Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami lashed out at TTV Dhinakaran and opposition DMK saying their dreams of toppling his government or
come to power through the backdoor would never fructify. He emphasised that AIADMK members “would not allow anybody to divide the party for selfish reasons.”
“Amma’s (late CM J. Jayalalithaa) government is a fort that protects the poor and there is none who can destroy it. Some are dreaming of somehow toppling this government while others want to come to power through backdoors. Their dreams will not fructify,” he said in a veiled reference to T.T.V. Dhinakaran and DMK working president M.K. Stalin.
The aspirations of MGR and late CM J. Jayalalithaa who nurtured the party will be fulfilled and in the process “we are prepared to make sacrifices to make the party remain united,” he said.
Addressing a government function in commemoration of the centenary of late chief minister and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran at Vandalur on the city outskirts, Palaniswami also said nobody can destroy the great party and urged the party members to take a pledge that they would not allow anybody to divide the party for selfish reasons and indicated that family rule and corruption would be kept away.
He heaped praise on MGR for the welfare measures taken up by him. Palaniswami said “Those who believe us will not be let down and we will not allow such a situation to come about,” recalling a yesteryear Tamil film song of the late stalwart.
The function was attended by deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam and officials. The state government is holding district-wise functions to celebrate the centenary of MGR, a matinee idol turned politician, who ruled the state from 1977 to 1987.
How many MLAs will attend meet?
The meeting assumes significance since nearly 50 legislators, including those camping in Puducherry, skipped the Monday meeting chaired by Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam during which resolutions against TTV Dhinakaran were passed.
The General Council will pass a resolution removing Sasikala from the post of General Secretary of the AIADMK. Though it is clear that legislators supporting Dhinakaran would not attend the meeting on Thursday, speculation was rife that several MLAs would give the event a miss as they don’t want to be seen as “taking sides” with any one faction.
