Vaiko denies receiving any money from AIADMK

Chennai, Apr 6: MDMK founder Vaiko, who had recently walked out of a TV interview over a question whether he was offered money by AIADMK, on Wednesday dismissed such reports as "not true," and insisted he had not taken any money from the ruling party.

"I have not received any money. They (such reports) are not true," he told reporters here. Vaiko, who was asked the question as he prepared to wind up the media interaction, gave the terse reply and made his exit from the conference hall at his patry headquarters 'Thayagam'.

On March 26, Vaiko, who is the coordinator of the four-party People's Welfare Front (PWF) which has aligned with DMDK for the May 16 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, had stormed out of a Tamil TV channel interview enraged at being asked whether he was offered Rs 1,500 crore by AIADMK (to become its B-team).

Answering a question today on the revolt in DMDK over its chief Vijayakanth's decision to align with PWF, Vaiko accused DMK leader M K Stalin and his son-in-law of trying to split the party, which had earlier closed the doors on it for a poll pact.

"Stalin and his son-in-law" are behind the episode, Vaiko said. He alleged that the DMK leadership was repeatedly "splitting" parties and cited his own example, charging DMK President M Karunanidhi with breaking his party years ago.

Asked what was the need for him to speak on behalf of Vijayakanth, Vaiko, flanked by PWF constituents, secretaries of CPI (M) and CPI, G Ramakrishnan and R Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalan, said "we are his (Vijayakanth) colleagues".

Ten functionaries of DMDK including three MLAs had yesterday raised a banner of revolt against Vijayakanth's decision to align with PWF but were expelled from the party within hours. This had given adequate publicity to the combine's April 10 conference at Mamandur near here, Vaiko said.

PTI