Edappadi K. Palaniswami. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday accused the ruling DMK of being a “slave” to the Congress.
Refuting chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin’s criticism that he was a “slave of Delhi” (meaning the BJP-led government at the Centre), Mr Palaniswami said at a rally in Vanagaram near Chennai: “We have never been anyone’s slave. We believe in our constructive work. But by implementing (welfare) projects (the Congress party has not secured support like us). DMK intimidation.”
Referring to reports of differences of opinion between DMK and Congress over seat-sharing, the AIADMK leader said his organization had formed an alliance with like-minded parties. “The alliance will win the largest number of seats and the AIADMK will form the government,” he reiterated, adding that the AIADMK had entered into an alliance with the BJP “only to remove the DMK from power”.
On CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam’s remarks that only the BJP seemed likely to give seats to the AIADMK in the coming elections, Mr. Palaniswami replied that the CPI(M) had not grown in the state as it had been a “slave” (of the DMK) for about 10 years.
Comparing prices of essential commodities during the AIADMK and DMK governments, he said the ruling party had not taken steps to curb inflation. During the day, Mr. Palaniswami covered Poonamallee and Maduravoyal constituencies.
Published – 25 Feb 2026 22:41 IST
