Latest news with #Palaniswami
Hans India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
AIADMK's Palaniswami Sparks Controversy With Temple Land Ownership Promise For Delta Residents
Tamil Nadu's opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has ignited a fresh political controversy by pledging to grant formal land ownership rights to families residing on temple properties across the state's delta region, should his AIADMK party regain power. The promise has drawn sharp criticism from political commentators and sparked renewed debate over temple land management. Palaniswami defended his proposal by highlighting the long-term residence of numerous families on temple-owned land, arguing that his previous administration had initiated steps toward regularizing their occupancy. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he had announced a comprehensive scheme whereby the government would conduct land assessments, compensate temples appropriately, and subsequently issue ownership documents to current residents. The former Chief Minister acknowledged that legal challenges had previously derailed the initiative, with court interventions resulting in stay orders that prevented implementation. He expressed confidence that a future AIADMK government would successfully navigate these legal obstacles and complete the ownership transfer process for affected families. However, the proposal has faced immediate pushback from political analysts who question both its legality and appropriateness. Sumanth Raman, a prominent political commentator, strongly condemned the plan through social media, emphasizing that temple lands remain outside government ownership and cannot be arbitrarily redistributed. He characterized Palaniswami's promise as fundamentally flawed and politically irresponsible. The controversy extends beyond land ownership issues to broader questions about temple administration and fund utilization. During his ongoing statewide campaign, Palaniswami has consistently attacked the ruling DMK government's approach to temple management, accusing them of misappropriating religious institution funds for secular purposes. Palaniswami has specifically criticized the DMK's practice of using temple revenues to establish educational institutions, arguing that such expenditures represent improper diversion of religious funds. He contends that the state government should finance educational infrastructure through its own budget rather than utilizing temple resources designated for religious purposes. The DMK leadership has responded forcefully to these accusations, citing existing legal frameworks that explicitly permit such fund utilization. The HR&CE Act provides clear authorization for temple institutions to allocate surplus funds toward educational and charitable activities, making Palaniswami's criticism legally questionable. Chief Minister MK Stalin has characterized Palaniswami's position as reflecting BJP ideological influence rather than traditional AIADMK policies. This accusation suggests that the opposition leader has shifted toward more religiously conservative positions that align with national BJP narratives about temple autonomy and Hindu religious rights. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin escalated the political rhetoric by labeling Palaniswami a "Sanghi," implying ideological alignment with RSS-BJP thinking rather than authentic AIADMK principles. This characterization represents an attempt to portray the opposition leader as abandoning his party's historical positions in favor of external ideological influences. The temple land ownership promise reflects broader political calculations about rural constituency appeals and religious sentiment mobilization. Palaniswami's strategy appears designed to attract support from families currently residing on temple properties while simultaneously positioning his party as protective of religious institutions against alleged DMK mismanagement.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Edappadi Palaniswami vows land ownership for Tamil Nadu temple residents, faces heat
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has said his party will give pattas, or land ownership documents, to people living on temple land in Tamil Nadu's delta region if it returns to said many families have been living on temple land for years, and the AIADMK government had started steps to make them owners. 'As Chief Minister, I announced a scheme where the government would assess the land, pay the temple, and give pattas. But a few people went to court and got a stay,' he will once again come to power and AIADMK Government will take action to make them owners of the land,' said EPS. Political analyst Sumanth Raman criticised the plan on X. He said the land does not belong to the government and called the move 'completely unacceptable' and a 'bad move' by Palaniswami.A few days earlier, during his statewide tour, Palaniswami also accused the ruling DMK of misusing temple funds. 'Even seeing temples irritates the DMK. They take temple money meant for development and use it to build colleges,' he told crowds, calling it unfair and questioning why the government doesn't fund colleges from its own DMK hit back sharply, pointing out that the HR&CE Act allows surplus temple funds for education and charity. Chief Minister MK Stalin accused Palaniswami of echoing BJP's ideology, while Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin called him a 'Sanghi' and said this was not the AIADMK's voice but that of the RSS-BJP.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ideology permanent, alliances poll-driven: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami
