Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit today interacted with the general public and held discussions with officials here even as the DMK and the VCK staged demonstrations against the exercise.
This comes weeks after his meeting with officials in Coimbatore and Tirunelveli came in for criticism from the DMK and others who claimed it amounted to interference in the state's rights.
Purohit today visited a neighbourhood near here and interacted with the residents who listed their grievances and submitted petitions.
The governor had to take another route to visit the neighbourhood in view of the protests by DMK and VCK.
During his meeting with local residents, Purohit stressed the importance of toilets in households, outlining the features of Swachch Bharat campaign.
He also undertook a cleanliness drive by sweeping the road in which local officials participated.
The local residents apprised Purohit of their problems during his visit and sought sites for permanent dwelling units.
Cuddalore district collector Prashant M Wadnere accompanied the governor and briefed him about what the people said.
Purohit later held discussions with officials at the guesthouse and received petitions from the public there.
Opposing the governor meeting the public and receiving petitions, the DMK and the VCK cadres staged protests in which scores of party workers participated.
DMK's Cuddalore strongman and former minister MRK Panneerselvam, leading the protest, said Purohit's act went against the spirit of autonomy of states.
He said Tamil Nadu had always fought for states' autonomy.
"Manilathil Suyatchi and Madhiyil Kootatchi," is a several decades old slogan of the DMK which means "Autonomy in state and federalism at the Centre."
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President Su Thirunavukkarasar alleged that the "governor is acting as if this is governor's (President's rule when governor acts as the de facto head of the executive) rule."
Speaking to reporters at Madurai, he asked if governors in the BJP-ruled states were visiting districts and holding discussions with officials in the absence of ministers or the chief minister.
Purohit has already visited some districts including Coimbatore and Kanyakumari.
A political row erupted last month when he began the exercise. Though ruling AIADMK did not see anything wrong in the governor's action, DMK and other opposition parties claimed it amounted to interference in the state's rights.
The governor's office denied the charges and said the purpose of Purohit's meeting in Coimbatore was to seek a first-hand information about various welfare and development schemes and programmes and their implementation.
It dismissed as a "figment of imagination" the opposition charge that Purohit was acting at the behest of the Central government and said he would continue such meetings in future.
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