Alleging that a disgruntled group, who betrayed the party, was making desperate attempts to dislodge the AIADMK government, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that the conspiracy would never succeed and the Government would continue to fulfil the mandate given by the people of the State.
Speaking at the MGR centenary celebrations held here on Wednesday, he said that the government was formed by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa through hard work and sacrifice. It was her hard-earned goodwill among the people that brought back the AIADMK to power. “But a group of betrayers are making continuous efforts to bring down the government formed by Jayalalithaa. This is a people’s government. As long as it enjoys the support of people, it could not be dislodged by the disgruntled forces,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
While coming down heavily on the opposition parties, Mr. Palaniswami said that they were levelling “unfounded allegations” against the government on a daily basis with an ulterior motive. It had become a routine for them to target the government. They had been indulging in a malicious propaganda to unseat the “popular government.” However, the government, which was following in the footsteps of the AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, would continue to work for the welfare of the people.
Targets Senthil Balaji
In a scathing attack on former Minister V. Senthil Balaji, a staunch loyalist of T.T.V. Dhinakaran and one of the 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs, Mr. Palaniswami said he had worked hard along with a group of 6,000 party workers for the victory of Mr. Balaji in the Aravakurichi constituency as directed by Jayalalithaa while she was in the hospital.
During the electioneering, many party cadre had cautioned him that Mr. Balaji would betray the party if he won. However, many Ministers and MLAs worked round the clock to ensure his victory as true soldiers of the party. But, as many had apprehended, Mr. Balaji had turned a betrayer. “He (Mr. Balaji) had not even visited the constituency to thank the electors after his victory,” Mr. Palaniswami alleged.
While stating that a few cadre and functionaries had taken a wrong stand and joined the “wrong people,” Mr. Palaniswami said they are now left ruing their decision and did not know what to do next. However, efforts would be made to bring them back, he said, without elaborating further.
Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai, Speaker of the State Assembly P. Dhanapal, Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabaskar, Tamil Development and Information Secretary R. Venkatesan and District Collector K. Govindaraj spoke.
