Salem (Tamil Nadu): All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday hit back at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for alleging collusion between the AIADMK and its arch-rival DMK, saying it was the TVK founder who had "stolen" legislators from his party.
Speaking to reporters, Palaniswami said Chief Minister Vijay, during his visit to Karur on July 10, had alleged that the AIADMK and the DMK were in cahoots.
Referring to the Tamil phrase "Koottu Kalavanigal" (roughly translated as "partners in crime") used by Vijay to describe the AIADMK and the DMK, Palaniswami said it was a very serious allegation.
The former chief minister questioned whether it was appropriate for Vijay, as the state's Chief Minister, to use such language.
“He should think carefully about what words to use before using them. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is not a partner in crime. It is the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader Vijay who is the thief. Those who contested on behalf of the AIADMK under the two-leaves symbol and won were made to resign through horse-trading, and immediately after their resignation, they were inducted into the TVK,” he said.
The chief minister is the "thief" since he is the one who poached AIADMK's victorious, elected MLAs, he alleged.
Questioning the TVK's promise of providing "clean and transparent governance," Palaniswami asked whether inducting leaders from rival parties—whom Vijay had previously criticised—could be considered good governance.
He claimed that six AIADMK MLAs, including former minister C Vijayabaskar, had resigned from the party and joined the TVK.
Likening the TVK government to a chair supported by multiple legs, Palaniswami said the coalition could collapse due to the "contradictory views" of its allies.
He referred to statements made by VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan, alleging that they were inconsistent.
"He expresses a different opinion every day. Which opinion should we accept?" Palaniswami asked.
The AIADMK leader dismissed allegations of an understanding between the AIADMK and the DMK as "fiction."
He also mocked DMK chief MK Stalin's repeated claim ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections that the DMK-led alliance was an "ideology-based, robust alliance" ("Kolgai Koottani").
"What has happened now? There is neither any principle nor any alliance," he said.
Palaniswami noted that the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which had contested the Assembly elections as part of the DMK-led alliance, have joined the TVK government.
He also pointed out that the Left parties, which were part of the DMK alliance during the Assembly elections, are now extending outside support to the TVK government.