E Palaniswami orders shut down of 500 liquor shops in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Feb 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswamy continued the long history of previous AIADMK governments of announcing populist schemes as he announced sops for women and fishermen on Monday. Saying that he was following late former CM Jayalalithaa’s policies, he announced five schemes including shutting down of 500 liquor stores across Tamil Nadu.

In his first speech as CM, Palaniswamy announced the closure of liquor shops that will happen in phases. The move seems to be announced to win the confidence of the women of the state. Apart from this, he announced a scheme wherein working women would be given 50% subsidy to buy two wheelers. In another scheme, he announced that the maternity assistance would be increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000. He also announced 5000 houses to be built for fishermen.

This was his first address as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after he won the trust vote. With the announcement of populist schemes, the AIADMK seems to be giving out a message to the masses that a change in leadership may not necessarily mean change of policies.

Palaniswamy on Saturday won the trust vote in Tamil Nadu Assembly by a comfortable margin of 122-11. However, his appointment and winning the vote of confidence cannot be called smooth as he had to face tough resistance from rival camp led by O Panneerselvam and MK Stalin-led DMK. The DMK MLAs created a huge ruckus during the vote. Due to their violent protest in the Assembly, the Speaker evicted them from the House and carried out voting in their absence. The DMK is now calling it illegal. They have now moved Madras High Court against their eviction.

Palaniswamy was installed as the legislative party leader by AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan before going to jail after the Supreme Court reversed the high court order of acquittal in the disproportionate asset case. She was handed a 4-year jail term and disqualified her from being a legislature for the next 10 years.

After Jayalalithaa’s death in December last year, Tamil Nadu has been witnessing a political turmoil. Her aide Sasikala first installed herself as the general secretary of the party. Then she moved to become the Chief Minister by making caretaker CM Panneerselvam resign. Initially, he resigned, but later announced open revolt against Sasikala. The entire drama culminated in Palaniswamy proving his majority in the House on Saturday.