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Salem strongman on successful march, say officials, party cadre
Until last year, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami was a subject of online criticism for his tongue slips among other issues, which questioned his leadership.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
But now, the situation has changed with Palaniswami no longer the old submissive Highways Minister, who maintained a distance with party cadre outside his native Salem district.
“He has now developed his interpersonal communication skills attracting cadre and party old timers alike,” said highly placed sources in the secretariat and AIADMK headquarters.
According to senior IAS officers, the CM had also improved his administrative skills in the past two years and comes out with his own ideas and schemes. “The files that are generated in Chennai are cleared within a day. Files that are discussed during his tour to other districts are cleared within two days,” a senior IAS official told DT Next. The latest DO letter to PM Modi seeking the Centre to confer the nation’s highest military honour, ‘Param Vir Chakra’ on Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was his own idea, the official said, adding that the move came much to their surprise.
In another instance, Agriculture department officials made a presentation last month stating how TN was the third-ranking state when it came to implementation of the farmer related schemes. “Responding to this, the CM said he knew the ranking and instead sought an explanation about the execution of the PM Kisan scheme,” an official recalled, adding that Palaniswami had become more dynamic and there was easy access for officials.
“Of late, party workers are surprised to see him addressing public gatherings without any prepared notes. His unprepared speech during the PM rally was appreciated by the AIADMK cadre,” said former AIADMK MLA K Sreenivasan.
In the past three days, he had facilitated the return of key party seniors, including KC Palanisamy and a district secretary from the rebel AMMK. “Party workers from rural areas can easily meet the CM. Like our party icon MGR, Palaniswami also serves food for all those visiting his residence. In the past two years, he had created his own identity,” added Sreenivasan.
“Last week, the CM gave an appointment to party functionaries after 10 PM to discuss the campaign work. The CM watched a video presentation and then corrected the facts related to government schemes for about an hour,” said R Kamalakannan, state secretary, AIADMK unorganised transport workers wing.
Stating that Palaniswami had a strong memory, S T Dharmesh Kumar, treasurer, AIADMK IT Wing, said, “During a recent IT presentation, the CM surprised us by asking us not to publish too many data as it would be boring for the people. Instead he suggested us to add jingles.”
Action So Far
Pros
- Files that generate in Chennai cleared within a day. In case of files from other districts cleared within two days
- EPS chooses to address public meetings and rallies with extempore speeches. Handles media with a smile diverting serious allegations and controversial questions
- Round the clock food and access for party workers at his residence. Settles inter-party feuds on a daily basis
Cons
- Has formed a strong coterie comprising ministers from Kongu region facing corruption charges
- AIADMK Govt’s reaction to newspaper reports and media relatively low
- Postponement of local body polls and by polls are a setback for EPS till now
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