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Time of India
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nainar hails EPS as TN people's hope as they share stage
Tirunelveli: Braving heavy rain, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran shared the stage in Tirunelveli on Monday evening as part of the former's Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom campaign. A huge throng of people watched on as EPS, drenched in rain, said the downpour was nothing compared to the flood of people that will defeat DMK and secure victory for the AIADMK-led alliance in the assembly election. The two lambasted the DMK for 'deteriorating law and order' and 'burdening the common man.' Nagenthran, also the Tirunelveli MLA, had hosted EPS at his house for dinner and a consultative meeting on Sunday with senior leaders from BJP and AIADMK. "To be freed from DMK, the state needs good governance, and people place their hopes on EPS. To quote Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, voting right is integral for people to choose their govt, and the govt should be of not only skilled people but of good people," Nagentharan said. "AIADMK will always fulfil the needs of the people. Various welfare schemes brought by AIADMK were stopped by DMK without justification, and people are burdened with increased taxes and affected by inflation. Chief minister M K Stalin has lost the support of cadres and members. That is why DMK is knocking on the doors of people and begging them to join the party," he added. EPS said DMK continues to cheat the people of Tamil Nadu by promising NEET exemption though the exam was launched during Congress rule when DMK was in alliance. Earlier in the day, EPS held a meeting with representatives and associations of construction workers, farmers, consumer products distributors, and merchants in Tirunelveli. EPS assured farmers that full prices will be ensured for direct procurement of paddy. Subsidies for farmers up to 40-50%, especially women, will be resumed. AIADMK will continue to stand with construction workers and other labourers and small businesses, just as it supported them during the Covid-19 pandemic, EPS added.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMK government's failure to take stern action has emboldened criminals: Palaniswami
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Friday (July 25, 2025), alleged that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu was completely ruined under the DMK government. The DMK government's failure to take stern action and maintain law and order had emboldened criminals who have no fear of the police, he charged, citing a double murder reported in Avudaiyarkoil in Pudukottai district on Thursday night. Speaking to journalists in Pudukottai, he alleged that murder, robbery, thefts, crimes against children and targeted killings of elderly persons had become a regular feature. Only if criminals feared stern action, crimes would come down. However, that was not the case under the DMK government, Mr. Palaniswami said. There was no respect for honest and upright police officers under the DMK government. The prize given to such honest officers was suspension orders. 'It is not good for a government to take vindictive action against honest officers,' he said. The responsibility of the main Opposition party was to point out the problems and issues faced by the people, but those in power were just dismissing them instead of rectifying. The government was unaware of the problems faced by the people, he said. Asked whether he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Tiruchi and Gangaikonda Cholapuram on Sunday (July 27), Mr. Palaniswami said he was not aware of the complete programme of the Prime Minister till now adding that he was yet to receive the official itinerary of Mr. Modi. Replying to a query, Mr. Palaniswami said several schemes launched during the AIADMK regime were withdrawn after the DMK came to power. Steps would be taken to implement them once the AIADMK returned to power. The former Chief Minister said he had so far covered 46 Assembly constituencies and met around 15 lakh people during his 'Makkalai Kaappom' campaign. The reception to his campaign had given him the hope of a huge victory for the AIADMK-led alliance, he said. 'Uruttukalum Thiruttukalum' outreach initiative Earlier, he launched the AIADMK's outreach initiative christened 'Uruttukalum Thiruttukalum' to circulate pamphlets containing a set of promises made by the DMK government in the run up to the 2021 Assembly elections to seek feedback from the people as to whether the promises had been fulfilled and to obtain their rating for the government.
India Today
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
As power-sharing demand gets shriller, is Tamil Nadu set for a new phase of coalitions?
