AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Monday criticized the ruling DMK’s dynasty politics, stating that the people of Tamil Nadu will put an end to it in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. His comments came in response to the recent elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Chief Minister MK Stalin, to the position of Deputy Chief Minister.Speaking to the media, Palaniswami expressed concern over the sidelining of long-serving DMK leaders and accused the party of being controlled by a single family. “There are many senior functionaries who have gone to prison and worked hard for the party. But all were overlooked, and only someone born in Karunanidhi’s family can hold the Chief Minister’s post,” he said. “It was Karunanidhi, then Stalin, and now Udhayanidhi Stalin. DMK has become a family rule, like a kingdom, and the people will never allow one family to remain in power.”
He further commented on recent statements by DMK ministers, sarcastically noting that some have even suggested the elevation of Udhayanidhi’s son, Inbanidhi, in the future. Palaniswami warned that this kind of dynastic politics would not be tolerated by the public.
In addition, the AIADMK leader took aim at the appointment of V Senthilbalaji as a minister soon after his release from prison. Palaniswami questioned the decision, recalling how Chief Minister Stalin once referred to Senthilbalaji as a “brother” and praised his sacrifice. He expressed doubt about whether the authorities would enforce the conditions of Senthilbalaji’s bail.
Responding to a query about Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi giving his assent to Senthilbalaji’s induction into the cabinet, Palaniswami noted that the Governor must act in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Minister, though he criticized the overall handling of the situation.
The AIADMK leader concluded his remarks by expressing confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu would reject the DMK’s dynastic politics in the 2026 Assembly polls, ushering in a change of leadership.
Also, Palaniswami has held Chief Minister MK Stalin responsible for the tragic death of a 35-year-old man who fell into a partially covered stormwater drain in Ashok Nagar on Sunday. Expressing condolences to the victim’s family, Palaniswami called for the government to provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the bereaved family.
In a post on X, Palaniswami criticized the administration of the Greater Chennai Corporation, highlighting the incident as an example of the government’s negligence toward public safety. He accused the Stalin-led government of prioritizing personal and family interests over the welfare of the citizens, calling the mishap a result of the city’s poor infrastructure management.
Palaniswami also pointed to broader issues, including the poor execution of the stormwater drain system, pothole-ridden roads, sewage overflows, contamination of drinking water, and mosquito breeding in public parks, attributing these failures to mismanagement by the urban local body. He further emphasized that the recent heavy rain, which recorded 10 cm, revealed the inadequacies in Chennai’s infrastructure, leaving the public vulnerable to such accidents.