The State government was so weak that it could not even hold local body elections despite court order, said Tamil Maanila Congress president G.K. Vasan on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters here, he said that the AIADMK was voted to power by the people for Jayalalithaa. After her demise, there was nothing but confusion and fight for power among the party leaders. As a result, party unity had gone for a toss. The opposition, he said, was pointing out mistakes of the government both inside and outside the Assembly.
On the demand that DGP T.K. Rajendran, whose name allegedly figured in the gutka scam,’ should step down, Mr. Vasan said that whoever was found guilty should be punished. There should not be any discrimination in this regard. However, it was unfortunate that the system was not in a position to enforce it strictly. Many cases taken up by the CBI, including the ones related to the searches made at the residences of Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and former Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao, had not progressed. The TMC, he said, was ready to face elections to local bodies and he hoped that the government would not buy any more time.
On the Goods and Services Tax, he said that it was implemented in a hurry without taking the suggestions of stakeholders. The GST Council, which would meet next month, should come out with necessary amendments, failing which the country’s economy would be in another crisis.
After quitting Congress, Mr. Vasan said he felt immensely satisfied that he had taken the right decision. “If my exit had weakened the national party in Tamil Nadu, I am not responsible for it,” he said and denied that he would join hands with the Congress.
