Chennai: DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on Thursday termed his party's relation with Congress as long-standing, deep and strong and said the working of both the parties is "proof" of a spirit of give and take and reciprocation.
"The ties between DMK and Congress is deep and strong," he said and recalled how both parties had fought the polls together as far as back as the Parliamentary election in 1980.
The two parties have entered into a poll alliance for the May 16 assembly elections in the state.
Karunanidhi cited his famous 1980-phrase of "Nehruvin Magale Varuga, nilayana aatchi tharuga ("welcome daughter of Pandit Nehru, give a stable regime") to buttress how long-standing the tie-up between the two parties was.
The phrase was used by DMK's rivals to corner it for joining hands with Congress after a bitter episode of confrontation with that party during Emergency of 1975-77.
He said the working of both DMK and Congress is "proof" of a spirit of give and take and reciprocation. His comment assumes significance as senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said that DMK had given seats which were not sought by Congress.
Congress sources said Chidambaram was busy in campaign in Alangudi and hence could not attend the election rally on Thursday at Island Grounds.
Karunanidhi recalled how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had praised him for remaining firm in his stance, irrespective of whether it was to oppose or support a party.
He also implied he had the same spirit of camaraderie when he welcomed Sonia Gandhi as daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi. Addressing her as his "dear sister," he said she had captured the situation in the State in her address.
He listed out projects of UPA regime for Tamil Nadu,which include roads, bridges, port projects, Metro Rail, drinking water initiatives including desalinations plants for Chennai, and a Central University in his home town of Tiruvarur.
The DMK chief sarcastically said he searched for the statue of mother Tamil in Madurai as promised by Jayalalithaa in 2013 at a cost of Rs 100 crore on the lines of Statue of Liberty in USA, but in vain.
Accusing Jayalalithaa of trying to hoodwink the people, he said law and order had deteriorated and the state was ruined ruined during the present AIADMK regime and urged the people to vote for DMK, which will be a democratic regime.
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