Palaniswami: DMK Confusing Minorities Over Alliance, AIADMK Stands for All Religions
Palaniswami: DMK Confusing Minorities Over Alliance, AIADMK Stands for All Religions
Palaniswami accuses DMK of confusing minorities on alliance; AIADMK emphasizes welfare across religions and calls for focus on delivery over rhetoric.
Chennai, Feb 26, 2026 — AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami told a public meeting near Tambaram that the DMK is trying to confuse minority communities about electoral alliances to gain political mileage. He argued that the AIADMK has always stood for welfare across religious lines, insisting the party is beyond religion and caste. He urged minority voters to focus on welfare schemes implemented by the AIADMK government rather than speculation about alliances.
Palaniswami used the platform to address a separate accountability issue, slamming the Tamil Nadu government for not registering a First Information Report in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in Minister K.N. Nehru’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, in what he described as a deviation from Madras High Court directives. He said that once an FIR is registered, everyone would know what happens next. He also pointed to the upcoming timetable, noting that the assembly election would be announced in the second week of the next month.
He recalled AIADMK’s support for the presidential candidature of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, contrasting it with the DMK's vote, and listed welfare measures under AIADMK rule aimed at Muslims, from housing affordability to social welfare, arguing that rising construction material costs illustrate the difference between promises and performance by the DMK government. He claimed that the DMK manifesto in 2021 promised to control construction costs, which he said is not being met.
The former chief minister warned that alliances are often forged to consolidate votes and defeat rivals, insisting that the DMK's focus on minority blocs is a political tactic rather than a plan for real welfare. He emphasized that the AIADMK would continue to work for people of all faiths, and that its leaders have done so for years, urging voters to assess the practical benefits of AIADMK policies as elections approach.
Observers note Palaniswami's remarks aim to shore up support among minority communities ahead of polls, highlighting a contrast with DMK's approach and promising a focus on welfare and development.
