Chennai Corporation Council meeting | Unlikely allies as parties unite against State govt. over lack of ward funds

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Councillors of different political parties extended support to the DMK in criticising the State government for not releasing the ward development funds, at the Greater Corporation Corporation (GCC) Council meeting on Friday.

The councillors, including those from the Congress, the AIADMK, and the BJP, also raised concerns over cancelled tenders, gaps in the stormwater drain network, and poor road conditions. DMK’s floor leader, N. Ramalingam, moved a resolution seeking special funds — ₹60 crore for each ward — from the State government for ward development works.

Ward 141 councillor A. Raja Anbazhagan, who contested the 2026 Assembly election as the DMK candidate from T. Nagar, said councillors should consider resigning before the next Council meeting if the ward development funds were not released.

Later, BJP councillor Uma Anandan, who wore black in support of the resolution, said even capital funds were not released. “We [councillors] are not asking for cars for ourselves, but for funds to implement projects. After working for all these months, we are unable to complete projects in the last leg due to the lack of funds,” she said.

“I want to implement flood mitigation works on Subba Reddy Street. I also intend to link the stormwater drain in Ellaiamman Koil Street with the one near Madley Road Subway to mitigate flooding. But the GCC has not allocated funds for the past five months. Does the State government know its priorities?” she added.

AIADMK councillor T. Sathyanathan said funds had been disbursed uniformly in the past four years, but were not being released now, which was condemnable.

Councillors from the CPI and the CPI(M), M. Renuka and R. Jayaraman, supported the demand. Mr. Jayaraman criticised GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran for allegedly “blocking the release of ward development funds”. Councillors from the MDMK, VCK, and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi also supported the resolution.

Standing Committee chairperson C. Velu, who contested the 2026 Assembly election as the DMK candidate from Anna Nagar, said the State government was withholding funds because it feared that the DMK could win the forthcoming local body elections. Valasaravakkam ward committee chairperson V. Rajan questioned whether the current regime was democratic or bureaucratic, and said councillors may hold a hunger strike if the situation continued.

DMK councillor for K.K. Nagar K. Karna said several emergency works undertaken using ward-level funds were stalled and that the TVK government must be held responsible in case there was more stagnation this monsoon.

Manali DMK councillor A. Rajendran said the tenders for the flood management centre in his ward were cancelled, roads were not re-laid due to high bitumen prices, and a community hall in Sadayankuppam needed an overhaul.

Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar, referring to the GCC’s financial constraints and the lack of progress in projects for which foundation stones were laid by former Chief Minister M.K.