Will contest from any constituency CM chooses: Udhayanidhi

Madurai: Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has said he would contest from whichever constituency the chief minister announces for him in the upcoming assembly election. He also claimed that DMK govt fulfilled 99% of its election promises, and that the party is committed to the mantra of "doing what we say". Speaking at a govt event in Tuticorin on Saturday, he said that in the Dravidian model govt 2.0, Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai of Rs1,000 would be increased to Rs2,000. The deputy CM inaugurated four major infrastructure projects completed at a cost of Rs 177.70 crore on the occasion. They included a Rs136.35 crore superspeciality maternity hospital at Tuticorin Govt Medical College and a Rs38.53 crore maternity and child welfare block at Tiruchendur Govt Hospital. Highlighting the district's rapid industrial ascent, Udhayanidhi said Tuticorin was now ‘competing with Chennai' in development, bolstered by major investments like Rs14,000 crore thermal power station at Udangudi and a Rs36 crore Mini Tidal Park. He said Tamil Nadu attained a robust 11.19% economic growth rate due to the strategic implementation of such welfare and infrastructure schemes.Linking Naan Mudhalvan initiative to the recent UPSC results, he pointed out that two among the top ten rank-holders were from Tamil Nadu, and they were beneficiaries of the scheme. "This is the success of the Dravidian Model," he said, adding that the govt was moving towards a goal of 100% smart classrooms and elimination of school dropouts among adi dravidar and tribal students by 2030. The Vidiyalai Payanam scheme facilitated 960 crore free bus journeys for women, 12 crore of them in Tuticorin alone, he said. Udhayanidhi distributed welfare assistance worth Rs110.66 crore to nearly 4,000 beneficiaries. They included Rs40.09 crore in house site pattas for 1,755 residents, and Rs63 crore for construction of 1,800 houses under Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme.Udhayanidhi also distributed specialised motor vehicles to disabled people and the increased Rs 8,000 relief for the fishing community. He said Rs1.30 lakh crore in bank loans was disbursed to self-help groups (SHGs) over five years. The event was attended by social welfare minister P Geetha Jeevan, fisheries minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan, and senior district officials.