Erode (Tamil Nadu), March 8 In response to Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday alleged that the ruling DMK is "dependent" on its ally, the Congress party.
Addressing a rally here in Perunthurai, Palaniswami said that the Congress and DMK have been engaged in a series of disputes over seat allocation and related matters for about 20 days.
Eventually, the Congress party allegedly pressured the DMK and secured 28 seats for the Assembly elections to be held in April-May this year.
He claimed that people have not forgotten that even when M Karunanidhi, the patriarch of the DMK, was alive, the Congress party pressured and made the DMK a "dependent" and formed an alliance with it. This was achieved by conducting "surveillance" while seat-sharing talks were ongoing, he claimed.
However, his party, the AIADMK, is an independent party that chose to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on its own.
Now, in order to dislodge the "anti-people" DMK from power, his party has formed an alliance and it is robust, transparent, and cordial, unlike the DMK-led alliance, he said.
Reiterating the welfare schemes implemented during the AIADMK regime, including the distribution of milch goats, he said that the Stalin-led government is a "failed" government, and that "Stalin should step down."
Further, he said: "Stalin is claiming that the BJP will take over the AIADMK. No party can do this. No force can destroy the AIADMK."
Expelled AIADMK leaders, including O Panneerselvam and V Senthilbalaji, who are like "demonetized currency," have no value. They were expelled because they betrayed the party.
"You will only face problems through Senthilbalaji, and he will betray you. We will protect our party, but no one can protect your party, because you have admitted selfish OPS," Palaniswami told CM Stalin.
Palaniswami said that Senthilbalaji had spent 453 days in prison in the ED case related to the cash-for-jobs scam, and made an allegation to claim that the former minister would betray the ruling party.
He alleged: "Senthilbalaji deceived the AIADMK itself, a very big party. If he lands in trouble, he will betray anyone."
Regarding former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who joined the DMK on February 27, Palaniswami said he was expelled for his betrayal.
Now, he has sought refuge in the DMK, which is described as an "evil force" by MGR, the founder of the AIADMK. Hence, whichever party Panneerselvam may join, that party will face decline, claimed Palaniswami, citing a Tamil saying related to a tortoise entering a household.
"Due to DMK's influence, OPS filed cases against the AIADMK leadership. These were legally challenged," he said, lashing out at the ousted leader for not showing gratitude to the party that gave him the post of chief minister. Hence, the AIADMK chief said: "The 'B-team' allegation against Panneerselvam has now been proven right."
Whoever tried to betray AIADMK was driven out by the "will" of MGR, Jayalalithaa, and the party is now robust, fearless, and "pure."
Dubbing Stalin as a "puppet CM," the Leader of the Opposition criticized the DMK regime over alleged unabated crimes against women and children, and the prevalence of "ganja." "It is the DMK man who is selling ganja," he alleged, and assured steps to end its alleged availability after his party formed the government following a win in elections.
He said that sometime back, Stalin himself had said that he had apprehensions about the problems a DMK man would bring to the party, the next day morning.
Targeting the DMK over family-dynasty politics, the AIADMK chief alleged that, "One family is exploiting 8 crore people...till such time this dispensation continues, people will only face anguish," and asserted that the upcoming polls were to defeat this 1 family.
He alleged that the DMK followed family politics, and asked if Karunanidhi's family was of royal lineage (if it belonged to Rajaparamparai) and whether only they had the entitlement to rule, and if an ordinary person cannot become the chief minister.
He claimed that Udhayanidhi Stalin becoming Deputy CM marked the prevalence of dynasty politics and asked if such a party must continue in power.
In AIADMK, an ordinary worker can become elected representatives and they can even become the CM. Is it possible in DMK?
He alleged that only those born in Karunanidhi's family can "rise" as the DMK party chief, as CM in the government led by the party, and similarly, in Parliament and national-level politics. "Others cannot expect it," he claimed.
In all his campaigns, Stalin claims that the poll contest is between TN and the NDA, as he does not have the strength to oppose the AIADMK front. "This is the Tamil Nadu Assembly election (expected in April-May 2026). This is not Delhi polls. The TN polls are important, and they will mark the end of family politics," he said and appealed to the people to vote for AIADMK and its allies, including the BJP.
The AIADMK chief said: "Our alliance is clear. BJP leader Amit Shah had made it clear that the AIADMK heads the alliance in TN and that the AIADMK will form the government by winning a majority of seats. Also, he had made it clear that the alliance's CM candidate is Edappadi Palaniswami. However, the puppet CM Stalin does not know anything."
The AIADMK chief, a former CM, alleged that the DMK did not even fulfill one fourth of its promises. It had made a total of 525 promises in 2021 Assembly polls, he recalled.
Palaniswami was presented with a 'lion symbol' Sengol-like staff at the rally by a party leader.
