Palaniswami has pledged AIADMK with the BJP, says Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of having pledged his party with the BJP “to safeguard himself from raids by Central agencies”.

Addressing a massive gathering at the DMK’s Mupperum Vizha, organised by the party’s Karur unit, Mr. Stalin alleged that Mr. Palaniswami did nothing for the State when he was in power, and did not have the courage to raise his voice against the Centre to safeguard the interests of the State. Instead, he had given an Adimai Sasanam (slavery charter) to the Centre. Believing that the BJP was still with the AIADMK, he had been making wild accusations against the DMK government, Mr. Stalin said.

The CM said that despite holding the dignified post of Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Palaniswami was denigrating him. But he (Mr. Stalin) did not bother to respond, and left it to the people to decide. “Mr Palaniswami is heading a Dravidian major. But he has poor knowledge of the ideals of ‘Dravidam’,” Mr. Stalin said.

According to him, Mr. Palaniswami had surrendered before Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Mr. Palaniswami had admitted two days ago that the BJP had saved the AIADMK government after the demise of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. But the BJP was spreading rumours against the DMK, and was working against the AIADMK, Mr. Stalin said.

He alleged that the BJP-led Centre was acting against the interest of the State to curtail its growth. It continued to create trouble for the DMK, but it would never be able to destroy the party, he said.

Tamil Nadu was the first State to usher in a government led by a regional party (the DMK in 1967), he said. “Many parties have made several attempts to destroy the DMK. But the parties that vowed to bring about a change have disappeared. On the other hand, the DMK’s position is rock solid, and the people have immense faith in it,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP to three consecutive election victories, but he could not make any impact on Tamil Nadu as the ideals of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, and former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai and Karunanidhi were deeply rooted in the State.

“The DMK had been scoring tremendous victories in all elections since 2019. The BJP had refused to budge on the demand to exempt Tamil Nadu from the ambit of National Eligibility and Entrance Trust. The BJP was following anti Tamil Nadu policies and it was trying hard to control the State. But, the DMK would never allow the BJP to control it,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said there was still a need to wage a battle against the Centre’s oppressive policies and safeguard the interest of the State. With the aim of implementing several more things to the people, the DMK had launched a campaign under the banner of Oraniyil Tamil Nadu. More than one crore families had joined in the campaign. It would create history in the 2026 elections by coming back power again, he believed.

Mr. Stalin also presented various awards. While DMK MP Kanimozhi received the Periyar Award, former Minister Pongalur N. Palaniswami received the M.K. Stalin Award. Senior journalist A.S. Panneerselvam was presented with the Murasoli Selvam Award.

DMK youth wing leader and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu and others participated.

Social justice pledge

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, elected representatives and government officials took the social justice pledge on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Periyar.

Paying tributes to Periyar in a social media post, he said, “Periyar is a great fire that burns down caste hatred. He is a beacon of light for rationalism and the rise of Tamil people. Periyar shall endure forever, everywhere.”