TVK fires back at EPS over 'midnight DMK talks', Kodanad case jibe
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's political temperature spiked on 14 July as the TVK government hit back at AIADMK's Palaniswami with a blistering X post — accusing him of secret midnight coalition talks with the DMK and invoking the Kodanad estate murder case. The exchange signals the sharpest public confrontation between the two parties since TVK came to power.
Key Takeaways
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K.
Palaniswami attacked Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay at Omalur, Salem on 14 July , questioning the TVK government's record in its first 60 days .
Palaniswami alleged TVK lacks an independent majority, having won only 108 Assembly seats and relying on alliance partners.
He denied any AIADMK-DMK alliance, reaffirming the DMK as the party's 'principal political opponent' since the time of founder M.G.
The TVK IT wing responded on X , accusing EPS of holding 'midnight meetings' to secretly plan a coalition with the DMK.
The TVK statement invoked the Kodanad estate murder case , alleging Palaniswami lacks moral authority to criticise the government.
TVK urged Palaniswami to focus on rebuilding the AIADMK, claiming the party is facing internal decline.
A fierce political volley between Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the principal opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) erupted on Tuesday, 14 July, after AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched a pointed attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at Omalur in Salem district, drawing an immediate and sharp counter from the TVK's Information Technology (IT) wing on its official X account.
What Palaniswami Said
Palaniswami dismissed Vijay's recent allegation that the AIADMK and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were 'joint thieves,' saying the Chief Minister should exercise greater restraint in public statements. He alleged that the real act of political betrayal was committed by Vijay himself, who reportedly persuaded legislators elected on the AIADMK's Two Leaves symbol to resign and join his party.
The AIADMK leader also questioned the TVK government's record in its first 60 days in office, arguing that individuals Vijay had previously criticised now occupy positions within his own party. Palaniswami further alleged that the TVK government lacked an independent majority, having won only 108 Assembly seats and depending on alliance partners to stay in power.
He also firmly denied any possibility of the AIADMK aligning with the DMK, stating that since the party's founding by M.G. Ramachandran, the DMK has been regarded as its principal political opponent — a position he said remained unchanged.
TVK's Counterattack: 'Midnight Politics'
Responding within hours, the TVK IT wing issued a strongly worded post on its official X account, ridiculing Palaniswami's political credibility. The post stated that 'it is amusing that a leader who cannot even determine whether his own party is functioning is questioning whether the government is functioning.'
The ruling party went further, accusing the AIADMK chief of secretly negotiating a coalition arrangement with the DMK. The post read: 'The very person who held midnight meetings to plan a coalition with the DMK is now lecturing others about democratic values — such statements only invite uncontrollable laughter.'
Kodanad Case Invoked
The TVK statement also invoked the Kodanad estate murder case, alleging that those who remain visibly uncomfortable whenever the case is mentioned have no moral authority to criticise the present government. The reference was widely understood as a direct barb at Palaniswami, who has faced questions in connection with the case in the past.
TVK Urges EPS to Focus Inward
The statement concluded by urging Palaniswami to redirect his energy toward rebuilding the AIADMK rather than delivering what the TVK described as 'comical political interviews.' The ruling party claimed the opposition outfit was grappling with internal decline. This comes amid broader speculation about the AIADMK's organisational health ahead of future electoral cycles in Tamil Nadu.
The escalation marks one of the sharpest public exchanges between the two parties since the TVK assumed power, and signals that the opposition is sharpening its critique of the new government's early performance.
Point of View
Social-media-first retaliation — complete with the Kodanad invocation — suggests the ruling party is equally aware that early perception battles matter enormously. What is notable, however, is that neither side engaged on policy: the entire confrontation was about political legitimacy and past conduct. That vacuum of substantive debate on governance outcomes is itself telling for a government barely two months old.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the TVK-AIADMK clash on 14 July?
The clash was triggered by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami's remarks at Omalur in Salem district, where he questioned Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's governance record in the TVK government's first 60 days and challenged the ruling party's legislative majority. The TVK IT wing responded within hours on its official X account with a strongly worded counter-statement.
What did Palaniswami allege about the TVK government?
Palaniswami alleged that the TVK government lacked an independent majority after winning only 108 Assembly seats and was dependent on alliance partners. He also accused Vijay of having persuaded legislators elected on the AIADMK's Two Leaves symbol to resign and join his party, calling it a betrayal of public trust.
What is the 'midnight politics' accusation against EPS?
The TVK IT wing accused Palaniswami of holding secret midnight meetings to negotiate a coalition arrangement with the DMK — the very party he publicly claims as the AIADMK's principal opponent. The post argued that this contradiction undermined his credibility to lecture others on democratic values.
Why did TVK bring up the Kodanad estate murder case?
The TVK statement invoked the Kodanad estate murder case to argue that Palaniswami lacks the moral authority to criticise the current government. The case has previously been linked to questions about the AIADMK leadership, and the reference was widely seen as a direct political jab at EPS.
Has Palaniswami ruled out an AIADMK-DMK alliance?
Yes. Palaniswami categorically denied any possibility of the AIADMK joining hands with the DMK, stating that since the party's founding by M.G. Ramachandran, the DMK has been regarded as its principal political opponent — a position he said has not changed.
