PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, and AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP’s public meeting at Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU
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AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu would be the last election for the DMK as the people of Tamil Nadu would put an end to the ruling party’s “family rule”.
Addressing a mega public meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated, Mr. Palaniswami said that since coming to power, the DMK has caused many troubles for the people.
“The only achievement of the DMK was corruption. [Former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch] Karunanidhi family looted Tamil Nadu. Now they are trying to push Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi Stalin to [take up] leadership roles,” he said. “But Karunanidhi family cannot come to power anymore. This will be the last election for the DMK… NDA is a victorious and strong alliance. In this election, people of Tamil Nadu will put an end to DMK’s family rule,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
He also charged the DMK government with withholding the Centre’s ₹14,000 crore-worth Nadanthaai Vaazhi Cauvery scheme.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that his party had wholeheartedly joined the NDA by setting aside past differences with the objective of unseating the “anti-people” DMK from power and for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. He assured Mr. Modi and Mr. Palaniswami that his party workers would work hard for the alliance’s victory.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said: “Today [Friday] marks the beginning of the end of the DMK government.” He alleged that “the DMK government is corrupt, anti-people with zero government and zero governance. It failed to deliver and fulfill its poll promises”.
BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran urged the cadres of alliance partners to work hard for the combine’s victory in upcoming Assembly elections.
EPS-TTV bonhomie
The rally also marked the first joint public appearance of Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Dhinakaran since 2017, when they parted ways. Both leaders greeted each other on stage.
Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Ram Meghwal, L. Murugan; former AIADMK Ministers; senior BJP leaders; TMC(M) president G.K. Vasan; IJK leader T.R. Paarivendhar; New Justice Party leader A.C. Shanmugam; Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian; and Puratchi Bharatham leader M. Jaganmoorthy were among the attendees.
Shortly after sharing the dais with Mr. Dhinakaran, a long-time bitter rival-turned-friend, Mr. Palaniswami said, “We are children brought up by Amma (Jayalalithaa). There were differences, but once we reunited, we forgot everything. Our common objective is to fulfil Amma’s mission and remove this (DMK) corrupt regime.”
At a joint media conference, Mr. Palaniswami said there was no confusion in the NDA.
On his part, Mr. Dhinakaran referred to his ties with the AIADMK and said, “This (rivalry) was a family issue; misunderstandings between people, who were once united like children of the same mother.”
He also denied joining the NDA under duress (since he was facing a CBI case). He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asked him to help defeat the DMK, and the alliance took shape only after Mr. Palaniswami gave his consent. “There was no pressure or threat. Just as Edappadi anna and I were like brothers until 2017, we have reunited in the same spirit,” he said.
Published – January 24, 2026 12:48 am IST
