New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin expressed optimism over the victory of the DMK-led alliance in the state assembly elections. He claimed that they would be able to win more than 200 seats in the polls, while he also attacked the BJP for trying to use the women quota as a “weapon” against the opposition. He also conducted firearms training at AIADMK president Edappadi K Palaniswami, the Enforcement Directorate and the Centre.Stalin said that the secular progressive alliance, including the Congress Party, Left parties and VCK, will win a resounding victory in the 234-member parliament and form a Dravidian model 2.0 government. He claimed that five years of governance and welfare measures had strengthened public support for the DMK. “People have given immense love and trust to my party and with their support, SPA will win more than 200 seats and form a Dravidian model 2.0 government,” he said.
Women’s quota
The chief minister said the Union government is not serious about enforcing reservation for women and accused the BJP-led Center of trying to use it against the opposition ahead of the delimitation exercise. “The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservation for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have taken immediate action. Instead of doing so, the BJP-led Center is thinking of using it as a weapon against the opposition and doing delimitation exercise based on population,” he said.Reservation for women must be implemented immediately and must not be linked to delimitation, he added. Stalin also said that Tamil Nadu was the first to raise its voice on the delimitation issue after realizing that the state could be affected, and believed that those states with successful population control measures should not be punished.
Attack on EPS
Stalin dismissed Palaniswami’s allegation that his family was a “center of power”, calling it a fiction meant to divert attention from the DMK government’s record. He also hit back at the AIADMK chief’s criticism of women’s safety and law and order, saying the Pollachi sexual assault case remains a reminder of the failures of the previous regime.He claimed that the AIADMK lacked ideology or principles and called the Delhi BJP its headquarters. He accused Palaniswami of “silence” on the delimitation issue and said the AIADMK leader actually supported the BJP’s stand.
Emergency Room and Benefit Claims
Stalin described the ED’s actions in the TASMAC and sand mining cases as a “drama produced by the Center and staged by the ED” and accused the agency of becoming “slavish”. He said the so-called TASMAC scam and illegal sand mining cases were politically based.He also defended the government’s welfare schemes, saying the Rs 1,000 monthly benefit for women and the breakfast scheme for school children were among his top initiatives. He said the women’s rights program will be increased to Rs 2,000 in the next semester, while the breakfast program will be expanded to Class 8.The move comes as the April 23 Tamil Nadu assembly elections approach, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. Stalin said the DMK-led alliance has remained strong since 2019 and will also perform well in Puducherry, which goes to polls on April 9.
