Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay being received by supporters during a visit to the residence of local farmer P Ramasamy in Chinnakavoor village, after opening the sluices of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts, in Salem, Tuesday, September 1. PTI
TN CM Vijay can even become US President, mocks AIADMK chief Palaniswami
Edappadi K Palaniswami also branded CM Vijay a “costly Chief Minister”, and contrasted the current administration's expenditure with that of ex-CM J Jayalalithaa
Coimbatore (TN), Sept 1 (PTI) Mocking the ruling TVK's extensive public relations campaigns and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's penchant for chartered flights, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday sarcastically remarked that the TN CM could even go on to become the President of the United States.
Responding to a reporter's query about TVK supporters projecting CM Vijay as a future Prime Minister, Palaniswami deployed heavy sarcasm.
"He could even become the President of America. There is nothing wrong with it, it is his wish," former Chief Minister remarked.
However, dismissing the state government's reliance on social media optics, he said, "They are running the government by putting out 'reels' here; that won't work there." He also branded CM Vijay a “costly Chief Minister,” and contrasted the current administration's expenditure with that of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
"During Amma's tenure, projects were inaugurated via video conferencing to cut costs," Palaniswami said, mocking the irony of Vijay projecting a humble farmer image while indulging in such expensive travel.
Shifting focus to the state's administrative machinery, Palaniswami alleged a complete breakdown in governance.
Pointing out that Coimbatore alone had witnessed nearly nine murders in a single month, he stated, "Within 110 days, the law and order situation has completely collapsed. Wherever you look, murders, robberies, and clashes are increasing".
The AIADMK leader further accused the Chief Minister of "recklessly announcing schemes" under Rule 110 without fiscal backing.
He warned that if the state continued borrowing at the current rate, its debt could balloon to Rs 10 lakh crore.
Highlighting the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities, including rice, sugar, and cooking oil, he said the government had taken no tangible steps to control inflation.
Citing rising corruption and widespread protests by farmers, nurses, and the general public, Palaniswami confidently predicted an early end to the DMK’s tenure. "Looking at all this, this government will not last for five years," he added. PTI