Candidate endorsed by DMK will become the next Prime Minister, says MK Stalin

Chennai: DMK president M.K. Stalin has claimed that only the candidate endorsed by his party will become the next Prime Minister. Also, he assured to waive off the students’ education loans besides provide old age pension to all senior citizens.

Addressing a gram sabha meeting at Thorapalli near Hosur in Krishnagiri district in the State on Saturday he said the farmers’ crop loans would be completely waived off if the DMK combine comes to power. "What I am now saying is sure to happen. We will announce this in our election manifesto (for the Lok Sabha election) also. We will write-off the education loans of the students if the DMK-combine forms the government at the Centre."

Also, without taking into account political affiliations, the DMK would provide old age pension to all senior citizens, he said while addressing a massive crowd. Apart from assuring to waive off the farmer's loans, Mr. Stalin said his party would take steps to hold the local bodies elections immediately after coming to power. The DMK president reiterated that there is likelihood of the by-elections to the 21 Assembly constituencies to be held simultaneously with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In December last year while speaking at a function held under the aegis of the DMK to unveil the statue of his father and late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here, Mr. Stalin had endorsed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's name as the opposition's PM candidate to defeat the 'fascist' Modi government at the Centre.

He later justified his endorsement. However, on Saturday he did not mention Rahul's name but said the candidate endorsed by his party would become the next PM.

Mr. Stalin also justified his Gram Sabha meetings, which were criticised by the ruling AIADMK and ally BJP, and said he had completed 98 per cent of the meetings. He called upon his party's union secretaries to strive hard and ensure the party's victory in the elections.