Begin typing your search...
DMK, Cong engage in slanging match
Ties between DMK and Congress hit the rock bottom after leaders of both parties engaged in a slanging match in public, understandably, with the 2021 Assembly polls in mind.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Unlike in the past, even senior most leaders of DMK have started belittling their national ally following state Congress president KS Alagiri’s statement questioning the commitment of the Dravidian major to “alliance dharma” during civic polls. The statement had even prompted the DMK to boycott the meeting of opposition parties called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi last week.
A day after DMK Parliamentary party leader TR Baalu justified their abstention from the Delhi meeting due to the statement, DMK treasurer Duraimurugan said they would notbother if the Congress quit the alliance.
When reporters drew his attention to Alagiri’s recent joint statement on alliance dharma and the future of the alliance on Pongal day, Duraimurugan said, “We will not lose anything if they quit (the alliance). We don’t care if they walk out of the alliance, mainly I don’t.”Asked if it would not lose votes, a sarcastic Duraimurugan said, “Nothing to lose. Only if they have votes, we will lose.” On his colleague Baalu saying that only time would decide the future of the alliance, the DMK treasurer remarked, “He (Baalu) says time will tell. I am saying it right now,” apparently, suggesting that the ties have snapped.
Unsurprisingly, the stinker from the DMK second in command did not go unnoticed. Congress MP from Sivaganga Karti P Chidambaram reacted to the video of Duraimurugan’s presser on his official twitter handle with a message, “Why didn’t this wisdom dawn before the Vellore Parliamentary by election?” Chidambaram junior even cared to tag both Duraimurugan and his son Kathi Anand on the post.
A Congress senior, who did not wish to be named, defended the Congress MP and said, “How could we not react when he says our party does not have vote bank? Alagiri just ventilated the frustration of the party cadre. There is no reason to take the issue to this level.”
Meanwhile, TNCC minority wing leader Aslam Basha issued a statement in which he recalled the famous quote of DMK founder CN Annadurai on power being a shawl and principle being the veshti and pride of the party and wondered if the DMK led by Stalin has given the pride a go by. He also asked the DMK leadership, which had prioritised alliance confusion over principle, to clarify its ideology instead of testing the waters for 2021.
Udhayanidhi raps Rajini over Murasoli comment at Thuglak function
The DMK led by MK Stalin seems not to hold back like in the days of M Karunanidhi. Be it actor Rajinikanth or ally Congress, the DMK is maintaining a no holds barred approach in giving it back to the people who jab at the party. It was evident from the retort of DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin, also an actor, taking pot shots at Rajinikanth for drawing a controversial distinction between Thuglak and DMK party organ Murasoli. Participating in the anniversary of Thuglak, Rajinikanth had said, “People who hold a copy of Murasoli will be called DMK men. People who hold a copy of Thuglak will be called intelligent.” The distinction has evoked sharp response with Udhayanidhi calling the actor a rank opportunist who had adored Karunanidhi, MGR and Jayalalithaa as embodiments of chief Ministership, leadership and courage. In his Pongal greeting posted on his official Twitter handle, Udhayanidhi said, “Among swooning opportunist, a rationalist and self-respect driven DMK man is one who holds a copy of Murasoli. I am DMK person.” Joining on the issue with him, DMK supporter and Dravida Iyakka Tamizhar Peravai leader Suba Veerapandian picked holes in the speech of Rajinikanth at Thuglak anniversary and said, “People who read Viduthalai and Murasoli would know the truth and current affairs of the state. Intelligent people who only read Thuglak cannot be expected to know the history.” Recalling the famous beating of Lord Ram portrait in Salem in 1971, Veerapandian said the DMK won the seats in the same Salem where the alleged incident took place, whereas the Congress and Swatantra party supported by Cho Ramaswamy suffered defeat.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
