Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami has likened the ruling AIADMK to an ‘iron fort’ which is impregnable and which can sustain any kind of attack.

“It’s a party which is kept intact by the united and combined strength of 1.5 cadres who are dedicated and determined to preserve and fulfill Purtchithalavi Jayalalithaa’s dreams,” EPS thundered while inaugurating a life-size bronze statue of the late chief-minister inside the premises of the AIADMK’s Lloyds Road headquarters at Royapettah in Chennai yesterday.

70th birthday of the former chief-minister was observed with gaiety all over the State by AIADMK cadres. The function held at the party headquarters to inaugurate the bronze statue was attended by State Ministers, party MLAs, MPs and office-bearers besides huge number of enthusiastic cadres.  EPS and deputy chief-minister OPS, who is also the party convener, paid floral tributes to the former chief-minister’s statue before inaugurating it.

“Some persons are day-dreaming to disturb the present regime but their evil dreams won’t be fulfilled. Jayalalithaa performed the impossible thing of keeping the party united after the demise of ‘Puratchithalaivar’ MGR more than three decades back. It’s a party comprising 1.5 crores of committed cadres. The party, founded and nurtured by the likes of MGR and Jayalalithaa, is an impregnable iron fort and nobody can shake it,” EPS said amid applause of party cadres.