In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday launched a counterattack against Chief Minister M K Stalin's recent 'open challenge'. Palaniswami accused the ruling DMK government of relying on mere optics while presiding over a failure of governance.
The Genesis of the Clash
The war of words was triggered by Chief Minister Stalin's remarks at a public meeting in Kallakurichi on Friday. Responding via a post on social media platform X, Palaniswami not only accepted the challenge but also turned the tables. He highlighted that the Kallakurichi district itself was carved out during the previous AIADMK regime. As evidence of his government's performance, he pointed to the establishment of a government medical college in the district.
"I am ready for an open challenge," declared Palaniswami in his post. He launched a significant accusation, claiming that the Stalin-led government has been merely rebranding schemes and projects originally launched by the previous AIADMK administration. This, he implied, showed a lack of original development initiatives from the current regime.
DMK's Fierce Counterattack
The AIADMK leader's challenge did not go unanswered. Minister for Natural Resources, S Regupathy, swiftly countered Palaniswami's allegations. The minister adopted an aggressive stance, asserting that the Leader of the Opposition lacked the courage to face the chief minister directly in the legislative assembly. Regupathy claimed that Palaniswami often walked out of the house without responding to Stalin's questions.
Regupathy dug into the past to mount his defense. He recalled instances from the AIADMK's tenure that he labeled as propaganda. These included pasting stickers and posters of the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on relief materials distributed by civil society organizations to victims of the devastating 2015 floods. He also mentioned the practice of displaying the chief minister's photograph on wedding garlands distributed under government schemes.
Based on these practices, the minister declared that the AIADMK and its leaders were "infamous" for such tactics and therefore had "no moral right" to raise allegations of rebranding against the DMK government.
Allegations of Past Failures
The minister's rebuttal went beyond the immediate argument. He listed a series of controversial incidents from the AIADMK's rule, putting Palaniswami on the defensive regarding law and order. The incidents cited were:
- The police firings in Paramakudi and Thoothukudi.
- The multi-crore granite scam.
- The unsolved Kodanad estate murder case.
Referring to these, Regupathy stated that Palaniswami should be "ashamed" to even speak about governance and law and order. Turning the 'open challenge' back on the opposition leader, the minister concluded with a direct provocation: "Are you ready for an open debate with me? This is my open challenge."
The exchange, playing out on social media and through press statements, marks a significant intensification of the political feud between the two dominant Dravidian parties. It shifts the focus squarely onto the comparative performance and legacy of their respective governments, setting the stage for a heated political debate in the state.
