Former Tamil Nadu Minister Thoppu N D Venkatachalam Resigns from DMK

Former Tamil Nadu minister Thoppu N D Venkatachalam announced his decision to quit the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday, stating that prevailing circumstances made it impossible for him to continue his association with the party.

Addressing a media briefing, Venkatachalam stated that he arrived at the decision because he could no longer continue traveling within the party movement under the current circumstances. However, he clarified that his exit was not driven by any personal friction with DMK president M K Stalin, emphasizing that his respect and affection for the party leader would remain unchanged.

During the announcement, Venkatachalam shared a copy of a Government Order (GO) pertaining to the Kodiveri combined drinking water project. He pointed out that while the initiative was implemented for the Perundurai and Uthukuli panchayat unions, six village panchayats in the Chennimalai union were excluded from receiving water supply despite clear administrative sanctions. He noted that these specific panchayats have been severely affected by industrial and dyeing effluents from the SIPCOT area. He subsequently requested the District Collector to ensure that water supply is extended to the omitted panchayats.

Reflecting on his political trajectory, Venkatachalam recalled that he previously served as the Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management and Environment during 2012 and 2013 under the AIADMK government led by J Jayalalithaa. After leaving the AIADMK due to earlier differences, he joined the DMK with the primary objective of ensuring the execution of vital local initiatives, specifically the Kodiveri drinking water scheme and the Athikadavu-Avinashi groundwater recharge project.

Venkatachalam expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Athikadavu-Avinashi project. He noted that when he requested M K Stalin during a government function to inspect the remaining work, the leadership promptly reviewed the pumping station and inaugurated the scheme.

Maintaining that he does not engage in politics merely for political mileage, the former minister stated that he intends to continue working for the welfare and development of the Perundurai constituency. Concluding his remarks, he stated that he chose not to blame anyone at this juncture and that his future work will focus on supporting the development of his constituency.

"Political realignments and local administrative grievances often intersect in regional development matters. When key infrastructure projects like drinking water schemes face implementation gaps at the grassroots level, it creates localized friction for political representatives. From a governance perspective, ensuring that industrial zones and affected local communities are adequately addressed remains critical for sustainable regional growth and public trust." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes