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AIADMK to Realign with BJP Post-Polls: Chidambaram

Chidambaram noted that the AIADMK had been part of the BJP-led NDA till September 2023 and that post-elections, the revival of their earlier bonhomie was a certainty…reports Asian Lite News

 Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday claimed that the AIADMK will again align with the BJP after the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing Congress workers at Aranthangi in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai district while campaigning, he noted that the AIADMK had been part of the BJP-led NDA till September 2023 and that post-elections, the revival of their earlier bonhomie was a certainty.

The AIADMK and the BJP had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly elections together. However, it snapped ties with the BJP in September last year and is fighting the Lok Sabha elections along with parties like the DMDK, the SDPI, and the PT.

Chidambaram, while addressing media persons at Pudukottai later, accused the BJP of trying to destroy other political parties and cited the Income Tax Department’s notice to the Congress imposing a penalty as a clear example. He also alleged the BJP had itself collected a large amount through electoral bonds.

He also said that the people of the country would soon realise that the BJP idea of “One Nation, One Election” was nothing other than “One Country, One Party”.

Karti to contest from Sivaganga

Karti Chidambaram, son of P Chidambaram, filed his nomination from the Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat here on Monday.

Karti had won from the Sivaganga constituency in 2019 and has been entrusted with the responsibility again for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls on April 19.

“I’m thankful for the Congress party, for reposing faith in me again and allowing me to contest for the third time. I am very grateful to my party leadership… The entire alliance has come together. The three ministers from the DMK, DMK MLA, and Congress MLA were with me,” Karti told ANI after filing nomination,said

“The INDIA alliance will overwhelmingly win the Sivaganga seat as it will win every seat in Tamil Nadu. We have workers’ meeting from tomorrow onwards for the next six days and from the 1st March we will start a proper campaign where we’ll reach out to the public,” he added.

Congress released a list of candidates for seven seats out of nine in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

Last week, a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) announced the party’s plan to contest in nine constituencies spanning Tamil Nadu, including Thiruvallur (the reserved constituency), Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Krishnagiri, Karur, Virudhunagar, and Kanniyakumari.

Earlier, a three-time Congress MLA from Tamil Nadu, S Vijayadharani, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in the national capital, giving a major blow to Congress.

Meanwhile, former Telangana and Puducherry Governor and BJP candidate from South Chennai Tamilisai Soundararajan filed her candidature for the Lok Sabha elections and said that she resigned from the governor’s post because she wanted to “work directly for the people of the state.”

“The people want PM Modi to be Prime Minister again. South Chennai is a constituency with very responsible people and they’re longing for a good parliamentarian. The present MP is not very approachable. I will be very approachable. When I was in a constitutional post, I also used to interact with people. I resigned from the governor’s post because I want to work directly for the people,” Soundararajan told ANI on Monday.

DMK candidate Tamilachi Thangapandiyan and AIADMK candidate J Jayavardhan also filed nominations for South Chennai.

Voting for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will be held in the first phase of the general elections on April 19.

In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state. In 2019, DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with a 33.2 per cent vote share, Congress bagged 8 seats with a 12.9 per cent vote and CPI won two seats in Tamil Nadu.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. (IANS/ANI)

BJP’s SC Morcha chief in joins AIADMK

After he was denied the Chidambaram Lok Sabha seat for the forthcoming general elections, Tamil Nadu BJP‘s SC Morcha President, ‘Tada’ D Periyasamy, resigned from the party and joined the AIADMK on Saturday.

D Periyasamy joined the AIADMK in the presence of party General Secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).

It may be recalled that D Periyasamy had contested unsuccessfully on a BJP ticket from the Chidambaram constituency in the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, and from the Tittagudi Assembly constituency in the state elections of 2021.

He had joined the BJP after resigning from the Dalit political party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

He had earlier contested on a VCK ticket in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from Perambalur and in the 2001 Assembly polls from Harur. However he lost in both the elections.

It may be noted that the BJP is now contesting the Lok Sabha elections devoid of the AIADMK.

AIADMK General Secretary EPS had publicly stated that in the ensuing general elections, the fight was between the AIADMK and the DMK.

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AIADMK’s Erode Candidate Emerges TN’s Richest Contender

Aatral Ashok Kumar’s net assets amount to Rs 583.48 crore, making him a prominent figure in the electoral race..reports Asian Lite News

Aatral Ashok Kumar, the AIADMK candidate for the Erode Lok Sabha constituency, emerges as the wealthiest contender in Tamil Nadu’s upcoming general elections slated for April 19, based on the affidavit he submitted to the Election Commission. Kumar’s net assets amount to Rs 583.48 crore, making him a prominent figure in the electoral race.

