EPS tears into opposition campaign

Stating that every household in Tamil Nadu had benefitted through some scheme introduced by chief ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, he said Stalin failed to understand this.

Though his party was not in power in the state and also not part of any alliance with the ruling dispensation at the Centre, Stalin continued to make tall promises which could never be fulfilled, Palaniswami added.

Stating that all promises made by the AIADMK had been fulfilled, he said Stalin’s lies included holding the AIADMK responsible for the present anti hydrocarbon and methane agitations when it was the DMK which wasthe genesis for the scheme coming to the state, the Chief Minister said.

Referring to Stalin’s press meet after paying his respect to the slain former Tirunelveli mayor Uma Maheswari, he said the state government was blamed for poor L&O situation when police arrested the killer who belonged to the DMK within two days. “So why are you blaming us?” he demanded. A survey by a media house revealed that TN was the best state in India on the L&O front, he added.

Referring to the DMK’s arrogance and high handedness as evidenced by their behaviour in the state Assembly during the confidence vote - a black day - and again when they did not even spare former CM Jayalalithaa in the Assembly as also their behaviour in biryani and parotta shops he said that party had no locus standi to talk of L&O.

On Stalin’s contention that the AIADMK had done nothing for the people, the Chief Minister reeled out statistics of various welfare schemes and what it had done for people in Vellore district and Vellore town.

Stating that Stalin was under the mistaken impression that the AIADMK rule continued due to the good offices of the DMK, he said “we do not need you.”

Calling Stalin’s bluff that the DMK had brought in the Hogenekkal Combined Drinking Water scheme, Palaniswami said it was Jayalalithaa who laid the foundation for the scheme in 2012 to cover 11 municipalities, 5 town panchayats and 944 villages. “But Stalin does not care to know this,” he added. Detailing the various welfare measures for minorities, he said Haj pilgrims this year would cross the 4,000 mark compared to the 3,000 plus pilgrims last year.

Earlier, speaking at Anaicut, the CM said the government was considering bifurcating Vellore district as it was a big district.