Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said his party (AIADMK) was neither a part of the BJP-led NDA nor was it supporting the coalition at the Centre.
Mr. Palaniswami, intervening during a speech by DMK MLA K. Pitchandi, said, “When you [DMK] were part of the BJP coalition for five years [1999-2004], you enjoyed the power. But unlike you, we are neither a part of their coalition, nor are we extending support to it”.
The Chief Minister said the Tamil Nadu government was pressuring the Centre to form the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). “We are exerting enough pressure to the Centre and are creating a logjam in the Lok Sabha,” he said.
During the debate, Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin asked the Chief Minister if the government had received any information from the Centre that the Prime Minister would meet the delegation from Tamil Nadu.
“The Deputy Chief Minister had said we’ll wait for another nine days for the CMB to be constituted. Now, there are only six days left. Have you got any assurances?” he asked.
Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar intervened and asked if Mr. Stalin had exerted enough pressure to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the Cauvery issue when the DMK was part of the Centre. Deputy Leader of Opposition Duraimurugan said the case was in the Supreme Court all these years. He said he hoped from the CM’s statement that the AIADMK would support the no-confidence motion moved against the BJP government in Parliament.
