DMK, BJP vie for credit over revised Yercaud Express timing at Erode Junction

Tension prevailed for a while at the Erode Railway Junction on Thursday night as cadres of the DMK and the BJP claimed credit for the revision of the timings of Train No. 22650 Erode–Chennai Central Yercaud daily express and raised slogans.

The train earlier departed Erode Junction at 9 p.m. and reached Chennai Central at 3.40 a.m. the next day. Following several representations seeking a revision so that the train would reach Chennai around 4.30 a.m., the Railways revised the schedule with effect from January 1.

Under the revised timings, the train now leaves Erode Junction at 9.45 p.m. and reaches Chennai Central at 4.25 a.m. the following day.

K.E. Prakash, MP, and V.C. Chandhirakumar, MLA, along with DMK cadres holding party flags, were present on the platform. BJP MLA C. Saraswathi and party cadres were also present. While DMK cadres raised slogans hailing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, BJP cadres hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cadres from both parties gathered near the engine and continued to raise slogans, causing uneasiness among passengers, as each side claimed that its efforts had led to the change in train timings.

Mr. Prakash flagged off the train using a party flag and a green torchlight, after which the train departed.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Prakash said he had submitted multiple representations to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and had raised the issue in Parliament, following which the schedule was revised. He questioned why the BJP, which has been in power at the Centre for 12 years, and Ms. Saraswathi, who has been an MLA for four-and-a-half years, had not acted earlier on the long-pending demand of the people.

However, Ms. Saraswathi said she had earlier taken up the issue with the Union Railway Minister, who had assured her that the demand would be fulfilled at the earliest. She claimed that the revision was the result of efforts taken up by the BJP with the Railway Ministry.

Earlier, members of the Erode Urban District Congress Committee, led by its president T. Thiruselvan, along with Minority Wing vice-president K.N. Basha, distributed sweets to passengers.