Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Monday criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s decision to drop the proposed second Chennai airport project at Parandur, describing the move as an “irreversible setback” for the state’s development. Stalin said abandoning the project would have long-term consequences for Tamil Nadu’s economic growth and infrastructure plans, arguing that the state’s interests should not be compromised for political considerations.

Reacting to the announcement, Stalin said dropping the Parandur airport project should not be portrayed as a change in policy or direction. “Dropping Parandur airport project is not change, it's an irreversible setback for Tamil Nadu's growth,” he said in a post on X. He argued that cancelling the proposal could affect the state’s long-term development trajectory and potentially push infrastructure expansion plans back by several years.

Stalin also accused the government of prioritising narrow political gains over broader developmental considerations. According to the former chief minister, a project of the scale and importance of a second airport for Chennai should be assessed primarily from the perspective of Tamil Nadu’s future economic and infrastructure requirements. He maintained that decisions involving major public infrastructure should take into account their wider impact on the state rather than short-term political considerations.

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The DMK leader further questioned the manner in which the decision was announced. He described the announcement as “deeply troubling”, arguing that there was insufficient opportunity for discussion or debate before the government communicated its decision. Stalin specifically referred to Rule 110, under which the announcement was made, and objected to what he described as the absence of an opportunity for legislators to debate the issue or express their views.

“An announcement of such far-reaching importance being made under Rule No. 110, shutting out any opportunity for debate or even for members to voice their views, is deeply troubling,” Stalin said. His remarks focused not only on the fate of the Parandur project but also on the process through which the government communicated its decision. He suggested that a major infrastructure decision with implications for the state’s future warranted wider legislative consideration.

The proposed Parandur airport has been discussed as a major infrastructure project intended to address Chennai’s long-term aviation requirements and support the region’s economic expansion. The decision to drop the plan is therefore likely to remain a significant political issue in Tamil Nadu, particularly as the government weighs its infrastructure priorities. Stalin’s criticism signals that the DMK intends to challenge the decision on both developmental and procedural grounds, while the controversy over the proposed airport’s future continues to unfold.

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