Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar Minister for Energy Resources and Law C.T.R.
Nirmal Kumar has alleged that DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his son and former Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin are continuously attempting to poach Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLAs using huge sums of money.Addressing journalists here on Wednesday, the Minister claimed that while the DMK and the AIADMK previously planned to field a joint candidate with the BJP’s backing in the recent byelection, similar political manoeuvres were being planned for the upcoming elections.“Earlier efforts by the DMK and the AIADMK fell through due to internal pushback from senior leaders like Kanimozhi and K.N.
Nehru,” he said. Nevertheless, observing the shifting political winds in Tamil Nadu, Mr.
Stalin and Mr. Udhayanidhi remained desperate to spend crores of rupees to acquire TVK MLAs, he noted.He asserted that the administration led by Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay would prove immune to such corrupt ploys. “We are actively tracking the funds reportedly being funnelled through various channels to “purchase” our MLAs,” he added.Referring to recurring prison offences and jailbreaks, Mr. Nirmal Kumar expressed confidence that reforms initiated by the TVK government would overhaul the Prison Department. “A committee formed under the chairmanship of State’s former police chief J.K.
Tripathi is working to implement necessary structural changes,” he added.The Minister highlighted that reforms were also under way in other key sectors, including Tasmac and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. “When you introduce strict regulations into a system that has functioned corruptly for years, resistance is bound to follow,” he observed.For instance, he said, the efforts to stop illicit collection of an extra ₹10 per liquor bottle at Tasmac outlets, a practice that previously cost the exchequer crores of rupees, had predictably sparked a pushback across the State.In the electricity sector, Mr. Nirmal Kumar said, new circulars had made it mandatory for substations to meticulously log every power shutdown detail, warning of strict penalties for non-compliance.
Responding to criticism regarding renaming of schemes introduced by the previous administration, he said such claims were rumours, and names had not been altered across the board.“Regarding initiatives like ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ skill development programme, specific titles that failed to effectively reach beneficiaries are being adjusted to expand their reach and impact,” he said. Published - November 04, 2026 08:11 pm IST