'Actor Vijay Brought in to Divide Votes'

Minister SS Sivasankar, who was inducted in the cabinet for the first time in the DMK government, initially with the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, has subsequently been given charge of two key portfolios of transport and electricity, reflecting the trust the party leadership has reposed in him.

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He recently spoke to TNIE's K Ezhilarasan on politics and about his departments. Edited excerpts

You are the minister for two major departments—transport and electricity—that are directly connected to masses. What will you highlight as achievements of the transport department? The department was left in a bad shape by the AIADMK. Our CM took efforts to revamp it. He allotted funds for purchasing 11,000 buses, of which around 4,500 have already come to public use. No recruitment was done during AIADMK rule. We have recruited nearly 4,000 people.

A lot of video clips are shared in social media about (poor quality of) old buses. When Muthamizharignar Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) was the CM, 15,000 buses were brought in 5 years, but in the next ten years AIADMK bought only 14,000 buses. Had they bought more, these complaints would not have come. The incidents being shared are from AIADMK rule or in the early period of this government. However, IT wings of AIADMK and BJP continue to spread them. New buses will fully replace old ones in around four months.

Changing bi-monthly billing to monthly cycle for electricity was DMK's assurance in its election manifesto. When will it be implemented? You know well that Covid-19 was at its peak when we came to power with the economic slowing down. There was the burden of debts left by the AIADMK. Therefore, once the financial situation improves, we will certainly take steps to implement it.