Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday sharpened his attack on actor and TVK president Vijay, calling him “ignorant” of the outside world and the political developments in the state. He dared Vijay to step out of his bungalow and face the media.EPS also made five more poll promises including three LPG cylinders a year for every ration card holder when AIADMK forms govt.Speaking to reporters after AIADMK district secretaries’ meeting in Chennai, EPS said Vijay neither follows news nor engages with journalists or the public. “He doesn’t watch news channels, read newspapers or meet people. As the leader of a political party, he should know what is happening in the state. But he remains clueless and speaks out of ignorance,” EPS said.
Responding to Vijay’s allegation that AIADMK was a “corrupt party,” EPS questioned the actor-politician’s logic, pointing out that Vijay had earlier praised AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran and late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. “He has even called Amma his role model. How can he now brand AIADMK as corrupt?” he asked. EPS also questioned Vijay for inducting former AIADMK minister K A Sengottaiyan while calling AIADMK as corrupt party. “You cannot call us corrupt. I have disproved the allegations against me in the court and have come out clean,” he said. On the other hand it was `the person who joined TVK recently was jailed in a case,’ EPS said without mentioning the name of Sengottaiyan.On Vijay calling the AIADMK – BJP alliance as `NDA front,’ EPS said that Union home minister Amit Shah had made it clear that the alliance was led by AIADMK in TN. “He also clarified I am the chief ministerial candidate. If Vijay is unaware of this or has no time to watch news or meet people, what can we do?” EPS asked.On the occasion, EPS also announced fresh set of poll promises. It included a waiver of education loans, three free LPG cylinders per year for every ration cardholder, enhancement of old-age pension from ₹1,200 to ₹2,000, waiver of loans taken by differently abled persons, and interest-free loans for women’s SHGs from minority communities. “We will soon announce a comprehensive poll manifesto,” he said, expressing confidence in implementing the promises.
