AIADMK ruling TN for longest period after British: CM
Chennai, Sep 30 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Sunday said that after the British, it is the AIADMK which has ruled the state for the longest period of time.
Speaking at AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran's (MGR) centenary celebrations here, Palaniswami said till MGR was alive, the opposition parties were not even thinking of taking power in Tamil Nadu.
Taking a dig at the much older DMK, Palaniswami said that after the British, it is only the AIADMK that has ruled the state for the longest time from Fort St.George, where the Secretariat is located.
After MGR, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa took the party to further heights, he said.
Palaniswami said MGR was the first actor-turned-politician to be elected the Chief Minister of any state in the country and he was an example of how a leader should be.
MGR introduced the much acclaimed Nutritious Mid-Day Meals Scheme for school students to arrest the dropout rate of poor pupils.
The Chief Minister listed the Telugu Ganga Water Scheme for Chennai and waiving of Rs 330 crore of farm loans and others as the major welfare schemes implemented by MGR during his rule between 1977 and 1987.
Palaniswami announced his government will increase of Floor Space Index (FSI) in cities, set up a new international airport near Chennai; form a body to protect and restore water bodies and encourage households to grow vegetables in their homes.
The Chennai Muffosil Bus Terminus, popularly known as Koyambedu Bus Stand, will be renamed as Purathi Thalaivar Dr. MGR Bus Stand, he added.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
