Daydreaming, EPS Dismisses CM Stalin's 2026 Assembly Election Target
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Sunday dismissed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's claim that the DMK-led coalition would win over 200 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, calling it a 'daydream'.
Speaking at the wedding of Arakkonam MLA S. Ravi's son, Palaniswami said, 'Stalin is daydreaming when he says his alliance will secure more than 200 Assembly seats in the next polls. It is, in fact, the AIADMK-led front that will form the next government in Tamil Nadu after 2026.'
He also asserted that more political parties would soon join the AIADMK alliance, further strengthening its position.
Highlighting achievements of the AIADMK during its previous tenure from 2016 to 2021, Palaniswami took credit for the creation of six new districts in Tamil Nadu, including Ranipet and Tirupattur, which were carved out of Vellore.
He said the formation of these new administrative units enabled a better focus on underdeveloped regions.
The former Chief Minister also listed several educational initiatives launched during the AIADMK regime, including the establishment of 11 new medical colleges, six law colleges, and additional engineering and agricultural colleges.
"On the contrary, the DMK government is merely relaunching our schemes under new names by pasting their stickers on them,' he alleged.
Palaniswami questioned the DMK's 2021 poll promise to build check dams worth Rs 2,000 crore across Tamil Nadu. 'How many check dams has the DMK government built so far? Every monsoon, excess rainwater simply drains into the sea due to poor planning,' he said.
He further criticised the DMK for discontinuing pro-poor schemes introduced by the AIADMK, such as Amma Clinics and the Kudimaramathu initiative, which allowed farmers to desilt local waterbodies. 'This not only deepened water storage areas but also provided nutrient-rich silt for farmlands,' he said.
Palaniswami also cited the AIADMK's introduction of the 7.5 per cent horizontal reservation for government school students in medical admissions as a landmark initiative. 'Thanks to this, 3,460 government school students have been able to pursue medicine since the 2020-21 academic year,' he said.
The event was attended by former Minister and Tirupattur district in-charge K.C. Veeramani, along with several AIADMK functionaries and party cadre.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
B'luru stampede: Somanna slams govt, defends suspended top cop
Mysuru: Union minister of state for railways V Somanna on Sunday said even an entire year's state budget cannot compensate for the tragic loss of lives in the stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. His remarks came in response to questions from the media regarding the Karnataka govt's revised compensation of Rs 25 lakh per victim, up from the initial Rs 10 lakh. "Even the amount of one full year's state budget cannot compensate for the lives lost in the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium," Somanna said. "Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the IPL finals after 18 years, and the authorities should have planned accordingly. Unfortunately, the chief minister mishandled the situation. Perhaps, he acted on poor advice from his associates," he added. The minister also criticised the suspension of Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, calling it unjust. "I've known the work of IPS officer Dayananda for many years. His suspension is unfair, especially when he had no direct role in the stampede. It was a good decision to appoint him as commissioner, and he should be reinstated immediately. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Promoções imperdíveis de voos baratos Voos | Anúncios de Pesquisa Saiba Mais Undo Govt has gone off track, and they must be held accountable for this tragedy," he added. Reflecting on his past association with CM Siddaramaiah, Somanna expressed disappointment over what he described as a shift in leadership style. "I was in the Congress and was very close to Siddaramaiah. I knew him well — he was not like this. Power seems to have changed him. In the Congress party, no other leader in the country has been given the kind of freedom Siddaramaiah enjoys. It looks like he has changed just to survive as chief minister. This is not the Siddaramaiah I once knew," he said. Somanna also spoke about his personal transformation after becoming a Union minister. "In the past year, after becoming minister of railways and observing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's daily routine and work ethic, I've changed myself," he said. "The state govt should take note of how the Prime Minister functions. They should visit Delhi and see his discipline and dedication first hand. I'm deeply impressed by Modi's style of governance," he added.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Centre okays Rs 24,000 cr projects for Delhi, includes 5 km tunnel from Mahipalpur to Vasant Kunj
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said the Centre has approved several projects worth Rs 24,000 crore to streamline traffic and reduce pollution in Delhi and its adjoining areas, including a five-km tunnel between Shiv Murti-Mahipalpur (Dwarka Expressway) and Nelson Mandela Road (Vasant Kunj). The tunnel will be constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore, she said, adding that the projects were approved during a recent meeting with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. Gupta said that the work on the project will likely commence early next year. It will comprise of two underground tubes, with each tube having three lanes -- totalling to six lanes, which will offer a signal-free alternate route between South Delhi and Dwarka/Gurugram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma Limfoma Pelajari Undo The tunnel will also be equipped with modern facilities such as electro-mechanical systems, ventilation, fire safety, CCTV surveillance, control rooms, emergency exits, and cross-passages. She explained that the tunnel will significantly ease traffic congestion on Rangpuri, Dhaula Kuan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, and National Highway 48 (NH-48). Live Events It will also serve as a key connector between Central/East Delhi and multiple major expressways and highways including the Delhi Expressway (NE-5), NH-44, NH-10, Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-48), and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) via the Urban Extension Road (UER) and Dwarka Expressway, she added. Calling this project, the "foundation for the Delhi of the future," the chief minister said the tunnel will give a new direction to infrastructure in the national capital and bring relief to millions of citizens.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Amit Shah will end DMK rule in 2026 with silent operation: BJP Tamil Nadu chief
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran on Sunday escalated his party's offensive against the ruling DMK, saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would carry out a "Silent Operation" to bring down the MK Stalin-led government in the 2026 Assembly at a rally in Madurai, where Shah had earlier targeted the DMK over alleged corruption and misgovernance, Nagendran said, "Chief Minister Stalin is asking,'Who is that Shah?' Let me tell him - this is the same Shah who helped the BJP come to power in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi. DMK is afraid of him."advertisementHe added, "Just like Prime Minister Modi conducted Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam attack, Amit Shah has now visited Meenakshi Amman, taken Sindoor, and will begin a 'Silent Operation' to end DMK rule." Nagendran accused the DMK of calling the BJP-AIADMK alliance a "betrayal alliance" out of fear. "They pelted stones at Indira Gandhi and made her bleed. Now they are talking about betrayal?" he also hit out at the ruling party over law and order in Tamil Nadu, especially in the Kongu region. "Elderly people are being murdered. Annamalai protested and demanded arrests within a month. The accused confessed to 19 murders. This government has failed to handle the police department," he concerns over increasing incidents of sexual assault, Nagendran said, "There are countless cases, but no proper action is being taken. All this will come to an end in 2026."advertisementAddressing alliance speculation, Nagendran clarified that the BJP is working with AIADMK under the NDA umbrella. "Don't ask about alliance every day. It is Amit Shah who formed the alliance. NDA will come to power in 2026 under EPS's leadership."Answering questions about his future plans, Nagendran said, "Reporters ask me what kind of yatra I'm planning. My yatra is to take our MLAs to the Assembly. On June 22, we'll hold a Murugan devotees' conference in Thiruparankundram, and after that, our voices will echo in Fort St George."Must Watch