His wife, Karunambika, who is the daughter of BJP MLA Dr. C Saraswathi from Modakkurichi in Erode district, possesses assets valued at Rs 69.98 crore, as stated by Kumar in his affidavit. The couple collectively holds Rs 10 lakh in cash, along with 10.1 kg and 10.6 kg of gold respectively.

Kumar’s movable assets are valued at Rs 526.53 crore, while his immovable assets, acquired and inherited, amount to Rs 56.95 crore. Meanwhile, Karunambika’s movable assets are worth Rs 47.38 crore, accompanied by immovable property valued at Rs 22.60 crore. Notably, neither of them carries any liabilities.

A resident of Erode aged 53, Kumar is a founding member and director of The Indian Public School (TIPS) and Amex Alloys Private Limited. Additionally, he established educational institutions such as TIPS School of Architecture, TIPS School of Management, TIPS College of Arts and Science, and TIPS Global Institute.

Educationally, Kumar holds a degree in electrical engineering from Coimbatore and pursued further studies in the United States, obtaining a Master’s from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and an MBA from the University of Indianapolis, Indiana. His professional journey includes stints at multinational corporations like Microsoft and Intel before returning to India to contribute to the education sector.

MDMK Erode MP on ventilator

Erode MP A. Ganeshamurthy, who attempted suicide after allegedly consuming insecticide, at his residence continued to be on ventilator support on Monday, said his relatives here.

The hospital has not released any medical update on him so far. The sitting Lok Sabha MP from the constituency was rushed to a hospital on Sunday.

The 76-year-old MDMK leader was, according to his close relatives, in acute mental stress after the DMK front denied him the seat.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections he won the seat with a margin of 2,10,618 votes by defeating his nearest AIADMK rival, G.Manimaran.

However, in the upcoming elections MDMK founder leader, Vaiko, pushed for the candidature of his son, Durai Vaiko, and ensured that MDMK got the Tiruchi seat instead of Erode.

The DMK front has fielded a youth leader, K.E. Prakash from Erode instead of Ganeshamurthy.

Prakash is considered to be close to Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and son of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

MDMK leader and son of Vaiko, Durai Vaiko, who is the party candidate from Tiruchi Lok Sabha seat, paid a visit to the private hospital in Coimbatore and met Ganeshamoorthy. However Durai Vaiko did not speak to the media after the visit.

A close relative of Ganeshamurthy told IANS that Vaiko had not informed him about changes, including the denial of ticket.

Udhayanidhi Reacts to PM’s ‘Sleepless’ Remarks

Tamil Nadu Sports Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “sleepless” remarks and asserted that the DMK party is not going to sleep till the party sends PM Modi and the BJP back home in the Lok Sabha elections.

“PM Modi says DMK is unable to sleep. Yes, our sleep is lost until we send you home. We are not going to sleep till we make the BJP go home. The gas cylinder in 2014 was Rs 450 and now it’s Rs 1200. Since the election came, PM Modi has done drama and decreased Rs 100. After the elections, he will again increase the price of cylinders by Rs 500,” Udhayanidhi said addressing a campaign rally in Thiruvanamalai district.

The DMK leader said that last year, in December, during the time of Cyclone Michaung, PM Modi did not visit Tamil Nadu but since the elections are nearby, the Prime Minister is visiting the state.

“Our CM has sought funds for Tami Nadu post cyclone from the centre, but not even a single rupee has been given to us till now. In the next 22 days, our cadres will go to each and every house, take responsibility and make sure you all make DMK win,” he added.

He further said that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister would give petrol for Rs 75 and diesel for Rs 65.

“June 3 marks the 100th birth anniversary of (late politician and former chief minister) M Karunanidhi and June 4 is Lok Sabha election counting. We will give a gift by winning all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said the DMK leader.

Earlier on March 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress and said that the ‘ghamandia’ alliance is afraid of the pace at which development is being undertaken by the present government in the country.

“The Congress and its ‘ghamandia’ alliance have problems with the inauguration of these development projects. They are sleepless because of these development projects. The Congress doesn’t have the strength to talk about development. When I inaugurate developmental projects, they call it the ‘Chunavi strategy’. Negativity, and only negativity, is the true characteristic of Congress,” PM Modi said.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged the people to utilise their votes to elect a ‘humane Prime Minister’.

