Ariyalur: Sharing the dais with Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for the first time after the two factions merged, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday sent out a strong message to TTV Dhinakaran as he asserted that “no one has the power to topple” the AIADMK government.
As 19 MLAs camped in Puducherry after withdrawing their support to the Chief Minister, the leaders who burnt their differences and came together on Monday used the MGR centenary celebrations here to demonstrate the “unity” in AIADMK by making it clear that the government was here to stay and that there was no possibility of it getting destabilised.
While Panneerselvam asserted that AIADMK government “will stand strong for years,” Palaniswami harped on unity factors by even reciting a short story to drive home the point— unity within the party was need of the hour as AIADMK is facing crisis from within.
“Amma had spent her entire life building and strengthening the party. Though she is not amongst us today, she has given enough strength for us to carry forward her good work. We are under obligation to ensure that her dreams are turned into reality. We have to further build the organisation by being together,” Panneerselvam told the meeting.
“No one has the power to topple the AIADMK government. Amma’s government will stand strong for years,” Panneerselvam said, in a direct retort to Sasikala family’s assertion that the Palaniswami government has lost majority and it should prove its majority on the floor of the House.
In his prepared speech, Palaniswami listed the “historic and Himalayan” achievements of late M.G. Ramachandran as a politician, film star as well as a “great human being.” Heaping praise on MGR, the Chief Minister said the late N.T. Ramarao plunged into politics on the advice of the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and succeeded in the field too.
“He (MGR) was such a personality that he tasted success in every field and he had friend across the country. He was an inspirations to millions of people,” Palaniswami said.
“We have to strengthen the party-led government and the AIADMK by taking every effort that we can. Like brothers and sisters, we have to consider the party a family and achieve greater heights. We have demonstrated that we are one and we will dedicate the unity as a tribute to Amma,” he told the meeting.
