Is the DMK Government Claiming AIADMK's Achievements?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Palaniswami criticizes DMK's development record.
- Healthcare access remains a significant challenge in Nilgiris.
- AIADMK claims to have laid the groundwork for essential projects.
- Ruling government accused of taking credit for AIADMK initiatives.
- Political competition intensifies ahead of elections.
Chennai, Sep 24 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami brought his "Save the People, Save Tamil Nadu" campaign to Gudalur, located in the Nilgiris district. Here, he launched a pointed criticism against the DMK government, which he accused of not delivering significant development in the hill regions.
Following his visits to Coonoor and Ooty, Palaniswami addressed a crowd in Gudalur on Wednesday, shedding light on the difficulties that locals encounter in accessing modern healthcare services.
He noted that residents of the Nilgiris often find themselves traveling to Coimbatore or Mettupalayam for advanced medical procedures and treatments.
Palaniswami emphasized that during the period of AIADMK's governance, the party had made "serious efforts" to establish a government medical college and hospital to cater to the healthcare needs of the local populace.
Although substantial progress had been made in the construction of these facilities, he criticized the current administration for failing to provide sufficient staffing. "While hospitals have been constructed, the availability of doctors and nurses remains inadequate," he stated.
Palaniswami further challenged the DMK by questioning what the ruling party had accomplished for Gudalur over the past four years. "Not a single significant project has been introduced in this constituency. It was the AIADMK that set up a government science college here and initiated the establishment of a medical college and hospital in the Nilgiris," he remarked.
He mentioned that nearly 50% of the work on the medical college and hospital was completed during his party's governance.
In addition, he accused the DMK of merely placing stickers on these projects and taking credit for AIADMK's endeavors. "The DMK took office and opened these projects with stickers on them. They have been inaugurating schemes initiated under AIADMK’s leadership, claiming them as their own," Palaniswami alleged.
Confident about his party's future in elections, Palaniswami asserted that AIADMK remains a dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics. "AIADMK is undoubtedly in the lead. The true contest now is about who secures the second position," he declared, indicating his party's preparedness for the upcoming elections.