After thanking voters in Coimbatore South, senior DMK leader and MLA Senthil Balaji urged the media not to “overhype” the closure of 717 TASMAC shops, stating that similar initiatives had already been implemented during both the DMK and AIADMK regimes.
Senior DMK leader and Coimbatore South MLA Senthil Balaji on Friday met voters in his constituency and expressed gratitude for electing him as their representative in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Senthil Balaji thanked DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for giving him the opportunity to contest from the Coimbatore South constituency.
He also pointed out that out of the 10 Assembly constituencies in Coimbatore district, the DMK had secured victory in three constituencies and said the party continues to maintain a significant political presence in the district.
Responding to questions regarding his brief interaction with former AIADMK minister S.P. Velumani at the Assembly premises, which triggered widespread political speculation, Senthil Balaji clarified that it was only a casual conversation and had no political significance.
“It was just a brief casual conversation and not a political one. There is nothing to speculate about,” he said.
Responding to questions on the newly formed TVK government and the people’s mandate, Senthil Balaji said it has been only a week since the government assumed office and it would be too early to make any detailed assessment.
“At the same time, even within this short period, we are already seeing several people, including those who voted for them, expressing their dissatisfaction on social media in different ways,” he said.
In a sharp remark aimed at the ruling dispensation, Senthil Balaji said the TVK government should function as a “real government and not a reels government,” indirectly suggesting that the party’s electoral success was driven more by social media visibility than grassroots outreach among the people.
He further pointed out that Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, on the very first day of the Assembly session, reminded the newly formed TVK government of the promises made during the elections and stressed that those assurances should now be fulfilled.
Commenting on the recent announcement regarding the closure of 717 TASMAC shops, Senthil Balaji urged the media not to portray the move as a first-of-its-kind initiative.
“During the DMK regime, around 500 TASMAC shops were closed. Even during the AIADMK government, several shops were shut down. But the present announcement is being projected as though this is happening for the first time in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
He added that merely closing 717 TASMAC outlets does not amount to total prohibition and claimed that several people on social media were misunderstanding the move.
When asked whether the people had voted for “change,” Senthil Balaji questioned what exactly was meant by the term.
“During the DMK government, Tamil Nadu emerged as the number one state in several sectors including education, industrial growth, GDP, healthcare and social justice. So when Tamil Nadu has already reached leading positions, what exactly does change mean?” he asked.
He further stated that even maintaining the existing standards and growth achieved over the last five years would itself benefit the people significantly.
Calling the word “change” an overrated political narrative, Senthil Balaji said the “real change” had already taken place during the DMK regime and that the party had data to substantiate its achievements.