Merger for people’s welfare: EPS, OPS

In an apparent reference to rebel party leader TTV Dinakaran, he said, “People will not accept those as leaders who had not done any public service. MGR (Ramachandran) won hearts by public service. Amma later gave shape to his ideas,” he said.

“Now, we have come together and exchanged the warmth and so we should work together to make both the party and government strong,” Palaniswami said.

The Chief Minister also said that the state government had tackled the drinking water issue efficiently when there was a severe drought in the state. He also claimed that Kudimaramathu (desilting of water bodies) was the best project that the government had implemented through which the farmers had benefited a lot. Senior AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai dismissed any threat to the government in the wake of revolt by 19 MLAs loyal to Dinakaran.

He said the state government was strong and there was no division in the party.Palaniswami said the recent merger of the two factions was done with the aim of fulfilling the dreams of MGR and Jayalalithaa and expressed joy over Wednesday’s meeting. In his address, Panneerselvam said Jayalalithaa had turned the AIADMK into “an iron fortress which cannot be shaken by anyone”.

The “sacrifices” of MGR and Jayalalithaa should be kept in mind to ensure the well-being of the people of the state and its growth, he added. Later, Palaniswami distributed welfare benefits worth Rs 86.71 crore to as many as 11,514 beneficiaries. He also inaugurated various projects.