While addressing the voters in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli, CM Stalin said that the people’s vote will decide if someone who respects the state and not hate the Tamilians becomes the PM.

Voting for all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will be held in the first phase of the general elections on April 19.

In the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state.

In 2019, DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with a 33.2 per cent vote share, Congress bagged 8 seats with a 12.9 per cent vote and CPI won two seats in Tamil Nadu.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. (ANI)

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AIADMK Demands Action from DMK on Cauvery

K. Palaniswami .

This comes a day after the Karnataka Government said that it will not be in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu even if the Centre asks it to do so…reports Asian Lite News

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami attacked the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over the Cauvery water issue and urged them to initiate legal procedures to ensure that the state receives its share of water.

The AIADMK leader also condemned Karnataka Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs remark to not release even a drop of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, even if the Government of India insists. Taking to his social media handle, Palaniswami posted on X, “Karnataka Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made a remark that he shall not provide even a drop of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, even if the Government of India insists. This outrageous remark has added fuel to the already fuming fire and deserves the utmost condemnation.” “As we approach summer, our state may be facing an acute water scarcity situation. Hence, I urge the Chief Minister of this inefficient government, @arivalayamgovernment @MK Stalin, to wake up, oppose his alliance partner, and immediately initiate legal procedures to ensure that TN receives its due share of water,” read the post.

This comes a day after the Karnataka Government said that it will not be in a position to release water to Tamil Nadu even if the Centre asks it to do so. Karnataka Chief Minister made these remarks on Tuesday after the BJP held a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park against the shortage of water in the state capital. Denying allegations by the BJP that the Karnataka government is releasing water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka Chief Minister said, “That’s all lie what BJP is saying, we can release water only if we have water. That’s a lie. When we don’t have water to release, we don’t even give a single drop of water to Tamil Nadu or any others.

Even Tamil Nadu didn’t ask for water.” Siddaramaiah further said that his state will not be releasing water to Tamil Nadu even if the Center directs it to do so. “We don’t have water to release. There is no question of releasing water. Even if Tamil Nadu asks or the Center tells us to release (water) we’ll not release. We will not give water to whoever it may be,” the Chief Minister said. Amid the water crisis in the city, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has prohibited the use of drinking water in swimming pools. Earlier on Tuesday, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised the central government for notifying the rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019.

The AIADMK leader called it a ‘huge historical blunder.’ The AIADMK leader alleged that this has been carried out for ‘electoral gains’ and ‘divide the people’. “The central government has made a huge historical blunder by this notification. AIADMK will never allow this Amendment Act. I would like to inform you that AIADMK will fight democratically along with the people of the country against this,” Palaniswami said. (ANI)

ALSO READ- AIADMK releases AI-generated clip of Jayalalithaa

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AIADMK releases AI-generated clip of Jayalalithaa

Palaniswami also released the party’s election slogan: “Let’s reclaim Tamil rights, Let’s save Tamil Nadu,” on the occasion….reports Asian Lite News

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated audio clip of AIADMK’s iconic leader and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa seeking support to party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami for the upcoming Lok Sabha election was released by the party on Saturday.

In the AI voice clip, released on her 76th birth anniversary, the former party supremo could be heard recalling the AIADMK government’s welfare initiatives and appealed to the members of the public to strengthen Edappadi K Palaniswami’s hands in establishing “people’s rule.” She repeated her popular catchphrase: “I am because of the people, I am for the people” (Makkalal naan, makkalukkagave naan).

Palaniswami also released the party’s election slogan: “Let’s reclaim Tamil rights, Let’s save Tamil Nadu,” on the occasion.

Annamalai hails Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Saturday remembered former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on her 76th birth anniversary.

“It is former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha’s birthday today. The welfare programs implemented by her for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu and for the welfare of the society shouts out her fame,” Annamalai said in a post on X.

Earlier AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswamy paid tributes to the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“Today is the 76th birthday of the Guardian of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Whether in government or in politics she served without any compromise, without doing any harm to anyone, with balance, equality and social justice. ..Let us pledge to continue on the path of success shown by her. All of us will pledge that the leaders of our association and the brothers and sisters of the association will work day and night for the election and get a great victory in the coming parliamentary general election and present that victory to the leader of the revolution” Palaniswamy said in his post on X.

