Palaniswami’s criticism of T.N’s economic growth stems from DMK’s achievements, says CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said the AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s criticism of Tamil Nadu’s economic growth stemmed from the fact that the DMK government, under his leadership, had achieved what the Narendra Modi-led Union government and Chief Ministers of other States could not.

Mr. Stalin inaugurated new buildings of the Chengalpattu District Government Headquarters Hospital at Tambaram, constructed at a cost of ₹110 crore, a suburban branch of the Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, built at a cost of ₹7.24 crore on the same premises, an Integrated Public Health Laboratory at a cost of ₹1 crore at Tambaram, and three Urban Primary Health Centres established at a total cost of ₹90 lakh at Pammal. He also distributed land pattas to 20,021 beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, he said his government was taking Tamil Nadu on the path of development with achievements that even the Union government, led by the BJP, an ally of the AIADMK, could not hide or deny. He also expressed confidence that the DMK would win next year’s Assembly elections in the State and said: “In Dravidian Model 2.0, we will work with greater speed and create even more development. We will set an example for the whole of India, and the AIADMK will sit in the Opposition to witness it.”

He said the DMK government is focusing on balanced growth, from Kanniyakumari to Chennai, with an emphasis on industrial development and job creation in every district. As a result, the State has achieved an economic growth rate of 11.19% after a gap of 14 years.

He said education and healthcare continued to be the two eyes of the Dravidian Model government. “Apart from food and clothing, land ownership remains a fundamental necessity for everyone. While food and clothing can be obtained easily, land remains a dream for many. That is why our government places special focus on free land patta distribution to poor landless families as well as women, to build an egalitarian society,” he said.

Schemes such as the ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam’ and ‘Housing for All’ have benefited underprivileged communities. From May 2021 to December 2024, a total of 10,26,734 pattas were distributed. To further speed up the distribution of pattas, a high-level committee headed by the Revenue Minister was formed with a target of issuing five lakh pattas within five months. In that period, a total of 7,27,606 pattas were distributed, Mr. Stalin added.