"Whichever party forms government must prioritise abolition of TASMAC," says veteran actor Sivakumar after casting vote in Chennai
Chennai, April 23
Veteran actor Sivakumar cast his vote at a polling station in Chennai on Thursday as polling for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are underway.
After casting hsi vote, he spoke to the media and made a strong appeal that whichever party forms the government must prioritise the abolition of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC).
Sivakumar said, "Whichever party forms the government must prioritise the abolition of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC). No administration should pursue policies that endanger the lives and futures of the state's youth. It is unacceptable for those in governance to amass crores of rupees while in power..."
Meanwhile, polling for the Assembly elections began in Tamil Nadu amid tight security on Thursday. The voting will conclude at 6:00 pm today.The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik said that the state's electorate comprises over 5.73 crore voters, featuring 2,93,04,905 female voters, 2,80,30,658 male voters, and 7,728 third-gender voters.The poll body is also catering to 14,59,039 first-time voters and 68,501 service voters, with 4,18,541 postal votes already received.
Furthermore, 62 counting centres have already been established to ensure a smooth process after the high-stakes voting concludes.The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.
With the DMK banking on its Dravidian 2.0 model, the AIADMK-led NDA is fighting for a comeback. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which could turn the contest into a three-way fight.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I respect Sivakumar sir's concern, abolition is a complex issue. The state earns massive revenue from TASMAC. The focus should be on better regulation, strict age checks, and de-addiction programs, not just shutting it down and creating a black market.
He is 100% correct. The government running liquor shops is a massive conflict of interest. They profit from addiction. How can they then run effective awareness campaigns? It has to stop. Our youth deserve better.
Interesting to see this perspective from Tamil Nadu. It's a bold stance, especially during elections. The revenue argument is strong, but so is the social welfare one. A phased approach might be more practical than immediate abolition.
As a mother, I see the effects every day. Men standing in queues from morning, wasting hard-earned money. It's not just about health, it's about family economics and peace. Vote for the party that has a clear plan to tackle this menace.
Good sentiment, but will any party actually do it? TASMAC is a cash cow. They all talk before elections. Let's see who includes a concrete timeline for reduction and eventual abolition in their manifesto. Actions, not words.
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