The post-cyclone situation in Chennai seems to be becoming too hot for the ruling party and its ally, the Congress, to handle, if the angry backlash of members of the public in parts of the city are any indication. It is no better for other political parties.
Over the past couple of days, among those at the receiving end were R. Priya, Chennai Mayor; I. Paranthamen, DMK’s Egmore MLA, and J.M.H. Aassan Maulaana of the Congress, Velachery MLA. When Udhayanidhi Stalin, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister, visited Velachery a few days ago along with his Ministerial colleagues, a woman resident expressed her anguish forcefully. There is a perception that the degree of public anger is higher this time than in the past.
Explaining the development, a Kilpauk resident says that the city residents were surprised, if not stunned, by the enormity of the problem of flooding. This has arisen due to the gap between reality and the expectations generated by repeated statements of representatives of the State government regarding the status of a ₹4,000-crore storm-water drain project.
