Tamil Nadu’s BJP president Annamalai, has dared the MK Stalin’s son and DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, asserting that he would quit politics if Udhayanidhi successfully passes the UPSC prelims exam.
The first phase of Annamalai’s “En Mann En Makkal” Yatra, which commenced in Rameswaram on 28 July 2023, reached its conclusion today, on 22 August 2023, in Tirunelveli. Subsequently, Annamalai met with reporters in Tirunelveli and stated, “Throughout the ‘En Mann En Makkal’ yatra, we visited numerous small villages. Over the course of nine years, the Prime Minister’s initiatives have reached the remotest corners, significantly improving the lives of the people through these projects.”
As he gears up for the next phase of the yatra, starting from Tenkasi on 3 September 2023, Annamalai revealed plans to cover 234 constituencies in five phases by January 11, 2024. He explained, “The strength and basic structures of the party could be seen through this Yatra. The next phase of the Yatra is slated to commence from Tenkasi on September 3rd, extending until September 23rd, encompassing routes through Theni, Madurai, Dindigul, Ottanchatram, Palani, and Avinashi. We will traverse a total of 36 constituencies in this leg. Across five phases, we plan to traverse all 234 constituencies. During the initial part of the Yatra, we maintained an average daily distance of 8.9 km. However, in the upcoming phases, we intend to increase this distance to 12 km per day. This second phase of the Yatra is intended to encompass a greater number of villages. Our ultimate goal is to complete the traverse of all 234 constituencies by January 11, 2024.”
Addressing the DMK’s NEET politics, Annamalai commented, “Concerning the NEET examination, since the DMK assumed power, they discontinued ‘e-box learning,’ indicating their aversion to the NEET exam. The DMK appears to view lower scores in the NEET exam as an accomplishment. During the DMK’s tenure, we have witnessed the administration conducting two NEET examinations. Notably, Tamil Nadu students have consistently achieved commendable pass percentages. The number of students taking the NEET exam has been steadily increasing each year, with Tamil students frequently securing top positions nationally. The fact that four students from Tamil Nadu ranked among the top 10 this year is a noteworthy achievement and this presents a challenge to the DMK.”
He continued by stating, “They took the NEET issue and turned it into a political matter. Now, the DMK finds itself entangled in NEET-related complications. If they were to acknowledge that NEET has its merits, it would render all their prior political maneuvers futile. Yet, when we scrutinize the data, it becomes evident that NEET is a beneficial examination. This is why the general public did not rally behind the DMK’s hunger strike. Despite their attempts to encourage participation, the parents of 12th-grade students and the public refrained from joining the DMK’s NEET protest.”
Challenging Tamil Nadu’s Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi, to successfully clear the UPSC prelims exam, Annamalai asserted, “The protest by the ruling party should have brought the entire state to a standstill. However, the protest did not garner widespread participation. Udhayanidhi Stalin has suggested that Governor RN Ravi should resign as the governor and contest elections. Would it not be equitable if I made the same proposal? Let Udhayanidhi Stalin step down as an MLA and pass the UPSC prelims. If he accomplishes this, I will withdraw from politics. Alternatively, he could endeavor to pass the TNPSC civil service exam or the group 4 exam. Nevertheless, any form of tampering or unfair advantage must be avoided.”
Annamalai further elaborated, stating, “The role of the Governor is non-elective, having existed since 1950. Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who occupies a significant position within the government, displays a lack of common sense by urging the Governor to contest elections. It’s important to recognize that the ultimate authority regarding NEET rests with the President. In 2019, the President declined to abolish the NEET exam. Should the current President adopt a similar stance, what argument will the DMK put forth? Will they then demand the resignation of the President, urging her to participate in elections from Tamil Nadu? Such a proposition would likely be met with bemusement from the President of India. It is the DMK that is exacerbating the complexity of NEET politics. Their exit from this quagmire seems improbable. If the DMK were to concede that they had manipulated the NEET issue for political gain, their credibility would be severely compromised. How many more lives are they willing to sacrifice for their NEET politics?”
(with inputs from Minnambalam)
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