AIADMK, TVK fight to become oppn party: Stalin

Chennai: A day after TVK leader Vijay said the assembly election in 2026 will be a contest between TVK and DMK, chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday said DMK will always remain the ruling party. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, however, downplayed Vijay's remarks, attributing it to his efforts to energise his cadres. "People have recognized AIADMK as the main opposition," he told reporters in Salem.Participating at an Iftar event in Chennai, Stalin took a dig at his opponent, saying "Palaniswami who has been saying that AIADMK will form the govt in 2026 has now said AIADMK is the principal opposition party. This is the situation today. Now they (TVK and AIADMK) are competing themselves to see who comes in second position. We are always going to come first. We are the ruling party." Palaniswami had stated that every leader tends to make such statements to promote their party's growth and inspire their cadres. When questioned about Vijay seemingly overlooking the AIADMK's role as the main opposition party, Palaniswami emphasized the public's recognition of their position. "People have recognized us," he said, pointing to new parties invoking the names of AIADMK leaders, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. In response to Vijay's comments about the direct contest, senior AIADMK leader K P Munusamy told reporters in Krishnagiri that the statement by the actor was "right" as it reflected his long-standing grievances against DMK leaders. It stemmed from alleged difficulties Vijay experienced in releasing his films during DMK rule, unlike under the AIADMK regime, he said. "Vijay faced considerable difficulties, including pressure to present his film to a specific distributor during the DMK rule," he said.