DMK feared SIR as it exposed ghost vote bank in Tamil Nadu: EPS slams MK Stalin

Edappadi K Palaniswami accused MK Stalin of opposing voter roll revision, alleged bogus votes in DMK strongholds, and claimed AIADMK would return to power with stronger governance.

In Short

• Palaniswami alleges DMK's reliance on fraudulent voter rolls
• Electoral roll revision removed ineligible voters, says EPS
• Stalin's stance on delimitation criticised as fear-mongering

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of relying on "bogus voter rolls" to secure electoral victories, alleging that recent revisions had exposed a "fraudulent vote bank".

Addressing a rally at Omalur in Salem district while campaigning for AIADMK candidate R Mani, Palaniswami claimed that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls led to the removal of large numbers of ineligible voters. He alleged that between 10,000 and 15,000 such votes had been deleted across constituencies, and nearly one lakh in Kolathur alone.

"Stalin opposed the Special Intensive Revision because the dead were voting for him. Across constituencies, 10,000 to 15,000 bogus votes have been removed. In Kolathur alone, nearly one lakh votes were deleted. That was his real vote bank. Now that pipeline has been shut," Palaniswami said, asserting that the clean-up had improved electoral transparency and would benefit the AIADMK in the constituency.

He also criticised Stalin's stance on delimitation, calling it "fear-mongering" and alleging that public protests were staged to mislead voters. Palaniswami said the Centre had clarified that no state would be adversely affected and claimed Tamil Nadu's representation would increase.

"Stalin staged a drama with black shirts and black flags to mislead the people. Within hours, the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister made it clear that no state would be affected. In fact, Tamil Nadu's share has increased. The truth exposed his theatrics. The black shirt has come off," the AIADMK General Secretary said.

Escalating his attack, Palaniswami questioned the DMK's record on supporting Tamil leaders at the national level, citing past political decisions involving GK Moopanar, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan.

"If Stalin truly believed in Tamil identity, why did Karunanidhi block GK Moopanar from becoming Prime Minister? When Dr Abdul Kalam was up for a second term, why did the DMK refuse support, forcing him to step aside? And now, when CP Radhakrishnan became Vice President, why did they oppose him? Are they not Tamils? For Stalin, only those within his family qualify," he said.

On governance, the AIADMK leader accused the DMK of failing to deliver on key election promises, including education loan waivers, fuel price reduction, and expansion of welfare schemes.

"For 15 years in Delhi, what did the DMK bring to Tamil Nadu? Not a single transformative project. Instead, they enriched their own family. The shadow of the 2G scam still hangs over Tamil Nadu’s political credibility. That is the DMK's legacy," Palaniswami alleged.

"Electricity tariffs have risen by 67 per cent. Property taxes have doubled. Commercial taxes have gone up by 150 per cent. Today, people are even taxed for garbage. This is not governance. This is exploitation," he added.

Raising alarm over the growing drug menace, EPS accused the DMK of shielding criminal networks. Ganja has spread across Tamil Nadu. Crime is rising. I raised this with Stalin, and he chose silence. Why? Because those protecting the drug trade are linked to the DMK. Within 90 days of AIADMK returning top ower, we will eradicate ganja from this state," he declared.

He concluded by urging voters in Omalur to support the AIADMK, asserting that the party would "restore good governance" in Tamil Nadu.

- Ends