There is no DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu now: P. Shanmugam

CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said on Sunday that the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance did not exist now and the Left party was not part of the DMK’s alliance.

“There is no such thing as a DMK alliance now. The Secular Progressive Alliance, of which we were a part, is no longer there. However, we will work with the DMK on issues concerning the welfare and rights of Tamil Nadu, based on a shared understanding on select issues,” he said. Interacting with journalists in Pudukottai, he criticised DMK president M.K. Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for publicly stating the C. Joseph Vijay-led government would not last even one or two months. He called such remarks “irresponsible”. Calling for patience towards the new TVK-led administration, he said it would need time to familiarise itself with various departments.

He rejected claims of widespread power cuts across Tamil Nadu, noting that even the electricity board chairman had acknowledged outages only in certain areas. “Power must be distributed without disruption,” he said. He also called for continuing the complete ban on lottery ticket sales in Tamil Nadu, citing the destruction it had caused to many families across the state.

He argued that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) no longer existed in its original form. “Some parties that were part of that alliance voted against the TVK-led government in the confidence motion, some voted for it, and some remained neutral. This must be seen as a major shift in the political landscape,” he said.

Mr. Shanmugam clarified that his party had no intention of propping up the TVK-led government. “Our aim is not about which alliance we were part of when we won, but that a government chosen by the people should be in place. If the TVK-led government, which we are supporting, takes decisions we disagree with, we will oppose them,” he said.

On the BJP, he alleged that since the party had failed to gain traction in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had blessed former State BJP president K. Annamalai to launch a new organisation — effectively another RSS outfit — under a different name. “He has created an image of lakhs of people joining his organisation,” he said, questioning why the leader, who claimed he was resigning from the BJP, needed to travel to Delhi to meet party leaders. “He could have simply sent his resignation letter from here,” he said.

He also took a swipe at defections, saying that while MLAs switching parties was wrong, others changing parties was being treated as normal. On local body elections, he said his party’s position was that they should be held immediately, but whether they would actually be conducted remained unclear. If elections were held, the question of alliance arrangements could be addressed at that point, he added.