AIADMK candidate VN Ravi intensified his campaign in Chennai's Virugambakkam Assembly constituency on Thursday by sharply criticising the ruling DMK government over law and order and governance issues.
He asserted that voters would “teach a lesson” to the DMK in the upcoming Assembly elections.
While conducting a door-to-door campaign in MGR Nagar, Ravi alleged that the DMK government failed to deliver on public welfare over the past five years. He said, “DMK government over the past five years failed to take adequate steps for public welfare, mainly law and order… DMK frequently engages in conflicts with the Central government for political reasons rather than for the welfare of Tamil Nadu. People will teach a lesson to DMK.”
The AIADMK leader sought to consolidate support ahead of the single-phase Assembly elections scheduled for April 23, with the party relying on anti-incumbency and governance concerns.
In response, DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi dismissed the opposition’s criticism, stating that public support for the ruling alliance is steadily increasing. “Day by day, support for the DMK alliance is growing… Reports suggest it may cross 200 seats. Statements by opposition leaders are helping us,” Bharathi told ANI.
These remarks come amid an intensifying political war of words between the DMK and the AIADMK. Earlier, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had called for the DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin to be “thrown out,” citing concerns over law and order, women's safety, and alleged inaction on drug-related issues.
The upcoming elections are expected to be a keen contest between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut, potentially turning the contest into a three-way battle.
The single-phase Tamil Nadu assembly elections are scheduled for April 23, with the counting of votes set for May 4.