AIADMK co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said that his party would only support [in the Lok Sabha polls] those “who do good to the people of Tamil Nadu”.
His comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP’s doors were open for an alliance in the State, including any tie-up with “old friends”.
“As far as we are concerned, our stand is that those doing good to the people of Tamil Nadu should come to power at the Centre. We will support only those who do good to the people of Tamil Nadu. At the same time, we will not accept anyone who betrays the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said at a party function in Chennai.
Claiming that the AIADMK was the only political party that solved the problems of the people, Mr. Palaniswami alleged that dynasty politics was dominating other political parties. “If you take the DMK, [late DMK leader] Karunanidhi was there and [DMK president] M.K. Stalin has come and [Mr. Stalin's son] Udhayanidhi is likely to come,” he said.
Benefits for family
The late leader had given an MP’s post to his daughter Kanimozhi and former Ministers Dayanidhi Maran and M.K. Alagiri could come to positions only because they were part of the family, Mr. Palaniswami claimed.
“Only in the AIADMK, even a party worker can come to a high position. Though there are several parties in the country, the AIADMK is the best ruling government,” he claimed.
Listing out the people’s welfare schemes being implemented in Tamil Nadu, including distribution of ₹1,000 cash support for Pongal festival to the people, Mr. Palaniswami said the AIADMK's popularity among the general public was on the rise.
Tearing into DMK president M.K. Stalin, Mr. Palaniswami said that the DMK leader, who had not visited the rural areas earlier, was now visiting them.
This was because Mr. Stalin was born and brought up in Chennai and he could not understand the issues faced by people in rural areas, Mr. Palaniswami said.
“When he was the Rural Development and Local Administration Minister, he could have provided water supply, electricity and drainage facilities to rural people. He is taking up those issues now,” the CM said.
Rejecting the DMK’s contention that it was the AIADMK that postponed the local body polls, the Chief Minister said it was the DMK that moved the court during former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's tenure. Mr. Palaniswami also welcomed over 1,000 party members from other political parties who chose to join the AIADMK.
