Dharapuram (Tamil Nadu), Sep 30 (PTI) Chief Minister and TVK president C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday sharpened his attack on the main opposition DMK and hit out at the key Dravidian major AIADMK by accusing it of having betrayed its iconic leaders M G Ramachandran (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa by virtually backing the DMK.
He pitched his TVK as truely public service-oriented and also accused the Dravidian giants of having plotted against TVK’s government formation efforts.
Slamming at the “feudal” DMK, he said his founded Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam is focussed on public service and that many of the MLAs are members hailing from humble backgrounds.
Addressing a public meeting here for the October 6 bypoll, Vijay yet again dubbed main opposition party DMK as an evil force and sought votes for his party’s candidate P Sathyabama.
He urged the people to teach a fitting lesson to the AIADMK and DMK who tried to “scuttle” government formation initiatives by the TVK by plotting together.
Vijay said voting for either the AIADMK or DMK does not make any difference and alleged that both parties were just the same. Both pretend outwardly, but they have a tacit understanding, he alleged.
Rejecting horse-trading allegations against the TVK in the backdrop of AIADMK legislators, such as TVK’s Dharapuram bypoll candidate Satyabama joining his party, Vijay said she resigned as MLA first before joining TVK.
Seeking to strike a personal chord, Vijay reiterated that he stood before the people not as the CM but as their “son and brother,” seeking votes for TVK.
Keeping the promise of corruption-free governance, the TVK regime has been implemnting its poll promises and it includes 200 units free power. He also outlined other initiatives including gold-ring plan for newborns, expansion of breakfast scheme for school children, crop loan waiver for farmers, closure of over 700 liquor outlets near schools and places of worship, setting up of Singappen special force for women safety and refurbishment of 630 Amma Canteens that offer food at subsidised rates.
He informed that fare-free bus travel scheme will be expanded across the state from October 2 and from Pongal next year, three free LPG cylinders annually will be provided to beneficiaries. The CM also explained the welfare measures and initiatives for Tiruppur district.
The government is aware of the basic needs of the people and in order to fulfill them, he appealed to the people to vote for his party.
Launching yet another attack on the DMK, he said though it was defeated in the Assembly polls, some in that party behaved otherwise and expected obeisance. The TVK, however, does not have that kind of a “fuedal mindset”. His party does not have a “secret benami-like pact” with the evil force DMK to function with selfishness, Vijay asserted.
The TVK followed Dravidian icon CN Annadurai’s dictum of “go to the people.”
“We have come to politics for the sake of working for the people. People have placed immense failth on us. We will honour that trust,” the TVK chief said.
“History has repeated itself” as the TVK’s nominees from ordinary backgrounds defeated “DMK’s king and feudal lords,” in Assembly polls.
This was what DMK general secretary Duraimurugan indicated when he recently remarked that during Annadurai’s times ordinary people won. Sarcastically, Vijay wondered what issue the DMK leader had with the party brass.
Seeking to pay DMK chief M K Stalin in his own coin, Vijay said usually actors performed during film shooting. However, Stalin has become seasoned by “acting” on the stage and he has become experienced in it.
Referring to Stalin raising his hands and thanking people of Kolathur constituency for not voting for him, he said it was an admission of lapses in his previous government.
Stalin had slammed TVK regime’s conduct of Assembly proceedings and thanked people in that context so that he need not be in the House to watch such proceedings.
Vijay said Stalin may have to repeat such thanks to people in future too and alleged that he was using disrespectful remarks as well. The more the DMK does it, the people will elevate the TVK.
Further, he slammed Stalin for claiming to respect people’s verdict but working to disturb the elected government by plotting and by way of attempting to have truck with those with whom the DMK should not have a tie-up.
Vijay reiterated his allegation that the AIADMK has become a branch of the DMK as it merely followed DMK’s toolkit and in every respect, including in issuing similar statements.
“Both the AIADMK and DMK are just the same. There is one owner for them both (a hint at the BJP). Whatever conspiracy you may plan, the God and people are with us,” Vijay said.
Asserting that iconic leaders MGR and Jayalalithaa had opposed the “evil force” DMK tooth and nail, he wondered if it was not an insult to such stalwarts if a “conspiracy was hatched to form a government by joining hands with the DMK.”
That was the reason why an anugished Sathyabama quit her MLA post and resigned from the AIADMK and joined the TVK.
“There was no horse-trading. She duly resigned her post and joined the TVK. When we have the people’s support where is the question of horse-trading. People never made such allegations of horse-trading. It is the DMK and the AIADMK who are spreading such slander.”
In this context, he also blamed the AIADMK for propping up the DMK as the MGR founded party today was surprisingly disappointed when he spoke about Sarkaria Commission report over corruption during DMK regime.
However, Vijay said it was only him who boldly opposed the DMK like MGR and Jayalalithaa.
Vijay underscored his party’s commitment to secularism and asserted that “all religions are our religion, all religions are acceptable; we are not against anyone’s religious faith.”
It respects every faith and that is why TVK’s ideology is secular, social justice principle.
“The name of our alliance is Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance. We will extend wishes for Krishna Jayanthi, Christmas and Bakrid as well. For us, all are equal. We will never be like the DMK, which merely pretends,” the chief minister added.
Promising to go to any extreme to do good for the people, he posed a question to people.
“Will you vote for the evil force DMK or to the AIADMK which betrayed MGR and Jayalalithaa,” he asked and recalled the Kongu (western TN) region’s consistent support to the two leaders who opposed the DMK.
“You are hardworking people. You will stand by the side of truth. Please vote for Sathyabama in whistle symbol and make her win. If you vote for the DMK or AIADMK, it does not make any difference as both the parties are just the same. Outwardly they pretend but both have tacit understanding. Do not believe the lies spread by the two parties. You must teach a fitting lesson to them both who conspired to scuttle government formation by the TVK.”
Vijay ended his speech saying TVK regime marked the rule by the sons from ordinary background.
Earlier, after landing in Coimbatore, Vijay travelled to Dharapuram, located in Tiruppur district by road. His travel on a caravan turned into an impromptu road show, with party supporters and people lining up on either sides of the road to greet him and a catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician. They also showered flower petals and presented him gifts on the way, with his convoy pausing briefly during such occasions. PTI VGN SA
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.