Latest news with #EdappadiPalaniswami
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
EPS: Talks between allies cannot be made public
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) on Friday said that discussions between alliance partners could not be made public, even as he reiterated the claim that in the event of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing a win in the upcoming 2026 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, his party would form a government with majority. EPS: Talks between allies cannot be made public Speaking to reporters after launching a state-wide campaign in Pudukkottai, EPS said, 'We have made it clear (about forming a government with majority).' 'I can only say certain things to the media. There are certain things that I cannot speak about. A political party can reveal only a few things. It's between alliance partners,' he added. His comments came a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu, scheduled for July 26. The Prime Minister is due to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola, as well as inaugurate several projects in Thoothukudi. EPS also said that he would try to meet the Prime Minister during the latter's visit. Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah said that the alliance would form a coalition government in the event of a poll victory. (CAN YOU CLARIFY WHEN EXACTLY HE SAID THIS? CAN'T RECALL) EPS also distanced himself from former AIADMK leader TTV Dhinkaran, whose breakaway faction— the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), is also a part of the NDA. Dhinkaran was expelled from AIADMK in 2017. He had earlier expressed a hope to be a part of the coalition government pitched by Shah. (WHEN DID DHINKARAN SAY THIS?) 'I don't have anything to say about him being in the alliance. Don't ask me about him. All that matters to us is that AIADMK and BJP are in an alliance,' said EPS. EPS also utilised the opportunity to launch attacks at the ruling DMK government. As a part of his campaign, he urged people to rate the government's administrative performance over the last four years. He also accused the government of making exaggerated claims (WAS HE REFERRING TO ANY SPECIFIC CLAIM?) Pamphlets with a list of DMK's campaign promises left unfulfilled would be distributed door-to-door, he said, adding that people would be asked to mark the government's performance out of 10. Reacting to EPS' comments, Dhinakaran said that all the parties in the state under the NDA's banner were uniting with a singular focus to defeat the DMK. 'If some people do not want to acknowledge that we are part of the alliance, it is their problem. Our opinion is the same as that of the Union home minister (on forming a coalition government),' Dhinakaran told reporters. Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin accused EPS of paving the way for the BJP to make inroads into the state. 'Every voter in Tamil Nadu must punish him for betraying the state by joining back with them after quitting the alliance,' Udhayanidhi said.
Hindustan Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AIADMK will win polls, form government in Tamil Nadu on its own: EPS to Stalin
While rejecting the possibility of a coalition government, Tamil Nadu's leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) during his statewide tour ahead of the 2026 assembly elections attacked DMK leader and chief minister MK Stalin and said AIADMK is not a 'fool' while reiterating that it will form a majority government independently. Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami at a campaign rally for the 2026 assembly polls. (HT photo) In a video during his campaign on Saturday night, EPS shared an incident from the assembly proceedings where he said Stalin was on his feet and asked him directly why the AIADMK had tied up with the BJP after saying that no reconciliation was possible. 'I was shocked and wondered why the chief minister was asking me this question,' EPS said. 'I responded to him that AIADMK is our party and we will form an alliance as per our wish. I asked him why he was scared and he sat down.' EPS continued that Stalin was scared of the AIADMK-BJP alliance. The video of the rally went viral on Sunday. 'Stalin is also saying that the AIADMK will form a coalition government with BJP. Mr Stalin, we are not fools. AIADMK will win with a majority and form the government independently. We will decide if we want an alliance or not. We are not desperate like you who is a dynastic politician. We will do what the people want. And the people want the DMK out. We want such like-minded parties to join us. The BJP considers the DMK a corrupt party and wants to defeat them. That's why the BJP has joined us and more parties will join us and we will defeat you.' AIADMK and BJP which came together this April after a 19-month of bitter separation have been contradicting each other on the issue of power sharing. EPS had previously clarified that there was no rift with the BJP on the issue, he added that he would be the chief ministerial candidate and he will make the decisions. In response to EPS's remarks on DMK, party spokesperson A Saravanan said: 'If AIADMK is not a fool, then is EPS saying that Amit Shah is a fool? It is they who are scared and have mortgaged Tamil Nadu's rights. AIADMK has not won a single election after J Jayalalithaa's death. The DMK alliance has been tight and won every election in the last few years and will win the 2026 polls too.' The pitch for a coalition government has sparked a political controversy and push back from the AIADMK. Senior AIADMK leaders had said that Tamil Nadu voters will reject a coalition government citing the example of the1980 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu – when the DMK and the Congress proposed a coalition government, people of Tamil Nadu rejected them and voted the AIADMK as the single largest party. Both the Dravidian majors, the DMK and the AIADMK, have historically resisted coalition governments in Tamil Nadu, even though they have been part of coalition governments at the national level. In the 2006 assembly elections, when no party had an absolute majority, then DMK chief M Karunanidhi formed a minority government with outside support from parties such as the Congress and Left parties.
India Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Is there a trust deficit between AIADMK and BJP? Experts debate
This edition of Super 6 focusses on the emerging cracks within the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 elections, highlighting contradictory statements from AIADMK and BJP leaders about the post-election government. AIADMK's Edappadi Palaniswami asserts it will be an AIADMK-led government, while former state BJP chief Annamalai claims it will be a coalition. The show delves into the growing trust deficit within the alliance, featuring a political analyst's perspective on the missing trust factor crucial for ground-level alliance functionality. Additionally, the programme reports on phone-tapping allegations in Telangana involving the previous KCR government and the current Revanth Reddy administration, alongside a ground report on allegations of a mass burial site in Dharmastala, Karnataka.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
EPS launches campaign for 2026 polls with BJP, takes jibe at Stalin
Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) launched his statewide tour on Monday for the 2026 assembly elections flanked by BJP leaders standing atop the campaign vehicle with him. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, along with BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and Union minister of state L Murugan, during a rally on Monday (aiadmk/x) BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and Union minister of state L Murugan, stood on either side of EPS as he justified the two parties coming together earlier in April after a bitter separation for 19 months. Hailing EPS as the future chief minister, Nagenthran said the BJP-AIADMK combination was a natural alliance. Addressing a huge crowd at the roadshow taken from the Gandhi Statue to the bus station, Palaniswami took a dig at chief minister MK Stalin saying 'some people will get fever after watching this massive roadshow.' EPS kicked off the statewide tour of the campaign titled 'Makkalai Kappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom' (we will save people and retrieve Tamil Nadu) from AIADMK's citadel – the western region of Tamil Nadu – from Coimbatore district. Murugan also hails from the western region and had preceded Annamalai as state BJP chief. EPS pointed to a double standard in Stalin over BJP and questioned him if he remembered that his late father and five time chief minister M Karunandihi had allied with the BJP to contest the 1999 Lok Sabha polls and the 2001 assembly polls. Stalin has been criticising the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP saying that EPS has mortgaged the rights of the state . 'If the BJP allies with you (DMK), it is a good party. If we (AIADMK) form an alliance with the BJP, will it become a communal party?' EPS questioned. 'You can't raise a finger at my four-and-a-half-year government, and that's the reason you try to bring in this communal angle. You have nothing to say against us except claiming the BJP is a communal party,' he said while addressing the crowd from a special coach designed for his campaign.' 'There is no doubt that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will achieve a Himalayan victory in the next elections. We will form the next government by dislodging this anti-people DMK government,' he added. In the first phase of the campaign, EPS will cover 38 assembly constituencies in the western, northern, and central parts of the state. In the coming months, he is expected to cover all 234 assembly constituencies. EPS' campaign criticising the DMK regime over corruption, a deteriorating law and order situation and not fulfilling election promises comes after Stalin launched a door-to-door campaign to reach about 20 million households in the state to talk about the government's welfare programs. The AIADMK-BJP alliance showing up together for the rally is significant for two reasons. One, it comes amid tensions since Union home minister Amit Shah has said that they will form a coalition government led by the AIADMK following the 2026 elections which the latter has not accepted. Secondly, the AIADMK broke off the alliance with the BJP in 2023 blaming its then state chief K Annamalai for insulting Dravidian leaders and he has not campaigned alongside EPS. After J Jayalalithaa's death in 2016 in office, succeeded by EPS, the AIADMK has not won any election. After coming together ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK and BJP fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections separately. AIADMK registered a 20.4% vote share in one of its worst performances while BJP contesting in more number of seats registered one of its best performances in Tamil Nadu registering a 11.4% vote share. The two parties as well as expelled AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran have not decided to fight the 2026 assembly polls under the banner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to be led by the AIADMK to ensure that the anti-DMK votes do not split and they defeat the ruling government. The DMK took a jibe at EPS by releasing a 39-second satirical video titled 'Eat 5 Star, Do Nothing' also coinciding with World Chocolate Day. The video showed a look alike of EPS eating a five star chocolate bar as he scrolls through television channels critical of the BJP on issues such as the three-language policy, NEET, the delimitation exercise but keeping quiet. At the end of the video, a voiceover says, 'Eat 5 Star, do nothing,' criticising the AIADMK of being silent on these issues that affect Tamil Nadu.
