NTK leader Seeman expresses readiness for alliance with nonDravidian parties

Kamal gifts a car to Coimbatorebased bus driver Sharmila

Highlighting that a lot of time is left for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, NTK leader Seeman, in Sivaganga on Sunday, said they are ready to join hands with non-Dravidian parties if they are ready to form an alliance and face the election under his leadership.

He said the call would be taken during the election phase. His party has no faith in Dravidian and national parties because, over the past years, whichever parties joined alliances with these parties had to compromise their stands. “Arvind Kejriwal was able to win in New Delhi. So why is it not possible for Seeman to compete in the elections alone and win in Tamil Nadu? Even AIADMK, under J Jayalalithaa, was able to win in the 2014 Lok Sabha election without any alliance,” he added.

He further criticised the DMK government for the `1,000 aid scheme, through which they have made women beg before them. This is not a Kalaignar urimai thogai scheme, but rather it is just taking the public money and giving it back, he added.

Further speaking, Seeman said he feels there is no need for Uniform Civil Code as the government is already incapable of implementing the 33% reservation for women.

He also criticised the DMK government for the vegetable price hike. The Dravidian government has been incapable of providing powercut-free days for people though both the DMK and AIADMK have been ruling the state for years.

Seeman also condemned the disqualification of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, stating that it violates the principles of democracy. He further alleged that the ongoing violence in Manipur is created by the BJP.

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan on Monday gifted a car to Sharmila, a Coimbatore-based woman driver after quitting her job as a private bus driver following a controversy over the issuance of a ticket to DMK MP Kanimozhi. In a statement, Haasan said that the car was presented on behalf of the Kamal Cultural Centre to transform Sharmila to become an entrepreneur-driver on a rental basis. “She worked hard for her dream of becoming a bus driver and performed the challenging task effectively. She has received appreciation from various quarters for that. A recent discussion about Sharmila who is a great role model for women of her age came to my attention. I was very hurt. Sharmila should not be just a driver. My hope is that she should inspire thousands of Sharmilas,” he said. The actor-politician said that Kamal Cultural Center donates a new car to Sharmila. “Sharmila will resume her journey as a rental car driver cum entrepreneur. I want us as a civilized society to stand by women who have been suppressed for years and years to break their shackles and rise to the occasion. My best wishes to daughter Sharmila,” he said. On June 23, Kanimozhi travelled on the bus driven by Sharmila which plies between Gandhipuram and Somanur. Hours after DMK MP’s travel, she told Media that she had quit her job over the conductor asking Kanimozhi to get a ticket despite being told not to do so. When Sharmila raised the issue with the bus owner, he did not support her.