Euphoric support of voters for TVK a thing of the past: says CPI(M) leader P. Shanmugam

The visible euphoric support of voters for TVK prior to the Assembly election was conspicuously missing in the runup to the bypoll, CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said in Tiruppur on Tuesday.

Mr. Shanmugam, who campaigned for CPI candidate P. Lakshmanan in Dharapuram constituency, told mediapersons the Left parties anticipate victory in Dharapuram and Madurantakam counting on the large presence of the working class in both constituencies. A stronger presence of MLAs of Left parties in the Assembly would mean better articulation of the issues confronting them in the Assembly, Mr. Shanmugam said.

While the Left Front holds the TVK responsible for “imposing” bypoll on people, the outcome of the hustings will not in any way affect their stand on extending outside support to the State government.

The AIADMK MLAs of Dharapuram and Madurantakam could have as well continued as Independents after quitting the AIADMK. “Where was the need to resign? What was offered to them by the TVK?”, Mr. Shanmugam questioned.

The CPI (M) leader questioned the rationale behind the TVK government, with its secular posturing, permitting the conduct of ‘Ram Yatra’ Natyanjali Festival at Dhanushkodi by the Tourism Department to celebrate World Tourism Day. The State government owes an explanation, he said.

Citing the persistent efforts of Karnataka government to secure the Centre’s consent for construction of Mekedatu Dam across Cauvery river, Mr. Shanmugam called upon Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to heed the Left parties’ appeals for holding all-party meeting and deliberations with all farmer associations. The Central government cannot be trusted on the issue.

The Chief Minister should lead a combined delegation to meet the Prime Minister to convey Tamil Nadu’s decisive stand that the Mekedatu project which would cause desertification of the delta districts and lead to drinking water scarcity in 20 districts will not be accepted.

Mr. Shanmugam also demanded withdrawal of the Order on establishment of a new Assembly Complex at a cost of ₹1,200 crore in Pattinapakkam. Feasibility for the project could be explored in the Race Course area or Koyambedu where the requisite government land is available.

The Left parties will stand with the fishermen and hold protests if the TVK government proceeds with the Assembly Complex project in Pattinapakkam where the shoreline is the nesting area for turtles, and had bore the brunt of Tsunami.