CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday said the DMK has been announcing new welfare schemes ahead of the 2026 polls out of fear of defeat.
Addressing a public campaign in Salem as part of his statewide election outreach, ‘Makkalai Kappom Tamilagathai Meetpom’, the AIADMK leader said the DMK’s announcements are not driven by public welfare.
Terming the recent announcements to relax norms under the Kalaingar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme to include 17 lakh more beneficiaries and a fresh pension scheme for government staff as an attempt to deceive people, the AIADMK leader claimed the moves sound hollow in the backdrop of the DMK's failure to deliver on its earlier commitments.
The AIADMK alliance will win with a majority in the 2026 Assembly polls and form its own government, he said. “None can stop AIADMK from forming the government,” he added.
Alleging that DMK has stopped welfare schemes introduced by the AIADMK, the Leader of the Opposition said the ruling party is concerned only about the welfare of its family, and that corruption has become pervasive across all departments.
Referring to the rural job scheme, Palaniswami claimed that the central government increased the number of working days to 125 under pressure from the AIADMK. "The DMK has been confusing people by claiming that the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (referring to the renaming of it) will be cancelled. After forming the government, AIADMK will increase the number of working days to 150,” he said.
Claiming that DMK is a corporate party, Palaniswami urged people to put an end to DMK's dynasty politics. “Just because Udhayanidhi Stalin belongs to Karunanidhi’s family, he became a Deputy Chief Minister, while ignoring seniors like Duraimurugan,” he said.
Palaniswami also alleged that the DMK alliance is in trouble and may break away before the polls. “It’s not known whether the DMK alliance will sustain until polls as Congress is already demanding a share in government,” he said.