Tamil Nadu: Anger over move to ditch new assembly

Members moved into the new assembly a year ago, when it was still being built

The new government in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu faces a legal challenge over its move away from purpose-built new premises that cost $200m to build.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has opted to govern from the old British-built Fort St George in Madras (Chennai).

Critics say she is trying to spite her arch-rival Karunanidhi, who built the new complex but then lost at the polls.

Lawyers told the High Court that ditching the new assembly complex is a massive waste of money.

The court has told top government officials that it will deliberate on the matter at a later date.

So far, the new building has cost more than $200m to build. The final bill is expected to be much more.

"Taxpayer's money cannot be wasted because there is a change in government," said a lawyer, Krishnamoorthi, who has filed a public interest case to thwart the new government's move.

'Wrong note'

Jayalalithaa's opponents point out that it was she who in her last period as chief minister initiated the building of a new complex.

Fort St George was a library but is once more the seat of power

But in 2006, before any meaningful construction had begun, her arch-rival Karunanidhi defeated her in elections.

He built a library on her chosen site and opted to build the new secretariat in the heart of the city - not far from the old complex at Fort St George. That too became a library.

Correspondents say the choice of a new site - and the way her predecessor claimed credit for it - annoyed Jayalalithaa.

The first phase of the new complex - consisting of the state assembly and secretariat for civil servants - was completed in 2010.

Some civil servants have since moved in and state assembly members have been meeting there for the past year.

Public servants had long lobbied for a more spacious and modern building so that they could do their jobs more efficiently.

But within hours of results last Friday showing she had won a landslide, the new administration began moving back into Fort St George.

Politicians and former civil servants say the decision has started her new tenure as chief minister on the wrong note.

"Even before she formally took charge of the state's administration, the seat of power was moved by the officials. No consultations took place," points out former senior civil servant VS Chandralekha.

According to Jayalalithaa, she and her cabinet will decide on the matter soon - but most observers expect her to get her way.

Few analysts are surprised - the animosity between her and Karunanidhi has been going on for two decades.

Meanwhile, the future of the new complex remains highly uncertain.