Will launch probe into Karunanidhi’s death after coming back to power, says Palaniswami

Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Saturday that a detailed probe would be launched into the death of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi after the AIADMK returned to power. He was responding to DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s contention that the AIADMK leader had no right or locus standi to comment on the latter’s relationship with his father at an election campaign the previous day.

Campaigning at Arani in Tiruvannamalai, Mr. Palaniswami said: “It was [A.] Raja, a DMK leader, who allegedly said in an audio clip, which was allegedly circulated on social media platforms, that Mr. Stalin had kept his father under house arrest. The speech in the audio has created doubts about the well-being of Karunanidhi during his final days. A detailed probe will be launched into this,” he said.

Pointing out that after returning to power in 2021, Mr. Stalin had ordered the Justice Arumugasamy Commission to conduct a probe into the death of AIADMK supremo and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, he said a similar probe will be launched into Karunanidhi’s death. “It was not only Mr. Raja but also Karunanidhi’s eldest son and former Union Minister M.K. Alagiri who had expressed similar views about Mr. Stalin’s ill-treatment of the late DMK leader. You [Mr. Stalin] should ask them [Mr. Raja and Mr. Alagiri] and not me for expressing such views,” he said.

Thirumavalvan’s exit

Campaigning in Villupuram, Mr. Palaniswami, referring to VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan’s decision not to contest from Kattumannarkoil, said the VCK leader had withdrawn from contesting due to pressure from the DMK, proving that the DMK’s alliance partners lacked independence.