Upcoming Assembly election will be the last for DMK, says Palaniswami

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AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu will be the last election for the DMK as the people of Tamil Nadu will put an end to the “family rule” of the ruling party.

Addressing the mega public meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Palaniswami said that the DMK has caused a lot of troubles to the people since it came to power.

“DMK’s only success was corruption. [Former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch] Karunanidhi family plundered Tamil Nadu. Now they are trying to convince Prime Minister MK Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin. [take up] leadership roles,” he said. “But the Karunanidhi family cannot come to power anymore. This will be the last election for DMK… NDA is a victorious and strong alliance. In this election, the people of Tamil Nadu will put an end to DMK’s family rule,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

He also accused the DMK government of stopping the Centre’s ₹14,000-crore Nadanthaai Vaazhi Cauvery scheme.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary TTV Dhinakaran said his party wholeheartedly joined the NDA, putting aside past differences, with the aim of removing the “anti-people” DMK from power and for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. He assured Mr Modi and Mr Palaniswami that party workers would work hard for the victory of the alliance.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said: “Today [Friday] It marks the beginning of the end of the DMK government.” He claimed: “DMK government is corrupt, anti-people with zero government and zero governance. “He failed and failed to deliver on the promises he made in the survey.”

BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran urged the cadres of the alliance partners to work hard for the alliance’s victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.

EPS-TTV joy

The rally also marked the first public appearance of Mr Palaniswami and Mr Dhinakaran since 2017, when they parted ways. Both leaders greeted each other on stage.

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal, L. Murugan; former AIADMK Ministers; senior BJP leaders; TMC(M) president GK Vasan; IJK leader TR Paarivendhar; New Justice Party leader AC Shanmugam; Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian; and Puratchi Bharatham leader M. Jaganmoorthy were also among the participants.

Shortly after sharing the podium with Mr. Dhinakaran, a long-time bitter rival-turned-friend, Mr. Palaniswami said: “We But (Jayalalithaa). There were differences, but when we reunited, we forgot everything. Our common goal is to fulfill ButIts mission and this (DMK) is to eliminate the corrupt regime.”

At a joint media conference, Mr Palaniswami said there was no confusion over the NDA.

Referring to his ties with the AIADMK, Mr. Dhinakaran said, “This (rivalry) was a family affair; misunderstandings between people who were once united like children of the same mother.”

He also refused to join the NDA under pressure (as he was facing a CBI case). He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked him to help defeat the DMK and the alliance took shape only after getting Mr. Palaniswami’s consent. “There was no pressure or threat. Just like Edappadi Anna “We were like brothers until 2017, we came together again with the same spirit,” he said.