Asserting that DMK president M.K. Stalin would never become the Chief Minister, Chief Minister and AIADMK co-coordinator Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday said the DMK moved a no-confidence motion against Speaker P. Dhanapal as it was not sure of winning the byelections to 22 Assembly constituencies in the State.
Seeking votes for V.V. Senthilnathan, the AIADMK’s candidate for the Aravakurichi bypoll, at Velayuthampalayam on the outskirts of Karur, Mr. Palaniswami said Mr. Stalin had stated in Madurai that the DMK would win in all 22 constituencies and would form the government with the support of MLAs from Opposition parties. “If this is the case, what is the need for the DMK to plan a no-confidence motion? Mr. Stalin knows pretty well that the DMK will bite the dust in the byelection,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
Contrasting himself with Mr. Stalin, the CM said he was one among thousands of cadre who stood on the streets to get a glimpse of AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and listen to his speeches. The AIADMK was a party of the masses. The cadre, irrespective of their background, could climb up the political ladder. It was because of hard work and sincerity to the party that he reached the level of Chief Minister — a post he had never dreamt of holding, Mr. Palaniswami said.
Mr. Stalin, on the other hand, had been dreaming of becoming CM for long. The dream would never come true. It would end up being just a daydream. The AIADMK will score a massive victory in the bypolls with the support of the people, Mr. Palaniswami said.
Reiterating his allegation against DMK treasurer Durai Murugan in connection with the seizure of cash by Income Tax officials, Mr. Palaniswami said the entire country knew that the Election Commission rescinded the Vellore Lok Sabha poll following the seizure of crores of rupees from Mr. Durai Murugan’s house and those of his associates.
The poll was rescinded as his well-orchestrated plan to bribe voters in support of his son got exposed, Mr. Palaniswami said.
Launching a scathing attack on the DMK candidate for the Aravakurichi constituency, V. Senthil Balaji, Mr. Palaniswami said he betrayed the AIADMK and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who made him a Minister.
Nearly 15,000 cadre, including several Ministers, worked hard for Mr. Balaji’s victory in the Aravakurichi election in 2016, he said. “But he joined the traitors. It was because of his luring tactics that a group of AIADMK MLAs took sides with traitors. And now, Mr. Balaji has joined the DMK, leaving them in the lurch. He has switched three parties in three years. The voters should teach him a lesson by ensuring his defeat in the Aravakurichi bypoll,” the Chief Minister said.
Addressing the media in Salem, the CM reiterated his claim that the DMK moved a no-confidence motion against the Assembly Speaker since Opposition leader M.K. Stalin was not confident about securing victory in the Assembly byelections.
‘Ready for civic polls’
Denying the allegation made by the Opposition parties that the government was deliberately delaying the local body elections, Mr. Palaniswami claimed the ruling party was ready to face the civic polls anytime.
“It is the State Election Commission that has requested [more] time to conduct the local body polls. The State government was ready to conduct the local body elections back in 2016 itself,” he said.
Mr. Palaniswami said the AIADMK would win all the four Assembly seats where byelections are due on May 19.
When asked whether the shutters of the Mettur dam would be opened for irrigation in the region, he said it would depend on the rainfall and inflow to the dam.
