3 months ago
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CPI(M) State caput P. Shanmugam said the DMK-led confederation would triumph the 2026 Assembly elections successful Tamil Nadu, thereby disproving the assertion that the Dravidian enactment is incapable of securing consecutive electoral victories and forming the government.
“I accidental this due to the fact that the confederation is precise strong. All large parties are portion of it. In the past, the DMK did not instrumentality to the streets against the Union government. Now, the enactment has clarity connected issues and is mobilising its cadres against the anti-people policies of the BJP government. The 3rd origin is the people-oriented payment schemes of the DMK government. There is nary alternate to the contiguous DMK confederation that tin override each these factors successful its favour,” helium said successful an interrogation with The Hindu.
Mr. Shanmugam dismissed the statement that the AIADMK had gained spot by bringing unneurotic estranged leaders. “It is not caller strength. There is simply an effort to mend a breached AIADMK. It is simply a breached pot, and the BJP is trying to hole it. There is nary affectional cohesion,” helium stated.
“Edappadi Palaniswami (AIADMK leader) refused to see (expelled coordinator) O. Panneerselvam. There are reports that Sasikala (former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s aide) is readying to motorboat a abstracted party. Even T.T.V. Dinakaran joined the confederation nether definite compulsions and pressure. Can they adjacent travel unneurotic to organise Jayalalithaa’s commencement day celebrations?,” the CPI(M) person asked.
He besides contended determination was nary clarity betwixt the BJP and the AIADMK connected who would pb the alliance. “Mr. Palaniswami says the AIADMK volition signifier the government, portion the BJP says the NDA volition signifier a conjugation government. Union Minister Piyush Goyal appears to beryllium deciding who should instrumentality the lead, portion Mr. Palaniswami remains a broadside histrion and a mute spectator,” helium charged.
BJP’s actions favour DMK
Mr. Shanmugam further said the governmental conditions were wholly favourable to the DMK-led confederation successful Tamil Nadu. “One of the cardinal reasons is the bias of the BJP-led Union authorities successful allocating funds and granting approvals for schemes. The prevailing sentiment is powerfully against the Union government, which works to the vantage of the DMK,” helium said.
Reiterating that the payment schemes of the DMK authorities provided an added advantage, helium said the confederation had remained beardown and cohesive for the past 8 years. “The confederation partners person been agreed successful conducting agitations and campaigns connected issues concerning the payment of Tamil Nadu. Taken together, these factors importantly trim the prospects of the Opposition alliances,” helium said.
CPI(M) not successful favour of full prohibition
Asked astir the DMK’s committedness to unopen down State-run TASMAC liquor shops successful the past and giving it up subsequently, Mr. Shanmugam said his enactment did not favour full prohibition. “Drinking has been a quality wont for centuries. Today, income are regulated done TASMAC. As per our enactment constitution, a idiosyncratic with a drinking wont cannot proceed arsenic a enactment member. Even those advocating full prohibition person nary factual program to instrumentality it. Prohibition whitethorn pb to illicit brewing and sale, with bootleggers controlling full districts,” helium said.
As an alternative, helium suggested reducing the fig of TASMAC liquor outlets and their moving hours. “Liquor is disposable adjacent successful Gujarat, wherever prohibition is successful force. All States successful India merchantability liquor. The question is: who should merchantability it — backstage contractors oregon the government? If liquor is banned successful Tamil Nadu, radical volition question to Puducherry. The contented indispensable beryllium approached from the position of rehabilitation. Prohibition volition not lick each problems; it is practically impossible,” helium said.
On whether TASMAC gross should beryllium utilized to money payment schemes, helium said it remained an important root of gross for the government, on with soil mining and registration.
“TASMAC was not started by the DMK. Both the DMK and the AIADMK person tally liquor outlets. Can erstwhile Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami accidental helium would adjacent them if the AIADMK returns to power? Can the BJP marque specified a promise? Only those with nary realistic accidental of winning elections and forming the authorities committedness full prohibition,” helium said.
To question two-digit no. of seats during talks with DMK
Mr. Shanmugam said the CPI(M), which has been invited for seat-sharing talks connected February 26, 2026, would seek a two-digit fig of seats.
“Last time, driven by the compulsion to decision the AIADMK and the BJP, we signed the seat-sharing statement (six seats). We were the past state to bash so. There was disappointment among our enactment units,” helium said.
