Salem (Tamil Nadu), Jul 14 (PTI) AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday hit back at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for alleging collusion between his party and its arch-rival DMK and said it was the TVK founder who “stole” legislators.
Speaking to reporters, Palaniswami said CM Vijay during his visit to Karur on July 10 alleged that the AIADMK and the DMK were in cahoots.
The AIADMK chief, referring to the Tamil phrase (Koottu Kalavanigal–which roughly meant “partners in crime,”) used by Vijay to target the AIADMK-DMK, said that it was a very serious accusation.
The former chief minister asked if it was appropriate for Vijay, who is serving as the chief minister, to use such an allegation.
Palaniswami said: “He should think carefully about what words to use before using them. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is not a partner in crime. It is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay who is the thief. Those who contested on behalf of the AIADMK under the two-leaves symbol and won were made to resign through horse-trading, and immediately after their resignation, they were inducted into the TVK.” The chief minister is the “thief” since he is the one who poached AIADMK’s victorious, elected MLAs, the ex-CM alleged.
Hitting out at the TVK for its stand of giving “pure, clean governance,” he asked if inducting everyone from rival parties, whom he targeted and accused, meant transparent and good governance.
Six AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined TVK and this includes ex-minister C Vijayabaskar.
Likening the legs of a chair to support received from parties including the Left, he said the TVK government may collapse in view of the alleged “contradictory views” from partners.
Palaniswami referred to VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan’s statements that are allegedly contradictory in nature. “He expresses an opinion everyday, which opinion should we accept.” The AIADMK chief dismissed as “fiction,” claims of alliance between the AIADMK and DMK.
He mocked at the DMK chief MK Stalin for his oft-repeated statement (before the 2026 Assembly polls) that the DMK-led alliance was an “ideology-based, robust alliance (Kolgai Koottani).” He asked: “What has happened? There is no principle and there is no alliance as well.” VCK and IUML, who were part of the DMK’s alliance for the Assembly polls have joined the TVK government.
The Left parties, who were also allies of the DMK for the Assembly election, have extended outside support to the TVK regime. PTI VGN VGN SA
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