AIADMK co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami hit the campaign trail on Friday, canvassing for key candidates of political foes-turned-allies in Dharmapuri and Salem.
Leaving behind years of mutual mudslinging, Mr. Palaniswami travelled in an open van in Thoppur and Nallappalli, urging voters to re-elect Dr. Anbumani — who was standing beside him — from Dharmapuri.
Dr. Anbumani, who had, in the not-so-distant past, attacked Mr. Palaniswami, even questioning if he knew what administering a State meant, was at his effusive best, hailing the Chief Minister as the “country’s most humble Chief Minister”, who was a “farmer at heart” hailing from a modest background.
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Reciprocating the newfound camaraderie, Mr. Palaniswami claimed that he was still a farmer, and that with a party like the PMK, which “truly felt for the farmers”, by its side, the AIADMK will focus on the welfare of farmers.
Urging the people to vote for the PMK, Mr. Palaniswami said the impending Lok Sabha election will determine the “livelihoods of 130 crore” Indians and the “safety and security” of the country under a “strong leadership”.
He also criticised DMK leader M.K. Stalin, who had reportedly called PMK founder S. Ramadoss a stooge of the Chief Minister. “What is the age of the senior leader (Ramadoss) and what is his (Stalin’s) experience? This only shows how Stalin was raised,” he said.
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The AIADMK leader said the Opposition had floated ‘false’ manifestos that will have no strength unless there was unity among governments at the Centre and the State. “That is why the AIADMK-led alliance should be voted to power,” he said.
On his part, Dr. Anbumani urged the public to vote for the AIADMK candidates in the Harur and Paapireddypatty Assembly constituencies, where bypolls are due.
Need for national security
Earlier, beginning the campaign from Karamandurai in Salem, the AIADMK leader stressed the need for national security, against the backdrop of the recent terror attack in Pulwama in Kashmir.
Mr. Palaniswami began the campaign by offering puja at Vetrivinayaga temple in Karamandurai and sought votes for the DMDK’s candidate for the Kallakurichi Parliamentary constituency, L.K. Sudhish. The AIADMK’s Salem candidate K.R.S. Saravanan accompanied him.
“A stable government is necessary to ensure the security of the country. Only a stable government can ensure peace in the nation. We should vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure national security,” he said, while referring to the air strikes carried out by the IAF in Balakot and the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan.
Mr. Palaniswami alleged that Mr. Stalin was making false promises through his manifesto. He alleged that the DMK tried to stop the distribution of the cash dole of ₹2,000 to families living below the poverty line in the State.
Later, Mr. Palaniswami, while countering allegations pertaining to projects perceived as being anti-farmer, told journalists, “The erstwhile DMK regime granted permission for the methane and hydrocarbon extraction projects. After the return of the [former CM] Jayalalithaa government, we have opposed these projects.”