During a press meet at Coimbatore Airport, BJP State Leader Annamalai expressed satisfaction over L. Murugan's Rajya Sabha candidacy announcement, discussed "One Nation, One Election," and addressed various issues including agricultural concerns and electoral reforms.
Coimbatore: BJP State Leader Annamalai, in a press conference held at Coimbatore Airport, made a strong case for opening toddy shops as a measure to support farmers, suggesting that such initiatives could alleviate some of the hardships faced by the agricultural sector. He expressed his pleasure over the official announcement of L. Murugan running for the Rajya Sabha again, hoping for his success across Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Annamalai highlighted the importance of "One Nation, One Election," reminiscing about the era between 1952 and 1967 when simultaneous elections were the norm. He criticized the frequent dissolution of state governments, attributing a significant number of these instances to the tenure of Indira Gandhi, and advocated for an increase in the number of parliament and assembly members based on population.
Reflecting on the writings of DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, who supported the idea of simultaneous elections in his book "Nenjukku Neethi," Annamalai questioned whether Stalin had neglected his father's wisdom. Despite current challenges, he saw a future where "One Nation, One Election" could become a reality, although he acknowledged the slim chances of its implementation by 2024.
On the topic of minimum support price (MSP) and agricultural census, Annamalai emphasized that proper implementation could only be achieved based on a comprehensive population count, criticizing the opposition for their lack of substantial policies and accusing them of bringing politics without ideas into legislative discussions.
Regarding electoral strategies, Annamalai denied suggesting L. Murugan as a candidate for the Nilgiris constituency, clarifying that discussions were about preparing the constituency for elections. He assured that the party is ready with candidates for all constituencies and that coalition talks would conclude at the appropriate time. Annamalai also addressed the issue of farmer suicides, questioning the absence of Rahul Gandhi during such crises and affirming BJP's commitment to resolving farmer issues without resorting to false promises.
Lastly, Annamalai criticized DMK's efforts to release convicts of the Coimbatore bomb blasts, asserting that such actions could compromise the safety of Coimbatore. He lamented the commercialization of communist parties and urged for genuine concern for farmers beyond electoral gains, advocating for the opening of toddy shops to support them directly.
Annamalai highlighted the importance of "One Nation, One Election," reminiscing about the era between 1952 and 1967 when simultaneous elections were the norm. He criticized the frequent dissolution of state governments, attributing a significant number of these instances to the tenure of Indira Gandhi, and advocated for an increase in the number of parliament and assembly members based on population.
Reflecting on the writings of DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, who supported the idea of simultaneous elections in his book "Nenjukku Neethi," Annamalai questioned whether Stalin had neglected his father's wisdom. Despite current challenges, he saw a future where "One Nation, One Election" could become a reality, although he acknowledged the slim chances of its implementation by 2024.
On the topic of minimum support price (MSP) and agricultural census, Annamalai emphasized that proper implementation could only be achieved based on a comprehensive population count, criticizing the opposition for their lack of substantial policies and accusing them of bringing politics without ideas into legislative discussions.
Regarding electoral strategies, Annamalai denied suggesting L. Murugan as a candidate for the Nilgiris constituency, clarifying that discussions were about preparing the constituency for elections. He assured that the party is ready with candidates for all constituencies and that coalition talks would conclude at the appropriate time. Annamalai also addressed the issue of farmer suicides, questioning the absence of Rahul Gandhi during such crises and affirming BJP's commitment to resolving farmer issues without resorting to false promises.
Lastly, Annamalai criticized DMK's efforts to release convicts of the Coimbatore bomb blasts, asserting that such actions could compromise the safety of Coimbatore. He lamented the commercialization of communist parties and urged for genuine concern for farmers beyond electoral gains, advocating for the opening of toddy shops to support them directly.