Edappadi K. Palaniswami renews call for like-minded parties to join hands against DMK

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday renewed his call for all like-minded parties to come together and contest the 2026 Assembly election together for removing the DMK from power.

Responding to a journalist’s query whether he would invite the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by Vijay, Mr. Palaniswami said “the anti-people DMK government should be ousted”.

“It is our objective that all those who are like-minded should come together, form a coalition, and contest the election together. We will be happy to align with those who want to remove the DMK government. They should also extend cooperation to us.”

The AIADMK general secretary, flanked by deputy general secretary K.P. Munusamy, and treasurer Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, was interacting with the media at the party headquarters here after the launch of the song for his State-wide tour, which would begin in Mettupalayam on Monday.

On the nature of the government and candidate for the post of Chief Minister, Mr. Palaniswami recalled the visit of Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah to Chennai in April when the AIADMK-BJP alliance was informed. He had made it clear that “the AIADMK would lead the coalition and form the government, and the Chief Ministerial candidate would be EPS [Mr. Palaniswami].”

To another query on whether there was any reluctance to accept the position, the AIADMK chief replied that the matter was decided at “the highest level”.

He added that, “After Mr. Shah has clarified the position, it is my view that it will not be proper on anyone’s part to make any further comments.”

Given Z+ protection

On having been provided with Z+ protection, he said this had been done in the wake of media reports regarding threats to his life.

During his tour, he would highlight how the people of the State had been “undergoing misery” during the 50-month-long regime of the DMK. He expressed hope that the pre-poll campaign would help bring about a “huge change.”

He said that he would meet the family of B. Ajith Kumar, a temple security guard who died in police custody, during his visit to Sivaganga as part of the tour. The entire factual position of the case would be ascertained during the CBI probe, Mr. Palaniswami added.

Meanwhile, ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator O. Panneerselvam, visited Ajith Kumar’s family and gave cash assistance of ₹2 lakh to the deceased’s mother. In a statement, he criticised the DMK government for the deterioration in the standards of the police service.