Statement from Pudukottai
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu state secretary Shanmugam has said there is currently neither a “DMK alliance” nor a “secular progressive alliance” functioning in the state.
Speaking in an interview in Pudukottai, he said the CPM’s decision to extend outside support to “Thaveka” was taken independently by the party, and not due to anyone’s prompting or approval. He added that he had already clarified this earlier.
When asked about remarks attributed to him and references to the DMK leadership, Shanmugam said questions on what he meant should be directed to the DMK leadership, and reiterated that the question of whether the CPM is in the DMK alliance does not arise now because, according to him, such an alliance does not exist at present.
He also said the “secular progressive alliance” is not in place now. However, he noted that on issues concerning Tamil Nadu’s welfare, the CPM would join hands with the DMK and fight together wherever there is agreement on specific issues.
