CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin continued attacks Sunday on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, saying the state’s leader of opposition “might merge his party with BJP” if there was another income tax search targeting his colleagues.
Udhayanidhi recalled that three months ago, EPS had categorically ruled out an alliance with BJP for the 2026 assembly elections. “But after income tax searches in Salem, he has changed his position and says alliance would be decided only at the time of election,” Udhayanidhi said at a DMK event.
The deputy CM was alluding to searches on properties linked to Salem rural district secretary R Elangovan, a close associate of EPS. He followed up the reference with the BJP merger swipe. Udhayanidhi had earlier flayed EPS for questioning govt’s move to name projects after DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. EPS is making such statements out of anger as people celebrate the schemes, he said.