PTR reaches out to opposition after war of words

PTR reaches out to opposition after war of words

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.08.2021

Taking a leaf out of his leader’s book to embrace all, finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Tuesday went to the opposition benches and was seen interacting cheerfully with former minister and MLA K P Munusamy and some AIADMK colleagues. This comes a day after a war of words broke out between them over the DMK’s unkept poll promises and the remarks that were subsequently expunged by the assembly speaker.

Minutes before the day’s proceedings commenced in the assembly, the finance minister made a dash for the opposition benches, leaving the media, the assembly marshals and the MLAs perplexed. Then Thiaga Rajan was seen searching for someone. “He is there,” a staff member politely told the minister, pointing to Munusamy, seated in the last row of the opposition benches. The minister rushed to Munsamy, who is also deputy coordinator of the AIADMK, and greeted the former minister with folded palms and interacted with him for a few minutes.

Soon after certain remarks against the member triggered a debate on Monday, with leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami expressing strong objections, chief minister M K Stalin expressed regret and requested speaker M Appavu to expunge it. Munusamy rose to say the minister sought apology days ago to another AIADMK legislator for his remarks, proving his magnanimity and maturity. Only certain words used by Thiaga Rajan proved wrong at times, Munusamy said.

On Tuesday, sources said Thiaga Rajan sought to explain his remarks. “He thanked Munusamy for appreciating his magnanimity and maturity,” said a leader. The AIADMK MLAs, including former electricity minister P Thangamani, came around and greeted Thiaga Rajan, before appreciating his “work” as a first-time minister. They were all smiles.