Countdown for DMK government’s time in office has begun, says Nainar Nagenthran

The countdown for the DMK government in Tamil Nadu has begun, and its life has been left with only 177 days, said BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran. He was addressing a public meeting organised to mark the beginning of his Tamilagam Thalai Nimira, Tamilanin Payanam campaign in Madurai on Sunday.

Recalling the remarks of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah could not defeat the DMK in the Assembly election, he said, “Even Mr. Shah has said that he will not defeat the DMK, but the ruling party will be defeated by the very people of Tamil Nadu.”

Mr. Nagenthran’s campaign will cover 67 BJP party districts across Tamil Nadu, where he will meet the people and hear their grievances. He said the DMK was planning to reduce the number of seats to be allocated to its alliance partners during the Assembly election even as its allies, such as the Congress and the VCK, aimed to be part of the next State Cabinet. The AIADMK has made its alliance with the the BJP, which is known for leaders with discipline.

Stating that no State can progress without the help of the Centre, the BJP leader said even former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran maintained a cordial relationship with the Union government during his tenure, and Tamil Nadu benefited from the funds given by the Centre.

“Even the previous AIADMK government, headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, got a whopping ₹40,000 crore from the Centre. Only a double-engine government can bring development to the State (with the help of the Centre), and it would benefit the people,” he said.

Tamil Nadu has seen a rise in crimes, proliferation of drugs, increase in property tax and electricity charges, and price of milk, he alleged. “Hence, we are taking up the campaign to make Tamil Nadu proud by bringing about a change of guard in the State,” he said. Even after completing over four years of Government, the Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, was now promising that the women who were left-out would get the benefits of Mahalir Urimaithogai scheme.

The death of 41 persons in the stampede during the TVK rally in Karur was a reflection that the police force in the State was not under the control of the Chief Minister, Mr. Nagenthran added.

Union Minister L. Murugan, AIADMK’s Sellur K. Raju, R.B. Udhayakumar, and V.V. Rajan Chellappa, and former BJP State president K. Annamalai, Vanathi Srinivasan (BJP), G.K. Vasan (TMC), A.C. Shanmugam (New Justice Party), were among those who participated in the meeting.