Former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami addressing a public meeting at Madurapuri in Theni district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: KARTHIKEYAN G

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alone can take credit for increasing the storage level of the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 142 feet by taking on the legal battle with Kerala government to the Supreme Court, said party general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami here on Sunday.

Speaking at the 77th birth anniversary of late leader Jayalalithaa in Periyakulam, Theni district, he said that it was ‘Amma’ (Jayalalithaa) who was instrumental in taking it up despite several hurdles. There were numerous pressures, but in the larger interest of the farmers and the five southern districts of Tamil Nadu, the then Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa fought it out tooth and nail.

The apex court, after hearing the case, delivered its verdict in favour of Tamil Nadu following which the storage level was enhanced to 142 ft from 136 ft, he said and blamed the present DMK government for doing nothing to improve the storage level to 152 ft.

If the AIADMK comes to power in 2026, the party would fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu and restore the lost sheen and glory, he promised and urged the public to vote out the ‘corrupt’ DMK and vote the AIADMK to a landslide victory.

During his 50-minute speech, Mr Palaniswami took a jibe at Mr Stalin and his government on several fronts. Though so many parties including the AIADMK had ruled the State for the last 73 years, the present DMK government had achieved in taking the maximum borrowings. The State was reeling under severe financial crunch. The government has achieved a milestone for wrong reasons and Mr Stalin may be presented with an award for making the people sink into the highest debt.

Insecure feeling

A top woman police officer in the rank of Additional Director General (ADGP) of Police had complained of insecurity and among other charges with her superior officer. “Is this not a shame for the DMK to continue in power,” he asked the public.

Not a day passed without reports on sexual assaults against women and girl children. “The State, which was once called a peace park… is no more so as there was no law and no order,” he charged. Newspapers and television channels reported on murders, rape, robbery et al. Recently, a DMK functionary had openly directed a District Collector and Superintendent of Police to act on his words, the former Chief Minister wanted to know what action was taken against the party functionary.

The promises made to the government employees, teachers and others on Old Pension Scheme had gone with the wind. Likewise, the DMK promised to waive the education loan. The party leader claimed to enhance the 100-day MGNREGA to 150-days. Four years have gone by and the promises had only been broken.

AIADMK’s achievements

Claiming to have delivered very many development projects to the people, he said that be it on establishing higher educational institutions (medical, law and arts/sciences), or in delivering welfare programmes for the women and downtrodden, the AIADMK had delivered it all while in power. On the contrary, the DMK had done nothing. The Chief Minister was more talking tall about ‘Dravida model’ than executing it, he alleged.

For the farmers, it was worst. The DMK promised to hike the MSP (minimum support price) for paddy, sugarcane and other crops, but nothing tangible had been done. Similarly, the womenfolk too were told that the DMK would give ₹100 subsidy for LPG refill, but it has not been kept.

The AIADMK, from its inception, has been voicing for two language system. There was no change on that, he asserted.

Former ministers R. B. Udayakumar, party seniors Natham R. Viswanathan, Sellur K. Raju, V. V. Rajan Chellappa, Vijayabaskar, former MPs and MLAs and a large number of cadre from many southern districts participated in the public meeting.