When the DMK was in power, local body polls were held on time and development projects were carried out in a timely manner, party president M.K. Stalin said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at an ‘Ooratchi Sabhai’ meeting at Pagalpatti village in Omalur Taluk, he said that when he was the Minister for Local Administration, he visited most of the villages in the State and interacted with the people. The AIADMK government was not conducting local body elections and no work was being done in villages, he claimed.

He claimed that when he visits villages, the locals recognise him easily, and questioned whether they would recognise Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami if he visits without his security cover.

Mr. Stalin alleged that documents and video footage were stolen by the gang that broke into former CM Jayalalithaa’s estate bungalow in Kodanad, and claimed that Mr. Palaniswami was behind the crime. The Opposition leader demanded that Local Administration Minister S.P. Velumani, against whom the DVAC has initiated a preliminary probe in connection with corruption charges, resign and face an inquiry.

‘Will probe Jaya’s death’

Speaking in Erode, he said that if the DMK came to power, it will constitute a commission to probe the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Unveiling a life-size bronze statue of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Mr. Stalin said that when Karunanidhi was hospitalised, regular updates were provided on his condition. “But Jayalalithaa was also the CM when she was hospitalised, and the only news we received was that she ate idli and [drank] juice,” he added.

“Though there are differences of opinion between the DMK and the AIADMK, she died as CM. We will constitute a commission and the culprits will be punished,” he said.