EPS invited for opening of Patel statue

“Though the invite may be seen as a formality, it is an indirect indication that Palaniswami is inching closer to the BJP and is also favoured by the BJP top brass,” said AIADMK party insiders. 

A team led by Gujarat Tourism Minister Ganpat Vasava presented the invitation to Palaniswami at his office in the Secretariat. The statue, named the ‘Statue of Unity’, is the tallest in India and will be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The statue constructed to honour the first Home Minister of Independent India has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2,389 crore, measuring 182 meters in height. 

Palaniswami met Modi on October 8 and is said to have discussed possible electoral ties between the two parties. Even the state BJP leaders appear to have changed their opinion on the tie-up after the meeting as both Tamilisai Soundararajan and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan backed Palaniswami after the High Court directed the corruption case against him to be investigated by CBI. The invitation holds significance as the BJP is strengthening its ties with regional parties to fight the Congress, which is in pursuit of forming a mega alliance for the upcoming Parliamentary election in 2019. 

Best departments honoured Palaniswami on Monday distributed awards to various government departments for setting best stalls at the recently conducted MGR Centenary function in Chennai. 

Public Works Department (PWD) bagged the first prize, while the second prize was shared by Health and Family Welfare Department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department.

Third prize was shared by the Housing and Urban Development Department, Forest Department and Revenue Department.

Coast Guard Commander (East) Inspector-General Paramesh Sivamani, who recently assumed office, called on Chief Minister K Palaniswami at the Secretariat here on Monday. It was a courtesy call, a defence press release said here. During the meeting, the release said, Paramesh apprised the Chief Minister of the recent developments in the coast guard in the State and assured the latter of continuing the rescue and relief operation for fishermen stranded in sea.