Why Did Dhinakaran Mock Palaniswami for 'Covering Face' After Meeting Amit Shah?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dhinakaran criticizes Palaniswami's 'masked' exit.
- Internal strife continues within AIADMK.
- BJP's role in AIADMK affairs raises questions.
- Palaniswami attempts damage control with social media posts.
- Political climate in Tamil Nadu is charged and volatile.
Chennai, Sep 17 (NationPress) AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran launched a fierce critique against AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, questioning the motive behind his decision to “cover” his face while exiting from Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence in Delhi.
“What is the reason for Palaniswami to hide his face after meeting the Home Minister? Who does he think he is fooling? From now on, he will be referred to as ‘Masked Palaniswami'. The citizens of Tamil Nadu won’t be deceived any longer, and his loss in the 2026 elections is inevitable,” Dhinakaran asserted at a press conference on Wednesday.
This statement surfaced amid a growing crisis within the AIADMK. The turmoil started when senior leader and former Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan demanded the reinstatement of expelled party members, giving a 10-day ultimatum.
Palaniswami responded by removing him from his positions, escalating factional disputes. Sengottaiyan then traveled to Delhi to meet Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, raising speculation about the BJP’s involvement in AIADMK matters.
As the deadline approached, Palaniswami also headed to Delhi, appearing uncomfortable when questioned by reporters at Chennai airport regarding his visit.
Upon arriving in the national capital, he first visited newly elected Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to offer his greetings, before heading to Amit Shah’s residence later in the evening.
He was accompanied by senior figures, including former Ministers S.P. Velumani, Dindigul Srinivasan, K.P. Munusamy, and MPs M. Thambidurai, C.V. Shanmugam, and IS Inbadurai.
The controversy intensified after a viral video surfaced, showing Palaniswami leaving Shah’s residence late at night with a white towel covering his face. This sparked widespread speculation and provided ammunition for rivals like Dhinakaran to publicly mock him.
In an attempt to manage the fallout, Palaniswami released photographs of his meeting with Amit Shah on social media the following morning.
He claimed to have urged the Home Minister to confer the Bharat Ratna on freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar. However, he did not provide clarity on other discussion points, leaving many questions unanswered.
As AIADMK faces internal strife and the BJP's influence looms large, Palaniswami’s “masked exit” has become a significant political topic, fueling both ridicule and curiosity in Tamil Nadu’s already vibrant political scene.