TVK scraps Rs 16.8 lakh water tank tender after DMK flags 'planned' 6-hour process

A political storm has erupted in Tamil Nadu after the newly elected government led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam cancelled a government tender within hours of floating it, following allegations from the opposition that the process was designed to favour a particular contractor.

The controversy centres around a tender issued by the Rural Development Department on May 19 for the construction of a 30,000-litre overhead water tank in Kancheepuram district. The contract, valued at Rs 16.83 lakh, was published at 9 am with the deadline for bid submissions fixed at 3 pm the same day, leaving prospective bidders with a six-hour window to participate.

According to the tender schedule, the bids were to be opened at 4 pm on May 19 itself.

Screenshots of the tender details soon spread across social media, drawing criticism over the unusually short bidding period and triggering accusations of lack of transparency in the process.

DMK ALLEGES ‘PLANNED CONTRACT POLITICS’

Opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam launched a sharp attack on the government, alleging that the tender process appeared tailored to benefit a specific company.

DMK State Deputy Secretary Amutharasan questioned how any company could realistically prepare a Detailed Project Report and complete all procedural formalities within six hours.

“This is not administrative speed. This is pre-planned contract politics,” he said in a social media post, while targeting minister N Anand over the issue.

Amutharasan also asked why such urgency was shown immediately after the new government assumed office and alleged that the tender conditions may have been structured to suit “only one company”.

Calling for the entire process to be made public, he demanded an investigation into the matter and alleged possible violations of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act.

“This is not just suspicion, this is a direct allegation of irregularities,” he said.

GOVERNMENT CANCELS TENDER

As criticism intensified online, the TVK government cancelled the tender later the same day, citing “administrative reasons”.

However, the cancellation has done little to contain the political fallout, with opposition leaders continuing to question the manner in which the tender was floated and whether due process had been followed.

The row has quickly become one of the first major controversies confronting the newly elected TVK government, with rivals accusing it of compromising transparency in public contracts even before settling into office.

- Ends