Edappadi K Palaniswami-Governor Banwarilal Purohi meet triggers excitement

Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday met Governor Banwarilal Purohit triggering excitement in the political and media circles, with some predicting Cabinet changes and many convinced that the two discussed the state’s security preparedness for the Ayodhya verdict from the Supreme Court expected early next week. For the official record, the state government released the picture of CM presenting a silk shawl and flowers to Governor Purohit, and said it was a ‘courtesy call’.

An informed source said that a brief account of the security preparedness ensured by the state government, particularly the police department, was given to the Governor in the light of a recent communication from the Union Home Ministry to various States to be alert in view of the Ayodhya verdict. The Central alert is particularly relevant to the south, more so to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been on the high-beam in going after the ‘suspects’ linked to Islamic terror in recent months.

State Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam and DGP J K Tripathi were also present during the Governor-CM meeting, giving credence to the report that the Ayodhya-related preparations formed part of the discussions at the Raj Bhavan that lasted about 25 minutes in the evening.

Another source said during the meeting, Governor Purohit told the CM that the Centre, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were ‘extremely happy’ with the meticulous arrangements made by the TN Government for the PM’s informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram. The Governor also suggested that the Pallava-period Unesco heritage town should be developed well as a destination for global tourists and also historical researchers.