Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, speaking at an election campaign public meeting in Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district, called on voters to ensure AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami faces what he described as an “11th defeat”. The rally was held in support of DMK candidates Raja Kannappan, Kadhar Basha and Kathiravan, and Congress candidate Karumanickam.
Stalin said the state had worked to achieve 11.19% economic growth and claimed his government had kept the administrative machinery fully active through regular reviews, field inspections and welfare initiatives. He said Tamil Nadu had been taken to the top position nationally, while adding that the state must be developed further into a global “brand” by backing the secular alliance.
Targeting Palaniswami, Stalin accused him of making derogatory remarks about late leaders and speaking without dignity about women. He urged people to “teach him a lesson” on April 23, and highlighted the “Vidiyal Payanam” scheme for women as the first initiative he signed after becoming Chief Minister.
On key issues, Stalin said the Centre should be pressed to review the India–Sri Lanka agreement and continue efforts to retrieve Katchatheevu. He also alleged attempts to reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation at the national level, and criticised the BJP and the AIADMK’s relationship with it.
Stalin said votes for the AIADMK would effectively strengthen the BJP, and called for the BJP to be defeated in the election. Using an IPL analogy of “Delhi vs Tamil Nadu”, he said the contest was not only about the DMK’s victory but about Tamil Nadu as a whole, and appealed for support to form what he termed the “2.0/2.2” phase of the Dravidian model government.
