Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami hints at possible alliance with BJP

NAMAKKAL: In a possible endorsement of a future alliance with the BJP at the Centre, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the AIADMK government could have done much more for Tamil Nadu if it had aligned with the central government.

Addressing the party cadre at MGR centenary celebrations in Namakkal on Sunday, EPS strongly defended AIADMK’s bonhomie with the BJP and slammed the DMK for alleging that the state government has turned out to be ‘slave’ of BJP.

“We are neither slaves nor servants to the Centre. We are just cordial with the Union government. Only then we will be able to get projects for Tamil Nadu and get approvals for our own welfare schemes,’’ he said.


EPS said that only because of this cordiality, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised any number of free houses to be built for the poor and assured that an industrial township would be created in Tamil Nadu.

“But when you (DMK) were part of the Centre for 14 years, you were only keen on getting ministries for family members,’’ he alleged.

“If we were in alliance with the Centre, we would have established several new industries. We would have made Tamil Nadu a glorious state. The entire state would have been made rich. But AIADMK did not have such an opportunity,” EPS said. Still, AIADMK would try to bring projects with available opportunity, he added.

Flanked by all senior party leaders, including Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai, ministers P Thangamani, S P Velumani, Dindigul Srinivasan and Sellur K Raju, as well as deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, EPS launched a scathing attack on rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran.

“Some are daydreaming to destabilize the government and unseat AIADMK from power. They have gone to the extent of banking upon DMK to remove the government. They are hoping to break the party too,’’ he said.

Alleging that Dhinakaran was not interested in the welfare of the party or the government, he said those who want to destabilise the government would be punished by Amma’s soul.

Listing out a number of projects implemented in Namakkal as well as across the state, EPS said the government was functioning efficiently. “Nobody can find fault with the government. Hence they are announcing protests every day,’’ he said.