CM’s silence on Venkaiah Naidu’s remarks draws criticism

Political analyst T George said, “That EPS remained a mute spectator when Naidu spoke clearly shows that TN is being managed by the BJP run Union government, notwithstanding Venkaiah Naidu taking umbrage at DMK working president MK Stalin’s ‘benami government’ comment.” 

Another political observer Ravindaran Duraisamy said, “It is a question of survival for Palanisamy. Lacking the charisma of either party founder MGR or his successor and later chief minister J Jayalalithaa, he cannot overtly rebel on such issues, as he himself is not sure of his post.” 

AIADMK (PTA) strategist and MP V Maitreyan said, “The Chief Minister’s name figuring in the list of names seized by I-T sleuths, when they raided the house and offices of health minister C Vijaya Baskar before the RK Nagar by polls could be a reason for his silence.” Politicians names being bandied about on the alleged links with sand baron Sekar Reddy could be another reason for EPS faction’s continued silence on this issue, he added.

However, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai was the only one to support this move when he stated that he himself had undertaken or participated in such reviews in other states. AIADMK(PTA) sources stated, “Such things would never have happened if Jayalalithaa was alive. She might have been considered autocratic, but it was this very nature of hers which upheld the state’s pride.”