Chennai: Former AIADMK minister S Semmalai has sprung a surprise by calling DMK minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan his role model. Speaking at an event hosted by a media house last week, Semmalai lavishly praised the DMK minister and said he had appreciated PTR even on the floor of Assembly when J Jayalalithaa was present. “I like him a lot. He is the best economist, politician, an intellectual, and a role model for politicians,” said Semmalai, adding that he felt the DMK leadership had not fully utilised Rajan’s abilities. The video clip has since gone viral on social media. Semmalai told TOI, “PTR is a right man in the wrong party. Nothing wrong in appreciating the honest man in our opposition camp. Our Anna (C N Annadurai) said ‘mattran thottathu mallikaikkum manam undu (jasmine in another garden too has fragrance)’.” When he was the pro-tem speaker of the Assembly in 2016, Semmalai had administered the oath to PTR. Reacting to the praise, PTR said he held Semmalai in high regard. “He is a cultured and decent politician,” he said. TNN
