Stalin alleges Palaniswami mortgaged AIADMK to Amit Shah to save his family from a raid

Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on16 July, Wednesday, hit out at leader of the opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami and alleged he "mortgaged the AIADMK" with top BJP leader Amit Shah out of selfishness and in order to protect his family members from raid.

In his address at a government function here, Stalin referred to the launch of the outreach programme 'Ungaludan Stalin' (Stalin with you) on 15 July and its objective. An important feature is that eligible women may apply for the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam (Kalaignar's Women's Rights Grant Scheme) that offers Rs 1,000 monthly assistance.

Stalin said he had launched 'Ungaludan Stalin' to take government services to the people and redress grievances by organising special camps in their neighbourhoods.

So far, 1.14 crore women are being provided the Rs 1,000 monthly assistance. The CM said representations were received which said some eligible persons did not receive the assistance and, "I am firm that eligible persons must not be left out".

Stalin said AIADMK chief Palaniswami was, however, rattled and he could not tolerate such a scheme. Hence, the leader of the opposition posed questions on petitions received by him from the public before the 2021 Assembly election. All such petitions were addressed, he added, hitting out at the AIADMK top leader, saying Palaniswami may enquire with families belonging to his party on implementation of the outreach scheme.

He said: "The Stalin regime regards the Tamil Nadu people as its family; there is no discrimination based on party affiliation. All the government schemes, including the Rs 1,000 assistance, reaches women belonging to AIADMK families as well. Can this be denied?

Referring to the fare-free bus travel scheme for women, the CM said it helped women save more than Rs 800 per month. Hence, the Rs 1,000 financial assistance and the free travel plan together form the basis for the economic and social emancipation for women.

Stalin, also the DMK president, said he could refer to several such schemes of his government. Could AIADMK chief Palaniswami list his achievements, he wondered. He only dropped schemes like the marriage assistance scheme for women and laptop scheme for students during the AIADMK regime, the CM alleged. Palaniswami blames the people themselves and says that public got deceived by the Rs 1,000 scheme, continued Stalin.

He said: "People are not deceived. Only you have been hoodwinked by believing the BJP. You have mortgaged the AIADMK itself with Amit Shah out of your selfishness and in order to save your family members from raid."

Stalin did not elaborate on what he meant by 'raid' and also did not specify any specific government agency.

The DMK chief claimed, however, that AIADMK leaders and Palaniswami himself had said that their defeat in 2021 Assembly election was due to their alliance with the BJP. "You (Palaniswami) have formed an alliance with the same party; is it love for family?" the CM asked.

The AIADMK and the BJP joined hands on 11 April 2025 and announced that they will together fight the 2026 Assembly election.

But the AIADMK cadres themselves do not trust Palaniswami and the Tamil Nadu people also do not want to get duped by reposing faith on the leader of opposition, Stalin alleged.

The Dravidian party chief said that the people voted for his party in 2021 with confidence that "Tamil Nadu will be safe under Stalin". Also, they were confident that he would not permit into Tamil Nadu "any alien force", he said, and they were sure that he would curtail such forces. He has fulfilled people's expectations through his work, he claimed.

The chief minister said his party-led government has developed Tamil Nadu pretty well and that has warranted appreciation from the BJP-led union government itself. "The BJP is AIADMK's owner," Stalin mocked at the Tamil Nadu's main opposition party.

The DMK chief expressed full confidence of retaining power in Tamil Nadu by winning the 2026 Assembly election and said the next 5-year stint (2026-2031) of 'Dravidian model 2.0' would be unparalleled.

In the government function held here, the chief minister inaugurated 47 projects, laid foundation stones for 12 projects and distributed welfare assistance to beneficiaries, marking commencement of distribution of aid to as many as 54,461 beneficiaries. In total, all such initiatives, are worth about Rs 432.92 crore.

The inaugurated projects include newly built classrooms in schools (including at Srikandapuram, Thillaiyadi, Thulasenthirapuram, Thittapadugai, Chinnangkudi and Thalancheri and Vaitheeswarankoil) in Mayiladuthurai district.

The projects for which foundation stones were laid include a knowledge centre at Tharangampadi and road works in Vaitheeswaran Koil.

Welfare assistance to beneficiaries includes distribution of housing pattas, houses under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam Thittam (a housing scheme), facilitation of credit linkage for SHGs and a variety of other assistance/services under various government departments.

The announcements made by the chief minsiter related to new initiatives for Mayiladuthurai district includes a rail overbridge in Needur panchayat area at a cost of Rs 85 crore and a statue to honour martyr Samy Nagappan, who took part in the Satyagraha held under the leadership of Gandhiji in South Africa.