AIADMK Coordinator O Pannerselvam and Co-Coordinator Edappadi Palaniswami issued a joint statement On July 12 to announce the party’s decision on boycotting media debates. The party leadership also restrained its spokespersons from participating in it thereafter.

The party leadership on the statement alleged that the media has been deliberately conducting debates that seem to be belittling the image of the party and its leaders. This decision comes after when news media and social media influencers have been widely talking and discussing the comeback of V K Sasikala, the close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sasikala’s daily phone conversations with AIADMK volunteers have been top stories recently, where she alleges and criticises the current leadership of the party for the Assembly election defeat and making her intentions clear that she targets to capture AIADMK. The continuous leak of audiotapes has caused a stir in the political arena.

OPS and EPS in their joint statement said that “Media, which is the fourth pillar of democracy, do not care about the people’s problems, rather trying to pick topics for debates that degrade or belittle the pride of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the images of its leaders. Such discussions are painful.”

They also urged the TV channels to stop inviting those who claim to represent the AIADMK party and its views for their shows.

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