EPS made AIADMK caste-based party: OPS

Tenkasi: Former chief minister O Panneerselvam launched an attack on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami as well as BJP on Friday even as he praised chief minister M K Stalin, in his maiden campaign speech after joining the DMK. He alleged that Palaniswami had ‘transformed AIADMK — which was once a party for all — into a party based on caste.'The Union govt tried to intimidate Tamil Nadu by not providing funds to the state, but chief minister M K Stalin implemented all necessary schemes by using Tamil Nadu's own funds, he said. Panneerselvam, who recently joined DMK, commenced his assembly election campaign from Tenkasi district, and addressed campaign meetings in Tenkasi, Kadayanallur and Sankarankoil constituencies. He said CM Stalin provided excellent governance for the past five years, hence people desire Dravidian Model 2.0 to continue under his leadership. Stating he was happy to join ‘Thai Kazhagam' (DMK), which is effectively working for the welfare of the people, Panneerselvam said, "The souls of late AIADMK leaders M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa will bless me."On AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Panneerselvam said, "I do not even wish to utter that person's name—the one who crawled his way to power." He crowned himself as general secretary and betrayed the very person who granted him his office, he said. OPS said after EPS became general secretary, AIADMK lost all the elections, but he was only bothered about his own welfare. "He mortgaged AIADMK to those (BJP) who are attempting to create a division in the name of religion in the state. J Jayalalithaa's soul will not forgive him," said Panneerselvam, and added that people of southern districts would teach him a lesson.Later, asked by reporters about the law and order situation in the southern districts, he said, "Everyday problems are bound to arise; the real question here is whether the govt took immediate action to address them. The DMK govt is, indeed, taking such immediate measures." On NDA seeking votes highlighting Union govt schemes, he said an election represents the collective verdict of the people. "The very same verdict people deliver to the Union govt will go to the state govt as well. Taxpayers' money from Tamil Nadu flows to the Union govt. When allocating these funds back to the state, the Union govt must do so in a balanced manner," he added.