Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam recounted how Mr. Modi was supportive of his party and the State government after the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He mentioned Mr. Modi’s role in getting a State-specific legal amendment cleared to allow the conduct of jallikattu.
Mr. Panneerselvam pointed out that the Prime Minister had facilitated the approval for various projects including a housing project for the urban poor.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami requested Mr. Modi to approve Phase II project of Chennai Metro and the project of linking the Cauvery river with Godavari.
He informed the gathering that of 25 lakh small and marginal farmers to be covered under the Centre’s latest scheme of providing income support, 14 lakh farmers had received the first installment.
The Chief Minister took on those who had criticised the State government’s scheme of providing ₹2,000 to agricultural and other workers.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss urged the Prime Minister to ensure the early release of seven convicts of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. K. P. Munusamy, deputy coordinator of the AIADMK, said that just as Jayalalithaa had formed a “victory alliance” in 1998 which had included the BJP then, Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Panneerselvam had got another coalition established which, he hoped, would be as successful as the previous one.
