SALEM: We, the AIADMK, are the political heirs of the late leaders MGR and J Jayalalithaa, announced Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. It was they who identified the people now working for the party, based on their loyalty; they handpicked MLAs, MPs and heads of local bodies. Unlike the DMK, the AIADMK was a democratic party, where even an ordinary cadre could grow to acquire the highest post, he declared.
The Chief Minister was in the city to participate in the 47th Foundation Day celebrations of the party at Veerapandi constituency on Sunday. He hoisted the party flag and distributed welfare assistance to party cadre and general public. Speaking at the event, he recalled how many, including the late DMK chief M Karunanidhi, had expected the party’s downfall after the death of MGR. However, Jayalalithaa demolished such hopes and saved the party amidst all chaos, he added.
Throughout their regime, MGR and Jayalalithaa had to battle several obstacles put forth against the party, especially by the DMK. While MGR ruled the State for 11 years, Jayalalithaa held the post for over 15 years. The DMK, on the other hand, was still struggling to return to power, he pointed out.
Speaking about the strength the party enjoyed in terms of its cadre, he noted that all of them followed the path of their two leaders.
“Even though I am a chief minister, I speak as a cadre before you. In India, AIADMK is the only party with such a huge number of cadre. When Jayalalithaa had been alive, the party had 1.50 crore cadre; now it has 1.20 crore cadre and 30 lakh more are set to join,” he noted. He also claimed that it was the only party with so much ‘young blood’.
Commenting on DMK’s efforts to regain power in the State, he asked what could M K Stalin do that Karunanidhi was not able to do when he was alive. Responding to DMK’s allegations that the AIADMK-led government did nothing for the welfare of the people, Palaniswami pointed to the various schemes initiated by Jayalalithaa -- free mixie, grinder and fan for 1.84 crore ration card-holders, free laptops to 36 lakh students (15 lakh more in the pipeline) -- as answer.
Despite Stalin’s accusations of corruption against the government, Palaniswami stated that corruption now meant DMK for the party was established on the basis of corruption. The Sarkaria commission even mentioned the term ‘scientific corruption’ when talking about the party.
“Corruption in many schemes, including the Veeranam water scheme, took place during the DMK regime.
"It was after the AIADMK came to power that the scheme was taken to the public by Jayalalithaa; this is why people of Chennai now receive uninterrupted drinking water. In a new court started to inquire corruption charges against MP, MLAs and ministers, it was Stalin’s case that was heard first,” he noted. Tender for the construction of an overbridge at Ariyanoor will be floated, he added.
Welfare and development measures
Tamil Nadu is playing a vital role in terms of the health sector in the country. We constructed many hospitals in the State. Tamil Nadu has received the Union government’s Krish Karman Award in agriculture over consecutive years. We have created a separate organisation for constructing checkdams in the State to increase the groundwater level.