Days after Union Minister Piyush Goyal asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu was united in its resolve to remove the ruling DMK government, the war of words between the BJP-led alliance and the DMK intensified on Friday. Fresh allegations of corruption and nepotism were levelled against the minister.
The latest attack came from Deputy Secretary of the IT Wing of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Madurai S Bala, who accused Goyal of lacking the moral authority to speak on corruption and nepotism. Bala’s remarks followed Goyal’s comments in Chennai, minutes after the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) formally rejoined the NDA.
What did Piyush Goyal say?
Welcoming the AMMK back into the alliance, Goyal said the NDA would work as a united force to defeat the DMK in Tamil Nadu. He named Edappadi K Palaniswami, Anbumani Ramadoss and GK Vasan as key NDA partners, asserting that the alliance was committed to removing what he described as a “corrupt and incompetent” DMK government.
Goyal alleged that the DMK was attacking the people of Tamil Nadu, as well as Tamil culture and pride. He said the NDA would defeat what he termed an “anti-Bharat, anti-India” alliance.
Responding sharply, Bala, in a detailed post on X, accused Goyal of corruption linked to his alleged association with Shirdi Industries. Bala alleged that the company had defaulted on loans worth Rs 650 crore from public sector banks during the period when Goyal served as its chairman between 2008 and 2010.
“Shirdi Industries received a loan amount Rs 650 crores! The public sector banks offered this much loan amount. On what ground they sanctioned it? Media reports say your company is defaulted in repaying the loan that means you have cheated the banks to the tune of Rs 650 crores? After BJP came to power in 2014 you used your authority and made it happen,” he posted on X.
The report had also flagged financial links between the firm’s promoters and Goyal’s family, including an unsecured loan to a company owned by his wife. Goyal had earlier said he resigned from the company’s board well before the BJP came to power in 2014 and no formal charges were filed.
The issue had previously drawn political fire, with the Congress demanding Goyal’s resignation and calling for a judicial probe into the matter in 2018.
Nepotism allegation against Goyal
Bala also accused Goyal of double standards for sharing platforms with leaders of the AIADMK despite corruption cases against several of its former ministers, while alleging nepotism against the DMK. Calling Goyal a “nepokid” of former Union minister Ved Prakash Goyal, Bala questioned his criticism of dynastic politics.
The exchange comes as the political temperature rises in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections. Expected later this year, the state polls are likely to take place between April and May.