Senior AIADMK rebel leader and former Law Minister C. Ve. Shanmugam on Monday rebutted the criticism of the party’s whip in the Assembly, ‘Agri’ S.S. Krishnamurthy, that the blame for the party’s debacle in the Assembly election should rest with the district secretaries.
Addressing journalists outside the Assembly chamber on the premises of Fort St. George, Mr. Shanmugam wondered what had happened to the influence of general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami in 187 constituencies if he was instrumental in the success of the AIADMK in 47 constituencies. In his Villupuram district, the party had won three out of six seats. “Why did not Mr. Palaniswami have any hold in seven constituencies of his home district of Salem,” the former Minister asked, asserting that the alliance with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) paved the way for the victory of the party in 34 constituencies in northern districts. Who should be held responsible for the defeat of the party in 35 out of 37 constituencies in Chennai and three neighbouring districts, Mr. Shanmugam asked.
Accusing Mr. Palaniswami again of having attempted to become the Chief Minister with the help of the DMK, Mr. Shanmugam emphasised that he did indeed favour the proposal of letting Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan become the Chief Minister as Mr. Palaniswami told him and his colleagues at a meeting held at the former Chief Minister’s residence that the other idea did not find favour with some other parties. As the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the AIADMK were on the same page with regard to the stand against the DMK, there was nothing wrong in supporting the TVK, he said.
