Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has said that his government will give priority to linking Godavari and Cauvery rivers to facilitate optimum utilization of the surplus water going into the sea. He was campaigning for S Aasaimani , the AIADMK’s

candidate, at Sirkazhi in

on Saturday.

“If water has to flow in Cauvery for the whole year, the Cauvery-Godavari river linking project should be implemented. I assure you that the project will definitely be executed. Since I am also a farmer, this project will be completed during my tenure as the central government is keen on implementing the project at the earliest,” he said. Palaniswami said a number of barrages would be constructed at an estimated ₹1,000 crore to conserve water, adding that not a drop would be allowed to go waste.

“This is a crucial phase for India as our neighbours are trying to create unrest in the country. So, this election is about ensuring the safety of our country. If India has to stay safe, the reins should be given to an able person and that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is the only person qualified to be Prime Minister again,” he said.

There were many prime ministerial aspirants in the opposition alliance, he said. For the alliance in

, Rahul Gandhi was the Prime Minister. In the case of West Bengal, it was Mamata Banerjee. Many others like N Chandrababu Naidu, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayavathi were also in the race. “They will not give a stable government and the safety of India will become a big question,” the chief minister said. He listed out various welfare schemes implemented by the AIADMK government. Palaniswami also campaigned for Saravanan, the AIADMK’s Nagapattinam candidate, and Tiruvarur bypoll contestant R Jeevanantham at Kollumangudi, Nannilam village in Tiruvarur in the evening along with state food minister R Kamaraj.