AIADMK Chief Says DMK-Congress Rift Deepening Before Tamil Nadu Elections
Palaniswami claims DMK-Congress alliance faces major cracks.
AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami dropped a political bombshell at a massive rally in Coonoor, alleging deep fissures in the ruling DMK-Congress alliance ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. In a fiery speech, Palaniswami predicted the DMK camp would soon be "deserted" as Congress leaders openly demand a bigger slice of power.
Palaniswami pointed to a recent Congress meeting in Tirunelveli, where Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar reportedly demanded a 50-50 power-sharing deal, including 117 of the 234 Assembly seats and a coalition government if DMK wins. He also highlighted TN Congress MLA S. Rajeshkumar’s bold claim that DMK cannot secure victory alone, intensifying tensions. “Cracks have appeared in the alliance. The frustrated Congress has awakened, seeking its share,” Palaniswami declared, noting even former TNCC chief K.S. Alagiri echoed the call for power-sharing.
The AIADMK chief didn’t stop there, accusing the DMK regime of shielding a kidney sale racket linked to a hospital run by a DMK legislator. He also slammed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed 68 lives, alleging the DMK blocked a CBI probe to protect culprits. Palaniswami further ridiculed Stalin’s recent Europe tour, claiming it was less about attracting investments and more about “making investments” abroad, questioning the CM’s transparency.
Also Read: Ex-CM Panneerselvam Revives AIADMK Reunion Hopes
Taking a swipe at DMK MP Kanimozhi for mocking AIADMK’s ties to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Palaniswami retorted, “Our head office is in Chennai, not Delhi—come visit!” He accused DMK of attempting to damage AIADMK’s Chennai office, referencing the chaotic 2022 expulsion of former CM O. Panneerselvam. Palaniswami boasted of AIADMK’s resilience, saying, “Stalin can take any avatars, but our cadre-powered party is unbreakable.”
In a historical jab, Palaniswami reminded DMK of AIADMK’s past support, crediting late supremo J. Jayalalithaa for securing DMK’s Chennai office during its 1993 split with Vaiko. “AIADMK has always helped others,” he asserted, positioning his party as a principled force. With the DMK-Congress alliance showing signs of strain and AIADMK rallying its base, Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is heating up as 2026 looms.
Also Read: Tensions Simmer in Tamil Nadu’s Political Arena as AIADMK's Internal Strife Worsens
