Setting the tone for the campaign of the AIADMK-led Democratic People’s Alliance, MDMK leader Vaiko lashed out at the DMK for its ‘‘dynastic politics’’, saying the coming election was a contest of the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu versus one family.

Vaiko, who broke off from the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance in early March, said his erstwhile mentor, Karunanidhi, was ‘‘more interested in his family’s welfare than that of Tamil Nadu’’.

Releasing his party’s manifesto and list of candidates last night after a lengthy speech, Vaiko said the DMK, a constituent of the Congress-led UPA, was using its clout at the Centre ‘‘to enhance the economic prosperity’’ of the Sun TV group belonging to Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran’s family.

The MDMK too is a constituent of the UPA, extending outside support to the Congress-led government at the Centre. Still smarting at the total blackout of his functions and programmes by Sun TV despite he being a part of the DPA, Vaiko said the group controlled assets worth Rs 6,000 crore, pointing to the channel’s advertisement ahead of its proposed IPO. Dayanidhi Maran was ‘‘misusing his office’’ to promote the group’s interests and ‘‘destroy competition’’, Vaiko said, dubbing it ‘‘media terrorism’’.

Dismissing charges that he had been ‘‘opportunistic’’ in aligning with the AIADMK, Vaiko pointed out that in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK had moved into the BJP-led NDA soon after the AIADMK quit the front. The DMK began talks with the Congress for a tie-up as soon as Murasoli Maran passed away, he said.

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