Aadhav questions Stalin’s silence on DMK-AIADMK post-poll talks

Chennai: Public works department minister Aadhav Arjuna on Monday questioned the silence of former chief minister M K Stalin over allegations that DMK and AIADMK explored a post-poll alliance to make AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami the chief minister after the assembly election results.

Speaking to reporters, Aadhav alleged that DMK, AIADMK and BJP held discussions after the election verdict to cobble together a govt under Palaniswami’s leadership. “They approached Congress, Left parties and VCK, seeking support for the proposal. But those parties ultimately joined hands with TVK to form a secular and social justice govt,” he said.

Referring to remarks reportedly made by CPM general secretary M A Baby, the minister alleged that talks between DMK and AIADMK had been exposed to the public. “Alliance partners themselves admitted that discussions took place. Stalin has still not responded clearly,” he said.

Questioning the ideological basis of such negotiations, Aadhav said DMK leaders repeatedly argued during the election campaign that supporting AIADMK amounted to indirectly backing BJP. “If that was their stand, how could they later attempt to align with AIADMK? Democratic and secular forces recognised the danger and supported TVK,” he said.

The minister defended the emergence of the rebel AIADMK faction led by former ministers C Ve Shanmugam and S P Velumani. According to him, several AIADMK legislators and cadres were unhappy over the party’s alleged outreach to DMK. AIADMK cadres following the paths of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa couldn’t accept the “treason” committed by Palaniswami, he said. Claiming that many AIADMK functionaries now viewed TVK as the “new AIADMK”, Aadhav predicted more defections in the coming months. “Note it down. Palaniswami and Stalin will eventually join hands in future,” he said.