Selfish EPS weakened AIADMK, says TN minister Sengottaiyan

COIMBATORE: Finance Minister KA Sengottaiyan on Sunday accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of weakening the party for his personal political interests.

“The AIADMK, founded by MG Ramachandran and nurtured by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, had lost its strength under the present leadership. Palaniswami’s style of functioning has weakened the AIADMK. He appears to believe that he alone is sufficient for the party,” he said to the media in Coimbatore.

Referring to speculation surrounding the delay in expansion of the cabinet, Sengottaiyan indicated that the process would take place soon, but stressed that the final decision rested solely with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

He recalled that during Jayalalithaa’s tenure, only seven ministers were initially inducted into the cabinet before it was gradually expanded. “In the same way, the present cabinet too will be expanded shortly. The Chief Minister alone has to make that decision. Despite various challenges, Vijay can handle crises effectively and lead the administration successfully,” he said.

The minister added that the government was still assessing the state’s financial condition and that a detailed economic study was necessary before outlining long-term economic plans.

When asked how many cabinet berths could be allotted to AIADMK legislators supporting the TVK government, Sengottaiyan declined to give a direct answer. “We have not made any announcement in this regard so far,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s initiatives, Sengottaiyan said the administration was prioritising women’s safety and anti-drug measures across the state. He said the announcement of 200 units of free electricity received a positive response from the public.

Sengottaiyan also described the move to shut down 717 TASMAC liquor outlets near places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands as a significant achievement, accomplished soon after the government assumed office.