Chennai: Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin took a dig at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday, saying that the latter’s ideological leaders are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Before commencing his poll campaign from Kancheepuram for DMK candidate Nithya Sugumar, Udhayanidhi paid tributes to former CM C N Annadurai at his residence-turned-memorial in the town. Udhayanidhi said he and his father started their campaigns from the native places of DMK scions such as C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, while their rival Palaniswami started his campaign from Mylapore, a BJP stronghold. “This shows that Palaniswami’s ideological leaders are Modi and Shah. Can we allow Modi and Amit Shah to enter Tamil Nadu? This is why our president (Stalin) says the fight in this election is between Tamil Nadu and Delhi,” Udhayanidhi said.The deputy chief minister wondered what BJP govt at the Centre contributed to TN’s growth. “We (TN) are the number one state, recording an economic growth of 11.19%. Has BJP govt contributed anything for our growth? Has BJP allocated any funds for TN? No. Not even the name Tamil Nadu has been mentioned in the Union budget. Palaniswami is so desperate to bring BJP into TN,” Udhayanidhi said.He campaigned in Vandavasi and Kilpennathur constituencies for DMK candidates. In three constituencies, DMK retained two incumbent MLAs, S Ambeth Kumar in Vandavasi and K Pichandi in Kilpennathur, while replacing MLA C V M P Ezhilarasan representing Kancheepuram with a fresh face Nithya Sugumar.“BJP is taking away our educational and financial rights. They implemented new educational policy (NEP) across the country but not in TN because we sensed that it is an indirect way to impose Hindi in our state. Educational funds of 2,500 crore have not yet reached us, and Union education minister (Dharmendra Pradhan) says we need to accept NEP to get funds. But our CM stayed firm that even if BJP gives 10,000 crore, we will not accept NEP,” Udhayanidhi said.
