Tamil Nadu CM dubs DMK-led alliance 'opportunistic'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Wednesday, April 3 dubbed the rival DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance "opportunistic" and claimed that it has lost the people's faith. Canvassing votes for the BJP candidate from Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, H Raja, he said the NDA was a "successful alliance" which was based on principles.

"The alliance headed by DMK is an opportunistic one. It has lost people's faith," he said.

The ruling AIADMK is leading the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu, the constituents being BJP, PMK, DMDK, TMC and some smaller outfits. The Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK, has the Congress, MDMK and the Left parties besides a couple of smaller parties.

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Referring to the MDMK joining the SPA, Palaniswami recalled its chief Vaiko had earlier walked out of the DMK complaining of family politics and that he had said DMK chief M K Stalin was "unfit" for any post.

"Today he (Vaiko) says he will make Stalin Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," he said. In Erode Parliamentary constituency, MDMK was contesting on DMK's Rising Sun symbol, he pointed out, adding "this is the kind of opportunism" in the DMK-led SPA.

Taking a swipe at Stalin, Palaniswami said the latter enjoyed posts by virtue of the "clout" of his father, the late DMK president M Karunanidhi, and therefore was unaware of the struggles faced by grassroots level party workers.

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Pitching for a second term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami, also AIADMK joint coordinator, said the country needed a "strong, efficient and determined" leader like him to handle issues like terrorism.

"We have forged (such an) alliance to ensure he returns, to power at the Centre," the chief minister added.