Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai firmly countered BJP president K. Annamalai’s assertion that Tamil Nadu had received more schemes under the 10 years of the BJP regime at the Centre compared to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
In a strongly-worded statement, Selvaperunthagai condemned and refuted Mr. Annamalai’s claims. He highlighted the numerous projects and developments that Tamil Nadu benefited from during the UPA regime. Among these were a new vehicle testing facility in Oragadam, the establishment of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, the National Institute of Siddha, and various road and infrastructure projects. Additionally, funds were allocated for upgrading the airports in Madurai and Tiruchi.
Selvaperunthagai accused Annamalai of engaging in petty politics merely to attract media attention, adding that the public would not accept such tactics.
In a related development, the DMK’s official newspaper, Murasoli, published a scathing editorial titled ‘Ethanai Soodu Patalum Thirunthata Jenmam’ (The creature that would not reform even if it burns its fingers repeatedly). The editorial criticized Annamalai, stating that he had not changed despite his repeated accusations against others backfiring on him.
Apart from BJP Minister and Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi facing ‘crime against women’ charges, there were two other Ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet, Shantanu Takur and Sukanta Mujamdar, who were facing murder charges (IPC 307), the editorial said.
Annamalai had quoted a report of an NGO, Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), based on the details in the affidavits filed along with the nominations by the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, the editorial said, adding that he had not realized that in the process he was exposing the rampant criminality among the BJP candidates.
This exchange marks the latest in the ongoing political tussle between the BJP and the Congress in Tamil Nadu, as both parties vie for public support and political dominance in the state