DMK seeking votes on Amma’s name, says Panneerselvam

Chennai: Accusing the DMK of allowing violence to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam dared the DMK to explain its contribution to the development of the State.

Contending that its involvement in fostering development is little, he said that party has now come to the stage of seeking votes on Amma's (late CM J. Jayalalithaa) name. “What have you (DMK) done for the people of the State? Now you are showing photos of our Amma and asking for votes,” he sarcastically remarked while campaigning for his party's candidate for Mayiladuthurai S. Asaimani on Thursday.

Panneerselvam's dig at DMK comes in the wake of its president M.K. Stalin's poll assurance that his party would probe the circumstances leading to the death of AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, when his DMK comes to power. While addressing an election rally at Madurai in support of his coalition CPI (M) candidate Su Venkatesan, recently, Stalin said the cause of Jayalalithaa's death still remained a mystery. He also claimed that India is back by 45 years in terms of development after the BJP-led NDA came to power.

Fight between Dharma and Adharma:
While campaigning in Tiruvarur, Panneerselvam who is coordinator of AIADMK, likened the poll battle between the AIADMK-led combine and the DMK's Secular Progressive Alliance, as a fight between dharma and adharmic forces. The alliance led by AIADMK is an amalgamation of dharmic forces treading the path of development, he said.

Recalling the efforts of late Jayalalithaa in waging a legal battle on the Cauvery issue and also in getting the gazette notification of the Cauvery tribunal's final verdict, he said the AIADMK always had the interest of the people in mind and had shown concern to the people's suffering. The party leaders never gave up on the issue of rights concerning the state. But, despite sharing power with the Congress, the DMK failed to protect the rights of Tamil Nadu, he added.