CPI(M) Leader Predicts EPS Will Lose Opposition Status After Elections

K. Balakrishnan, a leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former State Secretary, declared that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is poised to lose his position as the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu following the upcoming elections. Speaking during a campaign event for DMK candidate A. Shanmugam in Harur, Dharmapuri, Balakrishnan criticized the current political alliance led by EPS as a bundle of contradictions. He argued that EPS's partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has compromised state rights and diluted significant welfare schemes, such as the 100-day rural employment guarantee program. Balakrishnan contrasted this with the 2024 scenario where AIADMK remained outside the NDA fold, questioning the strategic shift. Additionally, he launched a sharp personal attack on PMK leader Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, describing him as someone who betrayed his own father for political power, thereby warning voters about his reliability. The remarks highlight the intense political maneuvering and rhetorical battles characterizing the election campaign in Tamil Nadu, focusing on alliance dynamics and leadership credibility.