Sankarankoil: Strongly criticising the DMK’s poll promise of fighting for the implementation of 27 per cent reservation, chief minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday accused DMK chief M. Karunanidhi of being only inclined towards getting ministerial berths for his family members and party men instead of fighting for Mandal Commission’s recommendations when his party was in power.
She was addressing a huge gathering as part of election campaign for her party’s Tenkasi (SC) candidate Vasanthi Murugesan.
“Who was in power at the Centre for 17 years? Wasn’t it the DMK? Why did not it then ask the Centre why reservation was not implemented fully,” asked the AIADMK supremo. She pointed out that Karunanidhi was obligated to explain to the public as to whether it was at least being implemented in ministries held by the DMK.
Jayalalithaa said that Karunanidhi was only focused on getting plum portfolios at Central government for family member (Dayanidhi Maran) and other party men even as he pleaded for Congress support for his daughter Kanimozhi’s Rajya Sabha candidature.
“As far as Karunanidhi is concerned, reservation for backward classes (BCs) is not important; allotment of ministerial berths for family members is,” the chief minister said and added that the DMK president has willingly compromised on reservation policy.
DMK’s election manifesto had claimed that despite many years since it was introduced, 27 per cent reservation in Central government jobs was not implemented in toto as only 14 per cent was followed and that the party would strive for the complete implementation.
The AIADMK general secretary later promised the crowd gathered at the venue that if her candidate Vasanthi Murugan was elected, she would remain in her constituency (Tenkasi) and work tirelessly for the welfare of the people.
Jayalalithaa pointed out that rival candidate Dr Krishnasamy (Puthiya Tamizhagam) was a selfish person to the core just like Karunanidhi. “This Lok Sabha poll is not just another election for a change at the Central government but to liberate the people of this country from the untold miseries they are undergoing now,” she said.
