O Panneerselvam says AIADMK primary opposition party in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Reiterating that the AIADMK was the primary opposition party in the state, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam said his party has been discharging the role of the opposition effectively, inside and outside the assembly for the past one year.
In a statement on Sunday, issued in the wake of a war of words between AIADMK and BJP leaders, each claiming themselves as key opposition parties, OPS said an illusion was created that AIADMK was lagging in its performance as an opposition party. "We have been functioning as the best opposition party inside and outside the assembly," he said.
"Going by the performance of DMK government for the last one year and the AIADMK's effective functioning as opposition party, it is certain that AIADMK would form the next government in TN," OPS said.
OPS also demanded that the ruling DMK stop intruding into religious affairs. He warned that interference in religious matters become a "weapon to destroy the government" if the DMK fails to stop such acts.
"Instead of taking steps to resolve problems faced by the public, the DMK government is interfering in affairs of religion and creating trouble. This cannot be accepted. The DMK government should stop this," he said. Listing out the issues taken up and protests organised by AIADMK, OPS said the party's measures forced the state government to drop its moves on all the occasions. "The DMK men threatened Chennai corporation to change Covid-19 field workers. After I issued a statement in May 2021, the move was dropped," he said.
OPS said it was after his statement condemning the spate of murders in September 2021, that the government arrested 2,500 rowdies. OPS said he was the first to oppose dumping of nuclear waste in Kudankulam nuclear power plant site. The government reversing its decision to scrap kindergarten classes in state run schools was also because of his statement, OPS said. Large scale protests were organised by AIADMK against property tax hike and one for demanding flood relief to affected people.