“She embraced us all with love, taught us political lessons and guided us. On the birthday of our beloved mother, may we all work tirelessly to achieve great success! Let’s work!. The year 2026 will also be the year of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the state” he added.

Jayalalithaa, fondly called ‘Amma’ by the people of Tamil Nadu, served the state for three terms, 1991-96, 2002-06 and 2011-14 as chief minister.

She had acted in around 130 films. She joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1982.

She was made the propaganda secretary of the party in 1983, and a year later she won a seat in the Rajya Sabha. In 1989 Jayalalitha was elected to the state legislative assembly.

She was even imprisoned for a month in 1996 after a raid by authorities seized a large quantity of jewellery, clothing, and shoes from her home.

In 1998, Jayalalithaa brought the AIADMK into the national coalition government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with which the party has now severed ties.

In September 2014 she was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to four years in prison. She relinquished her post to O Panneerselvam, who had served as chief minister in 2001-02 when Jayalalitha was not able to hold the office. (ANI)

Three-term TN Cong MLA joins BJP

Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, a three-time Congress MLA from Tamil Nadu, S Vijayadharani on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in the national capital.

Union Minister of State L Murugan, BJP in charge, who has been given the responsibility of overseeing preparations for Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu and party leader Arvind Menon were present. The party’s co-incharge for the state Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy was also present.

Earlier in the day, Vijayadharani informed that she resigned from the primary membership of Congress through a post on X.

“I am resigning from the primary membership and related posts held by me in the Congress party,” she said.

She shared her resignation letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Vijayadharani, a three-time legislator, was elected from the Vilavancode Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari District.

The development is being seen as a blow to Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year.

The BJP is seeking to strengthen its base in states where it is relatively weak. Congress is part of the ruling DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

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BJP, AIADMK slug it out in charged-up poll battle in TN

Anticipating the early announcement of the poll, the ruling DMK has initiated talks with its allies on seat-sharing and is gearing up to bring out its poll manifesto….reports Asian Lite News

Friends turned foes – the BJP and AIADMK – are locked in a rancorous war at times becoming personal targetting BJP state chief K Annamalai, in a charged-up political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

Anticipating the early announcement of the poll, the ruling DMK has initiated talks with its allies on seat-sharing and is gearing up to bring out its poll manifesto.

Though a multi-cornered contest appears imminent, as of now, the political parties barring the DMK and allies are still hazy on alliance.

While former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami sees red at the mention of DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin, the loose cannons in his AIADMK devote more time on personally targetting Annamalai and sustain themselves in the limelight.

“Much of their ire is due to the BJP’s preference for former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam as a reliable ally than to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami,” a senior BJP leader said.

BJP has never been comfortable in the company of ambitious Palaniswami, who in a bid to garner the minorities votes has expressed opposition to the Uniform Civil Code.

The AIADMK General Secretary, who severed poll ties with the BJP in September last year, due to Annamalai’s aggressive politics, is engaged in forming an alliance under his leadership.

Another cause for heartburn for the AIADMK was the shifting of loyalties by 12 of its former legislators and a MP, recently, to the BJP. A former MLA each from the DMK, Congress and DMDK, too joined the BJP.

Ridiculing it, former AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar remarked “the Tamil Nadu Governor will invite Annamalai to form the government with those former MLAs.” Further, he likened the BJP state president to a “mud horse” and said Annamalai was creating an illusion that people were joining the BJP.

“Those who follow him are likely to disappear when the mud horse disintegrates in water,” Jayakumar claimed.

Both the Dravidian majors too have been welcoming a steady trickle of workers from other parties, as it is election time.

Though the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Left parties too have a presence in certain pockets in the state, they toe the DMK’s line.

While the ruling DMK is comfortably placed as its alliance is intact, AIADMK and BJP are vying to form an alliance with smaller parties. Other political parties such as the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi are yet to decide on an alliance and the options before them are only a few – either the BJP or AIADMK.

Parties such as actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam and actor Seeman-led Naam Tamilar Katchi would also be in the fray.

“Annamalai’s politics of publicity won’t work in Tamil Nadu,” claimed former AIADMK state Minister Kadambur Raju while Jayakumar, training his guns on Panneerselvam, claimed the latter would join the BJP after the Lok Sabha election.

Former AIADMK Minister R B Udayakumar, who appeared to go overboard in his criticism, called Annamalai a “Leghiyam (a traditional thick herbal medicine that boosts immunity) seller and said the BJP president was a political novice.

