BJP seeks clarity over tender for CM Vijay’s new office, Minister reacts
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s decision to move the Chief Minister’s Office from Fort St. George to Namakkal Kavingar Maaligai has triggered a political dispute over the government’s tender process.
The proposed relocation is intended to provide additional working space for the Chief Minister and his staff. Reports indicate that work related to the proposed shift is already underway, while the government has floated a tender valued at about Rs 5.5 crore.
The BJP has alleged that the tender was issued after construction activity had already begun. Party leader CR Kesavan described the issue as the first major corruption allegation faced by the three-month-old TVK government and sought an explanation over the tendering procedure.
Kesavan also questioned reports that the tender had not been floated online, contrasting the allegations with the government’s stated commitment to transparency.
Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna rejected the accusations, calling the reports incorrect. He said the proposed move was aimed at giving the Chief Minister’s officers and staff a more practical working environment, noting that their current offices are extremely small.
Arjuna said Vijay wanted his team to have adequate facilities and described the Chief Minister as someone who was comfortable with simple arrangements.
He also pointed to earlier attempts by former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa to establish a new secretariat. According to Arjuna, the existing office infrastructure has remained largely unchanged for decades and needs to be updated.
The minister assured that the tender process would remain transparent and said the government would prevent the use of proxy companies or any loss of public money.