"Cannot accept Edappadi Palaniswami as Chief Ministerial candidate": Former TN CM Panneerselvam

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 24 (ANI): Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday expressed his opposition to Edappadi K Palaniswami being projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Speaking to mediapersons, the Former Chief Minister said, “We cannot accept Edappadi Palaniswami as the CM candidate of the NDA. I echo what TTV Dhinakaran has said. What he said is right.”

Earlier in the day, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran said there is no possibility of an alliance with AIADMK as long as Edappadi Palaniswami remains the party’s CM candidate.

Dhinakaran also added that Annamalai’s recent visit to him was only a courtesy call.

Speaking to ANI, TTV Dhinakaran said, “Yes, Annamalai met me. It was just a courtesy visit. It was Annamalai who brought our AMMK into the NDA before, and he called me when we decided to come out of it. The decision to announce Edappadi Palaniswami as the CM candidate by the NDA cannot be reversed. As long as he remains the deciding authority of the AIADMK, there is no chance of an alliance. I want to tell those well-meaning and experienced individuals that there is no possibility of an alliance as long as Edappadi is the CM candidate.”

Dhinakaran said Annamalai asked him to reconsider leaving NDA, but he refused, citing past betrayals by Edappadi Palaniswami and the party.

He added that attempts were made to compromise him in Delhi, which prompted AMMK’s exit.

“Annamalai came and asked me to reconsider our decision to leave the NDA alliance. Palani Sami will hesitate to meet me or form an alliance with us (AMMK). There were attempts to take me to Delhi and compromise, and sensing this, I announced beforehand that AMMK is coming out. There is no permanent enemy in politics, but betrayal is different. Those who came to power and became CM (Edappadi Palaniswami) betrayed us and pushed us out, and that cannot be forgiven,” Dhinakaran said.

Dhinakaran said that his party acted against the betrayal by Edappadi Palaniswami and cannot form an alliance with those who tried to undermine them.

“We never thought to tell the government, but we just spoke and acted against the betrayal by Palani Sami. We, who saved the government, were not even given permission to conduct May Day meetings. Those who wanted to destroy us, how can we have an alliance with them? There are 90 per cent of them (AIADMK) who want to join again. Amit Saha never stated that Edappadi K Palaniswami is the NDA’s CM candidate. In the 2007 RK Nagar by-election, we opposed Edappadi K Palaniswami’s candidacy. What the AIADMK is now is not the same as it was before; it is just an Edappadi K Palaniswami party,” Dhinakaran further added.

“Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that it was not the right time to press the Union Government to award Bharat Ratna to Pasumpon Muthuramuthu Devar, and now, for the first time, Madurai Airport is being named after Pasumpon Devar. After the 2026 election, following the old laws initiated by our leaders, MGR and Jayalalithaa, AMMK will work for that. There were chances for an alliance which could not be predicted. Time will tell whether AMMK will have an alliance with DMK. Good things will happen,” Dhinakaran further added. (ANI)

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