Support to OPS was issue-based: Stalin

Refuting All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s allegation that it was aiding Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in his revolt against his party’s leadership, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday said its support to him was issue-based.

“We had never extended our support to Chief Minister Panneerselvam. We supported the Panneerselvam-led government on certain people’s issues, on certain policies and Bills,” DMK working president M K Stalin said.

Stalin, the opposition leader in the state assembly, was responding to reporters’ queries about his party’s ‘support’ to Panneerselvam, as alleged by the AIADMK including its general secretary V K Sasikala.

Sasikala has blamed the arch rival DMK for trying to destabilise the AIADMK.

In the recent assembly session, the DMK, the main Opposition, had supported government on the Jallikattu and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test issues.

While a bill was tabled to replace an ordinance for conducting the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, the government also took the legislation route to apparently circumvent the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses.

The DMK had supported the government on both issues.

On Panneerselvam’s announcement recommending an inquiry commission to probe ‘doubts’ regarding Jayalalithaa’s health and subsequent death, Stalin said it was a welcome move, albeit delayed.

“We have been seeking constitution of an inquiry commission (since Jayalalithaa’s death) as there were doubts in people’s minds. A proper probe should be held in this matter,” he added.