Edappadi K Palaniswami, AIADMK general secretary, accused the BJP and ruling DMK of faking rivalry while maintaining covert ties. Criticising the DMK for inviting central ministers to a state event and questioning its exclusion of Congress leaders, he alleged both parties were colluding to conceal the state’s corruption. Palaniswami also critiqued BJP’s Annamalai for his remarks against AIADMK.