Erode (Tamil Nadu), March 7 Slamming the ruling DMK, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will determine who should not be in power.
Criticizing DMK Chief M K Stalin, Palaniswami at an election rally in the Anthiyur Assembly constituency on Saturday said, Stalin has been portraying the upcoming election as a contest between the NDA and the DMK during meetings.
"The upcoming Assembly polls will decide who should not be in power. Stalin is unaware of that. Since we provided an excellent administration after the passing of Amma (AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa), he could not raise a single complaint against the AIADMK regime," Palaniswami said.
Continuing his attack on the DMK Chief, Palaniswami said, "After Amma's regime, I became the chief minister and provided an excellent government for four years and two months. Even during droughts, we protected the people in villages and provided drinking water."
Despite the COVID-enforced lockdown and due to natural calamities like Cyclone 'Gaja, which affected the government's revenue, AIADMK maintained the state's financial management well, he claimed.
"However, the current DMK government did not face such droughts, COVID, or natural calamities. They earned an additional revenue of Rs 1.35 lakh crore. Despite receiving this additional revenue, Stalin has borrowed loans of Rs 5 lakh crore. Their achievements are burdening the people with this debt..." he said.
Referring to the distribution of Rs 5,000 as financial assistance to women in February by the DMK government, Palaniswami said, "Stalin gave Rs 5,000 to people because he lost their support. Once the AIADMK government comes to power, Rs 10,000 will be given to family cardholders. We will secure the necessary funds from the Centre, which are available to us."
The NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu is led by the AIADMK.
On February 13, Stalin said his government had deposited Rs 5,000 into the bank accounts of 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of the government's women entitlement scheme. He also announced that the monthly grant would be doubled to Rs 2,000 if his party was voted to power in the upcoming polls.
On the launch of free bus service for women by the DMK government, Palaniswami said, "Soon after AIADMK assumes power, it will provide three LPG cylinders a year to every ration card holder. Similar to women, free buses will also be provided for men."
Appealing to the gathering to vote for his party, Palaniswami said, "Whenever Stalin asks people about their aspirations, they say, 'Your government should be removed.'"
"Prove that Anthiyur is the stronghold of AIADMK. Stalin's model is a failed model," he urged the audience.
