"EPS is now an astrologer": MK Stalin defends DMK's unity amid Palaniswami's criticism

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 23 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday defended the DMK's commitment to serving the people, asserting that the party remains strong and united despite criticism from former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Stalin emphasised the DMK's fulfilment of election promises and its role as a policy-driven alliance, seeking to dismiss Palaniswami's claims about potential fractures within the coalition.
"People appreciate the DMK government and have sidelined Edappadi K. Palaniswami. After seeing the love of people towards the DMK government and the party's achievements and influence among the people, he is jealous and says that DMK's influence has reduced. He is also saying that the DMK alliance (INDIA alliance) is going to break soon. Till now, I thought he was in a dream, but now he has become an astrologer too. I don't know when he changed to an astrologer. He is just frustrated. Our alliance (INDIA alliance) was not formed just for elections and not to capture power. Our alliance (INDIA alliance) is an ideological alliance. We can have debates and conversations in our alliance. One shouldn't think of those debates as a crack in our alliance. There is no crack; there will not be any crack," Stalin stated.
Stalin went on to explain, "DMK is a party that stands for the people, whether we are in power or not. That's why, when we came to power for the sixth time, we are fulfilling all our election promises." In response to Palaniswami's comments about the DMK alliance potentially breaking apart, he added, "Palaniswami, who has been sidelined by the people, is jealous of us. He has become an astronomer. I want to tell EPS that our alliance is not only about elections and power but also a policy alliance. There may be discussions within our alliance, but we are strong and united."
The DMK Chief further criticised Palaniswami for not putting in enough effort for his party. "He only criticises our alliance. When the rains came in Chennai, I, Udayanidhi, ministers, and all our representatives were on the ground, but Palaniswami ran away to Salem," he said. He further emphasised, "Our alliance is not only a policy alliance but also a people's alliance."
Stalin was attending a wedding ceremony of a DMK leader when he made a notable comment about his name. "The bridegroom's name is Stalin, which is also the name of a Russian revolutionist. That's why my father named me that." He urged couples to choose Tamil names for their children, saying, "The bride's name is not in Tamil, and I request the couples to name your children in Tamil names."
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister concluded by asserting, "The DMK government has introduced various schemes and is fulfilling promises, even those that were not made. People appreciate the DMK government, but they have sidelined Palaniswami. In jealousy of the DMK government's achievements and popularity, Palaniswami has become an invalid currency. He claims the DMK's influence has reduced and that our alliance will break soon. I thought he was dreaming, but now he has become an astrologer."
Stalin reiterated, "Our alliance was not formed just for elections; it is an ideological alliance. There may be debates, but there will be no cracks."