Stalin gives Vijay's TVK govt zero marks; Palaniswami goes lower at 'minus zero'

Tamil Nadu's opposition camp opened a sharp scorecard attack on the five-month-old government of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday. DMK president M K Stalin gave it zero marks, while AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) said he would award "minus zero".

Stalin spoke to reporters in Ramanathapuram district after paying homage to Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon. He argued that rising crime, higher prices and what he called political vendetta against opposition leaders were the government's real achievements. He also claimed disillusionment had reached even TVK's own voters, and accused Vijay of treating the chief minister's post like a nine-to-five job.

On police cases against former DMK ministers, Stalin said the party would fight them in court and prove it had committed no offence. He said the DMK had weathered the Emergency and laws such as MISA, TADA and POTA, so it would not be cowed now. As examples of an alleged law-and-order breakdown, he cited sexual assaults, missing girls and the escape of 17 inmates from Theni sub-jail.

In a video message on X earlier in the day, Stalin said Vijay should first do the chief minister's job before playing "thaai maaman" or "annan", the family-figure roles in Tamil political rhetoric. He said the administration lacks efficiency and does not listen to advice. The DMK women's wing will hold demonstrations at district headquarters on Saturday, which he called a "wake-up call".

Palaniswami, speaking at Trichy airport, said law and order had fallen to abysmal levels and that people doubt they can reach home safely each day. On the five assembly by-elections, he said the AIADMK would decide its stand once polls are announced. Asked whether expelled leaders could return, he said they would stay expelled.

Why it matters: a government's first months usually bring some goodwill, but both main Dravidian parties are already framing the debate around safety and the cost of living. The by-elections could offer an early test of whether that message lands with voters, and of how the opposition lines up against a new rival.

Source: Times of India

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