Thoothukudi remarks
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday said actor-politician Vijay was free to contest elections alone if he wished, adding that “only after the election” would he understand the realities of politics.
Seat talks with Puthiya Tamilagam
Speaking to reporters in Thoothukudi, EPS said the AIADMK had not held direct talks with the Puthiya Tamilagam party. He said the party had conveyed, through an intermediary, that it could not allot the 5 to 10 seats that were sought.
Seat-sharing based on vote strength
EPS said seat allocation in alliances is typically decided based on a party’s vote share and electoral performance. Referring to the party’s earlier performance, he said it had contested 31 constituencies and secured about 33,000 votes, and argued that seat demands should reflect such numbers.
Law and order criticism
EPS also alleged that law and order in Tamil Nadu had deteriorated, claiming even parties in the DMK-led alliance were raising concerns. He cited the reported sexual assault and murder of a school-going girl in Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district as an example.
On AIADMK-BJP alliance
Responding to criticism about alleged differences within the AIADMK-BJP alliance, EPS said there was “not even a small mustard seed” of a problem and urged the media not to misrepresent the situation. He contrasted it with what he described as prolonged negotiations and public disagreements within the DMK-led alliance.
