MPs of DMK’s allies demand office space in their constituencies

Several elected MPs belonging to the key allies of the ruling DMK — Congress, VCK, and CPI(M) — have flagged the issue of lack of office space being provided for them by the State administration to meet the people and discharge their duties. Some alleged that the local DMK bigwigs do not allow them to function independently.

VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar, Congress’ Mayiladuthurai MP R. Sudha, and CPI(M)’s Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan were among those who said they had been denied office space and were being made to rent buildings.

In a post on X, Mr. Venkatesan said the lack of office spaces for M.P.s has been brought to the attention of the State Government more than once. “In the State Development and Coordination Committee meeting, VKC leader Thol. Thirumavalavan raised this issue. The reply was that appropriate action would be taken. But no action was taken. MPs are in a situation where they have to get rented buildings at the mercy of the officials or politicians in charge of their respective districts to get government offices,” he said.

Mr. Ravikumar urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ensure MPs in Tamil Nadu were provided the same facilities that were provided to their counterparts in Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. “The members from Tamil Nadu are the ones who are at the forefront of fighting for State rights in Parliament. Is it right to treat them like this?” he asked. He said that when MPs from other places come to Chennai, they had no place to stay.