Palaniswami has no right to comment on my relationship with Kalaignar, says Stalin

: DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had no right or locus standi to comment on his relationship with his father, the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

He also reiterated that the AIADMK, led by Mr. Palaniswami, “who had lost 10 elections [Since 2017, including local bodies]”, would never be able to capture power again.

“You cannot come to power so long as the supporters of Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi) are here. People have already decided that the DMK should be elected to save Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Stalin said.

Reacting to Mr. Palaniswami’s allegation that he had kept his father under house arrest, Mr. Stalin said it was Kalaignar who had given him life and made him what he is today. “Without any qualms, he alleges I kept him (M. Karunanidhi) under house arrest,” he said, amid shouts of “betrayer Palaniswami” from the crowd at an election campaign meeting in Tirunelveli.

Mr. Stalin said the fear of defeat had gripped Mr. Palaniswami and that he had exceeded the limits. “As the Leader of the Opposition, you have the right to criticise my performance as the Chief Minister. People will weigh your criticism in the election and give a fitting reply. But you have no right to say even a word about my relationship with my father,” Mr. Stalin said.

“What do you know about Kalaignar? He was a lion. He had crores of followers and had cast a spell over them with his words, ‘En Uyirinum Melana Anbu Udan Pirappukale.’ Even when he was confined to his house because of old age and had lost his memory, he uttered the word ‘Anna’ [C.N. Annadurai] when doctors asked him whom he loved the most. He wanted to visit Arivalayam and the Murasoli office even when he was unwell. No one can keep him under house arrest,” he further said.

He added that Mr. Palaniswami had no right to utter the name of Kalaignar, who served as the Chief Minister of the State five times. and was its longest-serving Chief Minister. “His last wish was to be buried near his leader, Anna. Mr. Palaniswami, I came to your house and pleaded [with you] for allotting a space to him, not because he is my father, but because he is my leader. Did you agree to that? You have nolocus standito talk about my leader,” he said.

Mr. Stalin alleged that Mr. Palaniswami had betrayed V.K. Sasikala, who made him Chief Minister, and back-stabbed AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. “But the DMK supported the AIADMK’s resolution in the Assembly, dispensing with then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s presence (during hospitalisation). That is the difference between you and us,” he said.

Recalling the various achievements of the DMK government in the past five years, and the schemes announced and implemented for Tirunelveli district, Mr. Stalin said one of the important schemes was a ₹100-crore library named after Quaid-e-Milleth.

He said he would not forget what Kalaignar had promised. “I have come to seek your vote with the confidence that I have implemented and announced schemes for Tirunelveli district. But Mr. Palaniswami, who has destroyed Tamil Nadu and betrayed the State’s interests, is seeking your votes,” he said.

He added that Mr. Palaniswami had already realised that the people had given up on him. “That is why he is copying our schemes and announcing them as if they are new. He said that the Magalir Urimai Scheme could not be implemented, but he in the last election announced it as a promise after its widespread reception.

He also rendered the song, Super Staru yaarunu ketta chinna kuzhanthaiyum sollum, from a Rajinikanth-starrer to reiterate that the DMK’s manifesto is the superstar of the election.