PTA-BJP may join hands for civic polls

This was conveyed by former chief minister Panneerselvam while responding to questions from the media on Saturday.

Asked whether the faction was cosying up to the BJP, which has been unable to get a firm foothold in the state, AIADMK (PTA) strategist and MP V Maitreyan said, “OPS never mentioned the BJP in his reply.” It may be recalled that OPS handed over a petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on various needs of the state. Political observers in Chennai called it a way of scoring some brownie points against his rival AIADMK(Amma).

The petition touched upon issues like NEET, Cauvery Management Board, drinking water issues and drought situation in the state, Athikadavu-Avinasi scheme, the proposed privatisation of the Salem Steel Plant and waiving of all farm loans. 

On being asked, why they were doing what should have been done by the ruling dispensation, Maitreyan said, “We are doing what Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy’s government should be doing. As they are more bothered about their day to day survival, they have no time to think or talk about the issues which affect the people directly.” 

However, political observer Ravindran Duraisamy disagreed with Maitreyan. “Jayalalithaa as chief minister had given similar petitions to the Prime Minister. All of them elicited no action or answer. OPS is just doing what she did as a political ploy to ensure that rivals know that it is he (OPS), who is calling the shots in Tamil Nadu. It is a move to prove that he is close to the BJP and the PM,” he said. 

Agreeing with Duraisamy, political analyst T George said, “The actions of Union government’s I-T department against EPS followers, including Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar and party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, are clear indicators that one group is favoured over the other.”