The AIADMK has announced that the party would soon organise demonstration demanding the immediate opening of the Mahatma Gandhi Market in Palayamkottai, rebuilt at a cost of ₹14.90 crore under the Centre’s Smart City Mission programme, as it remains closed even after being inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on February 7.

According to Thatchai N. Ganesa Raja, AIADMK’s Tirunelveli district secretary, the 60-year-old market was rebuilt with 439 shops, cold storage and parking facility in the basement to generate the whopping revenue of ₹2.08 crore per annum to the Corporation. Even though this market was inaugurated by Mr. Stalin five months ago, the market still remains closed due to “rampant corruption” in allotting the shops to the traders.

“While the traders, who had their shops in this market, demand preference in the allotment of shops, the Corporation says the shops would be assigned to those who are prepared to pay the rent fixed by the urban civic body. And, cases were filed by a few traders in the court that stalled the opening of the market. Though this interim stay has been vacated, the Corporation is in no mood to allot the shops through public auction in fair and transparent manner to the waiting applicants. So, we, in support of the waiting traders, have decided to protest demanding the immediate opening of the Palayamkottai Gandhi Market,” said Mr. Ganesa Raja.

He also said the party would also organise a series of agitations if the ‘Amma Unvagavam’ within the Tirunelveli Corporation were not maintained well to serve quality food to the poor.

“The AIADMK funded the maintenance and operation of the ‘Amma Unvagagam’ during the COVID-induced lockdown. We gave the money for serving food to the poor during the pandemic. Now, the Corporation is allowing these eateries to die as it was the scheme initiated by Amma (late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa). We won’t allow it to happen. If the Corporation still refuses to maintain these eateries well, the urban local body will face intense protest by the AIADMK,” Mr. Ganesa Raja warned.