Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) strongly criticized the DMK and its allies for repeatedly expressing concern over his party’s renewed alliance with the BJP as part of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. EPS accused the DMK-led bloc of issuing such statements out of fear, suggesting they are rattled by the AIADMK’s growing strength and the implications of the newly restructured alliance in the state.
During a heated exchange in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 21 April 2025, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and EPS locked horns over several issues, including NEET.
Addressing the Chief Minister directly, Palaniswami said, “NEET was introduced during the DMK-Congress regime. You are the ones responsible for its implementation.” In response Chief Minister MK Stalin challenged, “the AIADMK still has the power to resolve the NEET issue, by demanding cancellation of NEET as a condition to remain in the alliance?”
Speaking to the media later in the Assembly complex, EPS elaborated further slamming the DMK on NEET exam, “The foundation for NEET was laid in December 2010 during the DMK-Congress rule. The AIADMK has always stood against NEET and has consistently worked to have it scrapped. I have spoken about this issue on numerous occasions.”
EPS also took aim at the DMK and its political alliances. “Every time you look at DMK members and the parties in their alliance, they keep bringing up the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP. In all the statements, be it the Communist Party or the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). Today, the Chief Minister himself is speaking with anxiety. If we have formed an alliance, why are you panicking in the assembly? Why this anger? What are you so afraid of? The AIADMK will form an alliance with anyone. That is our wish. Our parties focus is to win the 2026 Assembly elections. Every party is forming alliances with the intention of winning. Every time you claim you are a ‘strong alliance’ right? Likewise, we, the AIADMK too will form a strong alliance for the 2026 elections—and we will definitely win.”
‘"நாங்க கூட்டணி வச்சா உங்களுக்கு என்ன?" ஆவேசமான எடப்பாடி பரபர PRESSMEET
#eps #dmk #admk #politics #tamilnews pic.twitter.com/DNfbEN2tWj
— ABP Nadu (@abpnadu) April 21, 2025
Calling out the DMK’s double standards regarding political alliances, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of reacting with visible fear and nervousness to the AIADMK-BJP alliance. “Looking at the Chief Minister’s anxiety and the way he spoke anxious, I could tell he was rattled. As he thought in mind that the AIADMK-led alliance will trigger a regime change in Tamil Nadu dethroning the DMK. It is clearly visible. In the Assembly, I saw it firsthand—his unease, his words, his tone,” EPS said.
He continued, “As far as the AIADMK is concerned, we will bring together all parties that are united in their goal of defeating the DMK. We will ensure there is no vote split. In the 2026 Assembly elections, we will decisively defeat the DMK-led alliance and AIADMK will form the next government.”
EPS then pointed out the DMK’s past alliance with the BJP, accusing the party of hypocrisy. “Let me remind you—when the DMK allied with the BJP in 1999, the late Karunanidhi himself said, ‘Religiosity is not more dangerous than corruption.’ That was his justification.”
In Parliament, Murasoli Maran, representing the DMK, defended the alliance, saying that despite past differences, including with the Congress during the Emergency, they had now come together with the BJP, the Jana Sangh, and the Marxist comrades to protect the rights of the marginalized and minorities.
EPS added, “In 1993, Murasoli article penned to the DMK cadres that, ‘some people were spreading false propaganda about the BJP being anti-minority and said that it was the responsibility of DMK youth to counter that narrative’. Back then, the BJP was considered a ‘good ally’ by the DMK.”
“And yet today, when the AIADMK aligns with the BJP, the DMK questions our choices. This is the DMK’s typical behavior—praise their alliances when it benefits them and criticize others when it doesn’t. That’s the political tradition they follow,” EPS concluded.
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