Coimbatore: DMK MLA V Senthil Balaji on Saturday said Tamil Nadu was the number one state in India and that people should wait and see how the new govt performs.Balaji visited Kottaimedu in Coimbatore South constituency on the day to thank voters for his victory. Speaking to reporters, he said DMK and its allies were working together through their administrators to fulfil the promises made to the people. “We will continue to work hard for a complete victory in the future.” When asked about the vertical split in AIADMK, with one faction supporting the governing party, Balaji said MLAs and the party leaders had already expressed their views on the issue. He recalled that during the confidence vote, the leader of the opposition and DMK youth wing had listed the promises made by the new govt during election and urged that they be implemented quickly within a fixed timeframe. Referring to opinions being shared on social media, he said people should wait and watch how the new govt delivers the welfare schemes. He said the media and social media were creating an impression that Tasmac shops were being reduced and that total prohibition was being introduced for the first time simply because a new govt had taken office. He said 500 Tasmac shops were closed during the previous DMK regime on the chief minister’s orders, and that the liquor shops were reduced during the period of earlier AIADMK govt as well. Replying to a question on whether people expected a real change in this election, Balaji highlighted Tamil Nadu’s achievements, stating that the state ranked first in India in higher education enrolment, healthcare and industrial growth, and it had recorded double-digit economic growth. He said the new govt had not made clear pre-election promises about the policy changes it intended to introduce. “Merely preserving the achievements of DMK president, who had earlier led Tamil Nadu on a development path as chief minister, will itself be sufficient for the new govt.” Balaji said there had been no political discussions with SP Velumani and that there was no need to hold any political talks with him.
