DMK working president M.K. Stalin said the R.K. Nagar byelection marked the beginning of the alternative political arrangement in Tamil Nadu to remove the “horse-trading” AIADMK government.
“Though the political parties on the dais have differences of opinion, they have buried them and have come together to save Tamil Nadu from the clutches of the AIADMK government as the rights of the States are mortgaged. The people of Tamil Nadu want the alliance to continue and I would like to say that it will continue,” he said while addressing an election campaign meeting.
Mr. Stalin said the rival camp had people who spread false news about the health condition of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. “Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam once called the government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami a government of robbers. The two factions of the AIADMK are responsible for swindling the wealth of the State,” he alleged.
He also said the AIADMK government remained silent and failed to order an inquiry into the mystery surrounding the death of Jayalalithaa, because it wanted to save Sasikala. “Now, they have appointed an inquiry commission by a retired judge of the Madras High Court. But the commission does not have adequate powers and its appointment is just an eyewash,” he said.
Adverting to the constituency, he said it had not witnessed any development despite the fact that a former Chief Minister represented it. If the DMK candidate was elected, he (Stalin) would ensure that the constituency was treated like his “adopted child.” VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and CPI leader R. Mutharasan also addressed the meeting.
Later, Mr. Stalin said the ruling AIADMK candidate E. Madhusudanan would lose his deposit in the R.K. Nagar byelection, scheduled for December 21.
Responding to a query from mediapersons on the ruling party’s promise to construct homes and offer scooters to women in the constituency, he said, “Even if Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam bent over backwards, the AIADMK candidate would not be in a position to win the election and retain his deposit.”
To a query on the alleged attempt by the State government to stall the election, Mr. Stalin said it could be true.
Reacting to actor and BJP leader S. Ve. Shekar’s claim that the byelection could once again be cancelled due to the distribution of money to voters, he said the DMK had already made a representation to the Election Commission to prevent the bribing of voters.
“The election was [earlier] cancelled because of the distribution of ₹89 crore to voters. Evidence was secured during Income Tax searches at Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar’s house,” he said, adding, “Our demand that a case be filed [in this regard] was also not considered.”
