Sellur Raju slams Communist parties

AIADMK senior leader and former minister Sellur K. Raju launched a strong attack on the Communist parties in Tamil Nadu, accusing them of staying silent over the recent custodial death of a youth in Sivagangai district. Addressing reporters, Raju said the communists, who often claim to stand for social justice, have chosen to look the other way for the sake of securing two assembly seats in the upcoming elections. “Selective Silence on Human Rights” Raju questioned why the CPI and CPI(M), who usually raise their voices over alleged police excesses and civil rights violations, have not condemned the Sivagangai incident. A young man reportedly died after being taken for police interrogation, sparking public outrage. However, the communist parties, part of the DMK-led alliance, have not reacted publicly. “Why this silence now? Is it because you are afraid of losing seat allotments from the DMK? This double standard shows that their commitment to justice is selective,” Raju said. Raju also used the opportunity to welcome over 100 former AMMK members into the AIADMK fold. He said many grassroots workers and local leaders are disappointed with breakaway parties and are returning to the AIADMK, which they believe is better positioned to take on the DMK in the upcoming assembly elections. He claimed that the AIADMK is regaining its ground and is preparing for a state-wide campaign to highlight the failures of the ruling DMK government. Sellur Raju also criticised the ruling party for what he called “poor governance” in Madurai. He accused the DMK-led city corporation of mishandling development projects, particularly the Smart City Mission. He said Madurai, which was once a model city during the AIADMK regime, has now become disorganised and plagued with civic problems. He called on voters to question parties that remain silent on serious issues and accused the DMK and its allies of putting politics over people’s welfare. He expressed confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu are watching closely and will give a fitting response in the elections. The statement comes amid rising political tensions ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, with parties now sharpening their attacks on each other and repositioning their alliances. @@