Amid reports that Union Minister M.K. Alagiri and DMK MP Kanimozhi boycotted the protest organised by the party against failure of power situation in Tamil Nadu, Ms Kanimozhi on Wednesday clarified that she could not attend because of health reasons.
She said there was no truth in the reports that she and her supporters kept away from the protest because they were not given separate venues.
“I have a disc prolapse and I am taking rest. My father and my brother Stalin are aware of my condition,” she said dismissing the suggestion that Tuesday’s protest was a show managed by Mr. Stalin and his supporters.
“I certainly wanted to participate. I only regret that I could not do it because of my health condition,” she explained.
Asserting that she was not encouraging a separate group of people in the party as her supporters, Ms. Kanimozhi said all of them were DMK supporters. “It is wrong to say I have separate supporters.”
Supporters of Mr. Alagiri also denied the allegation. They said that in Madurai, the agitation witnessed the coming together of functionaries of the two factions owing allegiance to Mr. Stalin and his elder brother.
The party’s Madurai urban district secretary, G. Thalapathi, now seen as a Stalin supporter, ensured that functionaries from the Alagiri camp also shared the stage. The leaders exchanged pleasantries and some from the Stalin side even hugged those in the Alagiri camp.
In the meantime, Mr. Stalin accused the State government of foisting cases against party cadres who attended a meeting organised by Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency with a view to preparing the party for the coming election.
He said the cases were filed under the Tamil Nadu Open Public Places Prevention Disfiguration Act and first information report had been lodged.
