Vijay sought a meeting with Palaniswami but AIADMK did not give time: Minister

Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar said on Tuesday that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay sought a meeting with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami after assuming office, but the AIADMK did not give him time.

“Given the political situation at the time, as the AIADMK was facing electoral setbacks, some party leaders felt that a meeting would not be appropriate. The appointment sought by the Chief Minister was not confirmed by the AIADMK,” the minister claimed during an interaction with reporters at the Chennai Secretariat.

Mr. Nirmalkumar’s response on the issue came in the backdrop of CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam’s remarks that Mr. Vijay should have met Mr. Palaniswami, just as he had met other political party leaders after assuming office.

He also defended the state government’s position on maintaining law and order. He said the police department took immediate action whenever crimes were reported and the accused persons were immediately arrested. “But in the previous government, the approach was inadequate. It was only after the intervention of the courts that the government took action in some cases,” he said.

“In some cases, the killings happen for personal motives. But what is important is how the government intervenes after the incident,” he said. He further stated that strict measures have been taken against illegally operated quarries.

Asked about the farmers protesting against the state government and demanding a complete waiver of crop loans, Mr. Nirmalkumar said that more than 12 lakh small and marginal farmers. who have taken loans from cooperative societies have benefited from crop loan waiver notified in various boards. He also claimed that some sections protested because of DMK’s instigation.

He also said that the Chief Minister would hold public meetings and continue to meet people at regular intervals.

Published – 02 Jun 2026 18:40 IST