TVK Government Faces Heat Over Six-Hour Tender Window In Kancheepuram

Kancheepuram Tender Row Raises Questions

The newly elected Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu has faced one of its first political controversies after cancelling a Kancheepuram water tank tender within hours of issuing it. The Rural Development Department tender was for building a 30,000-litre overhead water tank in Kancheepuram district. The project was valued at Rs 16.83 lakh and was floated on May 19, 2026, at 9 am, with the bid deadline fixed at 3 pm the same day.

DMK Alleges Contract Politics

The six-hour tender window triggered strong criticism from the opposition DMK. Party leader Amutharasan questioned how any contractor could prepare documents and complete the required process in such a short time. He alleged that the conditions appeared to favour one company and demanded a public investigation into possible violations of tender transparency rules.

TVK Cancels Tender

After screenshots of the tender details went viral online, the TVK government cancelled the process later the same day, citing administrative reasons. However, the cancellation has not ended the political debate, with the DMK continuing to question the government’s transparency in public contracts. The issue has now become an early test for Vijay’s new administration.