“Yes, I am Leghiyam trader. I sell the best Leghiyam to banish corruption, rowdyism and anarchy in Tamil Nadu. Those who consume my Leghiyam can see results of a good administration, and good leadership” Annamalai, dismissing Udayakumar as an “invalid currency” retorted while leading his six-month-old En Mann, En Makkal (My Land, My People) yatra, recently.

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Factional rivalries rock AIADMK as Sasikala’s shadow looms over it

Panneerselvam, who is the topmost leader of the party, attending the meeting had not gone down well with several party leaders, including party coordinator and former Chief Minister Edappady K. Palaniswami (EPS)…writes Arun Lakshman

Even as the DMK is basking in the glory of successive electoral victories from the General elections of 2019 to the recent urban local body elections, the opposition AIADMK battered and bruised is now facing a major organisational crisis.

The AIADMK Theni district committee has recently held a meeting in the farmhouse of former Chief Minister and party chief coordinator O. Panneerselvam(OPS) in which a resolution was passed to induct expelled former interim general secretary, V.K. Sasikala, and her nephew and AMMK leader, TTV Dhinakaran back to the party.

Panneerselvam, who is the topmost leader of the party, attending the meeting had not gone down well with several party leaders, including party coordinator and former Chief Minister Edappady K. Palaniswami (EPS).

However, Panneerselvam informed the state leadership that he had directed the party Theni district leaders that he would forward the resolution adopted to the party high command and that he was not part of the resolution.

A couple of days after the Theni district committee passed the resolution for inducting Sasikala and Dhinakaran into the party, the former interim general secretary embarked on a tour of South Tamil Nadu on Friday and Saturday. While she claimed that it was a pilgrimage tour to Thiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple in Tiruneleveli district and a few other temples, she met several senior AIADMK functionaries of the area.

Among the leaders who met Sasikala was O. Raja, younger brother of O. Panneerselvam, who was also the district president of Aavin, Tamil Nadu Milk cooperative. The meeting of the duo was publicized in all the media, courtesy of Sasikala’s office.

This raised major speculations and the faction close to Edappadi K. Palaniswami raised the red flag and forced Panneerselvam to take action against his younger brother for meeting Sasikala. O. Raja along with a few other leaders of Theni district of the party were promptly expelled with both OPS and EPS signing the expulsion order.

This was seen by political observers as a forced action on the party of OPS as he is close to Sasikala at a personal level, being from the same caste, the powerful Thevar community of South Tamil Nadu. The community has a major vote bank in the districts of Dindigul, Theni, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Ramanathapuram districts of the state, and several Theni community elders had argued the case of Sasikala before the AIADMK leadership. The backlash that the party suffered in South Tamil Nadu, considered its bastion, was mainly due to the Thevar community crying foul against it. The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam of TTV Dhinakaran also ate into the votes of AIADMK winning more than 100 seats in the urban polls, again with the support of the Thevar community.

While OPS was keen that Sasikala be back in the fold, the faction close to Palaniswami was dead against the entry of the former interim general secretary, senior leaders, and former ministers, D. Jayakumar and CVe Shanmugham openly came out against V.K. Sasikala.

Dr. R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai in South Tamil Nadu while speaking to IANS, said, “AIADMK politics is at a crucial juncture and the party has lost in its bastions of South Tamil Nadu and in Western Tamil Nadu. Both the leaders Panneerselvam and Palaniswami have egg on their faces as party candidates in their own home wards lost. While the reentry of V.K. Sasikala is almost a certainty as the powerful Thevar community has thrown its weight behind her, it is to be seen how the Edappadi faction will take it. Whether they assimilate and move ahead or whether they raise the banner of revolt will depend heavily on the future growth curve of the party.”

Sasikala, even though is not tested politically, has learned the tricks of the trade being a close aide of one of the sharpest political minds of Tamil Nadu, the late Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa. The acquaintance she had with Jayalalithaa has helped her have a direct connection with all the party grassroots cadre and lower level functionaries and this is a major advantage of her along with the Thevar community backing.

The former interim general secretary is maintaining an office at her T. Nagar residence and communicating with the lower-level party functionaries.

Dr. Umamaheswari, political analyst and Professor of a Chennai college, while speaking to IANS, said, “The charisma and leadership qualities of both OPS and EPS is at the lowest ebb after back-to-back electoral drubbing. Sasikala coming back to the party fold does not mean that everything will change overnight but the dual leadership of AIADMK has failed miserably and it needs a make-over. It could be Sasikala or someone else but her entry is imminent and the future politics of AIADMK will revolve around her.”

