COIMBATORE : The AIADMK party was ready to face by-election any time, announced Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. “We are ready to face the election at the 20 assembly seats -- that of the recently-disqualified MLAs and two seats left vacant after the MLAs’ death -- whenever the election commission announces the date because the party is getting a huge response among the public,” the chief minister said, while interacting with journalists during a press conference in the city on Saturday.
Speaking about the recent Madras High Court order, upholding the decision of the Speaker on the disqualification of the 18 MLAs, he said that it was a lesson for traitors. However, he refused to make any comment about T T V Dhinakaran, given that he was not a member of the AIADMK, except to question where he had been during the years that Jayalalithaa had been alive.
“Though Jayalalithaa initiated steps to conduct by-elections, it was stopped after the DMK moved the court, seeking a temporary ban. We are now taking steps to conduct the election,” he said. Reacting to the Kerala government’s proposal to construct a new dam instead of strengthening the Mullaiperiyar dam, he said that he had already written to Prime Minister Modi to withdraw the recommendations made in Kerala’s proposal. He also accused the neighbouring government of deliberately delaying the construction of Idamalayar dam.
“The Kerala government is still saying that they are yet to complete five per cent work for the Idamalayar dam. If the government completes this project, we can commence work on the Anamalaiyar and Nallaru water project that will benefit the agrarian community,” said Palaniswami.When asked if the return of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in Sri Lanka would affect the livelihood of fishermen in our State, he said that the government would ensure the protection of Tamil Nadu fishers and would also insist on the Central government doing the same.
CM opens new buildings for government hospitals
Chennai: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday inaugurated new buildings for primary health centres and government hospitals in the State which were built at a total cost of `14.35 crore. Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar showed the award given by a media house to Tamil Nadu health department recently for best maternity services.
EPS, OPS to pay homage to freedom fighter
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and senior ministers will pay homage to freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar at his memorial in Ramanathapuram district on October 30 on the occasion of his birth anniversary. The birth anniversary is being celebrated by the State government for many years.