All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday took a jibe at the TVK supporters' pitch for Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay to run for the prime ministerial post.
In a sarcastic remark, Palaniswami said Vijay could also go on to become the president of United States, saying it was “his wish”, PTI news agency reported
“He could even become the President of America. There is nothing wrong with it, it is his wish,” Palaniswami said in response to a reporter's query on the matter.
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Palaniswami calls Vijay ‘costly CM’: ‘Running govt by putting reels’
Palaniswami also launched criticism against the social media posts made by the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government. “They are running the government by putting out 'reels' here; that won't work there,” he said.
He further called Vijay a “costly chief minister”, while comparing the current administration's expenditure with that of former CM Jayalalithaa, according to PTI. “During Amma's tenure, projects were inaugurated via video conferencing to cut costs,” Palaniswami said.
{{/usCountry}}He further called Vijay a “costly chief minister”, while comparing the current administration's expenditure with that of former CM Jayalalithaa, according to PTI. “During Amma's tenure, projects were inaugurated via video conferencing to cut costs,” Palaniswami said.
{{/usCountry}}He futher claimed a breakdown of the law and order situation in the state, highlighting that Coimbatore alone had witnessed nine murders in a month. “Within 110 days, the law and order situation has completely collapsed. Wherever you look, murders, robberies, and clashes are increasing,” Palaniswami said.
Congress threatens to quit alliance if TVK backs Vijay for PM
Meanwhile, there was buzz of a rift between Congress and TVK over the latter's supporters' backing of Vijay for PM. Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu also threatened to resign from the state cabinet if the TVK did not accept party MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as the candidate for the prime ministerial post.
Tamil Nadu tourism minister S Rajesh Kumar stated that both Congress ministers will resign if TVK fails to back Gandhi in the 2029 general elections. Kumar added that the party would not compromise on its stand, asserting that Rahul Gandhi is the only candidate the Congress party would support in the Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress had joined hands with the TVK following the assembly elections to form the ruling government in Tamil Nadu.Over the past few weeks, the TVK has pushed the idea of chief minister C Joseph Vijay as the prime ministerial candidate in 2029.
“People from north Indian states are also looking forward to our leader Vijay; he is the one who has the power to rule the entire India,” senior TVK leader KA Sengottaiyan had said earlier.