No alliance with DMK, but CPM to back common causes: Shanmugam

Pudukkottai: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Saturday said the party is not part of any alliance led by the DMK and asserted that there is no entity called the “Secular Progressive Alliance”.Addressing reporters in Pudukkottai, Shanmugam said the CPM’s decision to extend outside support to the TVK government was taken independently and should not be viewed as a continuation of ties with the DMK.“At no point after May 8, when we announced support to the TVK government, did I say that our alliance with the DMK was continuing. The decision was taken independently at a state-level meeting,” he said.However, he clarified that the CPM would continue to work with the DMK on issues such as protecting state rights and safeguarding secular values. “We had stated on May 8 itself that we would join hands with the DMK on matters concerning state rights and secularism.

That remains our stand,” he said.Shanmugam further said, “There is nothing called a Secular Progressive Alliance, let alone the question of CPM continuing in a DMK-led alliance.”Asked whether the same political arrangement would continue for the local body elections, he said the party would take a call once the elections are announced.Responding to opposition claims that the TVK government would not last long, Shanmugam said such remarks were premature. “It is wrong to say the government will not survive when 1.75 crore people have voted and elected it. Such comments are inappropriate, whether they come from EPS or even DMK president MK Stalin,” he said.He also alleged that the BJP was responsible for the AIADMK’s decline and questioned whether the party would remain relevant by the next election.