Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has criticised Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his recent visit to London, questioning whether travelling abroad was the right approach to attract investments to Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai argued that Tamil Nadu should first look at investment opportunities within India and encourage companies already operating in the state to expand their businesses.
His comments came after Vijay completed a six-day official visit to the United Kingdom, where the Tamil Nadu government said investment commitments worth around Rs 15,300 crore were secured. The government has also said the agreements could create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Annamalai Questions Need for London Visit
Annamalai compared the size of the Indian and UK economies while questioning the decision to take a large delegation to London.
“Today, India is a country with a USD 4.1 trillion economy, while the UK has a USD 3.4 trillion economy. Why go to that country with such a large delegation from here and then ask whether he met this person, whether he met that person, whether they saw him, whether they went inside? What is the point of all this?” he said.
He argued that Tamil Nadu could attract investment by directly approaching industrialists and companies within India.
Annamalai also criticised the attention around Vijay’s meetings and public appearances during the UK trip, saying that the political discussion had moved away from the actual investment question.
“Did he meet this person? Did he meet that person? Did they see him? I am talking about this unnecessary politics,” he said.
‘London Is a Dead Economy’, Says Annamalai
Annamalai went further by describing London as a “dead economy” and questioned whether the UK could provide significant new investment to Tamil Nadu.
“I know London well. It is a dead economy. There is no money there. The UK’s growth is just 1 per cent. If you go there and ask them to invest money in Tamil Nadu, what money are they going to give?” he said.
He suggested that Vijay should instead travel to Tamil Nadu’s major industrial centres and meet local business groups.
“What the Chief Minister should do is, rather than taking an Emirates flight from Chennai to London, take an IndiGo flight from Chennai to Coimbatore or Madurai,” Annamalai said.
Annamalai Suggests Tax Incentives for Local Industries
The former BJP state president suggested that the Tamil Nadu government could offer incentives to companies already operating in the state.
“Let us sit down with the industrialists who are already here. Tell them, ‘If you expand your production facility, don’t pay 50 per cent of the tax; the government will bear that 50 per cent.’ That will encourage them to invest,” he said.
Annamalai specifically referred to industrial centres such as Madurai, Coimbatore and Kovilpatti.
“Come to Madurai and meet the Madurai Chamber of Commerce and the people involved in industry. Go to Coimbatore and encourage the textile mills, automobile industry and foundries,” he said.
He also suggested that the state should approach major Indian business centres.
“Go to Bombay, go to Delhi, go to Bengaluru. Bring investment from there. You don’t have to go abroad for everything,” Annamalai said.
Vijay Government Puts UK Commitments at Rs 15,300 Crore
Vijay’s London visit was officially focused on investment outreach and industrial opportunities, along with work connected to Tamil Nadu’s proposed Motor Sports City.
The Tamil Nadu government said the visit resulted in investment commitments of around Rs 15,300 crore. It said the agreements are expected to generate more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The announced commitments covered sectors including automobile components, research and development, renewable energy, power-grid equipment and Global Capability Centres.
One of the biggest announcements involved Samvardhana Motherson International and its European and UK-based joint-venture entities, with a stated investment commitment of around Rs 11,000 crore.
Silverstone Visit Also Drew Political Attention
Vijay’s visit to the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit also became part of the political debate surrounding his UK trip.
The Chief Minister visited the circuit as part of follow-up work for Tamil Nadu’s proposed Motor Sports City. He reviewed the circuit’s facilities and safety systems and later flagged off the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup race, in which actor and racing driver Ajith Kumar participated.
Photographs of Vijay at Silverstone with Ajith and actress Trisha also triggered questions from opposition parties about the purpose of the trip.
The BJP’s Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran had earlier described the visit as a “pleasure tour” and questioned whether some of the investments being highlighted were actually new commitments.
The Tamil Nadu government and Vijay’s TVK have maintained that the UK visit produced investment commitments and trade-related outcomes.
Annamalai Says Tamil Nadu Should Look at Its Own Industrial Base
Annamalai said overseas investment trips may have made more sense when India’s economy was smaller, but argued that the state’s current focus should be on domestic opportunities.
“When should we have gone to London? When India was a USD 1 trillion economy, in 2008 or 2010, while London was around USD 3 trillion. At that time, if you had gone to London with a large delegation, it would have made sense,” he said.
He also urged the government to reduce its focus on repeatedly publicising foreign investment trips.
“Please stop all this business of saying, ‘I am going to London, I am going to New York, I am going to Chicago, I am going to San Francisco, I am going to Singapore.’ That is old politics,” he said.
At the same time, Annamalai said the newly elected government should be given time to work.
The exchange has added another layer to the political debate over Vijay’s first major overseas investment visit as Chief Minister, with the government highlighting the financial commitments announced in the UK and critics questioning whether overseas travel was necessary to secure them.
