AIADMK launches Lok Sabha poll campaign

Chennai: The AIADMK has commenced the first phase work for the Lok Sabha elections next year and a decision on poll ties would be made when the situation warrants, AIADMK co-convenor and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said on Tuesday.
 
“I have already launched the election campaign for our party. And about 1,000 party members are going around the state on bicycles disseminating information on the achievements of Amma (late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa),” Mr. Palaniswami said. Speaking to reporters at Vandalur near here he said these ‘cycle campaigners’ would visit two constituencies every day.

 “Though the Lok Sabha election is still a year away, we have started our campaign well ahead,” Mr. Palaniswami said and exuded confidence that the people would repose the same faith they had placed on the party when former CM Jayalalithaa piloted the party to victory during the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

 To a question he replied, “it is too early for alliance. The party shall make decision on forming electoral alliance at appropriate time.”

 Asked if the emergence of new parties floated by actors would pose a threat to the AIADMK, the CM shot back, “for the last 28 years, the AIADMK has been the ruling party. No force can shake the party.”

 On the Centre’s move to replace the UGC with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), the CM said Tamil Nadu had already made it clear that the bill does not augur well for the states. “Our MPs will raise the issue in the Parliament and we will oppose scraping the UGC act,” he said.

 On the purported decision of Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy to solicit the support of TN political parties and farmers to build the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery, Mr. Palaniswami asked, “will Karnataka agree to give Cauvery water if it builds the dam?”