Alleging that the AIADMK was hoping to win the upcoming byelections to the Nanguneri and Vikravandi Assembly seats through money power, DMK MP Kanimozhi on Tuesday said the ruling party will, however, face defeat yet again, much like it did in the Lok Sabha polls.
Speaking to reporters at Thoothukudi airport, Ms. Kanimozhi accused the AIADMK of supporting the BJP government at the Centre despite the latter actively pursuing anti-Tamil Nadu projects under the guise of development.
According to her, the ‘enlightened’ electorate will ensure the defeat of the AIADMK in the byelections, without falling prey to its bribery attempts.
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Countering Ms. Kanimozhi’s remarks, Information Minister ‘Kadambur’ C. Raju denied that the AIADMK engaged in ‘cash for vote’ politics and said the electorate in Thoothukudi district was very much aware of who had purchased votes with ill-gotten money during the last Parliamentary polls.
Mr. Raju alleged that the DMK had introduced and fine-tuned the strategy of facing elections with money power, but was pinning the blame on the AIADMK. “Will Ms. Kanimozhi declare that she did not win the last Parliamentary election with money power? She ensured her victory by giving money to every voter, and hence, it is not appropriate for her to put the blame on the AIADMK, which will win the electoral battle in Nanguneri with a thumping margin of over 50,000 votes,” Mr. Raju claimed.
He also denied Ms. Kanimozhi’s allegation that the AIADMK government had failed to attract industrial investments into the State, claiming that the maiden Global Investors’ Meet in Tamil Nadu, organised by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, had attracted hefty investments.
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Besides, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, the United States and the United Arab Emirates had attracted over ₹8,000 crore in investments into Tamil Nadu, potentially generating employment for 30,000 youth, he said.
“She is making baseless allegations against us out of frustration, and the people, who have personally seen the DMK’s achievements in attracting industrial investment into Tamil Nadu, know that her claims are hollow,” Mr. Raju said.