EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday resigned after the ruling AIADMK suffered a rout in the assembly election.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted the resignations of Palaniswami, who is in Salem, and his council of ministers that were sent to his secretary at Raj Bhavan. Purohit then dissolved the 15th Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.

“However, the governor has requested him (Palaniswami) and the council of ministers to continue until alternate arrangements are made,” said an official release from Raj Bhavan. The governor’s office is preparing for the new dispensation to take charge.

The DMK, contesting on the ‘rising sun’ symbol, won 133 seats, while the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami won 66 seats in the April 6 assembly election with the votes being counted on Sunday.

Later, Palaniswami tweeted, “I extend my wishes to M K Stalin, who will assume charge as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.” His deputy and AIADMK coordinator Pannerselvam also took to Twitter to extend wishes to Stalin. The DMK chief reciprocated, tweeting: “Need your advice and cooperation to create a better Tamil Nadu. Democracy is a combination of treasury and opposition. Let's protect democracy.”

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami in a joint statement said people were aware of the party’s excellent work for the state’s welfare in the last 10 years. “Treasury and opposition are both sides of the coin of administration. We have a responsibility to act as an instrument to ensure the chariot of administration is run appropriately. We will carry out all duties that are to be carried out with great responsibility as opposition,” they said.