Dharapuram (Tamil Nadu), Sep 27 (PTI) Launching a scathing attack on TVK founder and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and the state government, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday alleged that the ruling party leaders deserve a “doctorate in power cuts” for failing to manage the state’s electricity grid.
He slammed Vijay over the September 2025 fatal Karur stampede, accusing the CM of “fleeing” from the election rally site where the incident happened.
Power cuts are seen even during ministers’ events, he said.
“Power goes out even during ministers’ official functions. We should give a doctorate to this government for power cuts,” he said.
Addressing an election rally at Kannivadi here in support of party candidate K Bhanumathi for the October 6 Dharapuram by-election, Palaniswami criticized former AIADMK MLA and TVK candidate P Satyabama who quit soon after the April 2026 elections which she won on his party ticket.
He urged the electorate to teach a “fitting lesson” to the politician who “sold out voters and betrayed the party” that elected her five months ago.
Before starting his speech, the former chief minister requested a two-minute silence for the victims of the September 27, 2025 Karur stampede at a TVK rally, in which 41 persons were killed.
He targeted Vijay for “fleeing” the site without offering condolences or visiting the injured then.
“The TVK chief rushed to the airport and fled to Chennai, hiding for 72 days without even visiting the families of his own party workers who died. Instead, he made them travel to Chennai just to express sympathy, what a disgrace,” he said.
Dismissing Vijay’s criticism that AIADMK is fading away and acting as a branch party, Palaniswami highlighted his long stint in the organisation. TVK has barely sprouted three leaves while AIADMK has a 51-year legacy with 31 years in power, he said.
“He claims AIADMK will gradually merge into TVK, but that will not happen even in his dreams. AIADMK will defeat TVK,” he asserted.
Highlighting persistent power outages across the state, he mocked Electricity Minister R Nirmal Kumar for calling power cuts “power shortages” rather than administrative failures.
He further questioned the state government’s spending priorities, slamming the proposed Rs 1,200 crore Secretariat building and a lavish office on the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai for the CM, while the state carries a Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden.
He contrasted this with his regime’s achievements, citing farm loan waivers, three-phase electricity supply, and livestock research centers set up for farmers.
Accusing the ruling administration of filing false cases against AIADMK workers out of fear of losing the seat, he urged party cadres to work hard and secure a decisive victory in the bypoll. PTI SNR SNR SA
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