Chennai

N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday alleged that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu has worsened under the rule of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister urged voters to support National Democratic Alliance candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections and elect a “double-engine government” for faster development.

Naidu also criticised opposition to the proposed women’s reservation-linked legislation, saying political concerns should not stand in the way of reforms. His remarks were aimed at the DMK and the Indian National Congress.

He further claimed that Chennai’s civic infrastructure had not improved, citing poor roads and warning of flooding if the city receives heavy rainfall.

Naidu alleged that crimes against women had risen by 59 per cent in the state and referred to custodial deaths as well as issues related to illicit liquor.

Praising Narendra Modi, the Telugu Desam Party chief said major projects such as the Ganga-Cauvery river linking could only be achieved under Modi’s leadership. He also expressed confidence that Modi would continue to lead in the next two elections.

Appealing to voters, Naidu said that electing the NDA would bring growth and prosperity, adding that divisions between north and south India were unnecessary and that the country should move forward as one.

Responding to a question on Hindi, he said the central government had not declared Hindi as the national language and asked why learning the language should be opposed.

When asked about the political impact of actor-turned-politician Vijay, Naidu avoided a direct response but said present-day politics had no leaders comparable to iconic figures such as M. G. Ramachandran and N. T. Rama Rao.

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Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, who had claimed the state had politically defeated Delhi by opposing the delimitation-linked proposal, Naidu said he could not understand the logic behind that argument. He added that the Centre had proposed a formula under which Lok Sabha seats in every state would rise by 50 per cent, regardless of population or size, and said those opposing it must answer to the public.