Chennai, July 14 (IANS) A sharp political exchange erupted between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the AIADMK on Tuesday after AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, prompting an equally forceful response from the TVK’s Information Technology (IT) wing.

Speaking to reporters at Omalur in Salem district, Palaniswami dismissed Vijay’s recent allegation that the AIADMK and the DMK were “joint thieves,” saying the chief minister should exercise greater restraint while making public statements.

Palaniswami alleged that Vijay should use his words responsibly, and it is not the AIADMK that has betrayed public trust. He added that the real political defection was committed by Vijay himself, who persuaded legislators elected on the AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol to resign and join his party.

The AIADMK leader also questioned the achievements of the TVK government during its first two months in office.

He said the government came to power promising clean and transparent governance, but many individuals whom Vijay had previously criticised have now found a place in his party.

He questioned what this government has actually accomplished in its first 60 days.

Palaniswami further claimed that the TVK government remained politically fragile, alleging that it lacked an independent majority after winning only 108 Assembly seats and was surviving with the support of legislators from alliance partners. He also dismissed speculation about any possibility of the AIADMK joining hands with the DMK.

Palaniswami asserted that the AIADMK’s stand has never changed, and since the party was founded by M.G. Ramachandran, the DMK has been regarded as their principal political opponent.

He added that during his election campaign, he criticised the DMK, and that position remains unchanged today.

Responding within hours, the TVK IT wing issued a strongly worded statement on its official X account, ridiculing Palaniswami’s remarks and questioning his political credibility. The post said it is amusing that a leader who cannot even determine whether his own party is functioning is questioning whether the government is functioning.

The ruling party also accused the AIADMK chief of attempting to secretly negotiate a coalition government with the DMK. The post read that the very person who held midnight meetings to plan a coalition with the DMK is now lecturing others about democratic values, and such statements only invite uncontrollable laughter.

The TVK further referred to the Kodanad estate murder case, alleging that those who continue to be uncomfortable whenever the case is mentioned have no moral authority to criticise the present government.

The statement concluded by urging Palaniswami to focus on rebuilding the AIADMK instead of making what it described as “comical political interviews,” claiming that the opposition party was facing an internal decline.

–IANS

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