Terming the move by DMDK leader Vijayakant to unite the opposition on the Cauvery issue as a “mega political gimmick,” PMK chief ministerial candidate, Anubumani Ramadoss, on Wednesday charged that the entire episode betrayed the “political desperation” of Mr. Vijayakant to remain relevant.
Apart from the AIADMK, the PMK is the only party that Mr. Vijayakant did not invite to be part of the delegation that met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Returning from New Delhi, Mr. Vijayakant had told reporters at the Chennai airport that the absence of the PMK in the delegation caused no negative effect.
Speaking to The Hindu ahead of his meeting with Union Water Resources Minister, Uma Bharati, in New Delhi to stress on the immediate formation of the Cauvery Management Board, Mr. Anbumani said the DMDK president had remained in “hibernation” for four years and had “failed miserably” to fulfil the role of an opposition leader.
“He has not fulfilled the mandate the people gave him. He has not participated in Assembly proceedings nor has he led the opposition there. He was more focussed on his son’s movie and went to foreign countries for an extended period for the movie’s shooting. We were shocked when he returned and said he did not follow any developments nor read the newspaper during his absence from Tamil Nadu,” the Dharmapuri MP said.
Mr. Anbumani remarked that political compulsions, and a deteriorating vote bank, led Mr. Vijayakant to take the opposition parties to the Prime Minister. “In fact, after the delegation’s interaction with Narendra Modi, he chose to have a private chat with the Prime Minister. This clearly proves that the whole purpose of the visit was for personal ends,” he alleged.
Referring to DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s statement welcoming the actions of Mr. Vijayakant, the former Union Health Minister said the DMK’s credibility had gone for a toss and it had lost the support of the people. “Mr. Karunanidhi is in the lookout for alliance partners to resurrect the party,” he pointed out.
Mr. Anbumani said the PMK was glad that it was not part of the delegation Mr. Vijayakant led.
