CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday supported the ECI’s decision to transfer Chief Secretary N Muruganandam and hit back at the remarks of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK’s parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi.
Edappadi cautioned Kanimozhi that her court case remains unresolved, and her “reckless” remarks could lead her back to Tihar Jail. He alleged that Kanimozhi, though sidelined (in the DMK), has been tasked with attacking him. EPS also lambasted Kanimozhi for charging that he had betrayed the AIADMK.
“I toiled for the party for 51 years and was imprisoned on many occasions for the party. But Kanimozhi had gone to jail only for corruption. That is the difference,” he said.
Palaniswami said the ECI has transferred the officials who had acted as supporters of the DMK for the past five years to ensure free and fair elections. “Why do they (CM and others) bother about such transfers? It’s because they (the DMK) are dependent on such officials and not on the people,” he told reporters.
Campaigning for former minister D Jayakumar in Royapuram, Palaniswami criticised the CM for his “Amit Shah DMK” remark and sought to know what was wrong in meeting the Union Home Minister. Claiming that the DMK leadership is getting rattled whenever he called on Shah, EPS asked,
“Is Amit Shah from Pakistan?” Attacking the ruling party for “family” politics, he said there are four power centres in the DMK government. He also attacked the ruling party on poor law and order, safety of women, and drug menace.
Later, campaigning in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar for Porkodi Armstrong, wife of former BSP leader Armstrong, Palaniswami said, “The DMK government has obtained a stay from the Supreme Court against the HC order on CBI probe into the murder of Armstrong. If AIADMK comes to power, a fair investigation will be conducted and real culprits, no matter how influential they are, will be brought to justice”.
Palaniswami addressed public meetings in Chepauk-Triplicane, Thousand lights, Royapuram, Harbour, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Egmore.