London a dead economy, go to Madurai instead: Annamalai mocks Vijay's UK visit

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has slammed Chief Minister Joseph Vijay over his recent London visit, arguing that the UK was not the right place to seek investment for Tamil Nadu. He argued that the state government should focus more on attracting investment from within India, pointing out that said India was now a USD 4.1 trillion economy while the UK was a USD 3.4 trillion economy.

"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 questioned.

Vijay undertook a six-day official visit to the UK from September 10, leading a state delegation with a stated focus on attracting investments and exploring industrial and motorsports opportunities. The Tamil Nadu government said the trip resulted in investment commitments worth nearly Rs 15,000 crore and more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.'UK HAS JUST 1% GROWTH'

Annamalai claimed that the UK offered limited scope for fresh investment and described London as a "dead economy".

"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.

Instead, he suggested that Vijay travel to major industrial centres in Tamil Nadu and engage directly with local businesses.

"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.

He suggested that the state could offer tax incentives to companies already operating in Tamil Nadu to encourage them to expand.

"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 mentioned Madurai, Coimbatore and Kovilpatti, besides other major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, as potential destinations for investment outreach.

"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.

"Go to Bombay, go to Delhi, go to Bengaluru. Bring investment from there. You don't have to go abroad for everything," the former IPS officer added.QUESTIONS FOCUS ON VIJAY'S LONDON ENGAGEMENTS

Annamalai also took a swipe at the attention surrounding Vijay's meetings and public appearances during the visit.

"Did he meet this person? Did he meet that person? Did they see him? I am talking about this unnecessary politics," he said.

The remarks came amid criticism of Vijay's visit, particularly after photographs of him at Silverstone alongside actor and racing driver Ajith Kumar and actress Trisha emerged.

Vijay had visited the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit as part of follow-up work on the proposed Motor Sports City in Tamil Nadu and flagged off the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup race, in which Ajith participated.

BJP state president Nainar Nagendran had also criticised the trip, describing it as a "pleasure tour" and alleging that companies already operating in India were being presented as fresh investments secured through the visit.

The Tamil Nadu government and Vijay's TVK, however, released details of investment commitments announced during the trip, with the state putting the total value at around Rs 15,300 crore.

Among the announced commitments was an Rs 11,000-crore investment from Samvardhana Motherson International. Other agreements covered sectors including renewable energy, power-grid equipment and Global Capability Centres.CHIEF MINISTER MUST TRAVEL WITHIN TAMIL NADU

Annamalai argued that the state should first tap the investment potential within Tamil Nadu and urged Vijay to visit the state's major industrial centres more frequently.

"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 the UK as an argument for greater focus on domestic capital.

"In fact, Indian companies such as Jaguar Land Rover and Mahindra are among those investing substantial amounts of money in the UK today," he said.

Annamalai argued that overseas investment missions would have made more sense when India's economy was smaller.

"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 move away from repeatedly publicising overseas 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 remarks come as Vijay's first foreign trip as Chief Minister continues to draw political scrutiny, with the Tamil Nadu government highlighting the investment commitments announced in London and critics questioning the economic value and nature of the visit.- EndsPublished By: Ajmal Published On: Sep 21, 2026 08:25 IST