Previous AIADMK govt. handled natural disasters effectively, says Palaniswami

Edappadi K. Palaniswami. File
| Photo Credit: M. Vedhan

Rejecting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s claims over the handling of natural disasters by the erstwhile AIADMK government, party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday (December 6, 2024) criticised the DMK government over its management of the impact of Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu.

In a video he posted on his social media handle, Mr. Palaniswami said his government had come face to face with many natural calamities, including cyclones Thane, Vardah, and Gaja, and it had worked on a war footing to overcome their aftermaths.

When Chennai experienced heavy rains due to Cyclone Michaung in December 2023, water stagnation was high near the MLA office and the police station in Kolathur Assembly constituency, Mr. Palaniswami said, alleging that Mr. Stalin had overlooked the same.

Referring to Mr. Stalin’s recent remarks that his government was prepared to face any situation that might emerge due to heavy rains, Mr. Palaniswami said: “But he is now watching how people are facing hardships due to flooding in many cities due to the recent heavy rains.”

The former Chief Minister also cited reports that the loss of human lives due to the recent heavy rains was over 20 and the loss of cattle was over 90,000.

‘CM deliberately spreading misinformation’

Speaking at a wedding function at Ariyalur on the same day, Mr. Palaniswami accused Mr. Stalin of deliberately spreading misinformation that the AIADMK had not brought in any development schemes during its tenure and had not done anything productive for the people of the State.

“It was only during the AIADMK regime that Tamil Nadu got 11 medical colleges, six law colleges, five veterinary colleges and research institutions, besides agriculture and government engineering colleges,” Mr. Palaniswami said, adding all these achievements were invisible to Mr. Stalin.

Mr. Palaniswami alleged that the DMK government, in its 43-month rule, had not brought in any schemes for the people of the State. He wondered if the ruling party would be able bring even one medical college to Tamil Nadu.

“The DMK government is only pasting stickers on top of the schemes brought in by the AIADMK government and inaugurating them,” Mr. Palaniswami claimed, quipping, that this was the “Dravidian model of governance.”