People criticising MGR will disappear from politics, says Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Former Chief Minister and general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday, August 9, 2025, said people criticising former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) will disappear from politics..

Mr. Palaniswami participated in a function at Omalur in which cadres from various political parties joined AIADMK.

Responding to a question from mediapersons on Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan’s comment on MGR that he paved the way for Jayalalithaa to become leader of a Dravidian party, Mr. Palaniswami said people saw MGR as god. Those criticising MGR would disappear from politics. “AIADMK has people from all caste and religion and they stand united,” Mr. Palaniswami added.

Regarding the contradictory statements made by left parties and DMK after meeting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently on a separate law for honour killings, Mr. Palaniswami said that this showed the problem within the DMK alliance. “It is unclear whether the DMK alliance will continue for the next eight months or not. As far as AIADMK is concerned, there are eight more months for the elections and a strong alliance will be formed,” he said.

Mr. Palaniswami denied to comment on PMK general council meeting, about former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam quitting BJP alliance and bringing former AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala into AIADMK fold.

Earlier, speaking among the cadre, Mr. Palaniswami said that people should compare Salem district before 2011 and after that. During the AIADMK regime, between 2011 and 2021, the district got roads, check dams, and many other infrastructure. The handlooms and power looms did good business. He claimed that weavers were sustaining severe losses under the DMK regime.

After AIADMK comes to power, tree climbers will be covered under insurance, and the premium will be paid by the government. They will also be given equipment for tree climbing free of cost, he said.

He criticised the DMK government for not completing the remaining 25% of the 100-lake scheme works that was brought in by the AIADMK. After AIADMK comes to power, this scheme work will be completed, and farmers will get water for irrigation. Likewise, Scheduled Castes and poor people who live in huts will be given concrete houses. If they do not have lands, the government will buy land and construct houses for them. For the 2026 Assembly elections, AIADMK will come out with an election manifesto that will make people happy, he added.