THANJAVUR: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said his party's ideology is different from that of its allies. 'Alliance is formed during elections to consolidate votes for the victory of the candidates, whereas ideology is permanent. We would not compromise our ideology,' he said. Campaigning at Papanasam, an Assembly constituency with a considerable population of minority community on Tuesday, Palaniswami said AIADMK is a party beyond caste and religious considerations, and its cadre are from all castes and religions. They are also united, he added. Addressing weavers at a hotel in Kumbakonam, the opposition leader assured that if AIADMK comes to power, a handloom silk saree will be given under the 'gold for thaali' scheme. Meanwhile at Tiruvaiyaru, he said if the party forms the government, a saree will be given to women on the occasion of Deepavali from 2026 onwards. Speaking at Thanjavur, the opposition leader said Chief Minister M K Stalin, his ministers, DMK office-bearers and its allies are creating a narrative as if parliamentary election will be held next year. 'They are criticising BJP as there is nothing for them to point out against AIADMK', he added. Justifying AIADMK's alliance with BJP, EPS asked what's wrong with aligning with BJP. 'We can form alliance with any party of our choice,' he said, adding their aim is to dislodge the DMK government.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Different directions: on the AIADMK and the BJP
Three months after their uneasy revival of electoral ties, the AIADMK and the BJP are yet to find common ground on the nature of government that would be formed in Tamil Nadu were the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to win next year's Assembly elections. Union Home Minister and the BJP's principal electoral strategist, Amit Shah, had unilaterally declared in April that a 'coalition government' would be formed — a stance that he has reiterated multiple times — and that the BJP will be a part of such an arrangement. However, the AIADMK leader, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who passively watched Mr. Shah make the announcement, has yet to endorse the idea. He has maintained that the AIADMK would secure an absolute majority on its own. In an interview with The Hindu, he has argued that the people of Tamil Nadu are averse to coalition governments and that the AIADMK would meet their expectations for single-party rule. Just days ago, he had declared, 'we are not naive' to share power. He has clarified that the remark was made in response to the DMK's 'orchestrated campaign' that portrays the BJP as intent on 'swallowing' up the AIADMK. He has also insisted that efforts to create discord between the BJP and the AIADMK would fail and that the alliance remains 'cent per cent' intact. Historically, Tamil Nadu, unlike the other southern States, has never had a coalition government. The DMK and the AIADMK have relied on allies for vote transfers and electoral victories but have avoided sharing power. In a State where regional parties have effectively curtailed the influence of national parties, voters remain wary of any perceived attempts by national parties to dominate regional parties. Against this backdrop, Mr. Palaniswami's reluctance to endorse power-sharing ahead of the polls is understandable — there is no guarantee that he will maintain this stance later. He has also sent mixed signals. On one occasion, he did not directly rule out parting ways with the BJP were a more electorally viable ally — such as actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam — to emerge. But he knows that he cannot dictate terms to the BJP, whose backing for his leadership cannot be taken for granted. Mr. Shah has subtly reflected this uncertainty by shifting his phrasing — from saying that the NDA would fight the election under Mr. Palaniswami's leadership to describing it as under the 'AIADMK's leadership'. Regardless of these evolving political dynamics, effective coordination between the cadres of both parties — essential for voter outreach — cannot be achieved when the leadership appears to be pulling in different directions. It is a recipe for confusion and chaos.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Silk sarees, gold for 'mangalsutra' for newlyweds if AIADMK wins 2026 elections, promises Palaniswami
Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu): The AIADMK will provide silk sarees under its marriage assistance scheme to newlywed couples if voted to power in the 2026 Assembly election, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said on with silk weavers, he said the party would also introduce schemes to improve their safety for girls in Tamil Nadu, claims AIADMK chief Palaniswami."We will do whatever we can to support silk handloom weavers in the state. Steps will be taken to provide silk sarees to newlywed brides, along with gold for the thaali (mangalsutra), under the marriage assistance scheme launched by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa," he responding to Chief Minister M K Stalin's remark that the "BJP would swallow the AIADMK", the leader of the opposition said, "Stalin says the BJP will swallow Palaniswami. Is Palaniswami a worm to be swallowed by a fish? You are the one swallowing your allies." During a roadshow in Thanjavur, he claimed that the Congress's presence in the state was diminishing, the Communists were disappearing, and another ally, the VCK, was clinging to the DMK.
