Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu), Mar 31 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday said a decisive mandate for the DMK-led alliance will ensure more development to the state.
Appealing to the people to “teach a lesson” to AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami allegedly for attempting to bring the BJP to the state, he said every vote cast for the AIADMK will go in favour of the BJP.
“We should not allow the BJP to enter Tamil Nadu. The union government has not ensured new projects for the state or allotted the funds sought by the state government. They want to impose Hindi and Sanskrit through the National Education Policy,” Udhayanidhi said while campaigning at Hosur in Krishnagiri district.
He claimed that only Chief Minister M K Stalin had the courage to question the Centre’s action in “snatching the state’s rights in education and finance.” The DMK youth wing secretary addressed poll rallies at Thalli and Hosur in Krishnagiri district, Harur, Pappireddipatti and Palacode in Dharmapuri district and Tiruvannamalai north of Tamil Nadu during his day-long tour in support of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance candidates.
He urged the party members to meet the people and explain the DMK government’s achievements, the poll promises, and how Tamil Nadu would be betrayed if the AIADMK-led NDA was elected.
At Pappireddipatti, he said the DMK will prove that the party and Chief Minister M K Stalin are the real champions, irrespective of the teams challenging the party in the April 23 election.
According to him, the AIADMK was attempting to help the BJP gain a foothold in the state. The ensuing election was a contest between Tamil Nadu, the soil of self-respect, and the Delhi team.
“Regardless of the teams arrayed against us in the polls, we will prove that the DMK and our Chief Minister are the real champions,” Udhayanidhi said.
“Will you prove that the DMK and our CM are the champions? Will you do it? Will you prove that Tamil Nadu, the land of self-respect, is always out of Delhi’s control and that there’s no room for subservient groups in the state?” he asked, and the crowd replied with a loud “yes.” He took a dig at the “frequent” visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state and alleged that both leaders did not give any major projects for the state.
In Harur Assembly constituency, where DMK’s A Shanmugam is contesting, Udhayanidhi said though the DMK-led alliance lost Harur (to AIADMK) seat during the 2021 election, the party did not ignore development in the constituency and provided Rs 400 crore worth road infrastructure projects, new buildings in government hospitals, laid roads in hill areas, developed temple town and established Rs 6 crore worth ITI in the constituency.
“We lost Harur seat last time. We should not commit the same mistake again. We must ensure a big victory this time. So, send Shanmugam to the Assembly for more development in the constituency,” the DMK youth wing leader said.
He underscored that development was the DMK’s priority and that the welfare schemes of the DMK would continue if Stalin was given a second term in office.
In Tiruvannamalai, he appealed to the people to “teach a lesson” to Palaniswami for allegedly attempting to bring the BJP to the state and ensure a decisive mandate to the DMK-led alliance for the party’s “2.O regime” in the state.
Palaniswami and Prime Minister were perfectly matched like a “lid that perfectly fits the jar,” Udhayanidhi claimed.
The April 23 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu was a combat between Chief Minister-led SPA and Palaniswami, who wanted to “bring” the BJP to the state.
“While we are striving hard to develop the state and launch numerous welfare initiatives, Palaniswami wants to bring the BJP here. He is an apt slave to PM Modi. As I said earlier, Palaniswami is a savage follower of the Prime Minister,” Udhayanidhi said.
People should prove that Tamil Nadu is out of Delhi’s control and “we should retrieve our rights,” he said and reiterated that the ensuing election was a fight between Tamil Nadu and Delhi.
He said CM Stalin introduced free bus travel for women, implemented monthly grant for them and now announced the Rs 8,000 “Illatharasi” coupon scheme for homemakers, thus continuing the women empowerment initiatives of his late grandfather M Karunanidhi who had introduced gas stove to reduce the burden of women and also provided the free television sets to help them be aware of the developments around.
After addressing a rally in Palacode, Udhayanidhi sipped tea at a local shop and later interacted with the public and women on the state government’s welfare initiatives, including the free bus travel for women and the monthly grant of Rs 1,000 to women. PTI JSP JSP ROH
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