Palaniswami alleges DMK planned to split AIADMK
Salem (PTI): AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday claimed that the DMK hatched a plan to split his party but it was successfully negated.
Addressing a poll campaign in his native Salem district on the concluding day of campaigning for the Assembly polls scheduled on Thursday, he also questioned the ruling DMK on the investment scenario.
The AIADMK chief charged DMK president M K Stalin with trying to "break" the AIADMK earlier.
"When I was chief minister (2016-21), how many issues I had faced. Stalin hatched a plan to break our party, but we shattered that plan into pieces", he said.
Reiterating that this assembly election is a contest between a "single family" that survives by "exploiting" Tamil Nadu and the people of the state, the leader of the opposition, said "people would put an end to this dynastic rule and hereditary politics".
Pointing out that Stalin's repeated assertion of the DMK-led alliance having all 39 MPs the state has, Palaniswami said the MPs did not put pressure on the Centre for executing several projects, including the AIADMK proposed defense equipment facility here, which would have generated jobs for more than 3,000 persons.
Recalling chief minister Stalin's claim that under the DMK regime, 1,179 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed and industrial investments totaling Rs 15 lakh crore were attracted creating 35 lakh jobs, Palaniswami said "If that was truly the case, then 35 lakh people should have secured jobs. This (claim) is a complete fabrication".
The former chief minister asserted that it will take four years to complete the construction of large-scale factories.
"Once a MoU has been signed, land acquisition must take place. After the factory acquires the land, the state government must obtain clearance from the central government", he said adding "the financial resources must be mobilised".
Stating that no one establishes a factory using their own capital entirely, he said one must approach banks to secure loans.
Only after the construction of the buildings take place will the factory finally become operational and the entire process takes four years."Stalin is well aware of this and he is deliberately spreading false information," he alleged.
Palaniswami said that he had requested a "white paper" in the Assembly with regard to the investments.
"Instead, the minister concerned showed me a blank sheet of paper. By displaying that blank paper, he effectively demonstrated that absolutely nothing had been done", he added.
Promising that the AIADMK, if voted to power will strive for the development of all 234 constituencies, Palaniswami said "the BJP, a constituent of our alliance, is currently in power at the Centre and we will implement all the schemes that the people desire".
"The DMK claims to have a powerful alliance. That is not the truth. It is the very same alliance that existed previously and only one add
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VCK urges CM Vijay to enact stringent law against superstitious practices
Chennai (PTI): VCK MLA Vanni Arasu on Wednesday urged the newly formed Tamil Nadu government to enact a stringent law against superstitious practices, citing similar legislations in Karnataka and Maharashtra to curb exploitation in the name of black magic and rituals.
VCK, which won two seats in the 2026 Assembly election, has offered support to TVK to form a government during the floor test.
Speaking during the discussion on the confidence motion in the Assembly, Arasu highlighted that states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Rajasthan already have laws against witchcraft and sorcery.
"From 2013 in Maharashtra and 2020 in Karnataka, laws providing imprisonment for those who deceive through superstitious means have been in practice," he stated. The party noted that rationalist Narendra Dabholkar had fought for such a law in Maharashtra before being murdered by "Sanatana terrorists".
The VCK MLA further called on the government to prioritise scientific temper over beliefs in astrology and sorcery.
"Our government should give priority to projects that develop science without giving room for superstitions like astrology and black magic," Arasu said, citing Article 51A of the Indian Constitution, which defines the development of scientific temper as a fundamental duty of every citizen.
The party demanded a special law to prevent honour killings as well, which Arasu claimed are rising in Tamil Nadu as they once did in North Indian states.
The government was also urged to enact legislation protecting the "200-point roster system" for SC/ST employee promotions, utilising powers under Article 16(4A) of the Constitution.
Highlighting the recent arrest of 40 Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, the VCK sought a permanent solution to protect them from such attacks.
The party called on the state government to take initiatives toward the "right of Eelam Tamils to rule themselves" and requested that the state officially observe May 18 as International Genocide Day.
