Chennai, April 7 (AHN) A political controversy has erupted ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections after Chief Minister M. K. Stalin strongly criticised his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis over his remarks linking the proposed Madurai Metro project to the electoral success of the BJP in the state.

The row began after Fadnavis, speaking to the media following the nomination filing of BJP candidate Rama Sreenivasan in Madurai on Monday, suggested that the Metro Rail project for the city would gain momentum if the BJP secured a victory in the constituency.

He reportedly stated that once a BJP MLA is elected and meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the long-pending project could be facilitated.

Reacting sharply, Stalin took to X to question the propriety of such a statement. He accused Fadnavis of attempting to "bargain and blackmail" voters by implying that key infrastructure projects would be contingent upon electoral outcomes favouring a particular party.

“Is it the duty of a Chief Minister to suggest that a city will receive development projects only if a BJP MLA is elected?" Stalin asked, terming the remarks inappropriate and undemocratic.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister further said that such comments undermine the spirit of the Constitution and the principles of cooperative federalism. He argued that development projects should not be politicised or used as leverage during election campaigns, especially by leaders holding constitutional offices in other states.

Stalin also raised concerns about the broader implications of such statements, noting that they could set a dangerous precedent where essential infrastructure becomes subject to political bargaining.

He emphasised that governance must remain impartial and not be influenced by electoral considerations.

The controversy also brings renewed focus on the status of metro rail proposals for tier-two cities in Tamil Nadu. In November last year, the Union government declined proposals for metro projects in Madurai and Coimbatore, citing population criteria under the 2017 Metro Rail policy. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, both cities fell short of the prescribed 20-lakh population threshold based on the 2011 Census.

Instead, the Centre recommended exploring more cost-effective urban transport solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS), returning the detailed project reports submitted by the state government. With elections approaching, the exchange has added a fresh political dimension to the debate over infrastructure development and Centre-State relations.