NPN

Coonoor: Addressing a massive election rally in Coonoor on Tuesday, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami made a statement that is sure to stir Tamil Nadu politics. He claimed a rift in the alliance between the ruling DMK and its key ally, the Congress. He said the DMK camp would soon be empty, as the Congress was now demanding a share of power and more seats. Palaniswami said that at a recent Congress meeting in Tirunelveli, the party's in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, openly demanded a 50-50 split. "Chodankar demanded 50-50," Palaniswami said. "Chodankar demanded 117 out of the total 234 seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2026 assembly elections and an equal share of power." Palaniswami sarcastically asked, "How long will the DMK continue to plunder alone?" Now the Congress has come to its senses and is demanding a share in power.' He also referred to the statement of Tamil Nadu Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar, who reportedly said that the DMK would not win the elections, and even if it did, the Congress would want a share in the coalition government. Furthermore, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri has also raised the demand for a share in power. 'Kidney theft racket started under DMK rule' Palaniswami said, "Now they have come to their senses. There are clear cracks in the DMK-Congress alliance." He made serious allegations against the DMK government. Palaniswami claimed that a 'kidney theft' racket has started under DMK rule. He said that irregularities related to kidney transplants have been discovered in a hospital run by a DMK MLA, but the DMK government tried to protect the culprits. Furthermore, referring to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed 68 lives, he said the DMK rejected the demand for a CBI investigation to protect the culprits. Taking aim at Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's recent trip to Europe, Palaniswami said the trip was not to attract investment, but to "make investments." He accused Stalin of providing false information. Palaniswami also hit back at DMK MP Kanimozhi's statement that the AIADMK headquarters was located at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence in Delhi. Palaniswami sarcastically said, "I don't know if Kanimozhi has dreamt something. The AIADMK headquarters is in Chennai; you can come and see." Indirectly Targeting Panneerselvam Palaniswami also indirectly targeted former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. He referred to the uproar at the AIADMK headquarters on July 11, 2022, when Panneerselvam was expelled from the party. He said that no matter how many incarnations Stalin takes, he cannot break the AIADMK, as the party is run by the strength of its workers. Palaniswami reminded the DMK of the time when Vaiko was expelled from the DMK in 1993. He said that when the DMK split and some people were trying to capture the party office, then AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa and her government helped DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.