The state-level conference was touted as a major show of strength by the AIADMK, which witnessed a series of upheavals in the past seven years after the death of J Jayalalithaa.
Published Aug 20, 2023 | 11:49 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2023 | 2:42 AM
Edappadi K Palaniswami. (File pic/EPSTamilnadu/Facebook)
“An anti-incumbency wave is going on in Tamil Nadu. It is clearly visible that Chief Minister MK Stalin and his ministerial colleagues are in a political logjam,” said AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at the party’s state conference in Madurai held on Sunday, 20 August.
A total of 32 resolutions were passed at the conference, which mainly revolved around condemning the DMK government for its failure in keeping its promises to the people of Tamil Nadu.
One resolution urged the Central government to take steps to restore peace in Manipur, while another lightly touched the 2024 election.
However, the AIADMK general secretary was careful not to make direct statements about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Palaniswami also made no statement on ousted AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam, Sasikala, and TTV Dhinakaran.
Meanwhile, at the meeting, he was bestowed with the title “Puratchi Tamilar”, which means “Revolutionary Tamil”.
This is in continuation of the titles AIADMK general secretaries — not counting the eras under Sasikala and the joint leadership of EPS and Panneerselvam — have received.
AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran was Puratchi Thalaivar, or the Revolutionary Leader. His successor J Jayalalitha donned the female equivalent of the title: Puratchi Thalaivi.
The state-level conference was touted as a major show of strength by the AIADMK, which witnessed a series of upheavals in the past seven years after the death of J Jayalalithaa.
In 2022, the party led by EPS expelled O Panneerselvam — who was chosen by Jayalalithaa to stand by for her as chief minister twice — from the party.
Palaniswami’s election as the party’s general secretary was ratified by the Election Commission of India this year after a long battle that played out in several courts.
The Madurai conference was also aimed at sending a strong message to the BJP, an ally, that the AIADMK’s cadre still stood by the party and that the party could not be taken for granted.
The AIADMK has been maintaining that it was the leader of the alliance in Tamil Nadu, showing the BJP its place in the state. In the 2019 elections, the BJP contested five out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.
Sunday’s event saw lakhs of AIADMK supporters travelling to Madurai from all over the state. The party conference, which was well publicised and coincided with its golden jubilee anniversary, also took place months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the AIADMK aims to reap good electoral results against the ruling DMK.
By organising a state conference in the temple city of Madurai, Palaniswami followed the footsteps of AIADMK supremos MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.
Attacking incumbent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Palaniswami said that the DMK government had been lying to the people instead of fulfilling its promises.
“On 18 August, at a fishermen’s conference in Rameswaram, Stalin’s speech was a bunch of lies on the Katchatheevu islet, which was gifted to Sri Lanka in June 1974 by the Indian government. Instead of opposing the Centre, former chief minister M Karunanidhi remained silent,” Palaniswami said.
“Conveniently burying the fact, Stalin claimed that he would take steps to retrieve the islet from Sri Lanka after the 2024 Lok Sabha election. This is nothing but lies,” he added.
Palaniswami took a dig at the chief minister’s son and Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udayanidhi Stalin on the issue of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
The DMK, which was a part of the Centre in 2010, had been a signatory to the conduct of NEET in the country, he noted.
“When the former Union health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced NEET, the DMK’s Gandhi Selvam was the minister of state holding the health portfolio in the Union government,” Palaniswami said.
It may be noted that the DMK government has been blaming the AIADMK government for thrusting NEET upon Tamil Nadu.
“But today, Udhayanidhi Stalin has been telling students that he would wipe away their tears by getting an exemption from NEET at any cost,” Palaniswami said.
Presenting a long list of achievements and policies brought out to the state during the AIADMK regime, Palaniswami said that “out of the 51 years of the party, AIADMK was in power for 31 years”.
(With PTI inputs)
