Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam to meet PM Narendra Modi today with Vardah aid demand

CHENNAI: In his first major official engagement after the demise of AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to seek financial assistance for damage caused by cyclone Vardah. Though Pannerselvam has met Modi in the past, the Monday meeting is expected to prove the mettle of the three-time chief minister, who hitherto had been heading the government only as a caretaker in the absence of his political mentor. Ahead of his visit, the chief minister held discussions with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan on Sunday evening.

An official statement issued here said Panneerselvam will present a memorandum covering various issues, and appeal for the Centre's assistance for damage caused by the cyclone during his meeting with the PM in New Delhi.Cyclone Vardah struck Chennai and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts on December 12 causing extensive damage to the infrastructure in the three districts. While thousands of trees were uprooted, the severe storm left most of the affected parts without power for days.Power supply is yet to resume in some suburbs. A few days ago, Panneer selvam wrote to the Prime Minister to urgently sanction `1,000 crore to the state from the National Disaster Response Fund to take up immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction measures.

DMK treasurer and leader of opposition M K Stalin demanded that the chief minister visit the national capital and meet the Prime Minister to exert pressure on the Centre for the purpose instead of just writing a letter.

Panneerselvam maintained a low profile during his previous stint as chief minister. He had participated in the joint conference of chief ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts held in New Delhi in April 2015 in his capacity as chief minister. After Jayalalithaa returned to power, she nominated Panneerselvam, who was holding the finance portfolio, for the second meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog organised in the national capital in July 2015.

Against this backdrop, it would be interesting to watch how Panneerselvam uses his experience that he gained under the shadow of Jayalalithaa in convincing the Centre to grant the much-needed financial assistance to carry out relief measures in the state that is reeling after the impact of Cyclone Vardah.