We are not scared of TTV Dhinakaran, asserts Edappadi K Palaniswami

Cuddalore: Taking T.T.V. Dhinakaran head on yet again, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday accused the AIADMK leader of trying to capture the party and government “through the backdoor” and asserted that none can “destabilize” his administration.

In his strongest ever attack on Dhinakaran, Palaniswami said neither AIADMK nor the Government can be “destabilised” as long as the 1.5 crore cadre of the party exist and cited his gradual rise from being a worker to the Chief Minister as the “uniqueness” of the party.

“We have not come through backdoor. We have attained this position due to hard work and those who believe in hard work will never be scared of anyone. Some people who have through the backdoor are trying to capture the party and the government. We will never let this happen,” Palaniswami said, addressing the MGR Centenary Celebrations in this coastal district.

His statement was an obvious reference to Dhinakaran, who was appointed as deputy general secretary by his aunt V.K. Sasikala whose appointment as General Secretary is itself pending before the EC. Palaniswami was apparently reminding Dhinakaran that he was not even a member of the party since late J Jayalalithaa removed him from the primary membership of AIADMK in 2011. “I am not scared of anybody because I believe in myself,” he thundered before reporters when asked to explain his statement that he was not scared.

Recalling his long association with the AIADMK, the Chief Minister said he had joined the party in 1976 and began his political journey as unit secretary in his hometown and gradually rose through the organisation.

In an apparent appeal to former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, the Chief Minister narrated a short story with the moral that “unity brings benefits to all and division will only cause harm.” He said a banyan tree was boasting about its strength thinking that all birds, animals and human beings were dep-endent on it.
“When a seer passed through the banyan tree, the tree repeated its usual statement and the saint replied that only humility will keep it away from danger.

The seer told the tree that as along as wind is your friend, you would be safe. But later the tree felt that it would lose its branches and fruits if a storm blow. However, the tree itself shed all branches and fruits.”

“When the wind approached, it told the tree that it had already lost everything due to its pride and that it has been isolated. Advising the tree to be friendly, the wind said unity will be beneficial for both,” the Chief Minister said, in an indirect appeal to OPS camp to come to the negotiation table.

Palaniswami has been appealing to the OPS camp to speed up the merger to ensure that the party remains united and takes a strong stand against the Sasikala family.