Chennai sources have stated that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who had proved his majority in a Motion of Confidence in the Assembly on Saturday, officially kick started his regime on Monday. He was welcomed by Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan at the Secretariat. Mr. Palaniswami paid homage to former Chief Minister Jayalalitha's portrait before taking his seat.
The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha M. Thambidurai and State Ministers had congratulated Mr. Palaniswami. Mr. Palaniswami had signed five orders and all of them mentioned in the AIADMK's manifesto and had given the go-ahead to two women centric schemes. He has increased the financial support to pregnant women from Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 18,000. Another order granted Rs. 20,000 or 50% subsidy to two-wheelers bought by working women.
Mr. Palaniswami had also ordered the closure of 500 TASMAC outlets. The AIADMK had promised prohibition in a phased manner. Jayalalitha's first signature after taking over as Chief Minister last year was ordering closure of 500 TASMAC outlets. The government has doubled the monthly unemployment allowance to youth and allotted Rs.85 crore for constructing 5000 independent houses for Fisher folk.
Later, addressing the media, Mr. Palaniswami said, "former Chief Minister Amma (Jayalalitha) has already fulfilled 11 poll promises during her tenure. Today, five more poll promises have been fulfilled." This is "Amma's government," said Mr. Palaniswami and added that he would run it under the guidance of "Chinnamma."
