PM heaps praises on AIADMK veterans, invokes Jayalalithaa’s famous line

Modi, who paid floral tributes to portraits of MGR and late leader J Jayalalithaa, before addressing a campaign rally for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections mentioned the names of former TN leaders at regular intervals. “We have decided to rename the Chennai Central station after the great MGR” Modi said. 

MGR worked extensively for the downtrodden. His social welfare schemes gave strength to the fight against poverty and he was a star of the masses, Modi said. “I unveiled the statue of MGR through video-conferencing and he was a great son of the soil. MGR is one of the most respected icons. MGR not only ruled the film industry but also hearts of the public,” Modi said. He said a few years ago, he had gone to Sri Lanka and visited the area where MGR was born.

“We are committed to creating a developed Tamil Nadu that Amma (late leader J Jayalalithaa) dreamt of’”, Modi said. “Congress which runs dynasty politics has insulted the late TN Congress leader Kamaraj for speaking against corruption. “Kamaraj stood by the public and I don’t know what mistake the late leader did to be insulted by the Congress several times,” Modi noted.

In his address deputy chief minister OPS said that the Congress and DMK practise opportunism in Tamil Nadu. Hitting out at the opposition, led by the DMK in the state, CM said that Stalin could not name a Prime Ministerial candidate. DMK President M K Stalin could not reiterate his ‘Rahul for PM’ slogan in Delhi later in the presence of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee,” he said. “I ask the Opposition do you have the nerve to name a PM candidate in your coalition? None has the qualification,” OPS said.

“The country’s security is very important. Neighbours are creating so many problems and we need a strong PM like Modiji,” CM Palaniswami said. EPS also lauded the PM Modi for India’s air strike in Pakistan post the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The world is supporting India on terror issues due to the strong administration of Modi. Further, TN based wing commander Abhinanda Varthaman, captured by Pakistan returned safely due to the diplomatic efforts of 

Modi, the CM said.

The convoy of three choppers in which PM Modi arrived stole the show and there were more fans for the IAF choppers during the landing and take offs. Cadres took selfies with choppers on the background and waited till the choppers took off. There were also young parents showing the departure of helicopters to their kids

Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai who had been cynical about the BJP government made use of the opportunity in the rally and reached out to the BJP leaders. Whenever the chair of an AIADMK leader became vacant during their address, Thambidurai took the vacant chair and chose to sit next to BJP leaders including Modi, Muralidhar Rao and did the Tamil translation for the BJP leaders to understand.

Several flagposts were kept vacant hoping that the DMDK will join the AIADMK alliance, but at the time was nearing for PM Modi’s arrival, the posts were hoisted with AIADMK and BJP flags. A large scaffolding to hold the cut out of DMDK founder Vijayakanth was kept ready, but as there was no positive result from DMDK camp, the cut out of state BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan mushroomed in the eleventh hour.

PM Modi had a record number of cutouts in Kilambakkam, thanks to the ruling AIADMK. As many as 15 large sized cut outs of MGR, Jayalalithaa and Modi were kept at the venue greeting party workers. Modi had more cut-outs than the AIADMK leaders Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Pannerselvam. PMK leaders Ramadoss and Anbumani were also given prominence in banners and cutouts.