Chennai, April 8 AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday criticised the Stalin-led government, calling it a "failed model" that could not deliver on its promises of filling government vacancies, providing jobs to youth, or even preventing massive flooding in Chennai during the monsoon season.
Referring to the DMK as "evil", he urged people to remove their government from power in Tamil Nadu.
He said that during the last five years of DMK rule, people had suffered in many ways, including deterioration in law and order and a lack of safety for women, girls, and people.
"People are living in fear under the present DMK regime. During the AIADMK regime, the rule of law was upheld, and people lived in a safe environment without fear. The AIADMK government took stern and prompt action against wrongdoers," Palaniswami said, addressing a poll rally in Velacherry.
Both the people and small traders have been severely affected by the DMK rule. This situation will change when the AIADMK comes to power. In 2021, Stalin promised to fill 5.5 lakh vacancies, including 3.5 government positions, if the DMK came to power. However, in five years, only one lakh people retired from service, but appointment orders were issued to only 94,000 people, Palaniswami said.
"Stalin was unable to fill the vacancies in government departments during the five years of the DMK rule. He also failed to keep his promise of providing jobs to youth. Should such a government continue?" Palaniswami said, and added, "the DMK government is a failed model."
People should consider what the DMK has done from 2021 to 2026, especially whether it has brought any relief to them. "No new projects were brought for Chennai and particularly Velacherry, which experiences massive flooding during the monsoon season," the former chief minister said.
Criticising Chief Minister M K Stalin for talking about the delimitation exercise when Tamil Nadu is in the midst of Assembly elections, he claimed that Stalin raised this issue because he had nothing to say about Tamil Nadu.
"The delimitation is a national exercise. Already, a central minister has clarified that the state will not be affected. Why are you repeating this? It seems you don't have anything else to talk about. Talk about the Assembly elections. What is the use of talking about delimitation when there are no Lok Sabha elections?" Palaniswami asked.
Taking potshots at Stalin's claim of implementing several schemes in the state, the AIADMK general secretary sought to know if he had brought any projects for the Thiagarayanagar constituency (in Chennai). "Or is he apparently referring to the sale of ganja?" Palaniswami mocked.
"Stalin, like a worn-out record, repeatedly calls me 'slave' Palaniswami. Unlike you, we will not make any promises for the sake of being in power. It is the DMK that mortgages itself. We will support initiatives for the betterment of the people and oppose projects that are detrimental to people and Tamil Nadu," Palaniswami said.
He said Stalin had no qualification to talk about the AIADMK, as it did not prolong the seat-sharing talks with its allies for 20 days like the DMK had done. The AIADMK met its allies at its party headquarters, concluded the agreement among allies in two hours, and made the announcement.
"We were the first to release the list of candidates and then unveiled our manifesto, whereas the DMK released its poll manifesto after 10 days. So, who copied?" he asked.