AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the DMK during election campaigning in Kanyakumari district, saying Chief Minister M K Stalin was working to place Udhayanidhi Stalin in the chief minister’s chair, but that it would “never happen”.
Campaigning at Aralvaimozhi in support of AIADMK candidate Thalavai Sundaram for the Kanyakumari constituency, Palaniswami said the previous AIADMK government prioritised agriculture and cited compensation of Rs 20 lakh to families of fishermen who died during cyclone-related incidents. He also claimed cyclone damage was addressed swiftly and uninterrupted power supply was ensured.
Palaniswami alleged that the DMK government, having lost public support, had hurriedly distributed “substandard” laptops to college students and said action would be taken if corruption was found once AIADMK returns to power. He further criticised what he called a “dynastic” succession plan and said the election would put an end to it.
He accused the DMK government of steep hikes in property tax, shop-related taxes and electricity tariff, and claimed even garbage was being taxed. Despite higher revenues, he alleged, the state had borrowed Rs 5 lakh crore in five years without bringing in new schemes, and said crimes such as murder, robbery and sexual violence were occurring frequently.
Later, at a campaign meeting in Tirunelveli, Palaniswami said AIADMK had promised Rs 10,000 per family in its manifesto and alleged the DMK had copied it by announcing an Rs 8,000 coupon for women, claiming coupons could enable commission. Separately, election flying squad officials stopped and checked his vehicle near Ozhuginaseri APTA Market as he travelled from Nagercoil to the Aralvaimozhi meeting.
