As long as Modi is with us, nobody can destroy AIADMK: TN minister

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Minister K T Rajendra Balaji has said “nobody can shake” the AIADMK as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi “supports the party”.

Expressing confidence that Chief Minister K Palaniswami’s camp would get the ‘two leaves’ symbol, the State Dairy Minister said, “The symbol will come to EPS camp... there is no doubt about it.”

Addressing a party meeting here late last night, he said as along as “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is with us, nobody can shake our party... nobody can destroy AIADMK....”

He asserted that no one could oppose the ruling AIADMK, including the DMK.

He claimed that 92 per cent of general council members supported the Palaniswami camp.

The Election Commission had on March 23 frozen the name AIADMK and its election symbol after the factions led by Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam staked claim to it ahead of the R K Nagar bypoll, necessitated by the death of party supremo J Jayalalithaa.

Chief Minister Palaniswami, however, revolted against Sasikala. On August 21, rival AIADMK factions led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam merged, ending a nearly seven- month feud in a power sharing formula in the ruling party and the government in which the latter was made the deputy chief minister.

Balaji had earlier courted controversy when he alleged that private dairy firms mixed harmful chemicals in milk.