Chennai Corporation Board Meeting | Unlikely allies as parties unite against the state government. due to lack of funds in the department

Councilors from various political parties supported the DMK by criticizing the state government for not releasing funds for ward development at the Greater Corporation Council (GCC) meeting on Friday.

The councillors, including those from the Congress, AIADMK and the BJP, also raised concerns about the canceled elections, gaps in the stormwater drain network and the poor condition of roads. DMK floor leader N Ramalingam moved a resolution demanding special funds – ₹ 60 crore for each ward – from the state government for ward development works.

Ward 141 councilor A. Raja Anbazhagan, who contested the 2026 council elections as a DMK candidate from T. Nagar, said the councilors should consider resigning before the next council meeting if funds are not released for the development of the ward.

Later, BJP councilor Uma Anandan, who wore black to support the resolution, said that even the capital funds had not been released. “We (councillors) are not asking for cars for ourselves, but funds to implement the projects. After those months of work, we are not able to complete the projects in the last stage due to lack of funds,” she said.

“I want to implement flood mitigation works on Subba Reddy Street. I also intend to connect the Ellaiamman Koil Street storm water drain to a canal near Madley Road Metro to mitigate flooding. However, GCC has not allocated funds for the last five months. Does the state government know its priorities?” she added.

AIADMK councilor T. Sathyanathan said that the funds were disbursed uniformly for the last four years, but now they have not been released, which is condemnable.

CPI and CPI(M) councilors M. Renuka and R. Jayaraman supported the demand. Mr Jayaraman criticized GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran for allegedly “blocking the release of funds for the development of the department”. Councilors from MDMK, VCK and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi also supported the resolution.

Standing Committee (Works) Chairman C. Velu, who is contesting the Anna Nagar assembly elections in 2026, said the state government is withholding funds because it fears that the DMK could win the upcoming local body elections. Valasaravakkam ward committee chairman V. Rajan questioned whether the current regime was democratic or bureaucratic and said councilors may go on hunger strike if the situation continued.

DMK councilor for KK Nagar K. Karna said several emergency works carried out using ward-level funds have been stopped and the TVK government must be held responsible in case there is more stagnation this monsoon.

DMK councilor Manali A. Rajendran said tenders for the flood management center in his ward have been cancelled, roads have not been re-laid due to high prices of bitumen and the municipal hall at Sadayankuppam needs an overhaul.

Referring to GCC’s financial constraints and lack of progress on projects for which former Chief Minister MK Stalin laid the foundation stones, Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar said the corporation should consider providing maternity and menstrual leave to protesting National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) workers. He said, “The state can now boast of smooth functioning of Amma Unavagams across the city. It was the GCC which had earlier allocated ₹100 crore to ensure this.”

Mayor R. Priya said the Council would formally register its displeasure with the State Government and a resolution would be passed asking it to take note of the Council’s demand.

“Only if the funds are released now, the work can be planned and completed within six to seven months…earlier over 100 resolutions would have been passed but now barely 30 have been passed, and that also pertains to dispersal of pensions and retention or deployment of NULM temporary workers,” she said.

She also insisted that the commissioner issue a circular to the zoning officers to coordinate projects, inspections and civic works with the councilors and chairmen at the meeting.

Notifies CM: Congress

Tiruvottiyur councilor and leader of 13 Congress councilors in GCC M. Samuel Diraviam, who supported the resolution, said he would take up the matter with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Meanwhile, Alwarthirunagar councilor VV Giridharan, who recently announced that he has joined the TVK, said the councilor’s fund he had saved from last year could be used to complete the establishment of a health and wellness center in the ward if capital funds could not be disbursed.

Published – 29 Aug 2026 05:30 IST