Tamil Nadu CM expresses desire to join NDA, praises cordial ties

Namakkal (TN): The Tamil Nadu government could have done more had it aligned with the ruling NDA, chief minister EK Palaniswami has said, raising speculation of a possible alliance with the centre.

Palaniswami has reportedly strongly defended AIADMK's bonhomie with the BJP during his address at the MGR centenary celebrations here on Sunday.

"We are neither slaves nor servants to the Centre. We are just cordial with the Union government. Only then we will be able to get projects for Tamil Nadu and get approvals for our own welfare schemes,'' TOI quoted him as saying.

Because of this “cordiality”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised full support to the state government, he reportedly said.

He accused the DMK of doing nothing and only “getting ministries for family members” when it was part of the Centre for 14 years.

"If we were in alliance with the Centre, we would have established several new industries. We would have made Tamil Nadu a glorious state.

“The entire state would have been made rich. But AIADMK did not have such an opportunity," he was quoted as saying.