Chennai: The ruling DMK on Thursday strongly criticised Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary of the AIADMK, for his comments on its alliance partners, calling them “unnecessary” and politically motivated.
Senior DMK leader and Transport Minister S S Sivasankar compared the AIADMK’s alliance strategy with the fates of regional parties such as Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in Bihar, the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra, and smaller parties in Goa, claiming they had been “swallowed” by the BJP while in alliance.
Targeting Palaniswami’s criticism of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a key DMK ally, Sivasankar highlighted the party’s consistent electoral performance under its leader Thol Thirumavalavan. He noted that the AIADMK-led alliance had reportedly allocated more seats to the BJP, with several smaller parties contesting under the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol, including the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), Thamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK), and Pudhiya Neethi Katchi.
In response to Palaniswami’s claim that the DMK had neglected development in Chennai, senior party leader Sekarbabu highlighted initiatives under Chief Minister M K Stalin, including the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (North Chennai Development Scheme). He said the scheme improved access to safe drinking water, upgraded schools, enhanced sewage management, and ensured uninterrupted power supply.
On infrastructure, Sekarbabu noted the construction of new stormwater drains across Chennai and the inauguration of a bridge in T Nagar to ease traffic congestion. He contrasted this with Palaniswami’s 2021 claim that ₹1,000 crore had been spent on drains, pointing out that flooding persisted during heavy rainfall that year.
The DMK leadership emphasised that through desilting of ponds, lakes, and canals, the city’s drainage system has been strengthened, preventing flooding and improving groundwater levels.