Ruling party hits back at Congress over BJP tie-up

Speaking on the floor of the Assembly, Ramasamy accused the AIADMK of not conducting the by-polls for 21 vacant constituencies, as well as the local body polls. In response to this, Palaniswami said it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of India to conduct elections, adding that his party is always ready to face the polls. 

Hitting back, Ramasamy said the AIADMK, after the death of J Jayalalithaa, had lost the RK Nagar by-poll and hence fears facing elections. Local Administration Minister S P Velumani questioned whether the Congress was ready to face elections without forming an alliance with either of the two major Dravidian parties. Ramasamy immediately retorted, by stating that the even ruling party cannot face the elections alone and is now controlled by a national party.   

In his comments, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said: “Former Chief Minister Annadurai dealt a deadly blow to the Congress in 1967. The national party could never come up since then, because of which it is riding on the back of either the DMK or the AIADMK to win seats