As Tamil Nadu heads for assembly elections next year, a new political demand is surfacing from allies of both major Dravidian parties. This time, it is not just about a share of seats but a share in decades, electoral alliances in the state have largely ended at seat-sharing. Now, that boundary is being tested as calls grow louder for coalition governance and administrative phrase that has come to define this aspiration—'a share in governance a share in authority'—was first articulated last year by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a key ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Leader after leader in the VCK had framed it as an ideological demand. Since then, the idea has assumed political weight, forcing even the rival AIADMK (All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) to his party's Kallakurichi conference last year, actor-politician Vijay had declared that allies joining his Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) for the 2026 polls would receive 'a share in governance and authority' if the coalition formed the government. Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss and Premalatha Vijayakanth of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have also called for a share in power from alliance partners. Both parties are widely expected to be part of the AIADMK-led question now: Is Tamil Nadu ready for such a transformation politically and culturally? For decades, the state's political imagination has been shaped by strong, singular leadership. Even when allies played a crucial role in electoral victories, they were rarely given ministerial roles or meaningful responsibilities in governance. That legacy is now under a recent interview to the Tamil media, Congress leader Trichy Velusamy declared: 'A coalition government will form in Tamil Nadu, and two Congress leaders will become ministers.' He backed it up with history, saying: 'Coalition governments are not new to Tamil Nadu. The state was the first in independent India to experiment with coalition governance. After the 1952 elections, the Congress allied with smaller parties, such as those led by Manickavel Naicker and Ramasamy Padayachi, who had just six MLAs between them, and offered them ministerial berths. Only then did C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) assume office as chief minister. In that sense, Tamil Nadu introduced coalition governance to India.'Velusamy also had a word of caution for the DMK. 'In a democracy, there is no big or small party. Anyone can win, anyone can lose. In 1971, the DMK won 134 seats. In 1991, it won just one. The reality is this: without allies like Congress, the communists, and VCK, the DMK cannot come to power. Without them, it can only sit in the Opposition,' he VCK, for its part, has long been vocal about the limitations of the current model. Thol. Thirumavalavan has consistently argued that sharing administrative responsibility will lead to more inclusive governance and deepen democratic the battle over coalition governance is perhaps fiercest within the AIADMK front. The party, still reeling from its 2021 assembly election defeat, is caught between the need to retain allies and the fear of conceding too much ground. The BJP and PMK, crucial for electoral math, are now expected to drive a much harder bargain—not just better seat deals but a real share in home minister Amit Shah has repeatedly said there will be a coalition government in Tamil Nadu if the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) wins the election—a demand consistently pushed back by the AIADMK. In fact, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that 'they were not fools to form a coalition government'—a remark not taken kindly by several BJP state president Nainar Nagendran later said he had spoken to Palaniswami over the phone. He clarified that the remark was aimed at countering the DMK's claim that the BJP would swallow the AIADMK, and that there was no hidden BJP state president K. Annamalai responded sharply: 'The BJP won't cheat anyone nor will it allow itself to be cheated.' He added that he had done nothing to harm the alliance.'The AIADMK can't afford to alienate its allies and at the same time cannot afford to hand over control,' said a political analyst. This contradiction is especially acute given the BJP central leadership's ambition to grow roots in southern DMK, for now, appears more stable. Its leadership remains consolidated, welfare schemes have struck a chord with the electorate, and its alliance is largely bigger challenge is cultural. Tamil Nadu's political landscape has long idolised the leader as ideologue, administrator and icon. Observers say the needs and demands of coalition governance are entirely different and call for a shift from personality-driven politics to a power-sharing the momentum is unmistakable. From the VCK and Congress to the BJP and PMK, parties that have largely played the role of minor alliance partners are articulating a shared vision of participatory governance. Whether rooted in ideology or driven by electoral compulsions, the demand for coalition governance now has a vocabulary, and perhaps growing political legitimacy. The next few months will determine whether this is merely a tactical bargaining tool or the beginning of a deeper transformation in Tamil Nadu's political to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Edappadi delivers a stern message to ally BJP on coalition government issue
CHENNAI: Even as a section of the BJP leaders continues to insist that a coalition government will be formed after the 2026 Assembly election, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami may have put an end to speculations, delivering what analysts say is a stern message to the BJP that the AIADMK will independently form the government. Speaking at an AIADMK meeting in Thiruthuraipoondi (Tiruvarur district) on Saturday night, Palaniswami said, 'They (the DMK) are saying that in the AIADMK-BJP alliance, we will share power if we form the government. Mr Stalin, let me make this clear: We are not gullible. The AIADMK will win the polls with a majority and form the government on its own.' Palaniswami said the BJP joined the AIADMK-led alliance to unseat the DMK government, which is 'corrupt and anti-people'. 'Unlike you, we are not desperate to bring our heir to power. It is the will of the people that matters, and we will fulfil that,' he added. Although Palaniswami aimed the comments at DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin, political analysts said that this was, in fact, a stern message to the BJP, whose leaders continue to claim that a coalition government will be formed in the state. Quick on damage control, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran called up Palaniswami and discussed the remarks. Answering queries from reporters in Nagapattinam, Nagenthran denied any ulterior motive to EPS' remarks. Palaniswami had said that he was only responding to the campaign of the DMK that 'the BJP would swallow the AIADMK since the party has been mortgaged', said Nagenthran.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Every baby born with debt of Rs 1.5L in DMK rule: Edappadi K Palaniswami
NAGAPATTINAM: Mentioning that the DMK government has accrued a debt of Rs 4 lakh crore over the past four years and it is public money that is being spent to repay it, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said, 'Every baby in the state is hence born with a debt of roughly Rs 1.5 lakh.' Addressing a gathering at Vedaranyam as part of his two-day 'Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' in Nagapattinam, Palaniswami also exuded confidence of the AIADMK-led alliance winning 210 seats in the upcoming state Assembly election. 'Stalin says the DMK and its alliance will win 200 seats. I say his dreams will turn into a mirage. The AIADMK-led alliance will win 210 seats,' he said. Earlier, while speaking in Nagapattinam town, Palaniswami touched upon the Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery project. The project which ensures supply of clean drinking water and water for irrigation to several districts, including tail-end areas, was conceived during the AIADMK's rule and got approval from the centre. No significant action, however, has been taken under the incumbent DMK government, the former CM said, adding that the project would be completed once the AIADMK comes to power.
