2 weeks ago
Tamil Nadu lawmakers clash over Chief Minister's office shift tender
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, two leaders had a loud disagreement in the state Assembly, the place where laws are discussed.
One leader, EV Velu, said he found a problem with a government paper asking companies to do some building work.
He said the paper appeared in newspapers before it appeared on the government website, and the price was not written clearly online.
The other leader, Aadhav Arjuna, said the news reports were wrong and that the process is still going on.
The argument was about moving the office of the Chief Minister, who is the head of the state.
The Chief Minister, MK Stalin, wants to move his office to a room on the tenth floor of a building named Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai.
Velu worried that people who work in the office area would have no place to eat or rest.
Arjuna said moving the office is only temporary and will give officials a comfortable place to work.
He also said the government is being careful so that contractors do not charge too much money.
In the end, the two leaders did not agree with each other.
DMK MLA EV Velu alleged irregularities in a Rs 5.54-crore tender to relocate the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office, including a four-day delay in online publication and a value listed as 'NA' on the website.
Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna dismissed the claims as based on inaccurate newspaper reports and said the tender process has not been completed.
Chief Minister MK Stalin plans to move his office to the tenth floor of the Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai building, constructed by former CM Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi).
Arjuna said the government kept last year's Schedule of Rates to prevent contractors from inflating bids, and that 20 projects have been re-tendered in the last 60 days with bids coming in 20-36 percent lower.
Velu countered that estimates are prepared collectively by IAS officers under the Finance Department Secretary, and questioned the relocation's impact on Secretariat staff.
- Who
- DMK MLA EV Velu and Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, with Chief Minister MK Stalin as the subject of the proposed office relocation
- What
- A clash over alleged irregularities in a Rs 5.54-crore tender to relocate the Chief Minister's Office
- Where
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- When
- Tuesday, during a session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
- Why
- Velu alleged the tender was published in newspapers before being uploaded online and lacked a specified value, while Arjuna dismissed the reports as inaccurate
MLA Velu's Allegations
Minister Arjuna's Defense
Tender publication
MLA Velu's Allegations
The tender notice appeared in newspapers on the 13th but was uploaded online only on the 17th, with the value shown as 'NA' - evidence of irregularity.
Minister Arjuna's Defense
The newspaper reports are incorrect; the tender process has not yet been completed and an explanation will be provided.
Cost estimates
MLA Velu's Allegations
Estimates are prepared collectively by IAS officers under the Finance Department Secretary, and contractors compete for work regardless of profit, so the minister's pricing explanation is incorrect.
Minister Arjuna's Defense
Announcing the Schedule of Rates early would let contractors inflate their bids; keeping last year's rates has produced bids 20-36 percent lower.
Office relocation
MLA Velu's Allegations
The Chief Minister should continue working from the existing room, as Secretariat association members say they would have no place to eat or rest after the move.
Minister Arjuna's Defense
The shift is a temporary arrangement so the Chief Minister can meet people from 9:30 am to 5 pm and host foreign delegations comfortably; it is not for personal comfort.
Key facts
- Tender value
- Rs 5.54 crore
- Relocation plan
- CM's office moving to the tenth floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai
- Alleged discrepancy
- Tender notified in newspapers on the 13th but uploaded online on the 17th; website showed 'NA' for the value
- Minister's response
- Tender process not complete; newspaper reports incorrect
- Schedule of Rates
- Same as last year, applied to all departments
- Re-tendered projects
- 20 projects in the last 60 days
- Bid savings
- New bids approximately 20-36 percent lower
- Planned document
- White Paper on tenders to be presented in the Legislative Assembly
Quotes
Aadhav Arjuna
Public Works Minister of Tamil Nadu
“Shouldn’t the Chief Minister simply continue working from the existing room?”
theprint.in
“Very simple people have served as Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu.”
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