With the AIADMK in crossroads following the electoral drubbing and two factions close to the two most powerful leaders pulling at each other, it has to be seen whether the party can move ahead in the present manner or whether the party requires someone like Sasikala at the helm of affairs.

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A challenging year ahead for DMK and AIADMK

The AIADMK’s twin leadership will also have to contend with the ousted General Secretary V.K. Sasikala’s attempts to recapture the party…reports Asian Lite News.

It is going to be a year of challenges for the two major parties in Tamil Nadu — the ruling DMK under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the principal opposition party AIADMK led by Coordinator O. Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator K. Palaniswami.

After a gap of 10 years, the DMK government came to power in May 2021 after a convincing poll victory dethroning the AIADMK government.

With the honeymoon period getting over, the DMK government under Stalin will be under pressure to deliver on its various poll promises, reduce the spiralling prices and others.

On its part, the principal opposition party AIADMK will also be under pressure with the raids against its leaders and former Ministers by the state’s anti-corruption police.

The AIADMK’s twin leadership will also have to contend with the ousted General Secretary V.K. Sasikala’s attempts to recapture the party.

That aside, the opposition party will also have to meet the corruption cases registered against several of its former Ministers/leaders.

Fulfilling its poll promises that involve financial implications is going to be a major task for the DMK government given the debt and the interest burden.

The DMK had made over 500 poll promises, including a Rs 100 subsidy for cooking gas cylinders; monthly power metre reading; increase senior citizens pension to Rs 1,500; write off education/jewellery loans; monthly Rs 1,000 to women; scrapping of entrance exam of medical college admissions.

While the DMK government is claiming that it has fulfilled majority of the poll promises made, those opposed to the party say that most of them don’t involve financial implications.

Opposition parties in the state, the AIADMK and its allies like the BJP, have been citing DMK’s poll promise of reducing petrol price by Rs 5/litre and that of diesel by Rs 4/litre, and its failure to implement the same.

However the state’s Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, ruling out any reduction in the tax rates on the fuel, argued that the Union government has to roll back its taxes on the fuel to 2014 levels.

Rajan said that reduction in tax rates would reduce the state’s revenue by about Rs 1,050 crore.

He also recalled that the reduction of Rs 3/litre on petrol on August 13, 2021 by the Tamil Nadu government would result in a revenue loss of Rs 1,160 crore per annum.

The government has also said some of the poll promises such as reverting to the old pension scheme for government employees will not be met.

The DMK government has also not implemented its populist poll promises like Rs 1,000 per month dole to the female head of the family.

Rajan after declaring “once in a generation reforms a must” and “business as usual” approach cannot continue while presenting the white paper on the state government’s finances, came out with a relatively populist budget.

poll

“Though a white paper on the Tamil Nadu government finances spoke about the necessity to hike tax rates and other things for those who can bear it, the state budget that was presented was a usual one. Perhaps the state government may get into reform mode after the local body elections,” K.C. Palanisamy, former AIADMK MP and MLA, had told IANS.

The local body polls are expected to be held in 2022.

Further containing the spread of Omicron, a variant of Coronavirus is also going to be a major challenge.

On its part the major opposition party AIADMK and its leaders have their own share of challenges to face in 2022.

One of the poll planks of the ruling DMK was to bring to book the AIADMK Ministers who had indulged in corruption.

Already the anti-corruption wing of the Tamil Nadu government had carried out searches and raids on five AIADMK’s former Ministers – P.Thangamani, M.R. Vijayabaskar, C. Vijayabhaskar, S.P. Velumani, and K.C. Veeramani.

Cases have been registered against the former Ministers in the AIADMK government.

After suffering massive defeats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 2021 Assembly and local body polls, the AIADMK has to face the challenge of facing the polls for urban local bodies next year.

A defeat in the polls will put to question the efficacy of AIADMK’s dual leadership.

The AIADMK also faces the challenge of holding back its middle level leaders and electoral allies.

The two other parties to watch next year will be the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and the BJP.

The NTK which became the third largest party in the state in terms of vote share in 2021 assembly polls drew a blank in the rural local body polls.

Further, the Tamil Nadu BJP under its new President K. Annamalai has turned aggressive against the ruling DMK.

The BJP has four members in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

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