Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 3 : Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday campaigned in Madurai district as part of his statewide programme "Makkalai Kaapom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom" ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, declaring that the DMK would face "a crushing defeat."
He said that the ruling alliance is "dreaming" of victory, but the AIADMK would build a strong and victorious alliance.
Palaniswami said, "Madurai district has always been a stronghold of the AIADMK. In the last election, the DMK managed to win a few constituencies through some manipulations. In the upcoming Assembly election, the AIADMK alliance will win in all constituencies of Madurai district. Today, under the leadership of the DMK chief, their alliance are dreaming they will win the upcoming Assembly election. But the people have suffered in many ways. Therefore, in the 2026 Assembly election, the DMK will face a crushing defeat."
He added, "The AIADMK alliance will be a strong alliance and a victorious alliance. In Tamil Nadu, law and order has deteriorated. Earlier, television channels used to announce the price of gold and silver. But under this DMK regime, they are announcing the murder statistics instead."
Calling the CM Stalin, a "puppet", he alleged that law and order had worsened under the DMK, alleging that Tamil Nadu is moving towards a "very dangerous situation".
"Drug addiction has increased among the youth. If the government had taken proper action, this menace could have been controlled. But since nothing was done, Tamil Nadu is moving towards a very dangerous situation. This itself is proof that this is an incapable government. An inefficient puppet Chief Minister is ruling this state, and because of that, the people are suffering like this," Palaniswami said, accusing the government of neglecting youth.
He called the ruling government "corruption-ridden", alleging that an additional Rs 10 to Rs 15 per bottle was being collected in nearly 6,000 liquor shops.
Palaniswami noted, "In Tamil Nadu liquor shops, only by paying an extra ten rupees per bottle can one purchase liquor. There are about 6,000 liquor shops across Tamil Nadu. Every day, nearly one crore liquor bottles are sold. By collecting an extra 10 to 15 rupees per bottle, more than 15 crore rupees go into the hands of the high command (DMK chief Stalin) daily. That means 450 crore rupees a month, and 5,400 crore rupees a year. Through TASMAC alone, in just the past four years, corruption worth 22,000 crore rupees has taken place. Should such a corruption-ridden government be allowed to continue?"
Palaniswami stated that CM Stalin's dream of progress will remain a "daydream" due to his alleged corruption and neglect of the people's welfare.
"Stalin's dream will remain nothing more than a daydream. During your tenure, the people have received neither concessions nor welfare. Only your family has grown more powerful and influential. Ignoring all of this, Stalin has now gone abroad. He has not gone to attract industrial investment -- he has gone to invest the money earned through corruption," he added.
He alleged that the DMK had brought "disgrace" to Tamil Nadu, citing the alleged 2G Spectrum Scam.
"The DMK government has indulged in corruption even in things as invisible as air. They have disgraced the name of Tamil Nad because of the DMK, if MP goes to Delhi, it is only with bowed head in shame. When the DMK was in power at the Centre, they committed the 2G Spectrum scam worth about 1.74 lakh crore rupees. Because of DMK members, Tamil Nadu has earned a bad name all over India. So, should that party be allowed to come to power again?"