Putting up a brave face against those who were “attempting to pull down the government,” Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday asserted that they “cannot even touch” either the AIADMK or its government.
“Some are intending to pull down the government...with all of you party workers gathered here, the party and the government can’t even be touched,” Mr. Palaniswami said while addressing party cadre at the MGR centenary celebration meeting held in Tiruvallur on Sunday.
Recalling the efforts taken by former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, Mr. Palaniswami said that their souls were protecting the party as well as the government.
Stating that Jayalalithaa would never spare anyone who made mistakes, he said, “She didn’t want any political heir, and hence, she didn’t anoint any individual as her heir.”
“She is the one who proved that any worker can take over the administrative post. It was only because of her belief in equality, that people like me — a farmer’s son — has taken over this responsibility,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
“Anyone with honesty, sincerity and leadership can come to this level if they follow Amma ’s path,” he added.
MLAs to meet on Sept. 5
With pressure from the MLAs supporting T.T.V. Dhinakaran mounting, the ruling AIADMK (Amma, PTA) has called for a meeting of party MLAs on September 5.
The meeting will be held at the party headquarters at 10 a.m.
When asked whether MLAs supporting Mr. Dhinakaran too had been invited, party sources replied in the affirmative.
CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and the Council of Ministers are expected to take part.
The MLAs’ meeting is being held a week ahead of the general council meeting of the ‘unified’ party on September 12.
