BJP’s Nainar Nagenthran, CM Stalin share cordial exchange in the Assembly

The cordial demeanour of BJP floor leader Nainar Nagenthran and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the Assembly proceedings on Tuesday was of specific interest to the members of the House. The BJP legislator thanked the Chief Minister on multiple accounts during his speech, and the CM, in return, assured him that the government would consider all his requests.

The courteous tone of Mr. Nagenthran’s speech was noticed by the Chief Minister, who said, “Be it a fresh demand or one that we have fulfilled, he [Mr. Nagenthran] has thanked us or is making the request with love. We would also consider it with love.” The DMK MLAs cheered Mr. Stalin’s remarks.

While commencing his speech, Mr. Nagenthran thanked the Speaker, the Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, other legislators, his parents, and his electorate for the opportunity to speak in the House. Referring to a demand he had made to the Chief Minister while the latter was reviewing flood relief operations, Mr. Nagenthran, the MLA from Tirunelveli, said his plea for setting up a fire station was accepted, and he “wholeheartedly” thanked the Chief Minister for it.

To a demand made by Mr. Nagenthran for conducting the kumbabishekam of the Nagaraja temple in Nagercoil, Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu listed the steps taken in his regard. In a lighter vein, the Minister said he had expected gratitude from the BJP MLA for the steps taken by his department, but in vain.

Mr. Nagenthran said, “I had thanked the Chief Minister even while commencing my speech. In fact, I had to thank him for addressing even more issues. He has given me all that I had asked for. When I thank the Chief Minister, it is meant for all the Ministers. Of course, I extend my special thanks [to the HR&CE Department].”

The Chief Minister intervened to say, “BJP member Nainar Nagenthran thanked the government for everything. We were not expecting to be thanked at all.” Pointing out how he used the word anbodu (with love) in every request, Mr. Stalin said, “We would also consider them all with love.”

Mr. Nagenthran recalled Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu’s speech in the House last month, in which he had said that the people of Uttar Pradesh were proud of the high footfall at Maha Kumbh, but Tamil Nadu took pride in the steady flow of visitors to Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai and the archaeological museum in Keeladi.

The footfall at the library and the museum was a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu, Mr. Nagenthran said, adding, “At the same time, the fact that about 57 crore people visited the Maha Kumbh is a matter of pride to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the country.”