Why did DMK not take up State autonomy while sharing power in Centre: Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday criticised the DMK of not having utilised its opportunities to raise the demand on State autonomy when it shared power in the Centre and of having raised the issue now only for the Assembly election. He further charged that the DMK was raking up the issue only to blame the BJP.

During his speech in the Assembly, Mr. Palaniswami recalled that the DMK was part of multiple Central governments under the Congress, the BJP, and those led by Prime Ministers I.K. Gujral and H.D. Deve Gowda. “You did not think of State autonomy then. Now, when the election is coming up, you are talking about State autonomy,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

Minister E.V. Velu said the State government had constituted a committee regarding Union-State relations and was taking action only based on the committee’s report and that State autonomy would aid the State even when the AIADMK comes to power. Minister S. Regupathy and S.S. Sivasankar contended that the need for State autonomy was felt now more than ever.

During the discussion on the Interim Budget for 2026-27 and Agriculture Interim Budget for 2026-27 in the House, Mr. Palaniswami criticised the DMK government on multiple sectors — law and order, industrial growth and investments, State’s fiscal health, paddy procurement, and demands of government employees, among others, prompting responses from Ministers concerned.

Mr. Palaniswami also criticised the State government over the cancellation of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission’s (TNPSC) Combined Civil Services Examination-II (Group II and IIA Services) midway earlier this month. Minister N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj explained the reasons behind the decision and said the exam had been rescheduled to March 15.

The AIADMK leader also questioned the DMK government about the necessity for the government to credit the sum into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of Kalaignar Magalir Urumai Thittam as advance payment. In response, Mr. Regupathy referred to a case pending before the Supreme Court in this regard. Minister Thangam Thennarasu asked if the AIADMK would question the BJP in its alliance over such measures undertaken in Bihar and Maharashtra.

Pointing to the delay in the appointment of the Director-General of Police (DGP)/Head of Police Force, Mr. Palaniswami wondered what were the reasons behind the delay. He further urged the DMK government to appointing the DGP. He also charged that many of the electoral promises made by the DMK in its manifesto remained unfulfilled.