Chennai, March 28 Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary of the AIADMK, alleged on Saturday that several "B teams" were formed and many tried to "disrupt" the AIADMK by filing lawsuits in court.
Addressing supporters in North Chennai during the April 23 Assembly elections, Palaniswami stated, "Several internal issues were created within the party, and now see where they (O Panneerselvam) are."
"The true nature of Panneerselvam has been revealed. The situation is now clear. After the late Jayalalithaa's death, many intentionally tried to seize control of the movement. But with the support of everyone and party members, we were able to stop them and demonstrate that the AIADMK is a strong force," he said.
"After Jayalalithaa's death (on December 5, 2016), they thought the party would collapse. They tried to disrupt the party by forming these 'B teams'. But, along with the support of the people and party members, everything has been dismantled," he said.
Palaniswami emphasized that the party was founded by late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran to improve the lives of the poor. He stated that after his death, the movement split.
"However, Jayalalithaa united them and fulfilled the dreams of our revolutionary leader (M G Ramachandran)," he said, amidst applause from the audience during the party's "Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom" campaign.
He claimed that the AIADMK, the only party to have ruled Tamil Nadu for 31 years, has enabled the state to achieve the top rank among Indian states.
Observing that the party follows democratic principles, he said that in the DMK, this is not the case, as members do not receive recognition regardless of their efforts. He stated that the DMK's objective is solely to "exploit" the system, and questioned whether such a party should be allowed to govern again. The people responded with a resounding "no."
Palaniswami asserted that his government obtained approval for the Rs 63,000 crore metro rail project in the state.
"This is an achievement of the AIADMK. Has the DMK achieved such a feat in its five-year rule?" he asked.
Later, addressing a gathering in Tiruvottiyur, he appealed to voters to support Kuppan, the AIADMK candidate, in Tiruvottiyur, and 'Madhavaram' Murthy for Madhavaram.
Attacking DMK chief M K Stalin over his comments about the AIADMK-led NDA, Palaniswami said, "A genuine alliance forms naturally. What we have is a natural alliance. What the DMK has created is a forced alliance."
On seat-sharing, he stated that Stalin "humiliated" long-standing allies by providing more seats to new entrants in the alliance. "This (the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance) is not an alliance of conviction, but of compulsion," he claimed.
Asserting that the AIADMK leads the NDA in Tamil Nadu, he said, "It is the AIADMK that will form the government, and I am the chief ministerial candidate. This has been clearly stated."
He questioned Stalin whether the BJP was a "bad party" when the DMK formed an alliance with it in 1999 and 2001.
Slamming the DMK over corruption, he claimed that the state's liquor shops (TASMAC) sell 1.5 crore bottles daily, and a Rs 10 surcharge per bottle has resulted in a Rs 24,000 crore scam over the last four years. "The Enforcement Directorate has evidence. Legal action will be taken when the AIADMK forms the government," he said.
Palaniswami also criticized the DMK over the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, alleging that no family feels safe in the state.
Listing some of the initiatives that his party would undertake after winning the Assembly elections, Palaniswami stated that the AIADMK would provide Rs 25 lakh as a solatium to families of fishermen who die at sea, construct free housing for fishing families, and increase the compensation provided during fishing bans from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000.
He reiterated that the AIADMK government would provide Rs 2,000 as monthly assistance to women heads of families, Rs 10,000 special relief, free bus travel for men, and refrigerators for ration card holders.