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 "subservient" to its ally, the Congress party.
Addressing a poll rally here in Perunthurai, Palaniswami said that the Congress and DMK had been engaged in a dispute over seat sharing and related issues for about 20 days.
He alleged that the Congress party intimidated the DMK and secured 28 seats for the Assembly elections to be held in April-May this year.
He claimed that the people remember that even when DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was alive, the Congress party intimidated and made the DMK a "subservient" party and formed an alliance with it. This was achieved by conducting "surveillance" while seat-sharing talks were going on, he claimed.
However, his party, the AIADMK, is an independent party that has chosen to contest the 2024 LS elections on its own.
Now, in order to remove the "anti-people" DMK from power, his party has formed an alliance, which 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, however, that the Stalin-led government is a "failed" government, "goodbye, Stalin."
Further, he said: "Stalin is claiming that the BJP will swallow the AIADMK. No party can do it. No force can destroy the AIADMK."
Expelled AIADMK leaders, including O Panneerselvam and V Senthilbalaji, are like "demonetized currency," have no value. They were expelled as they had betrayed the party.
"You will only face trouble 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.
Dubbing Stalin as a 'puppet CM,' the Leader of the Opposition hit out at the DMK regime over alleged crimes against women and children, and the prevalence of 'ganja.' "It is the DMK who is selling ganja," he alleged, and assured steps to end its availability after his party formed the government following a win in the elections.
Targeting the DMK over family-dynasty politics, the AIADMK chief alleged that, "one family is exploiting 8 crore people," and asserted that the upcoming elections are to defeat that one 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.
Palaniswami was presented with a 'lion symbol' Sengol-like staff at the rally by a party leader.
