Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu), Jun 30: Strongly defending his party’s electoral alliance with the BJP, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has asserted that nobody, however big, could dominate his party that ruled Tamil Nadu for over 30 years.
Referring to strong criticism that the BJP would gain an upper hand over the AIADMK, Palaniswami said his party is over 50 years old; it has helmed Tamil Nadu for about 31 years, and nobody could dominate such a party.
Parties, including the ruling DMK and the VCK, have strongly criticised the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.
Addressing a public meeting on Sunday, the former CM expressed confidence of winning the 2026 Assembly polls and forming the government with a majority as the single largest party.
Expressing confidence of forming a robust alliance ahead of the 2026 Assembly election, Palaniswami said the tie-up with the BJP was only the first phase. Hitting out at Stalin for criticising the AIADMK for forming an alliance with the BJP, Palaniswami wondered why the chief minister was concerned. “Stalin is gripped by fear,” the AIADMK chief said, adding the CM could not tolerate the alliance between his party and the BJP.
Asserting that cases against DMK leaders would be resumed after his party assumed power, he said, “The Palaniswami you are going to see hereafter will be different.”
The top AIADMK leader alleged widespread corruption, including in the registration offices in the DMK regime. “There is no place without corruption. Commission, collection, corruption, you can only see this in the DMK government. This is the big achievement of the DMK’s 4-year regime,” he alleged.
Palaniswami slammed Stalin for targeting the AIADMK over repeat electoral defeats and demanded to know the number of times the DMK was defeated between 2011 and 2019.
“In 2011, the DMK could not even qualify as the main opposition party. You do not have the locus standi to criticise us,” he said. The DMDK was the main opposition from 2011 to 2016.(PTI)
