Chennai, Oct 28: Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK has said that actor-politician Vijay helmed Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam copied its ideology while main opposition AIADMK said TVK's principles are a cocktail of current political standpoints of various parties and Naam Tamizhar Katchi has ruled out chances of joining forces with the new entrant.
While Vijay openly targeted the DMK and its first family in his debut public appearance for his party's inaugural event on Sunday, DMK said it has seen many rivals in its long innings and will continue to be strong.
Asked on TVK's ideological points, its hint at opposition to the office of Governor, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, "these are all our policies, he is copying...whatever he says is what we had already said and which we are following."
On the maiden conference of Vijay's party, he told PTI Videos: "This is the first conference and let us see, we have seen many parties." Outlining his party's strong ideological moorings and work over a long period of time in its 75-year old journey, Elangovan said DMK leaders went to jail fighting for people's cause and though the party had lost several elections, it continued to be strong.
The DMK was built thus, fighting for people's issues, whereas Vijay's party aspires to be in power in 2026, immediately after entering politics. Furthermore, he said the TVK leaders would not fight for people by going to jail like the DMK leaders. "That is the difference between DMK and other parties...we are strong, we work for the people, we are for the people."
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan congratulated Vijay on entering politics and said he has a long way to go and deliver. TVK's ideology "is a mix of ideology of all parties and old wine in new bottle...a cocktail ideology taken from all political parties in Tamil Nadu." To a question on the actor-politician backing caste census, he said the TVK chief has spoken on several topics and, "we will give time to him to put this in action."
Asserting that ideologically BJP is nationalist and its votebank will not be affected, BJP leader H Raja said Vijay's party may split only the votes of Dravidian parties and the DMK could be weakened. "I hope Mr Vijay would help me by speaking on Dravidian stock (ideology) and divide those votes," he told reporters. BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan greeted TVK on its debut conference and said that the party is pitted against 'Udhaya,' apparently hinting at DMK leader and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Nam Tamizhar Katchi top leader Seeman, a Tamil nationalist said "you (TVK) accept EVR Periyar and thereby Dravidam (Dravidian ideology) and they say Dravidian model (DMK's tagline for its style of governance)." However, NTK rejects the Dravidian ideology. "What is this model for Tamil Nadu", he demanded to know.
When reporters asked him if TVK's open invitation to alliances and a share in power to electoral partners could be regarded as invite to his party as well, Seeman said it was not so and added that NTK's political journey is based on its crystal clear ideology and it cannot be dependent on others.
"I have said that I will fight on my own," he said and hinted that Vijay party's ideology does not appear to be carefully considered. TVK says it accepts Periyar's rationalism but not his atheism. "Atheism is a part of rationalism."
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Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
