DMK leader showers praise on CM

Soon after the CM’s reply to the Governor’s address in the Assembly on Wednesday, in which he took a dig at Leader of Opposition M K Stalin for hiding the ruling party’s achievements, the ever affable Durai Murugan was on his feet saying “Honourable Chief Minister, may you continue to be chief minister for a long time. If you need the power (shakthi) we are willing to give it to you. Only ensure that you do not face opposition from the other side.” 

Immediately Vilavancode Congress MLA S Vijayadharani was on his feet saying “The house has a simple and humble Chief Minister. This is now a different Assembly. This was the democratic process we expected and we hope this will continue.” 

The Tamil Nadu Assembly, which usually sees ruling and opposition members going for the jugular at the slightest hint, has of late presented a different picture with members from both sides being cordial with each other. 

Earlier, Panneerselvam at the tail-end of his nearly 90-minute speech referred to various issues raised by Stalin on Tuesday said the opposition neither  ‘had the heart to accept nor the mind to praise the good work’ done by the AIADMK government. 

The Chief Minister said, “The Opposition leader who talks loudly is unable to say what he feels and neither is he able to accept the truth,” in an obvious reference to Jayalalithaa’s victory in the Cauvery tribunal, raising the Mullaiperiyar dam’s height to 142 feet, crossing 100 lakh metric tonnes food production for three years in a row, higher prices by the Tamil Nadu government for cane and paddy compared to the centre’s offer and improving quality of school education  through various schemes.   

He ended it by saying that the opposition leader did not have the mind to even think of the numerous Himalayan achievements of Amma’s government and added that “The opposition leader feels that hiding the ruling party’s achievements and opposing them seems to be his dharma.”