PM Modi alone can ensure national security: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami

Salem: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said the AIADMK had forged alliance with the BJP only to ensure that Narendra Modi returned as Prime Minister as only then would the nation and people be assured of absolute security and development.

"There are 130 crore people in this great democratic country. We took into serious consideration who would be able to ensure protection to all these people and decided only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can do this. That's how this alliance with the BJP under the leadership of the AIADMK has been formed in the state", CM told reporters here, adding, "Some more parties will join our alliance and this team will continue for the next election too".

He said DMK president M K Stalin was spewing venom at him and taking pot shots at the AIADMK alliance with the BJP and the DMDK only out of frustration and spite-the DMK chief has been pointing out that the late Jayalalithaa had fought against the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll telling "this TN lady" was a better option than "Gujarat Modi" as the PM candidate, while Vijayakanth had a bitter battle with her in the Assembly after facing the last State polls as her ally.

Responding to this Stalin jibe, the CM said the DMK had forged alliance now with the MDMK even though its leader Vaiko had lambasted the DMK and its leadership in the harshest manner in the past. "We know to what extent MDMK chief Vaiko had lambasted the DMK. Now he is in the DMK front and is extolling (DMK chief Stalin) sky-high", CM said.

He said PM Modi has announced projects "worth thousands of crores" for Tamil Nadu whereas DMK had got nothing for the state when the party was part of the ruling coalition at the Centre for 12 long years.