TN BJP slams Vijay govt on Parandur Airport scrapping, LPG promise cut
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu BJP has turned up the heat on CM Vijay with a two-pronged attack: the scrapping of the years-in-the-making Parandur Airport project, and an LPG welfare scheme that delivers half the cylinders — and fewer beneficiaries — than the election manifesto promised. Both controversies on the same day mark a significant test for the Vijay government's credibility on infrastructure and welfare delivery.
Key Takeaways
Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy on 24 August slammed CM C.
Joseph Vijay over scrapping the Parandur Airport project after over four to five years of work.
Thirupathy called the decision 'most condemnable', citing economic losses for Tamil Nadu and urging reconsideration.
CM Vijay announced the Annapoorani Super Six scheme offering three LPG cylinders annually to eligible families — half the six cylinders promised in the party's election manifesto.
The scheme targets approximately 1.30 crore families with annual income below ₹2.5 lakh , effective from Pongal 2027 .
The state government estimates the scheme will cost around ₹4,000 crore annually.
BJP has described the LPG shortfall as a 'clear betrayal' of Tamil Nadu voters.
Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy on Monday, 24 August launched a sharp attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over two contentious decisions: the scrapping of the Parandur Airport project and the rollout of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy scheme that critics say falls well short of the ruling party's election manifesto pledge.
BJP on Parandur Airport: 'Immaturity and Incompetence'
Thirupathy described the decision to abandon the Parandur Airport project as a serious economic setback for Tamil Nadu. 'It is most unfortunate. It shows the immaturity and incompetence of this government because, for more than four to five years, the government was working on a new airport project, which would have boosted the entire economy of Tamil Nadu,' he said.
He added that the years of groundwork invested in the project had been rendered futile. 'All of it has gone to waste. This is very dirty and silly politics that Mr Vijay has played. This decision is most condemnable and is not good for the state of Tamil Nadu. I think he should reconsider what he has done. This is absolutely ridiculous and should not have happened,' Thirupathy said.
The BJP leader acknowledged that large-scale infrastructure projects inevitably face hurdles, but argued that those challenges must be resolved through dialogue rather than abandonment. 'The challenges will be there. He should discuss the matter and work on it. You can speak to the people and provide proper compensation; that is the only way. This is completely wrong. I can say that he is clueless,' he added.
The Annapoorani Super Six Scheme: Promise vs Delivery
Chief Minister Vijay announced the Annapoorani Super Six scheme in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on the same day, under which eligible families will receive the cost of three LPG cylinders annually credited directly into their bank accounts. The scheme is set to be implemented from Pongal 2027 and is expected to benefit approximately 1.30 crore families with an annual household income below ₹2.5 lakh. The state government estimates an annual expenditure of around ₹4,000 crore for the scheme.
Thirupathy, however, argued that the scheme represents a significant rollback from what voters were promised. 'What was their promise during the elections? Their manifesto promised six cylinders per year for all households. But now they have come out with a scheme offering only three cylinders. Why have you deceived the people of Tamil Nadu? You knew that you could not fulfil the promise, yet you fooled the people,' he said.
BJP Calls It a 'Clear Betrayal'
The BJP spokesperson also pointed to a reduction in the number of beneficiaries compared to what was originally promised. 'The promised quantity is not there, and the promised number of beneficiaries has also come down drastically. It is a clear betrayal of the people. The BJP in Tamil Nadu strongly condemns this,' Thirupathy said.
This comes amid broader opposition scrutiny of the Vijay government's delivery on its pre-election commitments. The twin controversies — over the airport project and the LPG scheme — are likely to intensify political pressure on the state administration in the weeks ahead.
What Happens Next
The Annapoorani Super Six scheme's implementation is slated to begin at Pongal 2027, giving the government several months to finalise beneficiary lists and disbursal mechanisms. On the airport front, no official statement has been issued on whether the Parandur Airport project could be revived or whether an alternative site is under consideration. The BJP has signalled it will continue to press the state government on both fronts.
Point of View
But its weight depends on facts the state government has yet to fully address. On Parandur, the core question is not whether the project was abandoned — it was — but why: if land acquisition disputes or environmental clearances made it untenable, that context matters. On the LPG scheme, the numbers are harder to defend: a manifesto promise of six cylinders for all households becoming three cylinders for 1.30 crore families is a measurable retreat, and the government has not yet offered a credible public explanation for the gap. For the Vijay administration, the danger is not just the BJP's criticism — it is the optics of two significant rollbacks surfacing on the same day, which risks cementing a narrative of overpromising and underdelivering before the government has fully found its footing.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tamil Nadu scrap the Parandur Airport project?
The Tamil Nadu government under CM C. Joseph Vijay decided to drop the Parandur Airport project, though no detailed official explanation has been made public. The BJP has criticised the move as politically motivated, arguing that over four to five years of planning and groundwork have been wasted.
What is the Annapoorani Super Six LPG scheme?
The Annapoorani Super Six scheme, announced by CM Vijay in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 24 August, provides eligible families the cost of three LPG cylinders annually, credited directly to their bank accounts. It is set to benefit around 1.30 crore families with annual household income below ₹2.5 lakh, starting from Pongal 2027, at an estimated annual cost of ₹4,000 crore to the state exchequer.
Why is the BJP criticising the Annapoorani LPG scheme?
The BJP argues that the scheme delivers only half of what the ruling party promised voters — the election manifesto pledged six free LPG cylinders per year for all households, while the scheme provides only three cylinders and covers a limited number of beneficiaries. Narayanan Thirupathy called this a 'clear betrayal' of the people of Tamil Nadu.
When will the Annapoorani Super Six scheme be implemented?
The scheme is scheduled to be implemented from Pongal 2027, giving the Tamil Nadu government several months to finalise beneficiary identification and bank account disbursal mechanisms.
Who is Narayanan Thirupathy?
Narayanan Thirupathy is the chief spokesperson of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He has been vocal in opposing the Vijay-led state government on infrastructure and welfare policy decisions.
