"Palaniswami accepted alliance with BJP to protect his leadership within AIADMK": MK Stalin

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 3 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday hit out at All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, alleging that his decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was driven by a need to protect his leadership position within the AIADMK.
While addressing the gathering at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) district secretaries meeting, Stalin said that the BJP has used "pressure tactics" to "subdue" the AIADMK.
"The BJP is trying in every possible way to establish a foothold in Tamil Nadu. To achieve this, it has used all kinds of pressure tactics and has subdued the AIADMK. Palaniswami has no other choice. He fears that if he does not accept the BJP alliance, his leadership within his own party will be at risk. That is why he has accepted the BJP alliance," Stalin said while speaking at the DMK headquarters in Chennai.
The Tamil Nadu CM accused the central government of using investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for "political purposes."
"The Union BJP government, which uses agencies like the Enforcement Directorate for political purposes, is condemned by the DMK district secretaries meeting. No matter how many threats come, the DMK will face them lawfully and with public support," Stalin said.
"Our strength lies in our party structure. No other party has such an administrative framework. We continuously upgrade that structure with time, and we must continue to do so," he added.
Furthermore, Stalin hit out at the opposition, stating that those who couldn't defeat the DMK politically resorted to threats.
"DMK has always been a movement that has faced challenges at every stage. Those who cannot defeat us politically resort to threats to tarnish our image. The people are well aware of the real reason behind their chatter, threats, and pressure tactics. Therefore, we will face the BJP's intimidation politically," he said.
The DMK's district secretaries' meetings are currently being held in 1,244 locations across Tamil Nadu to mark four years of Stalin's government.
On June 1, the DMK General Council meeting will be held in the Madurai district.
Tamil Nadu Ministers S Sivasankar, I Periyasamy, KKSSR Ramachandra Reddy, and others were present at the meeting. DMK District Secretaries across the state also participated. (ANI)