Fearing defeat, DMK government announced free laptops for students: Palaniswami

Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Saturday that fearing defeat in the 2026 Assembly election, the DMK government had announced free laptops for students and ₹1,000 monthly assistance for 30 lakh more women. He was speaking at a public meeting in Omalur as part of AIADMK’s 54th anniversary celebrations.

Mr. Palaniswami said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin only had time to think about his family. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin never went to jail or protested for the people, but was chosen as the Deputy Chief Minister despite the presence of many senior DMK leaders.

Stating that there was no safety for children and women under DMK rule, he said drugs were available everywhere and criminals under its influence were involved in crimes against women and children. “A college student being raped by a three-member gang a few days before in Coimbatore is an example of this. Now, Tamil Nadu has an in-charge DGP instead of a regular DGP. Even after the DGP issue went to the Supreme Court, the DMK did not appoint a regular DGP,” he said.

As per the data released by the Centre, Tamil Nadu had attracted only ₹68,507 crore investment but the Chief Minister claimed ₹10.32 lakh crore was received, Mr. Palaniswami alleged.

Alleging misappropriation of funds in Tasmac liquor sales, he said by collecting ₹10 per liquor bottle additionally, ₹24,000 crore had been misappropriated under the DMK regime in the past four years. The DMK was not afraid of the law or people, and only concentrated on corruption. Due to corruption charges, the Madurai Corporation Mayor resigned.

While recruiting staff for the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, ₹880-crore corruption allegedly took place. The DMK government failed to control the price of essential commodities. The DMK, which promised to fill 5.5 lakh vacancies, only filled 50,000 in the past four-and-a-half years. Under the DMK regime, the debts of the State increased, Mr. Palaniswami alleged.

“The DMK is opposing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) because it has been winning in local body elections with fake voters. So, AIADMK functionaries should be alert, as the DMK might remove voters supporting the former from the voters’ list. Do not believe the rumours spread by some media. AIADMK will form an excellent alliance,” Mr. Palaniswami added.