CHENNAI/ SALEM: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, launching his election campaign from his home constituency, Edappadi in Salem district, on Saturday said the AIADMK would remain invincible in the 2021assembly polls. The allies too would stay by the ruling party and all efforts of the DMK to wrest power would go futile, he said.
Starting the campaign after offering prayers at Sendraya Perumal temple, his family deity, Palaniswami said Edappadi segment would remain a fortress of the AIADMK, no matter who campaigns on behalf of the DMK. “I never thought of becoming chief minister. It was gifted by God. I see it as an opportunity to serve the people,” Palaniswami said. Kanimozhi had launched her campaign in Edappadi a fortnight ago.
He listed out the achievement of his government in the last four years, braving all odds including the threats posed to his government. His government realized the dreams of former CMs MGR and Jayalalithaa by implementing various welfare schemes, including 7.5% Neet quota for government school students, said Palaniswami. The AIADMK was the only party to remain in power for 36 years in the state, he said. Huge cut-outs of MGR and Jayalalithaa formed the backdrop as Palaniswami listed out his achievements. Banners and placards terming EPS as ‘mannin mainthar’ (son of soil) were erected all along his route. “Ours is a government of the people, which realizes the aspirations of the people, and works for the people. Support us to form the government in 2021. We are ready to work for you. Give us an opportunity to continuously serve,” he said. The CM said his government had put in best efforts to bring Covid-19 under control, much faster than other states. “Our government is proactively working to get the state return to normalcy. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the state for its best Covid management and told other states to emulate us,” the CM said, pointing to Kerala and Delhi seeing a new surge in cases.
In his hop-in-hop-off campaign, he inaugurated mini clinics at five places. The state had turned power surplus during the AIADMK regime, but it was reeling in power outages during the DMK regime, he said. It emerged as a top investment destination for global investors, with ?60,000 crore commitment, even during Covid times. Paddy procurement touched a historic high of 32.4 lakh tonnes last year, while the state topped the country with 49% gross enrolment ratio in higher education. The newly introduced 7.5% Neet quota for government school students benefited over 300 students, he said.