Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C Joseph Vijay came under attack from both the DMK and AIADMK on Friday ahead of the October 6 Dharapuram bypoll, with M K Stalin questioning his silence on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Edappadi K Palaniswami accusing him of poaching an elected AIADMK MLA.
Addressing a campaign rally in Dharapuram, Stalin questioned why Vijay had not spoken on the SIR controversy involving the Election Commission and asked whether the Chief Minister was “afraid of the BJP”.
Stalin said even parties extending outside support to the TVK government were questioning Vijay’s silence on an issue that had drawn criticism from political parties across the country. The Left parties, which support the Vijay-led government from outside, have also been critical of the regime on several issues.
“What is your fear, CM sir, what is the fear? If you cannot open your mouth even on an issue on which all leaders across the country are speaking, what is the reason behind it? CM sir, are you afraid of the BJP so much?” Stalin said.
The DMK chief also targeted Vijay over a remark made during the latter’s recent campaign in Dharapuram, alleging that the TVK founder had “uttered the truth” by admitting that his own party was a branch of the BJP.
“I am happy TN CM Vijay uttered the truth by admitting that TVK is a branch of BJP,” Stalin said.
The remark referred to a viral clip from Vijay’s Dharapuram speech in which he appeared to say “TVK” while discussing a party’s earlier relationship with the BJP. Reports on the speech said Vijay was apparently referring to the DMK but used TVK instead, triggering criticism from his political opponents.
Palaniswami, meanwhile, attacked Vijay over former AIADMK MLA V Sathyabama’s decision to resign from the party and subsequently contest the Dharapuram bypoll on a TVK ticket.
Addressing a rally in support of AIADMK candidate K Bhanumathi, Palaniswami questioned why Sathyabama had resigned after being elected on the AIADMK’s two-leaf symbol and then immediately joined the TVK to contest the bypoll.
“Two days ago, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay came here, introduced the candidate, and sought votes. If an elected candidate resigns midway, joins another party, and immediately after joining that party, an election is announced, and she is fielded as a candidate on behalf of that party, then something must have happened. What was the need for her (V Sathyabama) to resign? Who voted for her? It was the people who voted for her,” Palaniswami said, according to ANI.
He accused Vijay of attempting to strengthen the TVK by bringing elected representatives who had won on AIADMK tickets into his party.
“They voted for the AIADMK’s two-leaf symbol and elected her. Vijay wants to protect the TVK government and ensure that it remains in power. For that purpose, Vijay made candidates who had contested and won on behalf of the AIADMK resign and join his party. Is this fair? Vijay has stolen our MLA,” Palaniswami said, according to ANI.
He appealed to voters to back the AIADMK in Dharapuram and predicted that the party would retain the seat.
The Dharapuram and Madurantakam bypolls were necessitated after AIADMK MLAs elected from the two constituencies resigned and subsequently joined the TVK. The party has fielded Sathyabama in Dharapuram, while the AIADMK has nominated Bhanumathi.
The two bypolls have intensified the contest between the DMK, AIADMK and the newly formed TVK, with Vijay having campaigned in Dharapuram on Wednesday and sharpened his attacks on both established Dravidian parties.
The bypolls will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)