Sonia joins Karuna, asks for votes on performance
Sharing the dais with DMK chief M. Karunanidhi after a year full of turbulence due to the spectrum scam and subsequent confusion over seat-sharing, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday sought votes for the alliance on the performance plank.
The state’s commitment to welfare of dalits and Muslims is well known. In fact, many states have followed Tamil Nadu in addressing the needs of the communities, she said.
All these achievements have been possible because you have an effective government at the state and Centre, she said, and added that the Centre had extended “good support” to Tamil Nadu.
“The last time around you voted for performance. I am here today to join Dr Karunanidhiji in asking you to vote once against for performance, for the parties that kept their promises,” she remarked.
Mrs Gandhi said the dalits and OBCs want jobs and dignity and their rights. The minorities want dignity and equal opportunity in jobs. “Our model of development is different from the models of development of other parties. We believe firmly in inclusive development,” she declared and said the DMK shared this vision. She promised that the Centre and state would continue work on these issues.
Mr Karunanidhi literally went the extra mile to please Mrs Gandhi by going to the airport to receive her, but her reciprocation was a touch less than the DMK’s expectations.
Though Mrs Gandhi’s translator, Kumari Ananthan, chose to refer to him as Kalaignar, Mrs Gandhi by far preferred Dr Karunanidhi and once added “ji”.
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