Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister Sengottaiyan on Saturday, 18 July confirmed that elections to local bodies across the state would be held before the statutory deadline of April 2026, while reiterating the government's zero-tolerance stance on irregularities in public works and municipal administration. The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Coimbatore Airport.

On Local Body Elections

Sengottaiyan stated that the current term of municipalities and other local self-government institutions extends until April 2026, and that the government would proceed with election preparations accordingly. 'The deadline for holding elections to local bodies is next April. We have time until then and will proceed accordingly,' he said. He added that there was no immediate urgency to rush the process, but that the constitutional mandate would be met.

Coimbatore Race Course Road Project on Hold

Addressing questions over delays in civic infrastructure, the minister confirmed that the tender process for the Race Course Road development project in Coimbatore had been put on hold following disputes over the sanction of additional funds. He stressed that no deviation from established procedures would be permitted. 'As long as Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is heading the government, there should be no mistakes in the execution of public projects,' Sengottaiyan said, emphasising that every administrative decision was being taken with due diligence and in accordance with the law.

Transport Sector and Private Bus Operators

On the transport front, Sengottaiyan welcomed the decision by private omnibus operators to provide services at government-approved fares. He noted that the earlier situation — in which operators allegedly had to incur unnecessary expenses to run their services — had since changed. 'They have now agreed to operate buses at the government-approved fare, and that is a positive development,' he said.

Tamil Nadu-Kerala Anti-Drug Coordination

The minister also touched on cross-border narcotics trafficking, stating that the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments were jointly strengthening anti-drug enforcement to curb the movement of narcotic substances across state borders. He said coordinated action between the two states was already underway. This comes amid sustained concerns over drug trafficking routes along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, which enforcement agencies have flagged repeatedly in recent years.

What's Next

With local body elections due before April 2026, the state administration is expected to ramp up preparations in the coming months. The outcome of pending infrastructure tenders, including the Race Course Road project, is likely to be closely watched as a test of the government's commitment to procedural transparency.