DMK hits out at Tamil Nadu govt over removal of Stalin's name from desalination project plaque

Chennai: The opposition DMK on Monday lashed out at the ruling TVK over the alleged removal of a plaque containing its leader M K Stalin's name for a desalination project, amidst escalating political feud between the two parties.

The DMK took strong exception to the removal of the plaque for the 150 million litres per day (MLD) capacity second phase of the Nemmeli desalination plant about 48 km from here, saying the action was tantamount to "erasing" Dravidian model government project and affixing the TVK "sticker".

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The Rs 1,516 crore project was commissioned by Stalin in February 2024 during his tenure as Chief Minister to provide drinking water to around 9 lakh residents in Chennai's southern suburbs and the IT corridor.

While the DMK claimed that the plaque was removed ahead of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's visit, an official denied any such move.

In a strongly worded statement, the DMK condemned the removal, saying it was an act of "welcoming fear and incompetence". It sought to know how the ruling dispensation could stoop to "erasing" the history of Chennai's drinking water solution.

The recent weeks has seen heightened tension between the two parties following the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam accusing the DMK of attempting to poach its legislators and also the arrest of former DMK minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan in a case relating to his derogatory remarks against the Chief Minister.

A DMK delegation under its organising secretary R S Bharathi submitted a memorandum to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on July 4, raising serious concerns over the alleged illegal arrest, custodial coercion, and attempts to induce defection of elected representatives through the misuse of police machinery.

The memorandum also highlighted allegations of inducements offered to MLAs to switch parties and raised concerns regarding unauthorised individuals participating in official government proceedings. "They (DMK) urged immediate constitutional intervention, an independent enquiry, and appropriate action to safeguard democratic institutions," Arlekar had said in a statement on 'X'.

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The DMK had even approached the Supreme Court seeking to restrain the TVK ministers from making statements over the September 27, 2025, stampede in Karur.

In the statement, the DMK said the Nemmeli desalination plant project was initiated in 2006 during the tenure of M Karunanidhi as Chief Minister and when Stalin was the Local Administration Minister then. After becoming Chief Minister, Stalin laid the foundation stone for the project expansion, which was completed in 2024.