CHENNAI: We The Leaders founder K. Annamalai on Sunday alleged that some Ministers in the TVK government had begun demanding commissions ranging from 2% to 4% in government tenders. He did not identify the Ministers or release the audio clip that he claimed would prove the allegation.
Addressing supporters in Chennai, Annamalai said corruption had begun resurfacing despite the government’s claims that it had ended. He maintained that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was personally opposed to corruption but urged him to rein in Ministers and officials before the practice became widespread.
According to Annamalai, commissions were not being demanded in major tenders, but some Ministers had recently started seeking cuts in other contracts. He alleged that they were attempting to justify the demands by claiming they had spent money to secure votes in the Assembly election.
Annamalai said he was bringing the matter to Vijay’s attention immediately instead of waiting for a year before raising it as a major political issue.
At the same time, he said the TVK government should be given a year to prove its administrative capabilities. Describing its electoral victory as a political revolution in Tamil Nadu, he pointed out that 101 of the party’s 108 legislators were first-time MLAs.
He said the government had taken some correct decisions while making mistakes in other areas. His organisation was monitoring its performance and submitting reports on issues requiring attention, he added.
Annamalai welcomed the government’s response to complaints about Tasmac liquor outlets functioning within 500 metres of educational institutions and places of worship, saying corrective action deserved appreciation.
Referring to the government’s proposal to save ₹15,000 crore through the 2026 Budget, he urged Vijay to allocate ₹5,000 crore each for protecting rural waterbodies, improving infrastructure in government schools and accelerating rural development.
