Even though the PMK’s executive committee and general council were unanimous in their opinion that the party’s youth leader and former Union Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, should be the chief ministerial candidate of the “alternative front” for the 2016 Assembly polls, the resolution adopted at the general council on Friday was tactically silent on that score.
While making a call for putting an end to the rule of the Dravidian parties, which the PMK accused of having failed Tamil Nadu in every sphere, the resolution announced the party’s decision to lead an alternative front, but did not make any reference to Mr. Anbumani’s candidature for Chief Minister.
A senior party leader, however, explained that it would be unfair on the part of the PMK to announce the chief ministerial candidate without consulting its prospective allies. “We want to hold talks with the leaders of the prospective allies before formally making the announcement. The resolution said the party had not made any serious effort to provide an alternative to the Dravidian parties so far.
In his speech, Mr. Anbumani said the people of Tamil Nadu “feel suffocated by the corrupt AIADMK government and are waiting for an opportunity to settle score with the rulers.” If the PMK was elected to power, it would ensure “political decency” and “transparent government.” He also sought to dispel the PMK’s anti-Dalit image, saying it had organised several protests for the welfare of the Dalits.
Addressing the meeting, PMK founder S. Ramadoss urged actor Rajinikant to make an appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu for brining about a change.
“In 1996, he said no one could save Tamil Nadu if the AIADMK was elected back to power. Now, a similar situation prevails, and Mr. Rajinikant should express his views as the 2016 Assembly poll will be a ‘Kurukshetra’ as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned,” he said.
