The Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare, S. Valarmathi, against whom a missing person complaint was lodged recently by a resident of Srirangam Assembly constituency (which she represents), claimed on Tuesday that she had consulted the voters and party members of her constituency before deciding to support Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami during the trust vote last Saturday.
Ms. Valarmathi, who along with other AIADMK MLAs, was lodged in a luxury resort in the days leading up to the Assembly vote, visited her office in Srirangam under tight security on Tuesday.
Speaking to The Hindu after meeting a handful of party members from her constituency, she said that although she had been out of station for a few days, she had maintained contact with her constituents, and had consulted them before voting in favour of Mr. Palaniswami.
“Before taking a conscious decision, I consulted voters. I stood by my party,” Ms. Valarmathi said.
She also took a dig at actor Anandaraj, saying he had no locus standi to criticise her for speaking in favour of jailed AIADMK interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala. The actor had canvassed votes for her in his capacity as a star campaigner for the AIADMK during the last Assembly election. “I pity him. His campaign did not fetch votes for me,” Ms. Valarmathi said.
Responding to the missing person complaint filed against her, she claimed that she had already informed the police station concerned about her whereabouts, adding that she had also told the complainant that she could be reached on her phone.
