Anyone with qualification can enter politics, OPS on son's possible electoral foray

Pannerselvam was responding to AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran reportedly criticising him after it emerged that his son Ravindranath was a ticket aspirant for the elections.

Pannerselvam's son, who heads a party wing in Theni district, had reportedly received an application in this connection recently at the AIADMK headquarters here.

The ruling party has started issuing application forms to Parliamentary seat aspirants from the state since Monday.

Speaking to reporters here, Panneerselvam said all primary members of AIADMK have a right to contest the polls.

"Myself and party Joint Coordinator and Chief Minister K Palaniswami had earlier issued a statement saying those who want to fight the polls on behalf of AIADMK can apply. On that basis, he (Ravindranath) also submitted an application," Panneerselvam said.

On Tuesday, Dhinakaran had taken a swipe at his rival Panneerselvam for earlier insisting there should be no family politics in the AIADMK, saying there seemed to be different yardsticks for the deputy chief minister and others.

On Wednesday, Panneerselvam said he had always insisted that the party and the government should not go into the hands of the family of V K Sasikala, jailed confidante of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

He recalled the late chief minister earlier sacking Sasikala and her family members from AIADMK before re-inducting her close aide alone, and that too after she issued an apology.

"The family that was sacked by Amma had tried to usurp the party and government (after Jayalalithaa's death)and under those cirucmstances did I start my Dharmayudh," Panneerselvam, who was chief minister then, said about his struggle against Sasikala and her family members.

"I had referred only to that family, but otherwise anyone with qualification and talent can enter politics. They can remain in politics (only) if people accept them," he said.

To a question on electoral alliance for the upcoming polls, he reiterated that only his party will lead any grouping.

Talks were going on with some national and regional parties, he said, adding "a good decision will be arrived at soon" in this connection.