Stalin justifies DMK seeking Congress votes in RS poll

WELCOMING THEIR LEADER: DMK treasurer M.K.Stalin being garlanded byparty cadre at a public meeting in the city on Sunday. Photo: G. Moorthy

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer and former Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Sunday justified the party’s seeking the Congress votes in support of its candidate in Rajya Sabha election, M.K.Kanimozhi.

“In democracy, it is common for political parties to seek votes even from the cadre belonging to the opposition party. We sought the support of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Puthiya Tamilagam and also the Congress,” Mr.Stalin said.

The DMK had pulled out of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre after the Congress failed to meet the demands of the DMK on Sri Lankan Tamil’s issue. “We announced that we will not have any alliance and seat sharing with the Congress. That was for the Lok Sabha or the Assembly elections,” he said.

The DMK had every right to seek votes from the Congress as its five MLAs had won because of the hard work of the DMK cadre and the Congress did not contest the election, he said.

“It was the political tactic of party president M.Karunanidhi that helped the DMK to win a Rajya Sabha seat despite having only 23 MLAs,” he said, and flayed the media for criticising the party on the issue.

Mr.Stalin also took a dig at DMDK founder Vijayakanth for making a “wild” allegation that the DMK had an understanding with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the just-concluded Rajya Sabha election for six seats.

“We never got any votes from the AIADMK. But, seven DMDK votes went in favour of the AIADMK. This means it was the DMDK that had an alliance with the AIADMK,” Mr.Stalin said.

The DMK leader flayed the State Government on the law and order front.

The ruling party failed to keep its promise of providing uninterrupted power supply by August 2012, and the only achievement of the AIADMK Government was frequent shuffling of ministers, IAS and IPS officers, he noted. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s decision to stay in Kodanad for “a few weeks” will affect decisions being taken on important issues. Besides, the tax-payers’ money would be wasted on movement of officials and ministers, he added.

The party urban district unit handed over Rs.1.80 crore for the Lok Sabha elections at the meeting.