Opposition alliance is aimed at cheating people, claims Palaniswami

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday criticised the DMK-led alliance in the State, labelling it as “one without any ideology” and “aimed at cheating the people”.

In a campaign speech in Tirupattur, where he sought votes for the AIADMK’s Tiruvannamalai Lok Sabha candidate, Agri Krishnamurthy, Palaniswami raised doubts over the DMK’s capacity to govern. Citing recent instances of DMK functionaries attacking employees of a Biriyani and cellphone shops, the CM wondered how the party would behave if voted to power when its cadre indulged in rowdyism despite being in the Opposition.

Claiming that his party had ensured that Tamil Nadu was a ‘haven of peace’ where industrialists wanted to come, the CM said the State attracted investments worth Rs 3,437 lakh crore through the Global Investors Meet, thereby assuring employment to 10.5 lakh people.

Later speaking in Vaniyambadi, he said the AIADMK would strive to safeguard the rights of minorities. Stating that the DMK was against the poor, Palaniswami said the Opposition party prevented the government from providing the Pongal dole and the one-time financial assistance promised to BPL families.

After addressing the road-side crowd in Vaniyambadi, the CM also addressed gatherings in Ambur, Umarabad and Pernambut. In his campaign speech near Ambur, Palaniswami continued to target the DMK.

“The DMK was part of the UPA government for 10 years, having previously been with the NDA government for 5 years. During that period, it was only its first family that got the benefits and not the people,” he claimed.

Accusing the DMK of indulging in dynastic politics, the CM took a potshot at Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi. Referring to senior DMK leader and former minister I Periyasamy being sidelined at a grama sabha meeting organised by the party even as Udhayanidhi took charge of the proceedings, Palaniswami said, “Other than being Stalin’s son, what does he (Udhayanidhi) know about village panchayats?” The CM also promised that 3 lakh multi-storeyed houses would be built for the poor in TN this year, with the numbers being increased to 5 lakh next year.