AIADMK leaders hail Modi, seek successive term for him as PM

AIADMK leaders K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam Wednesday heaped praise on Narendra Modi, saying the 'capable' and 'efficient' Prime Minister alone can ensure the country's safety and sought a successive term for him.

In a grand NDA rally headed by Modi and attended by coalition partners, including PMK and outfits like Puthiya Tamizhagam, Chief Minister Palaniswami, who is the joint coordinator of the ruling AIADMK, said Modi was the only "capable" person to rule the country.

Panneerselvam, the AIADMK coordinator and deputy chief minister, said the coming Lok Sabha polls was a fight between "dharma and adharma" and said his alliance was fighting to uphold dharma.

"The only man capable of ruling this country is the Prime Minister. If we are living safely here, it means the credit goes to his administrative skills," Palaniswami said.

The safety of 130 crore Indians was important and Modi had the qualification to ensure that, Palaniswami said.

"The country's security is very important. Neighbours are creating so many problems. To handle them, we need an efficient person and people have decided only the Prime Minister can do that," he added.

Palaniswami lauded Modi for India's air strike in Pakistan post the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF jwans were killed.

The world was supporting India on this matter and this was possible due to Modi's diplomacy by travelling to various countries in the past five years, Palaniswami said.

Further, Wing Commander Abhinanda Varthaman, the IAF pilot captured by Pakistan following a dogfight, was brought back in a short time and this was 'unprecedented,' the chief minister added.

Modi had also kept inflation under control,he said and lauded the Prime Minister for the Centre's recent PM-Kisan scheme.

Taking a swipe at his party's arch rival DMK, Palaniswami demanded to know what the opposition party had done for Tamil Nadu despite being part of previous Central governments for about 13 years in a row.

"What did they do for Tamil Nadu?. Only their family benefited. We need a strong India. We need to safeguard the country. For this, the Prime Minister has to return for a second term," Palaniswami said.

The "mega" NDA coalition in Tamil Nadu was a "natural alliance meant for public service," he said and urged the voters to give it a 'grand victory' in all 40 Lok Sabha seats- 39 in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry segment.

Panneerselvam expressed confidence of securing a "Himalayan victory" in the polls even as he described Modi as a "great son of Gujarat."
Panneerselvam, however, hailed the 'bond' between Jayalalithaa and Modi and said she was like an "elder sister to him."