All like-minded parties welcome in AIADMK-led alliance: Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday (December 22, 2025) accused the DMK government of being “anti-people” and said that all like-minded parties opposed to the ruling party were welcome in the AIADMK-led alliance.

Responding to a query on State BJP president Nainar Nagenthran’s invitation to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay to join the NDA, Mr. Palaniswami said any party opposing the DMK could be part of the front.

Speaking to reporters at his Edappadi Assembly constituency, he said with just 20 days left for Pongal, the State government was yet to announce any special assistance (gift) for ration cardholders. Recalling that his AIADMK government had provided ₹2,500 along with Pongal gift hampers, he demanded that the DMK government announce ₹5,000 cash with the hamper this year. He pointed out that when ₹2,500 was announced earlier, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, then the Leader of the Opposition, had demanded ₹5,000. “We are now making the same demand of ₹5,000 for every ration cardholder,” he said.

On the renaming and modification of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Mr. Palaniswami said the DMK had promised 150 days of employment in its manifesto but had failed to deliver. He added the AIADMK had urged the Centre to retain the original name of the scheme. On the State’s 40% cost-sharing requirement, he claimed DMK MPs had not pressed the issue in Parliament. “There are 39 DMK [alliance] MPs. They should raise Tamil Nadu’s issues in Parliament,” he said, recalling how AIADMK MPs had stalled proceedings for 22 days on the Cauvery issue. “State problems can be resolved only when raised in Parliament, not through statements alone,” he added.

‘Rising debts’

Expressing concern over the State’s rising debt, which he said had reached ₹9.50 lakh crore, Mr. Palaniswami said despite droughts, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic between 2011 and 2021, the AIADMK government had implemented several development projects. “Since coming to power, the DMK has borrowed nearly ₹5 lakh crore, which is their only achievement,” he alleged.

Criticising the DMK’s manifesto committee, he said a similar panel in the previous term had made 525 promises, of which fewer than one-third were fulfilled. He said the AIADMK would soon set up a committee to prepare its election manifesto and promised full implementation once the party returned to power.

On the nurses’ protest, Mr. Palaniswami said the DMK had promised to fill 5.5 lakh vacancies but had appointed only about 50,000 people so far, while nearly 75,000 employees had retired. He reiterated the demand that nurses be made permanent.

Defending the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, he contended no genuine voters had been removed. “Only fake, duplicate, and deceased names were deleted. There had been no such revision for 21 years,” he alleged, adding the DMK opposed the exercise out of fear that only genuine voters would now cast their votes.