Trichy has all qualities to be Tamil Nadu’s second capital, says minister

TRICHY: Trichy with an international airport, rail connectivity, industries and surplus water from the Cauvery river, has all the qualities to become the second capital of Tamil Nadu, said state tourism minister Vellamandi N Natarajan on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said it was the dream of AIADMK founder and former chief minister M G Ramachandran to make Trichy the second capital of Tamil Nadu.
He said MGR could not fulfil his wish because of his ill health. Natarajan recalled how then DMK leader M Karunanidhi had opposed the move.
The minister said if the demand for the second capital is raised, he would urge chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Paneerselvam to announce Trichy as the second capital.
The issue was raised a few days ago by revenue and disaster management minister R B Udayakumar who wanted to make Madurai the second capital of the state.
Cooperation minister Sellur K Raju supported the demand. But AIADMK members in Trichy reacted immediately by demanding that this city be made the second capital.
Trichy MP Thirunavukkarasar too had requested the chief minister to make Trichy as the second capital.