Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has criticised the AIADMK-led alliance, alleging that key decisions are being taken in Delhi rather than in Tamil Nadu.
In a letter to DMK cadre, Stalin said his government has implemented numerous welfare and development schemes despite what he described as the Union BJP government’s actions that “cheat” Tamil Nadu. He reiterated his framing of the Assembly election as a contest between a “Tamil Nadu team” and a “Delhi team”.
Stalin also questioned why AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other leaders are in Delhi, asking whether it was to secure funds due to the state or to address issues such as LPG cylinder shortages. He alleged that alliance talks were being held with indifference to people’s daily hardships.
Responding, the AIADMK issued a statement accusing Stalin of double standards and referred to a 2011 episode in which, it claimed, M. Karunanidhi and Stalin waited for hours in Delhi to meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for alliance discussions. The party also levelled further allegations about past alliance negotiations and questioned Stalin’s criticism of AIADMK’s engagement with national leaders.
AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, in a separate remark, said Stalin’s question about Delhi visits was misplaced and alleged that people want a change from the DMK. BJP state functionary Karate Thiagarajan also cited the 2011 period and made claims about alliance talks involving DMK and Congress leaders.
