TIRUCHY: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is also the joint coordinator of the AIADMK, on Monday gave a cautious response to a question about the possibility of the 18 disqualified MLAs returning to the parent party.
Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy on his way to Mayiladhuthurai to address a public meeting, Palaniswami said he was not aware of any attempt by the 18 disqualified MLAs to return to the AIADMK and that he was hearing about the MLAs’ move only from media, adding it would be a welcome decision should they switch over from Dhinakaran camp.
“Only you have been saying that. If that happens, it would be a welcome decision,” he pointed out to media persons at the airport.
Further, the Chief Minister categorically ruled out the possibility of giving any of the 18 MLAs ministerial berths if they returned to the AIADMK. To a question whether the Dhinakaran camp was plotting to force by-elections in the State, Palaniswami replied, “When the matter is sub-judice, how could by-elections happen?”
Speaking on the Cauvery issue, he said, “I have taken up the issue in the Niti Aayog meeting held on Sunday. I have urged Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari as well as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite formation of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee by inducting members from Karnataka. The State government has pushed for convening a CWMA members’ meeting at the earliest to ensure Tamil Nadu gets its due share.”
On the prospects of opening Mettur dam, the Chief Minister said the dam would be opened only when water reached 90 feet. “Mettur dam can be opened for irrigation only if the water level reaches 90 feet. The inflow is good at present and we hope water level will increase quickly. Once water reaches the sufficient level, the dam will be opened,” he said.
Palaniswami was given a grand welcome by the AIADMK upon his arrival at the airport. District Collector K Rajamani, airport director K Gunasekaran, Tiruchy MP P Kumar, Ministers Vellamandi N Natarajan, S Valarmathi and C Vijayabaskar and a large number of AIADMK functionaries accorded him a warm welcome. The Chief Minister had a brief stopover in Thanjavur on his way as farmers and villagers lined up to cheer him.