CHENNAI: In a show of unity, the AIADMK general council and executive committee on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution endorsing chief minister and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami as the party’s CM candidate for the forthcoming assembly election. The high-level bodies of the AIADMK authorized deputy CM and party’s coordinator O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami to evolve electoral strategies, decide on alliances and seat sharing to ensure the party’s “resounding victory” in the poll.
Sixteen resolutions were passed during the four-hour-long meeting. A resolution, 16A, ratified the constitution of the 11-member steering committee, a condition laid down by OPS to endorse EPS’s candidature in October. “Retaining power is essential to provide peaceful governance, to ensure people live in peace and assure further achievements,” a resolution said. Without naming its arch-rival, the DMK, the party vowed to strive to checkmate “evil forces and violent mob and put an end to dynastic politics”. The general council hit out at DMK chief M K Stalin and the party for indulging in criticism without maturity and culture.
Later, Palaniswami profusely thanked the general council for reposing faith in him. “Never had I left the party at any time, under any circumstances. I participated in multiple agitations and went to jail. I don’t think there is greater merit than being a true loyalist. I am a true loyalist of the party,” Palaniswami said. While he may not be not be like “towering leaders” M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, he had discharged well his duties entrusted by the party.
“I will continue to serve the people of Tamil Nadu and the party in the future better than I have ever done before,” the CM said, assuring that it would be a golden era for the AIADMK cadres. Dismissing the corruption charges levelled against him and his regime in a memorandum submitted by the DMK to the Tamil Nadu governor, the chief minister said they were baseless. He urged partymen to counter Stalin’s “slanderous campaign”. He said former CM J Jayalalithaa’s memorial will be unveiled next month on her birth anniversary.
For his part, Panneerselvam asked cadres to remain loyal to the party. “The AIADMK celebrates its golden jubilee in 2022. While we celebrate, the party must be in power for which we have to stay united and work hard for the victory in the assembly election. It is our duty to see a historic victory in 2021. It would be a thanksgiving for Amma,” the leader said.
In one of the resolutions, the party thanked Palaniswami for announcing free Covid-19 vaccine to the people of Tamil Nadu. It thanked the Centre too. Other resolutions congratulated the EPS government for its initiatives to promote industrial development, setting up mini clinics, 7.5% NEET quota for government school students, allocation of Rs 600 crore for cyclone relief and Rs 2500 Pongal cash gift.
The party urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene directly to ensure the provincial councils in Sri Lanka are not done away with to ensure devolution of power to Tamils. The leadership later held a meeting with ministers, district secretaries and zonal in-charge to take stock of the election work.