Chennai, Sept 28:
Former BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday criticised Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over his use of the word “mood” in a political remark directed at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, describing the innuendo as unacceptable.
Tamilisai said political leaders could use the word “mode” while seeking votes, but claimed that using “mood” in the context in which Udhayanidhi did so was inappropriate. She condemned the remark and said political discourse was increasingly moving towards the use of double meanings.
Her criticism came amid a fresh exchange between the DMK and the TVK over the latter’s proposal to construct a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam. Udhayanidhi has criticised the government over the proposal, while the TVK has strongly objected to the language used by the Opposition leader.
Tamilisai also targeted the TVK government’s liquor policy. She alleged that although the government had announced the closure of more than 700 liquor outlets, it was simultaneously expanding liquor sales through concessions to bars and proposals for liquor outlets along with restaurants.
She questioned whether such moves would amount to a betrayal of women who had voted in large numbers. The comments reflected the BJP leader’s criticism of the government’s stated liquor policy and its implementation.
Tamilisai also entered the debate over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. She said TVK leaders should instead thank the SIR exercise and claimed that without it, Rajmohan would not have become a Minister and Joseph Vijay would not have become Chief Minister. She criticised those opposing the exercise merely because other parties were doing so. These were her political claims regarding the electoral process.
The BJP leader also sought clarity over the government’s plans for Pattinapakkam and raised questions about power supply. She criticised what she described as the practice of purchasing MLAs, terming such alleged political transactions contrary to democratic principles.
Tamilisai’s remarks add another dimension to the growing political dispute over the proposed Secretariat, the SIR exercise and the government’s liquor policy, with the Opposition and ruling parties continuing to trade allegations in the run-up to the by-elections.Shanthi asks: ‘Am I being made accused for exposing Veeramani’s misdeeds?’