Chennai: Tensions in Tamil Nadu’s ruling alliance have been playing out in the functioning of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), with allied parties having opposed at least three GCC proposals in the past three months.
On Wednesday, the GCC withdrew one of those proposals, a plan to privatise artificial football courts in nine locations in Chennai. The U-turn came just a day after it passed a resolution to carry out the privatisation, which corporators from DMK allies— including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI)—as well as the rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had opposed.
Other proposals that have been opposed by allies since August include the privatisation of solid waste management and a 6 percent property tax hike.
Leaders of the allied parties said their representatives would continue to question “anti-people” policies, although they also emphasised that the alliance remained intact.
CPI(M) state secretary K. Balakrishnan told ThePrint that his party would continue to question the DMK as a friendly party.
“We will have a healthy debate and discussion on the policies being brought in by the DMK-led government. Let it be at the civic body level or the state level, we will continue to fight for the rights and welfare of the people,” Balakrishnan said.
VCK leaders were also of the same opinion but cautioned that opposition to certain policies should not be seen as a rift within the alliance.
“The alliance is based on principle. Just because we are an alliance partner, we need not support every move of the government. But, at the same time, we try to resolve major issues as amicably as possible by taking it to the notice of the chief minister,” said Sinthanai Selvan, general secretary of VCK.
Signs of friction between the DMK and VCK were also seen in September when the Ambedkarite party raised its desire to share power in the government.
The DMK and its allies were also at odds last month over the Samsung workers’ strike. While the M.K. Stalin-led government was trying to end the strike, and even used police force against protesting workers, allies of the CMK sided with the workers. The protests were led by the CITU, affiliated with the DMK’s ally, the CPI(M).
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DMK vs allies in Chennai’s civic body
The contentious resolution to privatise football courts was passed during a council meeting on Tuesday at Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Chennai civic body.
According to the resolution, the football turfs that were used for free by the players would have had to pay Rs 120 per hour for individual players and Rs 1,200 per hour for teams (5+5).
CPI(M) councillor P. Vimala, who opposed the move had said it would restrict access to those from socially disadvantaged and economically poor backgrounds.
“Imposing a fee for a turf which has been used for free for a long time would affect the players’ practice,” she said.
Before the resolution was revoked, GCC officials said the decision was made to alleviate the corporation’s financial burden with an agreement of fixed revenue-sharing. They had even announced plans to invite tenders to maintain and operate the football courts in Chennai.
The corporation had hoped the agency selected to maintain and operate football courts would generate Rs 2.3 crore revenue annually of which 40 percent would be shared with the GCC.
GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran had justified the move, saying revenue generation was necessary to maintain the assets and the services couldn’t be entirely free.
Then, on Wednesday, GCC mayor Priya Rajan announced the withdrawal of the plan in a post on X, writing that the GCC would manage the expenses itself. She also added that the football turfs would remain free for players.
“Taking the request of the students, in order to encourage and improve the sports skills of the students and youth, the Metropolitan Chennai Corporation has decided to allow the continuous use of 9 football artificial grass playgrounds free of charge. I would like to inform that the corporation will bear the maintenance expenses of these playgrounds,” she wrote.
மாணவ – மாணவியர்களின் கோரிக்கையினையேற்று,
மாணவர்கள் மற்றும் இளைஞர்களின் விளையாட்டு திறனை மேம்படுத்தவும், ஊக்கப்படுத்தும் வகையிலும், 9 கால்பந்து செயற்கை புல் விளையாட்டுத் திடல்களை கட்டணம் ஏதுமின்றி தொடர்ந்து பயன்பாட்டிற்கு அனுமதிக்க பெருநகர சென்னை மாநகராட்சி தீர்மானித்துள்ளது.…
— Priya (@PriyarajanDMK) October 30, 2024
While the plan to privatise football turfs has been scrapped, in 2023, the GCC privatised table tennis, badminton, shuttle and skating fields in Chennai that were earlier maintained by the corporation.
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Allies oppose property tax hike
In the last couple of months, DMK allies have also protested against the privatisation of solid waste management and the annual property tax increase of 6 percent.
The deputy Mayor, M. Mahesh Kumar, told ThePrint the tax hike was necessary because of the Union government’s condition to get grants for the local body.
However, councillors from DMK alliance parties felt it would affect poor residents with less area.
“Increasing 6 percent every year is completely unfair. GCC could have considered increasing it once in five years or adjusting the tax percentage based on the size of the property. By implementing a uniform tax percentage, those with smaller houses are also treated on par with those luxurious houses with all amenities,” she said.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
