In his first major attack on the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led State government, AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) leader O. Panneerselvam on Friday labelled it a “benami government”— a term often used by DMK working president M.K. Stalin.
He also warned that the State could witness a snap election soon, signalling that the current government would not last its term.
“This government is functioning like a benami government. You (Ministers) said you were keeping them (Sasikala and family) away. But it is not matched by your actions. Sasikala is still the general secretary of the party and T.T.V. Dhinakaran is still the deputy general secretary. People are watching you. You can’t fool them,” Mr. Panneerselvam said at a meeting of party cadre at Kottivakkam.
ADVERTISEMENT
‘Sleeping with eyes open’
According to him, there was now a debate in the State as to whether the local body polls or the Assembly polls would be held first. “Whichever poll comes first, we will take MGR and Jayalalithaa’s vision to the people. But there is no need to assume that local body polls will happen first. There is a big chance of another Assembly election coming soon,” he said.
The former Chief Minister said those running the government were acting like they were sleeping with their eyes open.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The party should be run by the cadre and the government should be for the people, just like MGR and Amma ’s (Jayalalithaa) rule. No one should go to someone’s family to get a party post. Only if a party person deserves and does service to the people of the State, should they get posts,” he said, attacking Sasikala and her family. He added that the party should be free from the clutches of family politics as was envisioned by MGR. “The party should not go to the family of OPS, or Maitreyan’s family, or K.P. Munusamy’s family,” he said.
Mr. Panneerselvam hit out at the Chief Minister and Ministers saying that they had gone off the path laid by Jayalalithaa. “These people should once again be brought back on track. Our dharma yudham (fight for justice) is a step for that and we will win,” he said.The AIADMK (PTA) leader reiterated his demand for a CBI inquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death.
Targeting the Ministers, he said they were playing out a drama to mislead the people. “If you want to come out of this drama and this hold (of Sasikala’s family), you should issue directions for a CBI inquiry,” Mr. Panneerselvam said.