DMK vs TVK: Udhayanidhi Stalin slams CM Vijay, accuses govt of selling 'polished rice' under PDS scheme; what we know

A fresh controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin accused the Chief Minister Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government of polishing rice meant for free distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) and selling it as Grade A fine-variety rice at ₹30 per kg.

According to news agency PTI, Stalin's remarks came after complaints from consumers across the state. He accused the Vijay-led government of transparency failures and questioned the procurement process.

Allegations against TVK government

In a social media post, Stalin alleged, “The government announced that fine-quality Ponni rice could be bought for ₹30 at cooperative outlets to counter rising rice prices. But people across the state complain that regular free ration rice is merely being polished and sold under this label.” He further said, “In the Cumbum region, when people confronted a TVK MLA over this polished rice, the MLA fled the spot.”

The Tamil Nadu LoP said the distribution was limited to around 250 locations for the state’s 22.8 million family cardholders, with each family allowed to buy only five kg, even as complaints continued to emerge.

Seeking a full explanation from the ruling government, Stalin said there should be no “polishing” of the facts. He asked, “When did this government float tenders to procure fine Ponni rice? Which companies won the bids, at what cost did they supply it, and how much subsidy is the TVK government actually passing on to the public?”

He also drew a parallel with the previous DMK regime and recalled that former CM M Karunanidhi introduced a special public distribution scheme through open tenders in 2007, when prices of essential commodities were high. Stalin said that, under the scheme, the government provided palm oil, dal and pulses at subsidised rates.

AIADMK targets Vijay over governance priorities

Separately, the AIADMK also criticised Chief Minister Vijay, accusing him of prioritising the refurbishment of his office over addressing key governance and public-welfare issues in Tamil Nadu.

On Monday, PTI reported that AIADMK senior leader R. B. Udhayakumar accused Vijay of focusing more on office decorations, including nameboards, and providing security escorts for his inner circle than on key governance tasks such as disaster management and controlling inflation.

In a video statement, the AIADMK leader questioned the newly formed government's priorities, alleging a massive lack of transparency in the state’s recently launched ₹30-per-kg fine-grain rice scheme.

Udhayakumar said, “What is the Chief Minister's job? Is it just decorating the CM's office, installing plaques, and beautifying his residence? During times of disaster and heavy rains, actions must be taken on a war footing. Instead, your administration does not even know how to control the rising prices of essential commodities.”

Turning to the steep rise in prices of essential commodities, he further said rice prices in the open market had increased from ₹30 to ₹60 per kg in the past three months. To prevent prices from rising beyond ₹100 per kg, the government introduced a scheme to sell fine-grain rice at ₹30 per kg.

However, the AIADMK leader described the scheme as “daylight robbery”. He alleged that the government was illegally taking the 20 kg of free rice, a scheme introduced by former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, polishing and repackaging it as fine-grain rice before selling it for ₹30 per kg.

“People who bought this rice are protesting in districts like Ariyalur, Salem, and Namakkal. They are demanding their money back because the rice emits a foul smell and is not even fit for poultry feed,” he claimed, adding that the DMK government had previously faced similar public backlash when it tried to sell rotten onions to control market prices.

The Chief Minister Vijay-led TVK government had not issued a statement addressing the controversy at the time of publication.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.