TTV Dhinakaran attacks AIADMK’s poll ties with PMK

SALEM: In a veiled yet sharp attack on the AIADMK’s electoral alliance with the PMK for the April 18 Lok Sabha polls, the AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran said those claiming to legacy of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, were now in truck with those who even opposed a memorial for ‘Amma’ after her demise.

“This (EPS-OPS) government has gone to the extent of betraying the memory of Jayalalithaa and the people of Tamil Nadu,” Dhinakaran said campaigning at Ayodhyapattinam area on the outskirts of Salem on Sunday for the AMMK Kallakuruchi Lok Sabha constituency candidate, Gomuki Maniyan.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was indifferent to Tamil Nadu until parliament elections were announced; now he wants to make trips to Tamil Nadu every other day. That’s probably why Ms Jayalalithaa had asked the people during 2014 Lok Sabha polls campaign ‘will people vote for this lady or Modi’, Dhinakaran recalled, taking a dig at the Prime Minister’s supreme indifference to Tamil Nadu issues.

Dhinakaran assured the tribal population of Kallakurichi constituency that AMMK if voted to parliament, will get Central assistance for tribal welfare schemes, develop Kalvarayan hills into a tourist destination. The AMMK will work for the all-round development of all sections of the people of Tamil Nadu, he assured.

Later, campaigning for the AMMK Salem Lok Sabha candidate, S K Selvam at Seelanaickanpatti area, Dhinakaran expressed the hope that AMMK candidates would win in large numbers in the Lok Sabha polls to be able to influence the government formation in Delhi after May 23. The Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK needs to win at least eight of the 18 Assembly by-elections to retain power in Tamil Nadu, but “they will not be able to achieve that,” he said, adding, a change of government in Tamil Nadu also could be expected after May 23.