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In the wake of an ongoing investigation into a massive property tax scam, all zonal chairpersons of the Madurai Corporation have submitted their resignations, following a directive issued on Monday, July 7, by Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin. While the resignation letters have been handed over to the DMK leadership, they have not yet been officially forwarded to Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan.
According to reports, the resignation letters were submitted to the Municipal Administration Minister and party principal secretary KN Nehru. However, Nehru denied receiving them, stating that his recent visit to the Corporation office was solely to review infrastructure works.
Sources indicate that Stalin issued the directive during a meeting with party workers as part of the 'Udanpirappey Vaa' initiative, where he warned that disciplinary action would be taken, without favour, against anyone bringing disrepute to the party.
The resignations follow the unearthing of an alleged property tax scam currently under investigation by the Central Crime Branch.
The scam is estimated to have caused revenue losses of over Rs 200 crore, with large-scale tampering reported in the Urban Tree Information System (UTIS). Tax values for more than 150 buildings were allegedly altered. At least eight individuals, including temporary staff, have been arrested. The cybercrime wing reportedly uncovered unauthorized access to the civic body’s tax portal and manipulation of assessment records.
Zonal chairpersons Vasuki Sasikumar (Madurai East), Saravana Bhuvaneshwari (Madurai North), Pandi Selvi (Madurai Central), Mugesh Sharma (Madurai South), and V. Suvitha (Madurai West) were interrogated as part of the probe.
If the resignations are formally accepted, indirect elections will be held to fill the posts. Each of Madurai’s five zones comprises 20 councillors, one of whom will be elected chairperson. With the DMK holding a majority, its nominees are expected to be elected unopposed.
The zones fall under constituencies represented by Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister P. Moorthy, Madurai North MLA G. Thalapathi, and Madurai South MLA Boominathan.
It may be noted that the DMK leadership had earlier suspended Madurai Mayor Indirani’s husband, Pon Vasanth, from the party in late May for repeated interference in the Corporation’s administration and activities that brought disrepute to the party.
Pon Vasanth, a known supporter of Minister PTR, is said to wield considerable influence in the functioning of the civic body, leading to tensions with several councillors and even sparking protests from within the DMK.
There is growing speculation that Mayor Indirani herself could be the next to go, as the party leadership seeks to enforce accountability ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.