Chennai, Sept 11:
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has urged voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram to question the need for the October 6 Assembly bypolls, alleging that the elections had become necessary because of defections engineered by the ruling TVK.
Speaking after a recent meeting between AIADMK leaders and the BJP state leadership, Nagenthran said the BJP would extend full support to AIADMK candidates contesting the bypolls. He said the party’s support could be particularly significant in Dharapuram, where the BJP has a sizeable vote base.
Nagenthran alleged that the two legislators had won their constituencies only three months ago as members of another alliance but subsequently resigned or switched parties following what he described as “horse-trading” by the TVK. The same seats were now going to polls again, he said.
He said voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram should ask why the bypolls had become necessary and pointed out that such elections imposed an avoidable financial burden on political parties as well as the government.
The BJP leader also criticised the TVK government over law and order. He claimed that around 160 sexual assault cases and more than 200 murders had been reported in the State and alleged that even TVK functionaries had been hacked to death in broad daylight.
Nagenthran also questioned the proposed Rs 1,200-crore Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam. He alleged that the project had not been adequately planned and said the proposed 25-acre site was insufficient for a 20-lakh-square-foot complex, for which he claimed at least 45 acres would be required.
He suggested that the government consider the 35-acre government land available at Guindy as an alternative site for the Secretariat complex.
The BJP state president also criticised remarks allegedly made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly concerning former Chief Minister MK Stalin’s appearance. Nagenthran said personal attacks had no place in the Assembly and questioned the ruling alliance’s claim of being secular.
Instead of revisiting issues dating back several decades, Nagenthran said, TVK leaders should concentrate on policies and measures that would directly benefit the people.