CHENNAI: A day after one more MLA extended his support to T T V Dhinakaran and said that many more would follow suit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Saturday said conspiracies to drive a wedge among office-bearers of the AIADMK and to topple the present government would not succeed. Panneerselvam also made a veiled attack on actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, who have entered the political arena.
Both leaders made the remarks after unveiling the statue of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at AIADMK headquarters to mark her 70th birth anniversary. They also launched ‘Namadhu Amma’, the party mouthpiece.Addressing the party cadre, Palaniswami recalled that Jayalalithaa had said that even after her times, the AIADMK government would continue for another 100 years. “We have proved her words true. Despite many troubles, the party and government are going successfully. But certain persons say that this government should be toppled.
They could neither split the party nor topple the government. Their wishes remain a daydream. Their efforts will not succeed. From grass root level cadre to top office-bearers, we all function in unison. No one can create a wedge between us. We are safeguarding the party and government as our two eyes.”
Palaniswami said Jayalalithaa had earned the fame that the AIADMK was the most disciplined political party in the country and she protected the party all along. She ensured that even grass root level workers could reach top positions in the party and government. She had implemented several welfare schemes for all sections of society and her tenure was hailed as the golden era for the State.
Making a sentimental statement, Panneerselvam said, “We are not running the government. Indeed, Amma (Jayalalithaa) is running the government. Similarly, we are not running this party. Indeed, one-and-a-half-crore loyal cadre are running this party. There are many wandering with empty dreams about defeating this party, which always strives for welfare of people.” He said this apparently as a rebuttal to the remarks of Dhinakaran that this government would not last long.
Making a veiled attack on actors Kamal and Rajinikanth, Panneerselvam said, “Now, some persons have started making tall claims projecting themselves as ‘rakshakars’ (saviours) of the people. The heroic words of those who are now taking the political avatar will fizzle out in due course. Their true colours will be known very soon and their camps will be scattered soon.”Panneerselvam said there were many political parties that tried to win over AIADMK in the past, but ultimately they couldn’t. “Now, some balloons have started flying in the political arena. Though these decked up colour balloons would look beautiful, they would burst soon,” he said and added that the opponents and betrayers of the AIADMK were conspiring to create confusion in the party and such attempts would be thwarted.
After unveiling the statue of Jayalalithaa, Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, ministers and office-bearers of the party also paid floral tributes at the statue. They also inaugurated a three-day medical camp in the AIADMK headquarters. While paying homage at Jayalalithaa’s statue, some of the women cried. The AIADMK headquarters was decked up with flowers and a large number of cadre gathered to witness the unveiling of the statue.