The Aryavarth Express
Kallakurichi (Tamil Nadu):
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of taking credit for development plans originally proposed by the AIADMK, and asserted that the AIADMK-led alliance would secure a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaking at the AIADMK women’s conference in Kallakurichi, Palaniswami alleged that law and order, particularly women’s safety, has deteriorated under the DMK government. He claimed that the Chief Minister, who recently visited the district, announced initiatives that were conceived during the AIADMK regime and presented them as his own.
“The AIADMK alliance will win big in the 2026 elections. The Chief Minister came here, made false claims and left. Now they are unveiling AIADMK’s plans as if they created them. Sexual assaults are happening under this regime,” Palaniswami said.
His remarks came days after Chief Minister Stalin inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹1,700 crore in Kallakurichi district.
During that event, Stalin criticised the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that Tamil Nadu has become a model of inclusive growth under the Dravidian model of governance. He said the state had achieved a peaceful social environment and announced initiatives such as providing laptops with AI subscriptions to 20 lakh students.
Stalin also claimed that Tamil Nadu’s growth rate under the AIADMK had remained below five per cent and accused the previous government of setting the state back during its decade in power. Highlighting his administration’s record, he said the DMK government had strengthened social justice, women’s empowerment, youth opportunities, infrastructure, and welfare delivery.
The Chief Minister further alleged that the Union government had repeatedly attempted to obstruct Tamil Nadu’s progress, but the state continued to grow despite these challenges. Drawing a contrast with BJP-ruled states, Stalin accused the party of fostering poverty, unemployment, religious extremism, and setbacks to education, while asserting that the 2026 election verdict would favour the Dravidian model of governance.
