Heated exchange in council meeting over civic issues, AIADMK stages walkout in Erode

The Erode City Municipal Corporation Council meeting witnessed heated exchanges between the DMK and the AIADMK councillors on Thursday (January 29, 2026) over project expenditure and civic issues, following which the AIADMK councillors staged a walkout.

The meeting was presided over by Mayor S. Nagarathinam in the presence of Deputy Mayor V. Selvaraj and Corporation Commissioner Arpit Jain. As the meeting began, councillors raised the issues at their respective wards. Several members expressed concern over the slow pace of development works and urged officials to expedite their completion. Allegations were also levelled regarding excess expenditure in the implementation of government welfare schemes.

A verbal duel broke out between the DMK and AIADMK councillors over the Amma Canteen scheme. Leader of the Opposition and Ward 11 councillor M.D. Thangamuthu alleged discrimination in the execution of civic works, stating that development projects in the AIADMK-represented wards were being delayed, while works in the DMK wards were progressing smoothly. He also highlighted irregular drinking water supply and the lack of basic amenities in several areas.

Citing these issues and the non-implementation of the council resolution on property tax reduction, AIADMK councillors staged a walkout. Responding to a query during the meeting, the Corporation Commissioner said that the breakfast scheme for sanitation workers would be launched on February 9.