‘Pasting stickers on old schemes’: AIADMK Chief Edappadi Palaniswami criticises DMK

Chennai: Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, accusing the DMK government of “pasting stickers” on welfare schemes introduced during the AIADMK regime.

The AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition alleged that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had failed to roll out any major new initiatives since assuming office and was instead rebranding projects launched by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) administration.

“After coming to power, they have not delivered a single meaningful scheme. All they have done is paste stickers over projects launched by the AIADMK,” Palaniswami said in a social media post.

Row over 3% sports quota in Tamil Nadu government jobs

Palaniswami claimed that the 3 per cent reservation in government jobs for sportspersons, recently highlighted by the Chief Minister, was originally introduced as a 2 per cent quota in 2018 under the AIADMK government and later enhanced to 3 per cent during his tenure.

Referring to a recent sports department event, he alleged that Stalin was attempting to claim credit for the policy. “At a recent sports department function, the Chief Minister tried to write his name over the benefits of the 3 per cent quota for sportspersons. It is laughable,” he said.

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7.5% internal reservation for government school students

The former Chief Minister also cited the 7.5 per cent internal reservation for government school students in medical admissions, asserting that the initiative was conceptualised and implemented by the AIADMK government.

He said he had already addressed what he described as “historical inaccuracies” surrounding the medical quota during an Assembly debate.

According to Palaniswami, both the sports quota and the 7.5 per cent medical reservation were carefully structured welfare measures aimed at supporting government school students and sportspersons in Tamil Nadu.

“What exactly has Stalin done in these schemes? Apart from posing for photographs while issuing appointment orders, what is his contribution?” he asked.

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Political backdrop amid alliance developments

Palaniswami challenged the DMK leadership to campaign on its own governance record rather than, as he put it, “riding on AIADMK schemes”.

He concluded his remarks with a pointed statement, wishing electoral defeat upon the ruling party if it had no achievements to showcase.

The comments came shortly before the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) formally joined the DMK-led alliance. When asked by reporters about the development, Palaniswami said he would respond at an appropriate time but declined to elaborate.

IANS