Chennai, July 3:
The political war of words in Tamil Nadu intensified on Thursday as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam strongly rejected allegations that its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had attempted to seek the support of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to form a government after the recent Assembly elections. Senior party leader and former minister S. S. Krishnamurthy dismissed the claims as āblatant liesā aimed at misleading the public and gaining political mileage.
In a strongly worded statement, Krishnamurthy accused former AIADMK leaders who recently defected to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of deliberately spreading false narratives to remain politically relevant. He alleged that these leaders, who had benefited from the party for years, were now targeting its leadership with baseless accusations to curry favour with their new political leadership.
Recalling the legacy of the AIADMK, Krishnamurthy said the party had withstood numerous political challenges under iconic leaders such as M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa. He emphasised that despite repeated defections during difficult phases, the party continued to remain resilient due to the unwavering support of its cadre and grassroots workers.
Rejecting the allegation that Palaniswami explored forming a government with DMK backing, Krishnamurthy asserted that neither the party leadership nor its cadre had ever engaged in such an exercise. He challenged those making the claims to produce concrete evidence. He further pointed out that all 47 AIADMK MLAs had unanimously elected Palaniswami as the legislature party leader after the elections through a formal resolution.
Krishnamurthy also accused certain MLAs of violating the party whip by supporting the minority TVK government during crucial votes. Though they had reportedly submitted apology letters expressing regret, he said they continued to level unfounded allegations against the party leadership. According to him, such actions reflected political opportunism rather than ideological differences.
Taking a sharp dig at the defectors, he said their attempts to mislead party workers and the public would ultimately fail. He expressed confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK cadre would deliver a āfitting responseā to those who abandoned the party for personal gains.
The developments come amid escalating political tensions in the state, with parties trading allegations over defections, governance, and political alignments. Observers note that the intensifying rhetoric signals a prolonged phase of political confrontation as parties reposition themselves in the evolving power dynamics of Tamil Nadu politics.