A day after YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy scripted a historic win in the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has congratulated his counterpart from the neighbouring state. The YSRCP chief swept to power in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, winning 151 seats in the 175-member Legislative Assembly, in addition to 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.
In a letter addressed to the new Chief Minister, CM Palaniswami wrote, "I congratulate you on your historic victory in the General Elections to the Lok Sabha and Assembly. I convey my best wishes to you for a successful tenure as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. I am sure that under your stewardship, the state of Andhra Pradesh will reach new heights of prosperity and development. I look forward to work closely with you to foster excellent relationship between our States."
The Chief Minister's message comes on a hopeful note even as Jagan's predecessor and former AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had called Palaniswami's administration a puppet government, remote-controlled by the BJP, in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. However, Palaniswami's own government was saved by a whisker on Thursday in the 22-seat bye-polls.
The AIADMK won in nine seats including Sholingur, Pappireddipatti, Harur, Nilakkottai, Manamadurai, Sattur, Paramakudi, Vilathikulam and Sulur. Meanwhile, the DMK won in 13 seats including Poonamallee, Perambur, Thiruporur, Gudiyattam, Ambur, Hosur, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Andipatti, Periyakulam, Aravakurichi, Thiruparankundram and Ottapidaram.
In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari had promised that the Centre would prioritise the linking of the river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and the Cauvery that flows into the delta region of Tamil Nadu. The 1100 tmc ft of the river water from the Godavari would be diverted towards Tamil Nadu, he had promised.