared in his election affidavit that he owns no motor vehicles and holds only ₹10,000 in cash.

To take the car or not: House divided

Other voices joined the debate. DMK MLA KN Nehru said the party was simply trying to save public money and asked why that should be criticised. Minister AM Shahjahan recalled that former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had once given cars to more than 300 panchayat union chairmen without similar questions being raised.

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PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar said cars should go only to those who truly need them. The House remained divided, with ruling party members defending the scheme as necessary support and opposition members calling it an unnecessary expense at a time of financial pressure.

MLA owning Mercedes, Volkswagen, demands Innova

The controversy grew sharper when attention turned to Modakurichi TVK MLA D Shanmugan. During the earlier discussion, he had requested that the government car be an Innova model. Election papers filed by Shanmugan, however, show he already owns four cars: two Mercedes-Benz models (an A-Class and a GLE 250), one Toyota Innova Crysta and one Volkswagen Ameo. His total declared assets run into several crores. The request for yet another government Innova has sparked strong criticism in political circles and on social media, with many asking why a well-off MLA needs public funds for a vehicle.

Udhayandihi’s dare to Vijay on DMK files

The car issue was not the only flashpoint. Udhayanidhi also challenged the Chief Minister over three alleged corruption files Vijay had earlier said were on his table. “If you have the courage, open those files. If there is evidence, file cases. DMK is ready to face anything. We are not afraid of any threats or delays,” Udhayanidhi said. He asked why the government was waiting and whether it was looking for an auspicious time or advice from astrologers.

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Minister Rajmohan Arumugam replied that Chief Minister Vijay has no hesitation. “He will certainly release the corruption files and fulfil the opposition leader’s request,” the minister stated. Other ministers also assured that they would take action at the right time and according to law.

DMK leader Senthil Balaji raised related points during the session, questioning delays in providing policy notes to members and commenting on the stability of ministers in successive governments. He stressed the need for timely information so that MLAs can prepare properly for debates.

TN Congress praise CM's move

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore welcomed Chief Minister Vijay’s decision to give cars to all MLAs, calling it a praiseworthy step. He said the same facility should also be extended to panchayat presidents, as many of them still work without even basic amenities.

Tagore added that proper salaries and support must be provided to these local leaders so they are not pushed into wrong practices due to a lack of facilities.