In a fervent exchange of political rhetoric, the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Edappadi K. Palaniswami, launched a scathing critique against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Palaniswami accused Stalin of exploiting tragic incidents for political mileage ahead of the upcoming polls, cautioning that such tactics would ultimately backfire on the ruling party.Addressing supporters while canvassing for the DMDK candidate in the Tiruvallur constituency, Palaniswami vehemently rebutted Stalin’s assertions linking the AIADMK government to the police firing incident in Thoothukudi, which resulted in the loss of 13 lives. He contended that the unfortunate event was instigated by certain political factions, deflecting blame away from his administration.
In a bid to underscore historical context, Palaniswami recalled past instances of police brutality under the DMK regime, including the 1972 Coimbatore incident where farmers protesting an electricity tariff hike were met with lethal force. He also referenced the Majolai tragedy of 1999, where 17 tea estate workers lost their lives during a wage hike protest, implicating the DMK government for its mishandling of the situation.
Palaniswami further criticized the DMK’s stance on the Sterlite protest, alleging that the DMK administration allowed the expansion of the controversial Sterlite plant while his government, under his leadership, prioritized environmental concerns by denying permission for its extension.
Taking aim at the DMK’s electoral promises and governance record, Palaniswami challenged Stalin to account for the purported lack of development initiatives undertaken by the DMK since coming to power. He highlighted the failure of the Congress-DMK alliance to deliver on their pledge to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), questioning Udhayanidhi Stalin’s silence on the matter and accusing the DMK of abandoning welfare schemes initiated by the AIADMK administration.