Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday accused chief minister M K Stalin and deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin of resorting to personal attacks unable to respond to his charges of “governance failures” levelled against them.Campaigning for AIADMK candidates at Kancheepuram on Friday, he accused the DMK leadership of “incompetence and hypocrisy”. “Tamil Nadu is reeling under debt because it is being ruled by those who do not know how to govern,” EPS said. He sharpened his attack on Stalin and his family. EPS alleged that the late Dravidian icon C N Annadurai founded DMK to serve people but it has been “hijacked by the late CM M Karunanidhi’s family”. “DMK has now become a corporate company run by a single family,” he said, after paying a visit to the Anna memorial after the campaign.EPS charged that Udhayanidhi Stalin “preferred personal attacks” over political debate and warned that AIADMK could respond “10 times stronger” if provoked. He also dismissed allegations that he was a “slave of BJP leaders”.Taking a dig at expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, EPS said, “He voted against AIADMK govt, but was still given the position of coordinator and deputy CM post after being taken back. But he indulged in conspiracy against the party.” He added that OPS has now joined the archrival that was defined as an “evil force” by party founder M G Ramachandran. Listing alleged governance failures such as deterioration in law and order, drug abuse, and tax hikes, EPS accused the ruling party of shielding offenders, promising that AIADMK would address them if voted to power.
