This story is from September 25, 2018

DMK undecided on MGR event invitation

DMK undecided on MGR event invitation
M K Stalin
CHENNAI: Creating a flutter in opposition circles, the Edappadi K Palaniswami dispensation on Monday extended invitations to DMK chief M K Stalin, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran and DMK MP Kanimozhi to a government event on September 30 to mark the finale of the MGR centenary celebrations.
The DMK, however, seemed undecided and even reluctant to be a part of the AIADMK-sponsored event, especially given the fact that on Tuesday, the ruling party will be organising protests across the state, alleging DMK and Congress role in the ‘Sri Lankan genocide’.

The ruling party is working hard to mobilise lakhs of cadres and public for the grand event to be held in Nandanam. Minister K Pandiarajan said the opposition members should attend. “Even Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan attended the MGR centenary celebrations held in Kanyakumari. We invite anyone who does not defame our leader, MGR. It is our duty to invite the local MLAs and MPs. We wholeheartedly wish they would come,” the minister said. AIADMK leaders said it was protocol to invite MLAs representing the Chennai region for the event.
But, the DMK is in a quandary though nine out of the 14 constituencies in Chennai are represented by its partymen. Party leaders said the way Stalin and party MLAs were treated during Jayalalithaa’s swearing-in ceremony after the 2016 assembly election still rankled. Stalin was given a seat in the 13th row at the centenary auditorium of the University of Madras where the event was held. Lack of enthusiasm of officials and government in inviting DMK legislators to government programmes is also being cited as a reason. “No decision has been taken to participate in the MGR event. Many had complained of shoddy treatment in the past,” DMK MP and spokesperson, TKS Elangovan told TOI.
Given the animosity between them, the TTV camp too remained cool to the invitation. Dubbing the EPS-OPS camp traitors, the rebel leader has been touring the state addressing public meetings. His AMMK has to seek the intervention of district sessions courts each time its conducts public meeting in Vellore or protests in Karur. “The present leadership does not have the locus standi to organize the MGR event. The government is corrupt and is working in a manner that goes against the wishes of MGR and Amma,” TTV’s close associate P Vetrivel said.
Political analysts say the government seems keen to salvage its image. “There is not much MGR, but projections about themselves at these events. The year has been a struggle for survival for this government. This is good protocol to observe considering the many protocols they failed to observe,” political analyst Ramu Manivannan said.
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