AIADMK stages protest demonstration in TN northern districts

CHENNAI: The AIADMK faction under the party's interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami staged demonstrations in northern districts of the state including at the state capital in protest against the price hike of essential commodities and the increase in electricity tariff.

The protest was held in Chennai, headed by former fisheries minister D Jayakumar and in the outskirts of Tambaram, it was former social welfare minister B Valarmathi.

Hundreds of AIADMK cadres carrying placards claimed that the hike in electricity tariff and property tax has affected especially middle-class people.

During the protest, Jayakumar demanded the state government an immediate rollback of electricity charges and the property tax hike.

With regard to the former chief minister and ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam's faction conducting the district secretary's meeting in Chennai, Jayakumar commented that it was not a party meeting.

"It is a private company meeting, which will not be recognized", he said adding that the participants, who attended the gathering were not AIADMK cadres.