CM Stalin calls Palaniswami “opportunistic”, alleges AIADMK’s break from BJP during 2024 polls was “drama”.
VELLORE/TIRUPATTUR: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday accused the AIADMK of backing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and termed its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) politically “opportunistic”.
Addressing a campaign meeting at Pallikonda in support of DMK alliance candidates across Vellore district constituencies, Stalin said, “I and over 8,000 people were booked for protesting against the CAA when the AIADMK was in power. We stood with the people.” He alleged that while his party opposed the Act, the AIADMK supported it, with Palaniswami voting in favour of the Bill.
Stalin further claimed that Palaniswami’s promise to sever ties with the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was merely “drama”. “Now he has once again formed an alliance with the BJP,” he said.
The Chief Minister also criticised the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of attempting to undermine Tamil Nadu despite the state’s progress in development and population control. He warned that any move to weaken the state’s self-respect would be strongly resisted.
Listing key development works in Vellore, Stalin said projects worth ₹1,300 crore had been implemented under the DMK government. These include the Hogenakkal Combined Drinking Water Scheme, Tidel Park in Abdullapuram, Katpadi Law College, Pentland Hospital upgrades, infrastructure for Tiruvalluvar University, 10 flyovers, and seven check dams.
Highlighting welfare initiatives, he said minorities feel safer in Tamil Nadu and pointed to measures such as the construction of a Hajj House in Nanganallur, financial assistance for Hajj pilgrims, and support for minority institutions.
Later, while campaigning in Tirupattur, Stalin alleged that the AIADMK’s election manifesto was merely a “duplicate” of DMK schemes with renamed titles. He also criticised the BJP for its “lackadaisical” approach towards the state, citing the long-pending AIIMS Madurai project as an example.
