Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dinakaran demanded that the youth of Tamil Nadu should boycott the Indian Premier League (IPL) to protest the non-formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the MLA from RK Nagar constituency said that “all Tamils, and the youth especially, should boycott IPL matches that are scheduled to be held in Chennai”.

He also protested the selection of a Karnataka man as the vice-Chancellor of the Anna University.

“The Centre has wronged the people of Tamil Nadu over Cauvery as well as the university appointment,” he said accusing the NDA government of playing “games” with the state.

Stressing on the need for the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), Dinakaran said that it doesn’t matter to him which party takes the initiative.

“I am ready to support all efforts in solving the issue whether it is initiated by the DMK or BJP because the people are more important to me,” he said.

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But the former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader did not miss the opportunity to bash the ruling state government calling both Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam of being “afraid” of PM Modi and taking orders from the Centre on what to do and what not to.

“OPS and EPS are scared of PM Modi’s name. Their hunger strike is a farce,” he said referring to the day-long fast observed by AIADMK leaders on 5 April.

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Dinakaran said that though the AIADMK uses both MG Ramachandran’s and Amma’s (J Jayalalithaa) name, he is the inheritor of the legacy as is seen from his party flag.

The AMMK flag, which was unveiled on 14 March in Madurai, bears the image of the late Tamil Nadu chief minister.

Hailing the protests led by main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) across Tamil Nadu, Dinakaran said that he will be willing to attend any all-party meeting if invited. At the time of writing, DMK was holding an all-party meeting but Dinakran had not been invited.

The AMMK chief also said that the issue of Cauvery water is not central to farmers alone but is a need of the people of the state who require drinking water.

Dinakaran said that the main issue is the formation of the CMB which all the opposition parties are raising ever since the 16 February verdict in the Supreme Court.

In its verdict, the apex court had given 6 weeks time to the Centre to constitute the Board but the NDA government failed to do so as the deadline expired on 29 March.

Calls to boycott the IPL also came from DMK’s working president MK Stalin, who said that the IPL organisers should understand the sentiments of the people state.