Rise in crime, law and order collapse: BJP unveils 'chargesheet' against Stalin govt

The BJP on Tuesday released a "chargesheet" against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, alleging a sharp rise in crime and a collapse of law and order in Tamil Nadu over the past five years. The document was unveiled at a press conference in Chennai by Union Minister and state election in-charge Piyush Goyal, who said the present regime is the "worst government" ever in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing the media alongside Goyal, BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran claimed that the DMK had failed to deliver on its election promises and that crime rates had worsened under its rule.

He said incidents ranging from drug trafficking to violence against women and children had seen a steady increase.

Highlighting concerns over child safety, he noted that crimes involving young children had consistently risen during the DMK’s tenure.

Goyal, while releasing the chargesheet, said it documents what he described as the "misrule" of the DMK government.

"This chargesheet will highlight the crimes of the DMK regime," he said, adding, "This election will be a turning point in the history of TN. This election will once and for all expose the unholy UPA alliance of DMK-Congress and their partners as being one of the worst govt that TN has ever seen".

He also targeted the leadership of the state, alleging concentration of power within one family.

"This govt run by one family where the CM thiru MK Stalin, Dy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, MP Kanimozhi, and my brother-in-law SABAREESAN, the whole family is involved in looting the state of TN and has spoilt the image of TN across the country and the world," Goyal said.

The BJP leaders cited data on crimes against women and children, claiming a significant spike.

"When we saw the numbers of increase, in sexual harrasment cases against women, we were shocked to see the increase in cases. Pocso cases gone up from 4,968 to 6,969 in 2024," Goyal said, alleging inaction against accused individuals linked to the ruling party.

The BJP chargesheet also flagged issues of corruption, unemployment, and alleged scams.

Goyal claimed that corruption in the state had crossed Rs 4,700 crore in recent years and pointed to alleged “jobs for cash” and transfer-related irregularities.

He further alleged deterioration in law and order, stating that thousands of murders and multiple custodial deaths had occurred in the last five years.

Criticising Stalin’s DMK over unfulfilled promises, BJP leaders said that a majority of the commitments made in its manifesto remained unmet, including subsidies and welfare measures.

They also accused the government of mishandling drug-related crimes and failing to curb their rise.

'CONFIDENT ABOUT NDA WIN'

Goyal expressed confidence in the National Democratic Alliance’s prospects in the state, saying, "The strong NDA alliance has started the campaign to defeat and put an end to the corrupt DMK government. The DMK-Congress alliance is responsible for high-level corruption, a bad law and order situation, and for betraying the farmers, fishermen, youth, and women of Tamil Nadu".

"The people of Tamil Nadu are fed up with this corrupt government; they want a government like the good governance of 'Amma' (Jayalalithaa). This election will decide the future of Tamil Nadu's people. The NDA alliance led by EPS will emerge victorious in this election and bring back good governance here," he added.

He stressed that people of Tamil Nadu were seeking a return to governance similar to that of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The BJP leader also downplayed the electoral prospects of actor-politician Vijay, stating that popularity in cinema does not necessarily translate into votes.

EPS HITS OUT AT STALIN GOVERNMENT

Meanwhile, AIADMK chief E Palaniswami also criticised the DMK government, alleging a breakdown in safety and promising action against drug trafficking if voted to power.

EPS also pledged continued support for the firework and match industries in the district. He criticised the DMK government for halting the Cauvery-Gundar river linking project, asserting that it would be revived once his party returns to power.

Citing past achievements, he pointed to the establishment of a Rs 400 crore medical college and hospital in Virudhunagar during the previous AIADMK regime, alleging that the DMK had wrongly claimed credit for the initiative.

Tamil Nadu is set to go to polls in a single phase on April 23 across 234 constituencies, with counting scheduled for May 4, in what is shaping up to be a multi-cornered contest involving the DMK-led alliance, the NDA, and new entrants.

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