Chennai: AIADMK legislator Thanga Thamizhselvan, a strong supporter of party deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, on Tuesday hailed Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami as a 'symbol of loyalty' and said he is gratefully carrying out the instructions of party general secretary V.K. Sasikala.

He also compared him to Ramayan's Bharathan, who placed Lord Ram's padhuka in the throne and protected the government till Ram's return from Vanavasam, indicating that his group considered the Chief Minister as an interim arrangement.

Quoting a couplet from Tirukkural, he said any one could be pardoned, but an ungrateful person would not have redemption from his sin, Thanga Thamizhselvan said the Chief Minister is an example for loyalty.

Even while Palaniswami was present in the House, the AIADMK MLA said the Chief Minister is grateful at a time of crisis and running the government facing numerous challenges. When Thamizhselvan praised the Chief Minister as an 'iron man from Edappadi', DMK members were seen gesturing to the MLA if his group had patched up with the Chief Minister.

Taking part in the discussion on demands for grants to health ministry in the Assembly, Thamizhselvan started his speech by praising Sasikala as 'Thiaga mangai' and said she considered her friendship with former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa as sacred. He also lauded Dhinakaran and went on to appreciate the health schemes of the government.

He said the government was safeguarded by 'Chinnamma' and asserted that it would continue for the next four years. He also stressed on unity for the continuance of the AIADMK government for another 100 years.

Earlier, even while he got up to speak, cheerful voices from the DMK greeted him and the opposition members listened keenly when Thamizhselvan quoted the couplet on gratitude. But, later they were surprised at the MLA's praise for the Chief Minister.