CPM says police cannot save DMK rule, seeks double-digit seats

CPM targets governance, alliance seat share

Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Shanmugam said the DMK government must build public confidence that those responsible for incidents across Tamil Nadu—including the Manamadurai lock-up death—will face action.

Speaking at a CPM meeting in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district, he said swift action against the police personnel concerned would have prevented prolonged protests. He added that the DMK government cannot be “saved” by the police and that it is people who ultimately sustain an elected government.

On alliance dynamics, Shanmugam noted that the DMK has allotted additional seats to the Congress. He also referred to talk that the DMDK could be offered more seats, apart from the Rajya Sabha MP seat it had already been given.

Shanmugam said the CPM will not settle for the same number of seats it contested last time and will try to secure a double-digit seat share, aiming to increase its MLA count.

He also commented on actor Vijay, who has launched a new party, asking what minimum goal he has set to “change” Tamil Nadu. Shanmugam said merely branding the DMK as an “evil force” is not enough and that youth power must be used effectively.