Former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Edappadi K Palaniswami, calling him a symbol of “betrayal and defeat” and urging that he be removed from politics.
He was speaking at a DMK workers’ meeting held at A Pudhupatti near Periyakulam in Theni district. Panneerselvam predicted a record victory for the DMK-led alliance in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election, and claimed that the Palaniswami camp would lose its deposit.
Referring to welfare measures, he said Chief Minister M K Stalin had “pleasantly surprised” families by crediting Rs 5,000 into the bank accounts of women heads of households.
Panneerselvam also recalled events after J Jayalalithaa’s death, stating that V K Sasikala made him Chief Minister and that he resigned when asked. He alleged that Palaniswami, who later became Chief Minister, opposed granting parole to Sasikala during the death of her husband.
Citing the Sathankulam custodial death case, he said a verdict had been delivered and alleged that the then Chief Minister Palaniswami did not even express regret to the victims’ families. The meeting was chaired by MP Thanga Tamilselvan, with MLA Saravanakumar, state committee member Mookaiya, former MP Ravindranath and others attending.
