CM Stalin failed to address Tamil Nadu’s needs by boycotting past NITI Aayog meetings: Palaniswami

Edappadi K. Palaniswami. File
| Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin boycotted the NITI Aayog meetings for three years but participated in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 24, 2025) because “there is a problem now” and there is a need to resolve it, claimed Opposition leader and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Coimbatore on Sunday (May 25).

Interacting with journalists, Mr. Palaniswami contended the Chief Minister could have got the funds and schemes due for the State if he had participated in the NITI Aayog meetings in the last three years and placed the demands of Tamil Nadu.

But, he did not want to address the needs of the people of the State. He attended the meeting on Saturday (May 24) and met the Prime Minister because there is problem now. “We will know the truth on what he spoke to the Prime Minister only if the Prime Minister says it,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

The Chief Minister had given several reasons in the past for not attending the NITI Aayog meetings. When Mr. Stalin was the Opposition leader, he flew black balloons when Prime Minister Modi visited the State. However, after becoming the Chief Minister, he waves white flag when the Prime Minister comes to Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK leader claimed.

According to him, there is corruption in many fields under the ‘Dravidian model’ government in the State. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has conducted “raids” and is investigating corruption at TASMAC. “The corruption at TASMAC is well-known. The case is in the court and it will not be appropriate to talk in detail about it,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

He charged there is no safety for women, girl children and the public in Tamil Nadu. Use of drugs was high and it is those who are addicted to drugs who are involved in murders and robbery, he believed. “I had spoken in the Assembly and to the media on the need to stop sale and use of drugs in the State. But, the government did not act on it,” he alleged.