Tiruchy, April 1 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the opposition AIADMK, alleging that its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) would “pledge” the state to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if voted to power.

Addressing a public meeting in Tiruchy, Stalin campaigned for candidates of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) across nine Assembly constituencies, urging voters to deliver a “100 per cent victory” for the DMK-led front in the upcoming elections.

He framed the contest as a decisive battle to protect Tamil Nadu’s political identity and governance model.

The Chief Minister said the people had placed their trust in the DMK during the 2021 Assembly elections, enabling the formation of what he described as a “Dravidian Model” government.

According to him, the administration has largely fulfilled its electoral promises and ensured social harmony across the state.

Contrasting Tamil Nadu with BJP-ruled states, Stalin claimed that the state has remained free from conflicts based on caste and religion.

He alleged that the BJP was attempting to create divisions along religious lines in Tamil Nadu and accused Palaniswami of facilitating such efforts.

“If the BJP contests alone here, they would secure fewer votes than NOTA. That is why they are relying on the AIADMK,” he said.

Stalin further alleged that the AIADMK was functioning under the influence of the BJP, citing an incident during an NDA meeting in Madurai where a portrait of Dravidian icon Periyar E.V. Ramasamy was reportedly removed.

He questioned whether former AIADMK stalwarts like M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa would have allowed such an act.

The DMK president also cast doubt on Palaniswami’s leadership within the alliance, noting that key decisions were being made in New Delhi.

Referring to statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin said the BJP leadership had projected the formation of an NDA government without clearly endorsing EPS as the chief ministerial candidate.

Reiterating his central charge, Stalin warned that an AIADMK government would effectively hand over Tamil Nadu’s autonomy to the BJP, and called on voters to reject the opposition alliance decisively at the polls.

–IANS

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