Setting political rivalries aside, DMK MP from Dharmapuri S. Senthil Kumar, who ran a competitive ‘son of the soil’ campaign in the recent Lok Sabha election, has reached out to former Dharmapuri MP and PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss and the AIADMK’s N. Chandrasekaran — who hails from Mettur, which falls under the Dharmapuri parliamentary constituency — after they were nominated by their respective parties as candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

“Good news for Dharmapuri Parliamentary constituency. So Dharmapuri has 3 MPs to represent .One DMK LokSabha MP., Rajya Sabha MP Chandrasekar from Mettur representing ADMK,and @draramadoss from PMK, Let’s all 3 work to eradicate unemployment in DPI and emphasize on water projects,” he tweeted on Saturday.

Dr. Kumar said he had no problem reaching out to his political rivals for advice and help to perform his duties as an MP.

“When I met Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to insist that the Morappur-Dharmapuri railway line should be completed, I had mentioned that it was initiated by Anbumani Ramadoss and the DMK’s R. Thamaraiselvan. It is not important whose name is on the inauguration stone. The people should benefit. After all, it brings down my burden too, right?” Dr. Kumar said.

Recently, when he posted a picture of him hugging VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, it was perceived as being aimed at Mr. Ramadoss, given his fierce rivalry with the VCK leader.

“No, it wasn’t aimed at Dr. Anbumani. If you see the photos I took during my campaign in Dharmapuri, I would be seen hugging people. That’s how I am. In fact, five years ago, Mr. Anbumani visited my house, and we are family friends. He invited us for his daughter’s wedding,” he said.

Despite having run a campaign where he criticised Mr. Ramadoss over his performance in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Kumar said he would like to meet the PMK leader and seek his advice.

“My campaign was never about personally attacking him. I had only criticised him with regard to his performance in the Lok Sabha – his attendance and how many questions he raised. I am willing to meet him,” he said.

Sets out agenda

Apart from pushing for the completion of the Morappur-Dharmapuri railway line, Dr. Kumar said he had three main goals on his agenda, which he hoped to fulfil by the end of his term in 2024.

“Tackling unemployment in Dharmapuri by bringing in some investment or some PSUs, providing clean toilets in schools and distributing sanitary napkins to girl students in schools, and building roads for 10 tribal villages in Harur district which have no accessible roads or connectivity — I want to finish these projects first,” he said.