Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday alleged that the DMK was trying to win the byelections through ‘dubious’ means and promises.
Canvassing for the AIADMK’s Aravakurichi candidate, V.V. Senthilnathan, at Venjamangudalur, Mr. Palaniswami said people had lost confidence in the DMK and were not ready to vote for the party. Noting that DMK president M.K. Stalin was trying to connect with the people by organising thinnai pracharam, receiving petitions and promising action on their grievances, he said, “This is nothing but an attempt to hoodwink the people. Is the DMK in power in the State to take action on the petitions? Mr. Stalin never visited villages to meet the people when he was the Deputy Chief Minister or a Minister. Now, he is enacting a drama.” Referring to DMK candidate V. Senthil Balaji’s promise of providing three cents of land to 25,000 poor and landless people in Aravakurichi, Mr. Palaniswami said that would require about 1,100 acres. “Where does he have such huge tracts of land? Mr. Stalin had echoed the promise and assured that he will extend the scheme to other districts. It was akin to the promise made by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to provide two acres of land to the landless poor. The scheme remained on paper. The DMK is making dubious promises to get votes,” he said.