Chidambaram says there has been “no corruption or virtually nil corruption” at many govt. offices in Tamil Nadu

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Congress MP P. Chidambaram speaking to The Hindu 360 . | Photo Credit: Thamodharan B

Former Union Minister for Finance and Home Affairs, P. Chidambaram, on Wednesday said there had been “no corruption or virtually nill corruption” at offices of the Registration department and the State power utility after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) took over the reins of the State.

Citing public feedback as the source of his information, Mr. Chidambaram, in an interview with The Hindu 360 , the Tamil YouTube channel of The Hindu, at his residence here, said that during his interactions with people at his home district Sivaganga, he heard that there was “no corruption” at the time of registration of documents or in teachers’ transfers. “Corruption has almost been eliminated at the offices of the Electricity Board . I also understand that sanctions for the appointment of teachers in [government-aided] schools and colleges have been sent by post,” he observed.

He was replying to a question regarding his assessment about the functioning of the State government. “Only 105 days have passed,” Mr Chidambaram remarked, “it is a short period.”

To another question about the 2026 Assembly election result, the former Union Minister, said political parties, the media and commentators had failed to read the political scenario and had been under the impression that the two Dravidian parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), were occupying 80% of the space. “What they held was 80% of the legislature space in view of the two parties sharing between themselves nearly 200 Assembly seats all these years, but not 80% of the political space,” he explained. Referring to the role of the Gen Z, he added: “This time, they all exercised their franchise.” In his constituency, for instance, by 11 am on the polling day, Gen Z had finished casting their votes.

On the need for continuing with subsidies in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Chidambaran said the question was whether there were externalities associated with any subsidy scheme. “If externalities are there, we can welcome the scheme. In the absence of externalities, the scheme can be rejected,” he observed. For instance, with the free bus travel for women scheme, he pointed out that in Karaikudi , where a women’s law college had come up, people from villages within a radius of 20 km to 25 km were saying that but for the bus service, they would not have sent their girl children to the college. “So, the scheme has got externalities,” he explained.

state politics / Tamil Nadu / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

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