Stalin says democracy has died in Tamil Nadu, triggering bypolls

DMK leader and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin declared that the institution of democracy itself had perished in Tamil Nadu, triggering the ongoing Assembly bypolls in two constituencies.

Addressing his party's Mupperum Vizha, Stalin drew a sharp distinction between ordinary electoral circumstances and the current situation. "Normally, byelections are necessitated by the death of elected members. Now, democracy has died and caused the byelection," he said.

Bypolls imposed before ink faded, says Stalin

The DMK leader criticized the timing and manner of the byelections to the Maduranthagam and Dharapuram constituencies, saying they had been imposed on voters even before the indelible ink on their fingers had disappeared.

"How much arrogance should the ruling party have to force two elected members to resign and field them in the same constituencies? Is it a change? It is a shameless change," Stalin said, directing his partymen to explain this to the people during their door-to-door campaign, along with the failures of the government.

Assembly dignity denigrated, says Stalin

Accusing the ruling TVK of running a "reels government", Stalin said it had denigrated the dignity of the Assembly, which had completed its centenary. "You should see what is happening in the Assembly, and I am spared of it. I must thank the people of Kolathur constituency," he said.

Stalin said that instead of responding to the questions raised by DMK floor leader Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Assembly, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had sought to divert public attention by referring to his arrest under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and the Sarkaria Commission.

Stalin defends MISA arrest record

"I need not prove my arrest under the MISA to anyone. No one is qualified to evaluate my sacrifice," the former Chief Minister asserted. He pointed to the memoir of the late DMK leader Chittibabu, which remains as a stone inscription, and the report of the Justice Ismail Commission on excesses during the Emergency. "If he can read, let him read the report," he said.

Foreign visits questioned

Contrasting governance styles, Stalin said the DMK had provided a "real government", while the TVK government was running a "reels government".

Recalling Vijay's question about his visits to foreign countries to attract investments, whether the visits were intended to attract investments or to invest in foreign countries, Stalin wondered why the Chief Minister had signed an MoU with an Indian company in the U.K.. "What is the purpose of the visit without the Industries Minister and the Industries Secretary?" he asked.

He alleged that the Chief Minister, who had claimed to have quit acting, was now acting before the people without a director or cameraman, with the shooting location shifted to foreign countries. "All this is meant for reels," Stalin added.

Earlier at the event, he gave away various awards to party leaders.

Source: The Hindu