DMK's Raja apologises for his derogatory remarks against CM Palaniswami

DMK MP A. Raja on Monday apologised for his recent statement on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Raja’s apology came after Palaniswami turned emotional at an election rally in Chennai. 

“I feel deeply distressed after learning that the chief minister felt hurt because of the statement. I express my regrets deep from my heart for the statement that was wrongly conceived. My apologies to the chief minister if he is hurt. My speech was not about personal comparison. It was intended to compare two leaders in public life,” Raja said during a press conference as he apologised for his remarks. 

On Sunday, Palaniswami had turned emotional during a rally in Chennai saying, “If a chief minister is disrespected in such a way then imagine the things that will happen to a common man if such people come to power.” Stating that the statement is not only against his mother but every mother, Palaniswami made it a point to turn all the sympathies towards him. “The people who use derogatory language against women must learn a lesson,” he said during the campaign rally. 

While apologising Raja said, “I don’t hesitate to say that I regret my remarks by putting aside the politics, if it had truly hurt the chief minister.” 

Raja’s apologies, sources say, was intended towards putting an end to the emotional scenes played out in the campaign field. However, the AIADMK is expected to further capitalise on the issue. Incidentally, on March 28, after his day-long campaign, Palaniswami went all the way to take the blessings of O. Panneerselvam’s mother at his residence in Theni. This is the first time EPS is calling on OPS’s mother, since he took over as the chief minister. This too, was a tactic to lure women voters, say AIADMK seniors. 

In the run up to elections, the fight for power between the AIADMK and the DMK has gone berserk with statements and emotions playing out.