Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed confidence on Sunday that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will secure victory in the Vikravandi assembly segment, attributing the anticipated win to the alignment of its principal rival, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Campaigning for DMK candidate Anniyur Siva in Vikravandi, Udhayanidhi asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu had already rejected the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha election. “Just as the voters of Tamil Nadu dismissed the BJP in the parliamentary elections, the electorate in Vikravandi will similarly reject the BJP-PMK alliance,” he declared.
Udhayanidhi recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made several visits to Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha election in an attempt to secure a seat, but his efforts were in vain. “Despite Narendra Modi’s six visits to the state, the people of Tamil Nadu did not vote for him,” he noted. “This time too, the people will not support the BJP front.”
Criticizing the BJP for its stance on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Udhayanidhi pointed out that while political parties in northern states are beginning to understand the issues surrounding NEET, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin has been advocating for its abolition for seven years. “Despite numerous demands to ban the medical entrance exam, the Union government has not heeded these calls,” he said.
Udhayanidhi further highlighted the contradiction in PMK’s alliance with the BJP, a party that refuses to ban NEET. “The PMK is now aligning with the BJP, which is opposed to banning NEET,” he stated. “In contrast, the DMK aligns with the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
Taking a dig at the AIADMK for boycotting the by-election, Udhayanidhi suggested that the party’s absence indicates a fear of both the DMK and the BJP. “The AIADMK is not only scared of the DMK but is also afraid of the BJP, which is why they are staying away from the by-poll,” he remarked.
The Vikravandi by-election has drawn significant attention, with major political figures actively campaigning. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of political sentiment in the region.