CHENNAI: Asserting that Tamil Nadu will emerge victorious, chief minister
Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said the ruling AIADMK would win majority of seats in the assembly elections and re-establish the government, and AIADMK allies too would win all the seats.
In his ten-minute concluding speech in the last session of the current assembly, Palaniswami said that his government had stepped into fifth year, overcoming the false propaganda of the rivals that his government would not last beyond months.
“The government has realised the dreams of leaders, MGR and Jayalalithaa and earned goodwill of the people. Since a number of schemes had been rolled out till date, the state is on a victorious path (Vetri Nadaipodum Tamilagam),” he said, adding, “The government from the day I assumed charge and till date has achieved a lot and remains a government of achievements.”
Palaniswami took a chunk of time to profusely thank his deputy CM, O Panneerselvam for standing by his government, ministers, speaker, deputy speaker, chief government whip, MLAs, government officials and staff.
The chief minister went on to say that his government had won a legal battle in the five-decade-old inter-state Cauvery water dispute and enacted a law to declare Cauvery delta as protected special agricultural zone.
It protected the interests of the farmers during natural disasters by extending relief.
Tamil Nadu topped the list of states receiving high compensation under crop insurance scheme. “It is no exaggeration to say the government protects the farmers akin to how eyelid protects the eye,” the CM said.
The AIADMK government had turned the state into power surplus, and scripted educational revolution by setting up a number of law colleges, 11 medical colleges, three veterinary colleges and research institutes, besides arts and science colleges, and taking the state to become number one in gross enrolment ratio in higher education.
“The government realised the dream by bringing AIIMS in Madurai,” he said.
The chief minister said the government also opened memorials, unveiled statues and held government events for leaders who rendered great service to the nation and unveiled portraits in assembly honouring them.
“More than that, the government built a mausoleum for Amma (Jayalalithaa), and declared conversion of her Veda Nilayam residence into memorial,” Palaniswami said.