717 liquor shops near religious places, schools shut in Tamil Nadu
In his first major administrative decision after taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Joseph Vijay, on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 state-run liquor retail outlets operating near places of worship, educational institutions and bus stands across the state.
The order directs authorities to shut down all such Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets functioning within a 500-metre radius of temples, mosques, churches, schools, colleges and bus stands within the next two weeks.
According to the Tamil Nadu government, the state currently has a total of 4,765 Tasmac liquor retail shops. Of the 717 identified for closure, 276 are located near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 near bus stands.
The move marks Vijay’s first major policy intervention within hours of assuming office and is being projected by the new government as a key social reform measure aimed at addressing concerns over the accessibility of liquor in sensitive public areas.
Vijay, the 51-year-old actor-politician, took oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Sunday after his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) scripted a stunning electoral rise to emerge as the single largest party in the state. With the support of Congress, Left parties, VCK and the Muslim League, TVK formed the first coalition government in Tamil Nadu’s history.
In other key decisions after assuming office, Vijay approved the rollout of 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers.
He also cleared the formation of a special force dedicated to women’s safety and sanctioned the setting up of anti-drug units in every district, fulfilling his promise to tackle the alleged drug menace in the state.
However, the most significant announcement made by Vijay after the oath-taking ceremony was aimed at his political rival, the DMK. He said a white paper detailing the state’s financial position during the 2021-2026 period would be released.
“I have to tell you about the current status of the Tamil Nadu government. The state has been burdened with debt exceeding Rs 10 lakh crore and the treasury has been completely emptied, leaving an unbearable burden,” he said in his maiden address.
The Chief Minister also promised stronger measures for women’s safety and assured strict maintenance of law and order in the state.
In the Assembly, TVK currently has 107 seats following Vijay’s resignation from the Tiruchirappalli East constituency, along with the support of 13 MLAs from Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left parties. Vijay is expected to face a floor test soon to prove his majority in the House.