THENI: “The Deputy Chief Minister and I will function as a double barrel gun to provide many welfare schemes to the people. The word “defeat” will not be there in the AIADMK,” proclaimed Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, on Thursday.
Edappadi was addressing the gathering at the birth centenary celebrations of former CM M G Ramachandran (MGR) in Theni, on Thursday. MGR and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa were elected, as was the present Deputy Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, from Theni.
Palaniswami recalled that MGR had launched several welfare schemes for women and children and that MGR and J Jayalalithaa were very clear that the party should not be in the control of a family. However, a particular family has tried to grab the party with the support of a few others, he said, adding that it was prevented by the blessings of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
The chief minister further stated that the DMK had launched systematic corruption but that the party’s acting president M K Stalin was raising his voice against corruption. “People will not forget their corruption and Stalin cannot come to power.
Attacking the DMK further, he mentioned that it was their custom to forget election promises. “If they are defeated in the election, they will blame others. Stalin is taking every effort to dissolve the AIADMK government. However, ours is a pioneering government introducing welfare schemes,” he said.
“All sections of people are living peacefully in the AIADMK government which has ruled the state for 27 years. Stalin visits some low-lying areas in Chennai during the rainy season and begins blaming the government,” Palaniswami said. “The problem should have been solved when he was the Chennai Mayor. He was also a Deputy Chief Minister. Our government has launched channel works at a cost of `434 crore in Chennai. The works are nearing completion,” he stated.
Reminding the audience that DMK supported the Congress and BJP governments at different points of time, Palaniswami said the leaders were interested only in posts and did not care about introducing welfare schemes for the state. “They have filed a case in the court pertaining to the local body election,” he said.
Giving the assurance that the local body election would be held after getting the court order, Palaniswami said that the two leaves symbol would be granted to the AIADMK. “Justice will be given to the AIADMK at the earliest,” he said.
OPS inaugurates special photo exhibition
Theni: Thursday morning wore a festive look as AIADMK cadrethronged MGR Thidal near Bodi junction in Theni, celebrating MGR’s birth centenary. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam participated in the celebrations. Panneerselvam inaugurated a special photo exhibition near the ground.
The exhibition features rare photos of MGR and J Jayalalithaa together. Even photos of welfare schemes were on display. In order to avoid inconvenience to commuters, traffic was diverted from Theni. Thambithurai, Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, addressed the audience. Ministers, including C Srinivasan, Minister of Forest, K A Sengottaian, Minister for School Education, V Saroja, Minister for Social Welfare, C Vijaya Basker, Minister for Health and M Manikandan, Minister for Information and Technology attended the function.
Facing challenges
Recalling the confusion during the Muthuramalinga Thevar Jayanthi vizha, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that in spite of the attempts by the other side, the issue was settled amicably