Chennai: Minister Nirmal Kumar on Wednesday claimed that the DMK and AIADMK had initially planned to fight the by-election together, but later decided to contest separately with the intention of splitting votes.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, he said there was “no setback” for his party in the by-election. He alleged that unrest emerged after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) attempted to align with the DMK and form a government, leading some to resign and join what he described as a party with public support.
The minister further alleged that the DMK and AIADMK had considered fielding a single candidate together before changing course. He claimed that the public was not opposing his party’s candidates, but that DMK and AIADMK cadres were doing so in a planned manner, including raising slogans through organised groups.
On the issue of resignations, Nirmal Kumar said there was nothing wrong in MLAs stepping down if the AIADMK decided to ally with the DMK, and alleged that resignations happened because they could not accept EPS’s “betrayal.” He also said trustee committee members acted independently in Madurai temple consecration works, and questioned why PTR was removed from the finance minister post if he had performed well.
