From dubbing voice of BJP to its original voice: Stalin attacks EPS on HR&CE funds issue

Chennai: Tearing into AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami for questioning his government over establishing new colleges using temple funds, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday accused his predecessor of having become the “original voice” of the BJP and even outperforming its leaders after being the saffron party’s “dubbing voice.”

Stalin, while addressing a government event in his home district of Tiruvarur, launched an all-out attack on Palaniswami, who had launched his 2026 assembly election campaign on Monday.

Stalin sought to know how Palaniswami could “save” the state when he couldn’t even save his own party, the AIADMK, in a dig at his campaign titled "Let’s Protect People, Let’s Reclaim Tamil Nadu."

He also questioned how Palaniswami would “reclaim” Tamil Nadu by joining hands with forces (BJP) that he accused of acting against the interests of the state at every given opportunity, pointing to issues like the withholding of Samagra Shiksha (SS) funds and the insistence on not releasing the report on Keeladi excavations.

Latching onto Palaniswami’s remarks on temple funds being used for building colleges, Stalin said there was a provision in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Act to establish educational institutions for the benefit of students.

“It was the late M Bakthavatchalam who first launched colleges using temple funds, and even former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran opened a college using funds from the Palani Murugan temple. You (Palaniswami) inaugurated a building for the Palani college run with temple funds during your tenure. Were you in a deep slumber?” Stalin asked.

“When we start colleges using temple funds, it is wrong. Why? Even BJP leaders don’t oppose establishing new colleges, but Palaniswami does. It reminds me of a Vadivelu joke—why is he howling beyond the money paid for? Earlier, he was just a dubbing voice for the BJP, but now he has become their original voice,” the Chief Minister added.

He also said the government was implementing several projects in challenging circumstances at a time when the Union Government was not willing to help, and accused Palaniswami of not tolerating the state’s progress.

“He has now embarked on a journey to save Tamil Nadu. Sorry, save Tamizhagam. Because he has now aligned with those who want Tamizhagam to be used instead of Tamil Nadu (read BJP). Someone who could not save the AIADMK claims he will save Tamil Nadu,” he said, and claimed that his four-year-old government has rectified all the mistakes committed by the previous AIADMK dispensation.

If Palaniswami is so worried about colleges, Stalin asked, why does he not talk to Governor R N Ravi and exert pressure on him to sign the bill seeking to establish a university named after M Karunanidhi into law? “Does the Leader of the Opposition have the courage to raise his voice?” he asked.

HR&CE Minister P K Sekarbabu said 22,450 students are currently studying in 25 schools, one polytechnic, and nine arts and science colleges administered by his department, and that Rs 132 crore has been spent on building additional infrastructure since the DMK came to power in 2021.