"BJP is not an anti-minority party," says former Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam

Panneerselvam also hit out at Edappadi Palaniswamy and alleged that the latter has been running the AIADMK party as a dictator.

Tamil Nadu former Chief Minister and ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam who is contesting as an independent candidate from Ramanathapuram with the backing of the BJP has said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi regime, minorities were not persecuted and that the opposition has been falsely alleging that the BJP is anti-minorities. "BJP is not an anti-minority party. Prime Minister Modi has given excellent governance for ten years. India is a linguistically divided state and a secular state. Minorities were not persecuted under Modi regime. It is a false allegation that BJP is an anti-minority party," said Panneerselvam on Monday while speaking to ANI.

The former chief minister has been allotted the 'jackfruit' symbol to contest the upcoming general elections. The symbol was allotted through a lottery organised at the district collectorate in Ramanathapuram. Panneerselvam also hit out at Edappadi Palaniswamy and alleged that the latter has been running the AIADMK party as a dictator.

"My next move is about people...the AIADMK led by Edappadi Palaniswami will face a crushing defeat in this election. I am not standing against AIADMK. I have no intention of taking over the party and the government. I am fighting to save AIADMK and run the party according to party by-laws created by MGR. The AIADMK should engage in a democratic process. But Edappadi acts like a dictator." The former Tamil Nadu chief minster is facing five other candidates of the same name in Ramanathapuram.

"Lok Sabha elections are going to be held in the first phase, in Tamil Nadu...I am contesting from the Ramanathapuram Parliamentary Constituency and five more people have filed their nominations in the name of O Panneerselvam to create confusion. But people support us."OPS is in alliance with the BJP and is contesting the seat as an independent after losing a case in Madras High Court for retaining the flag and letterhead of the AIADMK. There are 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The state is voting on April 19 in a single phase of polling. During the 2019 general elections, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which comprised INC, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory by winning 38 of the 39 seats.

Election for the 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. (ANI)

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