Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 retail liquor outlets, including 276 shops near places of worship across the state, PTI reported.
Considering the welfare of the public, Vijay issued orders to shut down the retail liquor outlets, an official release said.
Accordingly, 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 shops near educational institutions, and 255 outlets near bus stands will be closed within the next two weeks, it said.
There has been widespread demand, especially from women and a few political parties in the state, that all the liquor shops in the state should be closed.
The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) operates 4,765 retail liquor outlets across the state.
TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly but fell short of the majority mark of 118. Vijay’s massive breakthrough stunned both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliances. Political observers described the result as the collapse of the bipolar Dravidian political order that had dominated Tamil Nadu for nearly six decades.
After taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with the support of Congress, the Left Front, VCK and Muslim League parties, Vijay now faces the crucial task of proving his majority in the Assembly before May 13. The date for the trust vote has not yet been announced. Vijay formed his government in the state after days of intense political negotiations.