CM Palaniswami hits back at Stalin over political career jibe

Canvassing for AIADMK LS candidate KRS Saravanan in Salem, Palaniswami said, “I take it (Stalin’s statement) as a challenge. I wish to tell him that my political life will in fact begin after this poll.”

Criticising the DMK leader, the Chief Minister said, “Stalin is asking what projects were implemented by the AIADMK government? He must pass through Salem. The flyovers constructed here stand testimony to our achievements.”

He further said that a mega alliance has been formed by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu to provide a stable government at Centre.

Later, in his campaign speech in Krishnagiri district, the Chief Minister mocked the MDMK and VCK for contesting on the DMK’s ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. “They have forgotten their ideologies just to win elections. Theirs is a confusing alliance,” he said.

Pointing out Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s support for the Mekedatu dam across river Cauvery in Karnataka, Palaniswami said, “If the dam is built, then there will be no water for the Hogenakkal combined drinking water scheme implemented at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore.”

“Just like how Stalin could never become the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Rahul Gandhi too can never become the Prime Minister. Stalin dreamt of dividing the AIADMK and removing its government after the demise of J Jayalalithaa, but all his dreams turned out to be a mirage,” he said, adding that the Godavari and Cauvery rivers would be linked by the BJP and AIADMK governments to end water woes in the state.

He also exuded confidence that AIADMK will win all the 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, including the one in Puducherry.

PMK leader S Ramadoss, who shared the dais with Chief Minister and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Salem, said that the Congress failed to eradicate poverty in the country even after 60 years. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win a second successive term.