At a time when Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay is pushing for zero tolerance towards corruption, his government has come under fresh scrutiny after former BJP state chief K Annamalai alleged that some ministers are demanding kickbacks from contractors handling government tenders.
“It is true that the CM is against corruption, and we see that. Annamalai called on Vijay to keep a tighter watch on his ministers and senior officials, suggesting that regular reviews could help prevent corruption from taking root in the administration. “You (Vijay) stated in your Independence Day address that corruption would be eradicated in our lifetime.
Claiming to have audio evidence of the alleged conversations, Annamalai said ministers were purportedly telling contractors that they had spent money during the elections and were therefore seeking a share. Because if the reins are loosened, the administration will drift,” he said, tighten the reins on ministers and officials with regular weekend review meetings,.
Annamalai said Vijay had maintained a strong anti-corruption position, but alleged that some members of his Cabinet had now begun seeking a percentage from government contracts. They did not take kickbacks in major tenders earlier, but some ministers have started demanding them now,” Annamalai alleged according to the report. In his maiden Independence Day speech as chief minister, Vijay had reiterated his government’s commitment to eliminating corruption and said government revenue being diverted to private individuals had been prevented. “Government’s revenue going to private individual has been prevented and continuous action is being taken to eliminate graft in all departments,” Vijay had said.
