Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s recent investment mission to the United Kingdom, arguing that the state government should focus more on attracting and expanding investment within Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.
Annamalai questioned the economic rationale behind taking a large government delegation to London, claiming that India’s economy was now larger than that of the United Kingdom.
“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?” he asked.
His remarks came after Vijay returned from a six-day official visit to the UK aimed at attracting investment and exploring opportunities in areas including manufacturing, technology and motorsports. The Tamil Nadu government said the trip resulted in investment commitments of around Rs 15,300 crore, potentially creating more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Annamalai Calls London a ‘Dead Economy’
Annamalai used particularly sharp language while questioning the decision to seek investments in the UK.
“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.
The description was Annamalai’s political assessment of the UK economy.
Instead of repeatedly organising overseas investment missions, he argued, Vijay should spend more time engaging with industrialists already operating in Tamil Nadu.
‘Take an IndiGo Flight to Coimbatore or Madurai’
Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister’s foreign trip, Annamalai said Vijay should consider travelling to Tamil Nadu’s major industrial centres rather than flying overseas.
“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,” he said.
He suggested that the government meet local businesses and offer incentives to companies willing to expand their manufacturing facilities.
Annamalai proposed that tax concessions could be used to encourage existing industries to increase production and investment within the state.
Coimbatore, Madurai and Kovilpatti on Annamalai’s List
The former BJP state president specifically pointed to Coimbatore, Madurai and Kovilpatti as places where the Chief Minister could directly engage with businesses.
“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 visiting Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to attract domestic investment.
“Go to Bombay, go to Delhi, go to Bengaluru. Bring investment from there. You don’t have to go abroad for everything,” Annamalai said.
Rs 11,000-Crore Motherson Investment Among Major Commitments
The Tamil Nadu government, however, has highlighted several investment commitments announced during Vijay’s UK visit.
The biggest was an Rs 11,000-crore commitment from Samvardhana Motherson International, which is expected to create around 7,000 jobs across manufacturing, engineering, assembly and logistics.
Other announced commitments covered sectors including power equipment, renewable energy and Global Capability Centres.
The government has said that the overall agreements signed during the UK mission amount to approximately Rs 15,300 crore and could generate more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
These figures represent announced investment commitments and agreements; their eventual implementation will depend on the projects progressing as planned.
Silverstone Visit Also Drew Political Attention
Vijay’s trip attracted political attention after photographs emerged of him at the Silverstone racing circuit alongside actor and racing driver Ajith Kumar.
The Chief Minister visited Silverstone as part of work connected with Tamil Nadu’s proposed Motor Sports City and also attended the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup event in which Ajith participated.
The photographs prompted criticism from political opponents, with BJP state president Nainar Nagendran describing the UK visit as a “pleasure tour”.
Opposition leaders also questioned whether some companies presented as part of the investment mission were already operating in India.
The Tamil Nadu government, however, has maintained that the trip was an official investment mission and has released details of the commitments secured during the visit.
Annamalai Says Domestic Capital Should Come First
Annamalai argued that Tamil Nadu already has substantial investment potential within the state.
“When so many people in the local economy are ready to invest, go and encourage the local industrialists in Tamil Nadu. They have money. They are ready to invest,” he said.
He also pointed to Indian companies investing in Britain as evidence, in his view, that Tamil Nadu should place greater emphasis on domestic capital.
Annamalai argued that large overseas investment missions may have made more sense when India’s economy was significantly smaller.
He also urged the state government to move away from repeatedly highlighting foreign destinations as part of investment outreach.
“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 Vijay government should be given time to demonstrate its performance.
The exchange has added to the political debate around Vijay’s first overseas investment mission as Chief Minister, with the government highlighting the investment commitments announced in London and its opponents questioning whether greater attention should instead be placed on expanding domestic industry.
