Chennai, Apr 13:
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, general secretary of the AIADMK and Leader of the Opposition, on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, accusing him of reducing governance to petty politics and failing the people of Tamil Nadu.
Addressing a party rally in Nagapattinam, Palaniswami said Stalin continued to focus on political attacks rather than administration. “Even after five years in office, Stalin speaks only about me, not about his government or its failures. The people elected him to govern, not to slander,” he said.
Citing the large turnout at his campaign meetings, Palaniswami expressed confidence that the AIADMK-led alliance would secure a decisive victory in the upcoming Assembly elections. He urged party cadre to work towards winning constituencies with significant margins.
Throwing a direct challenge to the Chief Minister, he said, “Let me list the achievements of the AIADMK government and let Stalin list his. Let the people judge.” He highlighted that 17 government medical colleges were established during the AIADMK regime and claimed that higher education enrolment rose from 32 per cent in 2011 to 54 per cent by 2019-20, achieving targets set for 2030 ahead of schedule.
In contrast, he alleged that the DMK government had failed to establish even a single new government medical college in the past four years.
Palaniswami also criticised the State government’s handling of the Mekedatu dam issue, calling it a betrayal of Tamil Nadu’s farmers. Referring to observations by the Supreme Court of India that Cauvery River waters cannot be obstructed, he questioned Stalin’s response to Karnataka’s actions and accused him of remaining silent. He recalled crop losses during the 2022 kuruvai season and alleged that the Chief Minister prioritised political engagements over securing water for farmers.
On rising prices, Palaniswami pointed to increases in essential commodities such as rice, pulses and edible oils, and said the burden on households had doubled. He further accused the State government of relying heavily on revenue from TASMAC, alleging that nearly ₹24,000 crore had been collected over four years without providing adequate relief from inflation.