New Delhi, Aug 24: The Tamil Nadu BJP has criticised the state government over its decision to drop the Parandur Airport project and questioned the scope of its newly announced LPG welfare scheme, accusing the administration led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of failing to deliver on major commitments.
BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said the decision on the proposed airport represented a setback for Tamil Nadu, arguing that the project had been under consideration for more than four to five years and could have contributed to the state’s economy.
Speaking to IANS, Thirupathy said the government should reconsider its decision and address the challenges surrounding the airport project through dialogue and negotiations rather than abandoning it.
He said difficulties were expected in implementing large infrastructure projects, particularly when they affect people, but argued that the government could address such concerns through discussions with affected communities and appropriate compensation.
Thirupathy also criticised the government over the scale of the Annapoorani Super Six LPG scheme announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday.
The BJP leader pointed to a difference between the party’s election promise and the scheme announced by the government. He said the election manifesto had promised six LPG cylinders annually to all households, whereas the new scheme provides for the cost of three cylinders each year.
He also alleged that the number of beneficiaries covered by the scheme had been reduced substantially compared with the election commitment, describing the difference as a failure to honour the promise made to voters.
Under the Annapoorani Super Six scheme, eligible families will receive the cost of three LPG cylinders annually through direct transfers into their bank accounts. The programme is scheduled to begin from Pongal 2027.
The state government expects the scheme to cover about 1.30 crore families with annual household incomes below Rs 2.5 lakh.
The estimated annual financial burden on the Tamil Nadu exchequer is around Rs 4,000 crore, according to the state government.
The LPG scheme has become a second point of contention between the BJP and the state government, with the Opposition party focusing on the gap it sees between the electoral commitment and the benefits announced under the new programme.
On the airport project, Thirupathy argued that the government should engage with people affected by the proposed infrastructure rather than treat the challenges as a reason to abandon the project. He said discussions and compensation could be used to resolve such issues.
The BJP spokesperson described the government’s handling of both matters as unacceptable and urged it to reconsider its position on the airport project.
The criticism comes alongside the government’s announcement of the LPG scheme, placing both infrastructure policy and welfare commitments at the centre of the latest political dispute in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP has strongly opposed the government’s decisions, while the details provided on the airport project do not include further information on the reasons for dropping it.
