PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss on Friday said that DMK president M.K. Stalin is refusing to learn the lesson taught by the people of Vikravandi in the recently concluded byelection.
In a statement, Dr. Ramadoss said that defeat was a great teacher but Mr. Stalin’s comments on DMK’s loss in Virkavandi shows that he was not ready to learn anything.
“M.K. Stalin has said that the reason for his loss is that certain parties had instigated ‘caste-feelings’ among the voters. These are nothing but just new lies. Those who observed the Vikravandi byelection campaign will know which party pandered to instigating caste feelings among the people,” said Dr. Ramadoss. He said that PMK had received 42,000 votes in Vikravandi constituency in 2016 and that PMK had campaigned by pointing out the achievements of AIADMK government and what the people of constituency would gain if they voted for the AIADMK.
“However, M.K. Stalin, who sensed that people were against the DMK, said on October 7 that his party would provide sub-quota reservation for Vanniyar community and listed all Vanniyar leaders in the DMK. The whole exercise was an insult,” said Dr. Ramadoss. He urged the Vanniyars in DMK to wake up.
‘No support’
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder Thol. Thirumavalavan on Friday said that AIADMK’s victory in Nanguneri and Vikravandi assembly bypolls did not mean that it had the support of the people.
“It only means that their illegal strategies have won. People know how the AIADMK government has won,” he said.
Mr. Thirumavalavan said that ruling party winning the bypoll had become a norm. “The Election Commission has many a times spoken about the strategies used by the ruling party to win the assembly bypolls. Therefore, we cannot come to a conclusion that people are supporting the BJP-AIADMK alliance,” he said.
He demanded that the State government hold the local body elections if the AIADMK thought that it had the support of the people.
“Why are they not holding local body elections? Why are they seeking time to hold the elections in the Supreme Court,” Mr. Thirumavalavan asked.
