Amid the row over the recent screening of a video critical of Dravidian stalwarts Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and C.N. Annadurai at the Hindu Munnani’s Lord Murugan devotees conference in Madurai, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday declared that his party would not give up Annadurai.

Besides, in his first assurance to the people for the 2026 Assembly poll, he vowed to restore peace, prosperity, development, and the State rights, which, he alleged, had been lost under the DMK government.

“This is my first assurance for the 2026 Assembly election,” Mr. Palanswami emphasised in a social media post. He charged that it was the DMK government that gave up the State’s rights — from Katchchatheevu to the Cauvery.

Rejecting DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s observations on the AIADMK’s position on Annadurai, Mr. Palaniswami said: “Do [late DMK leader and former Chief Minister] Karunanidhi’s son and the DMK have the competence to utter Anna’s name?”

Leader’s principles

Mr. Palaniswami recalled alleged attempts to undermine the late leader’s principles and attempts to appropriate the party and the government. He also underlined the founding of the AIADMK by the late leader M.G. Ramachandran. “We will not give up on Perarignar Anna even for a second, either in our party’s name or in our flag, for he is in our blood,” Mr. Palaniswami asserted.

DMK govt.’s actions

Charging that the DMK government was acting against the principles of Annadurai, Mr. Palaniswami said Mr. Stalin need not offer lessons on Periyar and Anna to the AIADMK cadre.

Criticising the DMK and Mr. Stalin for having been a part of the BJP-led Central government between 1999 and 2004, Mr. Palaniswami said: “It has been the DMK which has mortgaged the rights of Tamil Nadu.” He vowed to restore the State’s rights.