I came with folded hands: Emotional Stalin hits back at EPS over Karunanidhi remark
A sharp political clash has erupted in Tamil Nadu after EPS accused MK Stalin of treating Karunanidhi 'like a prisoner,' with the Chief Minister hitting back strongly at the AIADMK chief.
A fresh political war of words has erupted in Tamil Nadu after AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) alleged that Chief Minister MK Stalin treated his father and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi “like a prisoner” during his final days. Hitting back, Stalin strongly rejected the charge, asserting, “Leader Kalaignar is a lion, and I am the son of that lion.”
Addressing a rally in Krishnagiri, Palaniswami cited an alleged statement attributed to DMK MP A Raja to claim internal rifts within the Karunanidhi family. “Stalin treated his father like a prisoner. Imagine how he will treat the people of Tamil Nadu,” EPS said, sharpening his attack ahead of the elections.
He also referred to a purported audio clip involving Raja, alleging it pointed to tensions between Stalin and his sister Kanimozhi during Karunanidhi’s final days. “Raja himself has said there were differences, and that Kanimozhi was denied an opportunity. These things are now in the public domain,” Palaniswami claimed.
Responding sharply, an emotional Stalin dismissed the allegations as “fabricated and politically motivated.” He said, “Dragging Kalaignar’s final days into cheap political discourse reflects the desperation of those who have no real issues to speak about.”
The Chief Minister also rejected claims surrounding the alleged audio, stating that “false narratives are being manufactured using unverified and doctored content.” He added, “Those spreading such lies will be judged by the people of Tamil Nadu.”
“Palaniswami, who speaks nervously out of fear of defeat, can never return to power. Leader Kalaignar is a lion; I am the son of that lion, one who reveres him not just as a father, but as a leader,” Stalin said.
He further lashed out at EPS, adding, “You have crossed all limits out of fear of defeat. As Leader of the Opposition, you have every right to criticise my governance, and the people will respond in the elections. But as Kalaignar’s son, I say you have no right or qualification to speak about my relationship with him.”
When he called Karunanidhi’s final wish, Stalin got emotional. He said, “What was his last wish? He wanted to be buried next to his leader, Perarignar Anna. For that, I myself, not for my father, but for the leader, came to your doorstep and requested with folded hands."
"Not for my father, but because he is the leader of the Tamils. Even in that moment of grief, I stood before you and asked for a place for him on the Marina. Did you give it? You refused without mercy, didn’t you?”
“For such a person, there is no eligibility to speak about our leader,” he added.
Emphasising Karunanidhi’s legacy, Stalin said, “Kalaignar was a lion who bound millions of cadres with the words ‘my siblings, dearer than my life’. Due to age and ill health, he rested at home, no one kept him a prisoner.”
DMK sources further clarified that no such remarks had been officially made by A Raja and termed the claims “distorted and taken out of context.”
The controversy has intensified political rhetoric in the state, with both the DMK and the AIADMK trading sharp accusations as campaigning gathers pace ahead of the April 23 election.
Elections 2026 | Tamil Nadu Election | Tamil Nadu Election Constituencies | Tamil Nadu Election Schedule
A fresh political war of words has erupted in Tamil Nadu after AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) alleged that Chief Minister MK Stalin treated his father and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi “like a prisoner” during his final days. Hitting back, Stalin strongly rejected the charge, asserting, “Leader Kalaignar is a lion, and I am the son of that lion.”
Addressing a rally in Krishnagiri, Palaniswami cited an alleged statement attributed to DMK MP A Raja to claim internal rifts within the Karunanidhi family. “Stalin treated his father like a prisoner. Imagine how he will treat the people of Tamil Nadu,” EPS said, sharpening his attack ahead of the elections.
He also referred to a purported audio clip involving Raja, alleging it pointed to tensions between Stalin and his sister Kanimozhi during Karunanidhi’s final days. “Raja himself has said there were differences, and that Kanimozhi was denied an opportunity. These things are now in the public domain,” Palaniswami claimed.
Responding sharply, an emotional Stalin dismissed the allegations as “fabricated and politically motivated.” He said, “Dragging Kalaignar’s final days into cheap political discourse reflects the desperation of those who have no real issues to speak about.”
The Chief Minister also rejected claims surrounding the alleged audio, stating that “false narratives are being manufactured using unverified and doctored content.” He added, “Those spreading such lies will be judged by the people of Tamil Nadu.”
“Palaniswami, who speaks nervously out of fear of defeat, can never return to power. Leader Kalaignar is a lion; I am the son of that lion, one who reveres him not just as a father, but as a leader,” Stalin said.
He further lashed out at EPS, adding, “You have crossed all limits out of fear of defeat. As Leader of the Opposition, you have every right to criticise my governance, and the people will respond in the elections. But as Kalaignar’s son, I say you have no right or qualification to speak about my relationship with him.”
When he called Karunanidhi’s final wish, Stalin got emotional. He said, “What was his last wish? He wanted to be buried next to his leader, Perarignar Anna. For that, I myself, not for my father, but for the leader, came to your doorstep and requested with folded hands."
"Not for my father, but because he is the leader of the Tamils. Even in that moment of grief, I stood before you and asked for a place for him on the Marina. Did you give it? You refused without mercy, didn’t you?”
“For such a person, there is no eligibility to speak about our leader,” he added.
Emphasising Karunanidhi’s legacy, Stalin said, “Kalaignar was a lion who bound millions of cadres with the words ‘my siblings, dearer than my life’. Due to age and ill health, he rested at home, no one kept him a prisoner.”
DMK sources further clarified that no such remarks had been officially made by A Raja and termed the claims “distorted and taken out of context.”
The controversy has intensified political rhetoric in the state, with both the DMK and the AIADMK trading sharp accusations as campaigning gathers pace ahead of the April 23 election.
Elections 2026 | Tamil Nadu Election | Tamil Nadu Election Constituencies | Tamil Nadu Election Schedule
