Salem/Chennai, 18 Sept

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday denied that Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened in his party’s internal affairs, even as BJP leader Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan predicted the “anti-people” DMK government will be voted out in 2026.

Speaking to reporters in Salem on his recent Delhi visit, Palaniswami said, “No talks on AIADMK’s internal issues were held with him (Shah). He has been clear that he would not interfere in our party matters.” He urged the media to stop repeating claims of Shah’s involvement.

Veteran AIADMK leader KA Sengottaiyan had earlier claimed he discussed unity efforts with Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Without naming him, Palaniswami warned that disciplinary action would be taken against those who violated the party line.

On DMK and AMMK allegations that he covered his face with a handkerchief after meeting Shah, Palaniswami said it was a “deliberate and defamatory” misrepresentation. “I only wiped my face. Why should I hide when I had openly said I was meeting Amit Shah?” he asked.

CM MK Stalin, at a party event in Karur, had mocked him as “mask Palaniswami” and accused him of mortgaging AIADMK to BJP to protect himself from “raids.” AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran also echoed the charge. Palaniswami shot back that such remarks were politically motivated and unbecoming of a chief minister.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, BJP leader and former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan targeted the DMK government, saying the 2026 Assembly elections would mark its downfall.

“The anti-people DMK will be chased away. There may be no entry for BJP as the CM says, but there will also be no entry for crimes, corruption and anti-people policies after 2026,” she said.

She attacked Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin for “hurting Hindu sentiments” and predicted he would not last beyond 2026. Tamilisai also criticised Stalin for praising former minister V Senthil Balaji, who faces corruption charges. “Ironically, he once filed a case against Balaji; now he defends him,” she remarked.

Pointing out that several DMK ministers were facing corruption allegations, she said allies lacked the courage to speak against the ruling party. “There is no democracy in the DMK camp. In NDA, allies freely express their views,” she added.

Both AIADMK and BJP leaders’ remarks come amid sharpening political exchanges in Tamil Nadu, with the DMK accusing Palaniswami of surrendering to the BJP and the BJP projecting the DMK as a corrupt, anti-people regime headed for defeat.