Chennai, February 7 (NationPress) The Communist Party of India (CPI) has launched a fierce criticism against the AIADMK, accusing the party of betraying both agricultural workers and rural laborers by endorsing what it deems the Union government's systematic weakening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In a strongly articulated statement, CPI State Secretary M. Veerapandian labeled the AIADMK’s planned protest against the state government’s execution of the rural employment scheme as deceptive and politically motivated. He argued that this stance indirectly supports the Centre’s initiatives to undermine the rights-based program.

Veerapandian highlighted the creation of the MGNREGA, which was enacted in 2004 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, with support from Left parties. This law assures 100 days of paid employment each year for every rural household willing to work manually.

He pointed out that the AIADMK held no representation in the Lok Sabha during the law's passage.

Furthermore, he claimed that from 2014 to 2020, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance governed at the Centre and the AIADMK ruled Tamil Nadu, the state leadership remained silent as funding for the scheme was reduced and resources intended for rural development were redirected.

“The people of Tamil Nadu have not forgotten this silence,” he asserted.

Veerapandian also mentioned that in December 2025, the Union government revealed intentions to replace the legally guaranteed scheme with a new initiative that lacks statutory support. He argued that such a change would effectively deprive over one crore agricultural workers, small farmers, and marginal households in Tamil Nadu of their right to assured employment.

He dismissed the AIADMK’s criticisms of the state government as unfounded, asserting that the real issue confronting Tamil Nadu is the Centre’s ongoing reductions in budget allocations.

He referenced the Nedungulam panchayat, the home village of the Leader of the Opposition, where an average of 68 days of employment has been provided under the scheme, to illustrate that the state is making earnest efforts despite fiscal limitations.

The CPI State Executive contended that the AIADMK’s forthcoming protest on February 13 is aimed at endorsing policies that undermine the rights of rural workers.

The party expressed confidence that voters will recognize what they term a “double standard” and cast their votes accordingly in the next Assembly elections.