AIADMK mocks at Stalin for "filmi campaign," DMK hits back

As electioneering for the August 5 Vellore Lok Sabha seat election peaked, arch rivals AIADMK and DMK traded charges on Tuesday with the ruling party mocking at opposition leader M K Stalin for taking up a 'filmi' style campaign. DMK president Stalin was seeking votes attired like a film actor and his campaign was a "set-up" in which participants played a predetermined role, the AIADMK claimed.

The DMK hit out at Chief Minister K Palaniswami over his remarks that the front led by it won 38 seats in the April Lok Sabha polls by giving "assurances that cannot be fulfilled" and asked him first to implement promises made by his party. Vellore, where the polls in April were countermanded following seizure of huge amount of cash, is going to the polls on August 5 with the AIADMK fielding its ally New Justice Party leader A C Shanmugham and DMK Kathir Anand, the son of DMK leader Durai Murugan.

AIADMK daily "Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma" in a write up said: "At the farmers market in Vellore, Stalin wore a T-shirt and trousers and dressed himself up like an actor, and sought votes." It alleged various events during Stalin's campaign tours such as people and students taking selfie with him and the DMK leader listening to the woes of the public were 'staged' and people were hired for it. Countering Palaniswami's remark that none of the DMK's poll promises could be implemented, the party in its mouthpiece "Murasoli," said "ask us if the assurances can be fulfilled or not when the DMK assumes power." The organ demanded that the AIADMK tell the people if it has implemented its electoral promises and the steps taken to fulfill them.

"The AIADMK manifesto says rain water will be prevented from emptying into the sea and that it will be stored and routed to districts facing drought. Have you implemented this ?" it asked. The DMK organ also said the AIADMK could not so far prevent the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test despite an assurance in its manifesto that it would secure exemption to Tamil Nadu.

"The DMK will implement its assurances. Let Chief Minister Palaniswami implement the AIADMK's poll promises and then pose questions," the daily said..