EPS is preventing AIADMK from becoming stronger for 2026 polls: Dhinakaran

AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Friday said that AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami is destroying the Dravidian party from becoming stronger for 2026 polls by not allowing party leaders and functionaries, who left the party, to rejoin into its fold again.

Interacting with media persons in Sholinghur town in Ranipet on the occasion of 54th foundation day of AIADMK, Mr. Dhinakaran said that he was reacting to claims made by AIADMK leader that he [Mr. Palaniswami] was only removing weeds (reference to AIADMK leaders who were removed from the party) to strengthen the party before the polls.

“When the former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran formed AIADMK in 1972, he had great vision and ideals that were enshrined in the party’s rule book. However, Mr. Palaniswami changed all rules to make it convenient for him to become the general secretary of the party,” he alleged.

Mr. Dhinakaran said that AMMK will teach a hard lesson to the AIADMK leader in the coming Assembly elections as the alliance in which AMMK will be part of will be stronger than National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance in Tamil Nadu. It will be proved in 2026 assembly polls, he said.

AMMK leader Mr. Dhinakaran said that Karur stampede was an accident rather than a conspiracy as the actual cause of the incident will be known after CBI investigation. Neither actor and founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Vijay nor Tamil Nadu police can be blamed for the incident. “Despite being a sad incident, Karur stampede is being politicized by certain political parties. It should be avoided,” he said.