Chennai, Aug 25:
Opposition Leader and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday launched a sharp attack on the TVK government, accusing it of diverting attention from public issues, corruption and failing to respond to questions raised by the Opposition in the Assembly.
Speaking at a welfare assistance programme organised by the DMK in Chennaiâs Parimunai, Udhayanidhi said the party would learn from its electoral setbacks and work towards a bigger victory in the next election.
Referring to former minister Sekarbabu, Udhayanidhi said, âSekarbabu may think that I am angry with him. It is not anger but disappointment and the sense of responsibility I have towards him and his district.â
He said the DMK could cite several reasons for its electoral defeat, including the attraction of cinema and social media among youngsters, but stressed that the party must accept its defeat in the Kolathur segment as a lesson.
âWe cannot accept the defeat in Kolathur. We must learn from it and turn it into a major victory in the next election,â he said.
Udhayanidhi claimed that the TVK government had secured only 108 seats against the 118 required for a majority and was dependent on the DMK. He alleged that the government had merely renamed schemes introduced by the previous DMK regime.
âChange, change, they said, but they are delivering disappointment. Wherever you look, there is corruption,â he alleged.
He also claimed that Left parties had begun raising their voice against the functioning of the government.
âGovernment is diverting every issueâ
Udhayanidhi accused the government of diverting attention whenever the Opposition raises questions in the Assembly.
âSince this government came to power, there has been nothing but diversion. When we raise people’s issues in the Assembly, the Chief Minister does not answer them. If we question one minister, three other ministers respond,â he said.
He also criticised the functioning of the Assembly, alleging that ruling party members were speaking more than the Opposition and that remarks made by ruling party members were being removed from the records.
Udhayanidhi said the live telecast of Assembly proceedings, introduced during the previous DMK regime, should continue, but ministers should be restrained from making irrelevant remarks.
âOpen the filesâ
Udhayanidhi also renewed his challenge to the Chief Minister over three files he had referred to earlier.
âI spoke about the files 72 hours ago. I expected the Chief Minister to respond, but he has not spoken about them. If you have the courage, open the files. Who is stopping you?â he said.
He alleged that the government was attempting to intimidate MLAs and accused the Chief Minister of merely âcreating fearâ without taking action.
Targets ministers with nicknames
Udhayanidhi also mocked the ministers, claiming that many people knew them only by their nicknames.
âPeople do not know the names of several ministers. If you mention their nicknames, they know who you are referring to â âSangi Ministerâ, âLottery Ministerâ, âMurukku Ministerâ, âThiruttu VCD Ministerâ, âBathroom Ministerâ and âPowder Ministerâ,â he said.
He further criticised the government’s decision to provide cars to MLAs, saying DMK legislators had themselves opposed the move and offered to forgo the vehicles.
On delimitation, Udhayanidhi said the DMK had been among the first to raise the issue and urged voters to teach the government an appropriate lesson.
âThe DMK government made Tamil Nadu number one. Today, the state’s development is heading towards the bottom,â he alleged.
The event, titled âPorali Oyvathillaiâ (The Fighter Never Rests), saw welfare assistance distributed to senior DMK cadres, womenâs self-help groups, students, trained women, sportspersons, transgender persons and persons with disabilities. Mayor Priya, MP Dayanidhi Maran and former minister Sekarbabu were among those present.