AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday, October 26, 2025. The criticism came after Stalin’s recent social media post where he lauded the crew of the Tamil film ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’.
Palaniswami expressed dismay, stating that while the Chief Minister’s hands “should have been holding the hands of the paddy farmers,” they were instead “holding the hands of the cine team.” This referred to a tweet from CM Stalin praising the film ‘Bison Kaalamaadan’, calling it “another diamond in Mari Selvaraj’s cinematic crown” and describing the inspiring journey of a young man from a village achieving success in Kabaddi.
The AIADMK leader highlighted his own recent visits to the Cauvery delta region, where he interacted with farmers and witnessed their “indescribable pain.” He contrasted this with the Chief Minister’s apparent focus on cultural events. Palaniswami’s social media post featured images of his interactions with the distressed farming community.
While acknowledging that “there is nothing wrong in watching movies and appreciating talented cinema team,” Palaniswami voiced deep concern that Chief Minister Stalin seemed to have “forgotten why he became the Chief Minister” and had instead transformed into a “full-time cinema commentator.” He further questioned Stalin’s commitment, recalling the CM’s emotional response to the film ‘Jai Bhim’. Palaniswami asked if Stalin had taken any concrete measures to prevent recurrent custodial deaths, citing the tragic case of Ajith Kumar from Thirupuvanam.
Palaniswami continued his barrage of questions, probing Stalin’s priorities: “The Chief Minister has time to watch movies from ‘Jai Bhim’ to ‘Coolie’ to ‘Bison’ and to comment on them. Wasn’t it you who flew to Delhi for alliance talks when torrential rains battered southern Tamil Nadu? Wasn’t it you who watched the movie ‘Coolie’ while conservancy workers were protesting?” He noted that director Lokesh Kanagaraj had even tweeted his thanks to CM Stalin for his wishes on the film ‘Coolie’. Palaniswami added, “Instead of contemplating the anguish of farmers whose crops are wilting in the rain, you dedicate hours to watching ‘Bison’ movie.”
Bringing up the alarming statistic of 31 lives lost during the monsoon season, the former Chief Minister demanded to know if Stalin had found time to “draft guidelines to protect the lives of people during the monsoon season.” He further alleged that Stalin would “not even have time to meet the farmers, the poor, and the downtrodden and listen to their grievances.” Palaniswami concluded with a stark warning, asserting that “the family dynasts have not realised the pain of the farmers and the people, and the day they realise the might of democracy is not far.”
AIADMK’s Homage to Muthuramalinga Thevar
In related news, the AIADMK announced on Sunday that its party functionaries would pay their respects to the statue of revered freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar. This tribute will take place on Anna Salai in Nandanam, Chennai, on October 30, marking his 118th birth anniversary and 63rd ‘guru puja’. Edappadi Palaniswami himself is scheduled to offer tributes at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district on the same day.