Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised all assistance for tracing the missing fishermen of Kanniyakumari district, said Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Speaking to reporters at Attur near here on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister spoke to him over phone on Friday and inquired about the impact of the cyclone in the southern districts.
The Chief Minister said that he explained to him in detail the havoc due to the cyclone. The Chief Minister said that he also informed the Prime Minister that fishermen of Kanniyakumari who ventured into the sea in 11 boats were yet to return.
The Prime Minister promised all help on behalf of the Centre for tracing the missing fishermen.
Mr. Palaniswami said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also called him on Saturday morning and inquired about the cyclone impact. Earlier, speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Palaniswami said that his government had taken all effective steps to restore normality in the cyclone-hit Kanniyakumari district.
Senior officials of the Tangedco from Chennai and other parts of the State have rushed to the district to undertake power restoration.
Referring to the R.K. Nagar byelection, Mr. Palaniswami said that the late Jayalalithaa had sanctioned and implemented various development projects and welfare programmes in R. K. Nagar constituency and this will ensure a comfortable victory for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate.
“The AIADMK candidate stands a bright chance of romping home with ease in the December 21 byelection,” he said.
Referring to the allegations of T.T.V. Dhinakaran against the unified AIADMK, Mr. Palaniswami said that he was not a party cadre. Mr. Dhinakaran is a newcomer to the party. “As such, I need not respond to his statements,” he said.
