Tamil Nadu Government Doing Well Because Of BJP, Says E Palaniswami

EPS dismissed concerns that the BJP was forcing the alliance and using central agencies like Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department to pressurize AIADMK leaders for support.

In response to allegations that he only became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at Sasikala's behest, Edappadi K Palaniswami, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, said he was chosen for his merit. "I got the position because of my experience and knowledge... It did not come immediately. I was MP, MLA, minister, then chief minister," EPS said. EPS compared his appointment to that of DMK leader M Karunanidhi, the five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who first got the top job after the death of CN Annadurai, the founder of the DMK. "No one voted for M Karunanidhi to become Chief Minister, the vote was only for Anna. In the same way, whenever a leader dies, a new person is appointed as CM. In the same way, I got the position of chief minister," EPS said. EPS' prime rival in the upcoming state assembly polls is MK Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Mr Stalin has called EPS' All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) the 'BJP's B-team' in its alliance with the national ruling party.