Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin launched a sharp political attack on the AIADMK and its leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Thursday, accusing them of betraying Tamil sentiments by reviving ties with the BJP, a party he said has “never touched the heart of the Tamil people.”
Speaking at a DMK event in Chennai, Stalin said, “The AIADMK is desperately trying to pave the way for the BJP… but as long as there are cadres in black and red (DMK’s colours), saffron will never gain ground in Tamil Nadu.”
Referring to AIADMK’s earlier stand on staying away from the BJP, he remarked, “Edappadi K Palaniswami once confidently said there would be no alliance with the BJP. But he has switched lanes… went into hiding and secretly struck a deal. This betrayal must be uprooted.”
BJP-AIADMK Alliance and DMK’s Counterattack
Udhayanidhi Stalin framed the upcoming elections as more than a political contest, calling it a “battle to protect our land, pride, and mother tongue.” He brought focus back to two major issues: delimitation and the alleged imposition of Hindi.
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The AIADMK and BJP had earlier contested the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections as allies but were defeated by the DMK-led coalition. After breaking ties in 2023, the AIADMK claimed the split was their “happiest moment.” However, in April 2024, the alliance was quietly revived — a move Udhayanidhi has now branded as a betrayal.
Despite public posturing, BJP leaders were referred to as “silent partners” in the renewed alliance, signaling internal hesitations within AIADMK, especially about its minority and Dalit vote base.
Language Imposition Row and Accusations of Bias
The Deputy Chief Minister also reignited the language debate, accusing the BJP-led Centre of financially neglecting Tamil Nadu’s education sector. He alleged the Union government had given “not a single rupee” to Tamil Nadu, while states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam received “thousands of crores.”
Udhayanidhi pointed to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which includes the three-language formula with Hindi as a third language — a policy the DMK has fiercely opposed. He underlined that this perceived ‘Hindi imposition’ is an attempt to “turn India into a Hindi nation,” a sentiment that has sparked protests across Tamil Nadu and other non-Hindi-speaking states.
