"The University Grants Commission has said that only around 100 colleges could be affiliated to one university. But according to the decision taken by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa 571 colleges will be affiliated to Anna University," he said.
The "regressive" move was against the "progressive" decision to create five Anna universities taken by his previous government keeping in mind the need to create more opportunities and simplify administrative procedures, he said.
The ruling AIADMK had reversed the move only because it was taken up by the DMK, he alleged.
With more than 500 engineering colleges coming under one roof, research activities will not get due attention and there will be an increased burden vis-a-vis administrative matters, he said, adding, this will also affect students from the southern parts of the state.
"Is creating five new universities an achievement or making them non-existent?" he said in a letter to party men in DMK mouthpiece 'Murasoli'.