Tamil Nadu CM calls DMK party 'company'; Stalin dubs remarks as 'cheap'

Facing heat from the DMK over corruption charges against him, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

K Palaniswami dubbed the Opposition party a "company" and said its working president M K Stalin rose in the party ranks due to his late father M Karunanidhi.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) termed the remarks as "cheap".

"DMK is not a party, it is a company," Palaniswami said

and alleged Stalin was occupying the top party post only

because of his late father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi

and not on his own strength.

Addressing a meet Tuesday night at Salem, the chief minister said Stalin became a legislator because of his father, unlike the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders like him, who had to work their way to the top.

Listing out several DMK leaders whose children occupied party posts, he repeated that the main opposition party was a company.

Taking strong objection to the use of the word "coward"

against him allegedly by the DMK chief, Palaniswami said, "We are not cowards, we want to do good to the people...you tried to break our party... were you successful?"

Refuting the graft allegations against him and his cabinet colleagues, the AIADMK leader quoted a Tamil proverb stating those who have done nothing wrong need not fear.

The DMK had approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and the Madras High Court, leveling

corruption charges against Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

The Opposition party had also leveled corruption charges against state ministers C Vijayabaskar (Health),

SP Velumani (Local Administration) and P Thangamani (Electricity).

The AIADMK has time and again denied the allegations and dismissed them as "politically motivated".

Meanwhile, Stalin lashed out at Palaniswami for calling his party a "company", saying it was "cheap" criticism that showed that the chief minister had no control over the choice of his words.