Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accusing its ministers of widespread corruption and alleging a complete breakdown in governance, particularly in law and order.
Addressing party workers in the Tambaram and Pallavaram constituencies as part of the ‘Makkalai Kaapom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom’ (Save the People, Reclaim Tamil Nadu) campaign, Palaniswami took direct aim at senior DMK leaders. He alleged that V Senthil Balaji was operating “like a minister without portfolio,” claiming that he continues to hold official meetings from his residence.
Palaniswami further alleged that the state administration has witnessed rampant corruption over the past five years. Referring to Balaji’s tenure as Minister for Prohibition and Excise, he claimed that an additional Rs 10 was collected per bottle sold at Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets. According to him, the alleged extra collection resulted in a scam amounting to Rs 24,000 crore over a five-year period.
The AIADMK leader also accused the DMK government of floating tenders without adequate financial allocation. Highlighting alleged irregularities in the Municipal Administration Department, he said that despite the AIADMK filing a complaint and securing a court directive to register a case, no FIR has been filed so far. He predicted that once the election notification — expected in the second week of March — is issued, an FIR would be registered against Municipal Administration Minister K. N. Nehru “in accordance with the law.”
Pitching his party’s electoral promise, Palaniswami said the AIADMK’s proposal to provide Rs 10,000 as financial relief to families affected by what he termed the DMK regime’s economic burden is gaining traction among the public. He claimed that rising electricity tariffs and property taxes have left people struggling, and that voters would see the announcement as a much-needed relief measure.
Meanwhile, in a parallel political development, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) initiated seat-sharing discussions with the AIADMK. After the talks, party chief T. R. Parivendhar told reporters that his party has sought seven seats. IJK has become the first NDA constituent in Tamil Nadu to formally begin seat-sharing negotiations with the AIADMK, which is leading the alliance in the state.