TTV Dhinakaran questions tender process for relocating TN Chief Minister's office

CHENNAI: AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of beginning renovation work for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s new office before inviting tenders and demanded an explanation over the alleged procedural violations.

In a post on X, Dhinakaran referred to reports that work to shift the Chief Minister’s Office from the main building of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat to the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai had begun last month. He said the publication of a tender for the project had triggered a controversy and raised questions about the transparency of the process.

Dhinakaran questioned whether relocating and refurbishing the Chief Minister’s Office was necessary at a time when the state government was facing financial constraints. He claimed that allegations of irregularities and a lack of transparency in the tender had caused dissatisfaction.

According to him, the tender advertisement was published in newspapers on August 13, while documents were uploaded to the government website only four days later.

Dhinakaran further alleged that the documents did not disclose the project’s estimated cost. This, he said, weakened the TVK government’s claim that it was committed to transparent administration.

The AMMK leader asked how renovation work could have commenced before the tender was issued, who authorised the work and on what basis a contractor had been selected. He also sought to know why bids were invited only after the work had reportedly begun and why the tender documents were not made available online immediately after the public notice.

Dhinakaran said Chief Minister Vijay, who had repeatedly promised corruption-free, fair and transparent governance since assuming office, must answer the questions raised over the project. If procedural violations could occur in a tender connected to the Chief Minister’s new office, he argued, the public would naturally question the integrity of tenders issued by other government departments.

Calling upon the Chief Minister to intervene, Dhinakaran said transparency should not remain merely a slogan used in advertisements and public speeches. He urged CM Vijay to ensure that it was fully implemented throughout the administration under his leadership and to clarify the circumstances surrounding the office relocation tender.

The state government has not immediately responded to the allegations raised by the AMMK leader.