Chennai: “Glitz politics is like a bubble! It can burst and shatter at any moment! But the AIADMK, built on ideology and sacrifice, is a great mass movement that cannot be destroyed by time,” said AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami with pride, marking the party’s 55th anniversary.
He also declared, “Dharma will prevail! Evil forces will fall! Trials will fade away! Achievements will continue!”
In a statement issued by Edappadi Palaniswami on the occasion of the AIADMK’s anniversary, “After India gained independence, during a period when Congress rule prevailed in most states of the country, it was Anna who brought about a great political revolution in Tamil Nadu’s political history.
After Anna, who upheld state rights, established social justice, and founded a good government that protected the welfare of ordinary people, passed away, it was the evil force that usurped the movement he created and expelled MGR, who was Anna’s dearest one, from the movement.
To rescue Tamil Nadu from the grip of that evil force and to uphold Anna’s ideals, with the overwhelming support of millions and millions of people, MGR founded the great mass movement called the “All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam” on October 17, 1972.
The AIADMK, which first assumed office in 1977, implemented countless welfare schemes, including the nutritious meal scheme, during MGR’s golden rule and brought light into the lives of the poor and the downtrodden.
After MGR’s passing, Jayalalithaa, who safeguarded the AIADMK, achieved countless accomplishments such as the cradle baby scheme, legal protection for the 69 percent reservation, Amma canteens, and free laptops for students, and led Tamil Nadu on the path of progress in accordance with the guiding mantra of “Peace! Prosperity! Growth!”
After Jayalalithaa’s demise, amid the trials and conspiracies surrounding the AIADMK, with your overwhelming support and the trust of the people of Tamil Nadu, I had the great opportunity to assume office as Chief Minister and continue the AIADMK’s good governance. Viewing that position as a magnificent opportunity to serve the people, we implemented countless welfare schemes.
In order to fulfill the medical dreams of poor and underprivileged students who studied in government schools, we provided 7.5 percent internal reservation in medical education. As a result, today thousands of students from poor and underprivileged families have gained the opportunity to become doctors!
In order to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s medical infrastructure, we took steps to bring in 17 new medical colleges. To meet people’s drinking water needs, we implemented numerous combined drinking water schemes. To protect water bodies and improve farmers’ livelihoods, we launched historic desilting and restoration works.
We achieved remarkable accomplishments during the AIADMK regime, to the extent that today’s rulers are claiming ownership by attaching their names to the many projects we initiated for Tamil Nadu’s development, including metro rail projects, road expansion works, and infrastructure development schemes!
Despite so many enemies and traitors having longed to destroy our party, which has such proud achievements and a sacrifice-filled history spanning more than half a century, with the unwavering, overwhelming support of my dear AIADMK cadres and office-bearers, who are dearer to me than my own life, we have thwarted all conspiracies, revived the AIADMK, and made it stride forward with dignity and pride!
As proof of that, in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly general election, despite an extraordinary political climate and the dominance of the illusions of charisma politics, the AIADMK alliance, overcoming all of that, secured the votes of about 13.5 million people, and AIADMK won 47 Assembly seats, once again proving its unshakable popular support!
Charisma politics is like a soap bubble! It can burst and shatter at any moment! But AIADMK, built on ideology and sacrifice, is a great mass movement of the people that time cannot destroy!
The current rulers, who have deceived the people with the politics of allure and come to power in Tamil Nadu with the support of horse-trading politics, have not only dragged the values of democracy into the abyss, but have also put the livelihoods of the poor and ordinary people in question!
Law and order in Tamil Nadu is in shambles! With murders, robberies, and sexual violence, a situation has been created in which ordinary people cannot live without fear. It is stranger than strange that the Chief Minister, who should be suppressing these with an iron hand, is merely watching the spectacle!
The prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing! Poor and ordinary people, and middle-class families, are struggling just to manage their daily lives! Tamil Nadu’s rights are being sacrificed one by one!
Within just a few months of coming to power, this government has become one that has failed at every level!
Instead of finding solutions to the people’s problems, the rulers are spending all their time figuring out how to weaken the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam; how to buy its legislators through horse-trading; and how to swallow up our movement! I want to say just one thing to them very firmly!
The AIADMK is not a gathering united for power! It is a movement united by a mission!
Our cadres are those who were trained in MGR’s camp! They were tempered in Jayalalithaa’s political battlefield! No matter how many trials come, they do not falter! No matter how many conspiracies are staged, they do not fall!
As one among such cadres steadfast in purpose, as one among you, and having earned your deep affection and great trust, I am today serving by taking on the great responsibility of the position of “General Secretary” of this vast people’s movement!
For me, the party is one thing; the cadres are not another! The party itself is my very breath of life! The AIADMK cadres are the lifeline of my life!
Our AIADMK, created by MGR’s sacrifice and safeguarded by Jayalalithaa’s courage, has completed 54 glorious years of history and is stepping into its 55th year. On this golden occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings to everyone!
With the resolve to fulfill the historic declaration made by our Jayalalithaa—“Even after another hundred years, this movement will continue to function for the people!”—let us continue our victorious journey!
We have previously faced and defeated countless enemies and traitors!
I call upon everyone to rise to the occasion today and, through democratic means, confront and defeat the new political challenges before us, the anti-democratic forces, and the anti-people regime with unity and determination!
On the path shown by MGR! On the ideal path laid out by Jayalalithaa! Let us work together to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights and bring back good governance once again!
“Dharma will prevail! Evil forces will fall! Trials will fade away! Achievements will continue,” he noted.