AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has launched a scathing attack on the ruling DMK, accusing it of blatantly deceiving Tamil Nadu's government employees over the crucial issue of pension reforms. Speaking at a public meeting in Salem on Sunday, the former chief minister asserted that the DMK's recently announced Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) is merely a tactical ploy and not the reinstatement of the old pension scheme as promised.
A Promise Betrayed: The Pension Scheme Controversy
Edappadi K Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, charged that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, "gripped in fear after losing public support," had cunningly betrayed the state's workforce. He reminded the gathering that the DMK's election manifesto had explicitly promised to bring back the old pension scheme, a key demand of employees. However, what the government has introduced is a differently named scheme, which EPS labeled as a deceptive tactic aimed solely at derailing the planned strikes by employee unions.
"Stalin, who is gripped in fear after losing public support, has announced a new pension scheme," EPS stated. "In the election manifesto, he had promised to implement the old pension scheme. What government employees are demanding is the old pension scheme. But what Stalin has brought is not that. He has merely changed the name and has deceived the govt employees." He predicted that employees would fully understand the government's strategy only when the official orders for the new scheme are issued.
Faltering Alliance and a 'Protest Zone' State
Extending his criticism beyond the pension issue, Palaniswami claimed that the DMK-led alliance itself is showing signs of internal strain. He raised doubts about the continuity of the coalition, specifically mentioning the Congress party's position. "It is not even clear whether the Congress will remain in it. People have begun to doubt whether your alliance will survive until the elections," he said, aiming to project instability within the ruling front.
EPS further alleged that due to the DMK's poor governance, Tamil Nadu has transformed into a state of perpetual protests. He pointed out that farmers, traders, nurses, and government employees are all on the streets, arguing that such widespread discontent is a direct result of administrative failure. "If the government had done good work, how would such protests arise?" he questioned the crowd. He mocked Stalin's sudden flurry of announcements, saying the Chief Minister, "after sleeping for nearly four and a half years, has suddenly woken up" in a desperate bid to regain public favor ahead of elections.
AIADMK's Confident Roadmap to 2026
On a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence in the NDA's prospects in Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami independently and firmly reiterated his party's goal. He dismissed Stalin's attempts to retain power as futile and confidently declared that the AIADMK would secure a clear majority in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections and form the next government. This statement underscores the AIADMK's ambition to return to power without leaning solely on the national NDA narrative, asserting its own strength in state politics.
The public meeting in Salem thus served as a significant platform for the principal opposition party to articulate its core criticisms against the DMK regime—highlighting "broken promises" on employee welfare, alleging coalition fragility, and painting a picture of a state in turmoil—while presenting itself as the inevitable alternative for 2026.
