Chennai, May 30:
Launching a strong political attack, senior minister and TVK leader K. A. Sengottaiyan on Saturday defended the legitimacy of the ruling government while accusing opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami of engaging in political double standards.
Addressing the media, Sengottaiyan highlighted that within just two years of its formation, the party led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay secured 38 percent of the vote share and formed the government in Tamil Nadu. He asserted that the current administration reflects the will of the people and is delivering governance aligned with public expectations.
Refuting allegations of “horse-trading” levelled by the opposition, Sengottaiyan questioned the origins of such claims. He asked who first initiated attempts at political bargaining, alleging that it was Edappadi Palaniswami who had explored the possibility of aligning with the DMK in a bid to secure the Chief Minister’s post.
Drawing from the legacy of the AIADMK, Sengottaiyan pointed out that during the tenures of former leaders like MGR and Jayalalithaa, the party had never entered into an alliance with the DMK. He further recalled that it was the DMK that had pursued legal action against Jayalalithaa in the past, making any such alliance contradictory to the party’s foundational principles.
He went on to question whether Palaniswami’s actions were in line with AIADMK’s ideological roots, suggesting that his attempts to align with the DMK raised serious doubts about his political positioning.
Sengottaiyan also referred to recent political developments, noting that leaders such as Jayakumar had resigned from their MLA positions and joined the ruling party. According to him, such resignations were driven by dissatisfaction over efforts within the AIADMK to move closer to the DMK.
Emphasising his party’s stance, Sengottaiyan stated that there was no necessity for TVK to engage in any form of political bargaining. He claimed that the party had independently defeated “money power” and upheld democratic values through its electoral victory.
He further added that the stability of the present government is rooted in public mandate rather than political manoeuvring, and reiterated that attempts to mislead people with unfounded allegations would not succeed. According to him, governance under the current leadership continues to focus on welfare schemes, development projects, and transparent administration.
Concluding his remarks, Sengottaiyan said that the people of Tamil Nadu are politically aware and capable of distinguishing between facts and propaganda. He expressed confidence that the electorate would continue to support a government that prioritises democracy and development over opportunistic alliances.