DH Interview | Stalin’s anti-BJP stand is aimed at hiding corruption charges: Edappadi K Palaniswami

Palaniswami has been on his toes, travelling across the state for the past nine months. In an interview with DH’s E.T.B. Sivapriyan, EPS categorically asserted that the AIADMK will never compromise on the state’s two-language policy and dubbed the anti-BJP stand of CM M K Stalin as a ploy to hide corruption allegations against his government.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami faces an acid test in the April 23 assembly elections as he is under pressure to deliver this time as the party has not won an election since the death of its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa in 2016. 

Palaniswami has been on his toes, travelling across the state for the past nine months. In an interview with DH’s E.T.B. Sivapriyan, EPS categorically asserted that the AIADMK will never compromise on the state’s two-language policy and dubbed the anti-BJP stand of Chief Minister M K Stalin as a ploy to hide corruption allegations against his government. 

He also said the AIADMK never negotiated with the TVK for an alliance and that he will lead a single-majority government, not a coalition government. Edited excerpts:

Q: It has been over three weeks since you launched your campaign for the assembly elections. How has been the people’s response? What is your assessment of the people’s mood?

 

A: I launched my campaign in July 2025, and I have now covered almost all 234 assembly constituencies. People give me a rousing reception wherever I go, and I can see people being extremely angry with the anarchic DMK government that has been the ruling Tamil Nadu for the past five years.

Q: What do you think is the foremost problem in the DMK government? What is the feedback you have received from people?

 

A: There is no rule of law in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has become a shelter for those who indulge in murder, burglary, crimes against women, and a haven for drugs. There is no fear among culprits and anti-social elements. 

The DMK government has shielded the real accused in several cases, including the murder of state BSP chief K Armstrong. It is also a wonder that at least one DMK functionary would be involved in many of the crimes that have taken place in the state in the last five years.

Q: How will the AIADMK control crimes against women and check the entry and sale of drugs into the state? What are your plans?

 

A: We will ensure that the law of the land prevails the moment we come back to power. We will release the fists tied around the hands of policemen and allow the police department to function independently. Once that happens, we can easily control drug abuse.

Q: The BJP-led Union Government has made the three-language policy compulsory in CBSE schools. What is the stand of the AIADMK on this issue since you are in an alliance with the BJP?

 

A: The two-language policy is one of the foremost principles of the AIADMK.  Tamil for learning, and English for communication outside the state has been our principle. 

We won’t act like DMK leaders who run CBSE schools and make children studying there learn languages like Hindi. They will mint money by doing so but will stage a drama by opposing Hindi when they talk about the language policy. 

Q: DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) has been winning elections consecutively since 2019 and it has been further strengthened. In this scenario, what will be the winning chances of the NDA, and do you think you will be able to win despite the strong alliance?

 

A: People have realised that the DMK used them to come to power only to loot. That the DMK has been inducting parties left, right, and centre into the alliance is a testimony to the fact that the party has lost its influence among people. 

People have decided to sound the death knell for dynastic rule and corruption. The DMK won’t even win the required seats to attain the status of principal opposition in the Assembly.

Q: There is criticism that the promises given by the AIADMK will burden the already-strained exchequer. Do you think the promises can be implemented without increasing taxes, which will only be an additional burden for the common man?

 

A: Through reckless spending in the last five years, the DMK government has increased the debt burden of Tamil Nadu like never before in 73 years. 

The debt burden per person is about Rs 1.25 lakh crore. Even the media doesn’t talk about such things. We have promised what we believe we will be able to implement. 

We will raise funds for the projects by increasing the state’s revenue, without affecting the people. We won’t cheat the people of Tamil Nadu like the DMK did by claiming to possess a secret weapon to get exemption for the state from NEET. 

Q: Chief Minister M K Stalin has been projecting the 2026 assembly elections as a fight between Tamil Nadu and the NDA. He has been making strong allegations, such as the BJP has bought over the AIADMK for the alliance. How do you respond?

 

A: Stalin has been rambling random things to hide his having bought over the Congress to retain it in the alliance. This election is to elect the state Assembly. The contest is between the corrupt DMK and the AIADMK, which always stands with the people. People’s power will prevail in the end, and it will result in AIADMK’s victory. This election will put an end to Chief Minister Stalin’s arrogant attitude and his blabbering. 

Q: You have been alleging that former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was kept under house arrest in his last days. How can you make such a strong allegation?

 

A: I never made the allegation. All I did was repeat what DMK MP and deputy general secretary A Raja said in an audio recording. That’s why I asked how can someone, who placed his own father under house arrest,  save the people. 

Moreover, I merely said what Stalin’s own brother M K Alagiri said in this regard. It is sheer foolishness on the part of the Chief Minister to frown at me rather than confronting Raja and his brother. 

Q: Chief Minister M K Stalin attacks the BJP vociferously. Do you think he believes the BJP has grown in the state or is it because that party has allied with the AIADMK? Do you think the anti-BJP sentiments still continue to prevail in Tamil Nadu? 

 

A: The BJP is acting against the misdeeds of the DMK government led by Chief Minister M K Stalin and his cabinet colleagues in the last five years. Stalin’s anti-BJP stand is only to hide the corruption allegations against his government. 

People have realised the anti-Tamil activities of the DMK and its alliance partners. They believe that only the AIADMK-led NDA has the strength and power to defeat the DMK. Every constituent in the NDA including the BJP, has influence among the people, and we will certainly defeat the DMK.

Q: What is your assessment of the TVK, whose leader Vijay has taken a strident anti-DMK stand? Also, the AIADMK supported the TVK during the Karur stampede but is now criticizing the party. Is it because the TVK has refused to ally with the  AIADMK. Who will Vijay affect more, DMK or AIADMK?

 

A: This is a meaningless question. Anyone can proclaim to be DMK’s enemy; anyone can even conspire to split the anti-DMK votes. But people know that the real contest is between the DMK, which is built on deceit, and the AIADMK, which represents the people. 

It is a fact that we supported the 41 families that lost their loved ones in the Karur stampede, but to tie political maneuvering to alliance opportunities is mischievous. 

Under no circumstances did either the AIADMK  or the party you mentioned discussed an alliance. To ask this question again and again, despite our party clarifying multiple times is only to create suspicion in the minds of people.

Q: You have been saying that the AIADMK will form a government of its own if the NDA wins the elections. But the BJP says it will be a coalition government. Moreover, Chief Minister M K Stalin has said that Tamil Nadu won’t accept coalition governments. Do you agree with his view?

 

A: The AIADMK-led NDA will win 210 seats and the AIADMK will form a single-majority government. Both the AIADMK and BJP have clarified this. Raising such questions despite knowing the difference between a coalition rule and a coalition government, only serves to appease the DMK.

I would like to remind you that the people of Tamil Nadu had rejected the coalition government plan of the DMK-Congress way back in 1980, (when both parties contested an equal number of seats).