RAMANATHAPURAM: In his first address in Tamil Nadu after forging a coalition with AIADMK and PMK, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah called the alliance of Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as synonymous with corruption. Shah said, “DMK and Congress party who indulged in Rs 12 Lakh Crore of scam can't work for the development of Tamil Nadu. Congress and DMK are synonymous with corruption while the BJP and NDA stand for development and governance.” In 2014, however, the BJP had partnered with the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The alliance had won only two seats while the AIADMK won 37 Lok Sabha seats.
Speaking in a Shakti Kendra Pramukh Sammelan, Shah said, “Those who involve in the 2G scam, Adarsh scam, AgustaWestland helicopter scam, and coal scam can't work for the development of the people. I dare DMK chief Stalin and Rahul Gandhi to give an account of the development of Tamil Nadu to its people. In the 13th Finance Commission, Congress-led UPA government gave only Rs 94,540 to Tamil Nadu whereas the NDA government gave around Rs 5.42 Lakh for the development of Tamil Nadu. This is 500 per cent more than what the Congress-led IPA government has given.”
Regarding the alliance of BJP in Tamil Nadu, Shah said, “We are not going to fight the election on just five seats. We are going to fight elections on 40 seats in alliance with AIADMK. I am confident that we will win more than 35 seats in Tamil Nadu in the upcoming elections.” The BJP will contest five out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and has put up its candidate for lone Lower House seat in Puducherry. Seven seats (six Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha) have been allotted to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) for the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking on the Pulwama terror attack, Mr Shah said, “Two bravehearts of Tamil Nadu laid down their lives protecting the country in Jammu and Kashmir. I bow to the bravery of the security personnel martyred in Jammu and Kashmir.”s
