New Delhi: Congress MP Jothimani Sennimalai has criticised L. Murugan following his resignation as Union minister, alleging that he failed to adequately represent and protect the interests of Tamil Nadu during his tenure.
Jothimani said she had considerable personal respect for Murugan but maintained that he had not raised his voice strongly enough on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu while serving in the Union Cabinet.
She alleged that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had neglected the state’s linguistic, cultural and economic interests. She also pointed to the state’s continuing efforts to secure the necessary funds from the Centre for school education.
According to Jothimani, the presence of BJP leaders from Tamil Nadu in the Union Cabinet had made little difference to the state’s interests, raising questions about the Centre’s approach towards Tamil Nadu.
The Congress MP also questioned the circumstances surrounding Murugan’s resignation, asking whether the decision was entirely his own or had been taken at the direction of the BJP leadership.
She speculated that the move could be linked to the BJP’s political standing in Tamil Nadu and questioned whether the party believed Murugan’s resignation was necessary amid a lack of support for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP in the state.
Jothimani clarified that, in her personal view, Tamil Nadu should have representation in the Union Cabinet to ensure that the state’s concerns are raised at the national level.
Murugan had earlier announced his intention to devote himself full-time to strengthening the BJP’s organisational network in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He said he wanted to return to grassroots-level work and engage directly with party workers.
