Erode, Mar 9: AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of becoming a “slave” to the Indian National Congress, turning the tables on earlier accusations by the DMK that the AIADMK was a proxy of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Campaigning in Erode, Palaniswami said the recent developments in alliance politics had exposed what he described as the DMK’s dependence on the Congress. He alleged that the Congress had exerted pressure on the DMK during seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming elections.
According to him, the two parties were involved in a public dispute for nearly 20 days over the distribution of seats. He claimed that the Congress eventually managed to secure 28 seats after threatening the DMK leadership during the talks.
Palaniswami also recalled earlier alliance discussions between the two parties, alleging that the Congress had finalised seat-sharing arrangements with the DMK even while enforcement raids were taking place during previous negotiations.
The AIADMK leader also targeted his former party colleague O. Panneerselvam, who recently aligned with the DMK. In his first direct criticism of Panneerselvam after the move, Palaniswami said it had now become clear who the “B team” of the DMK was.
“OPS is a betrayer who is being rewarded in the DMK,” he said, accusing the former chief minister of working against the interests of the AIADMK.
Responding to Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s claim that the BJP would eventually swallow the AIADMK, Palaniswami dismissed the statement and asserted that his party would remain independent.
“No one can destroy the AIADMK. It is a party that has remained pure and fearless, overcoming numerous challenges to stay strong,” he said.
Palaniswami also criticised Stalin’s remark that the upcoming Assembly election would be a contest between “Tamil Nadu and Delhi”. According to him, the comment reflected the DMK leadership’s inability to politically challenge the AIADMK.
He said Stalin was unable to point out faults in the AIADMK’s past governance and was therefore attempting to frame the election as a battle between the State and the Centre.
Referring to the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, Palaniswami said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already clarified that the AIADMK would lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu.
He expressed confidence that the alliance would secure a majority in the upcoming Assembly elections and form the next government in the State.