State BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate the extended runway and the new terminal building at Thoothukudi airport on July 26.

During an informal chat with reporters here, Mr. Nainar Nagenthiran said over 25,000 BJP cadres would receive the Prime Minister when he landed at the renovated airport with night landing facility at Thoothukudi in the evening. The new-look airport, which would soon handle wide-bodied flights to foreign destinations also, was a testimony to the Centre’s concern for a ‘developed Tamil Nadu’ by allocating sufficient Central funds for development projects in the State.

“Under the leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu is continuously getting sufficient funds for various projects,” Mr. Nainar Nagenthiran said.

Asked about former Minister Anwhar Raajhaa joining the DMK following the AIADMK’s electoral alliance with the BJP, he recalled that Mr. Anwar was very much in the AIADMK when late Chief Minister and party general secretary J. Jayalalithaa chose to have electoral ties with the BJP. “So, he has left the AIADMK for personal reasons and not due to political reasons.”

He also said the DMK was in a panic after the BJP – AIADMK electoral alliance was revived for the upcoming 2026 Assembly polls. Hence, the DMK had announced ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu’ outreach programme to appease the public who were angered by the pathetic and poor performance of the Stalin-led Tamil Nadu Government.

“This government has done nothing for the development of Tamil Nadu and its people for the past four years. In a bid to assuage the angered public, the DMK men are visiting every house under the carpet of ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu’ outreach programme. Moreover, four senior IAS officers have been roped in to canvas votes for the DMK,” he said.

Asserting that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu was in the worst shape, Mr. Naniar Nagenthiran said good officers such as the suspended DSP Sundaresan of Mayiladuthurai was a classic example of the misrule in Tamil Nadu.

“Even as 10 murders are being daringly orchestrated in 24 hours in Tamil Nadu, upright officers like Mr. Sundaresan, who has sealed several illegal liquor shops and registered more than 1,200 cases against the prohibition violation offenders, are being punished for being good at work,” he added.