I only compared circumstances: Moopanar

By S. Annamalai

MADURAI, MAY 3.The TMC president, Mr.G.K. Moopanar, today posed why the DMK-led NDA should attempt ``to defeat Ms. Jayalalitha legally'' instead of leaving the decision to the people.

Addressing presspersons here, he said the former Chief Minister had got the pardon (`pava mannippu') of the people in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, even while conceding that he was the first to demand filing of cases on corruption charges against her in 1996.

Defending his call to the electorate to vote for the revival of MGR rule, Mr.Moopanar said, ``Kamaraj rule is our goal'' and he would continue to pursue it. But when the TMC got defeated at the hustings while projecting `Kamaraj rule', the late Chief Minister was ``belittled'' along with him (Mr. Moopanar) by the media. ``I do not want to misuse it (the slogan of `Kamaraj rule') and I know when to do it,'' he said.

Referring to the criticism from various quarters over his remarks on the possibility of Ms. Jayalalitha becoming Chief Minister, if voted to power, Mr. Moopanar clarified that he only compared the circumstances in which the late Annadurai and Kamaraj became Chief Ministers and it was not his intention to compare personalities. No one could criticise him on this count as he had a long association with Kamaraj. Especially, the former Union Minister, Mr.P. Chidambaram, who might not have even met Kamaraj, should not criticise him, he added.

Asked whether the TMC Democratic Forum was popular, Mr. Moopanar said the outfit, even according to Mr. Chidambaram, would remain for 60 days only.

Expressing anguish at personal attacks indulged in by parties, especially by Ms. Jayalalitha against the DMK president, Mr.M. Karunanidhi, Mr. Moopanar said the political culture in the State should change. Even those at the extreme ends of the political spectrum should foster friendship at the personal level. ``I am not going to advise her but it (Ms. Jayalalitha's personal attacks on Mr. Karunanidhi) pains me.'' Maintaining that he and Mr. Karunanidhi continued to be good friends, Mr. Moopanar said their relationship should not be vulgarised by the media.

The TMC leader claimed that the chances ``are good'' for the Congress-TMC combine in Pondicherry, but said the decision on whether to align with the AIADMK after the poll would be left to the local unit.

In Tamil Nadu, the democratic secular front had been formed primarily to fight the communal forces and fighting an election was incidental. The TMC did not enter into an electoral agreement with the AIADMK with power-sharing as a criterion.

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Section  : State Elections
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