Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran (MGR) and the AIADMK are responsible for the growth of higher education in the state, SRM Group founder and Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi leader T R Paarivendhar said,

Speaking at his 86th birthday celebration at SRM University in Kattankulathur, Paarivendhar recalled his journey as an educationist. “I started as a teacher, and today SRM has grown into four universities and 35 institutions with over one lakh students,” he said.

He credited MGR and then Education Minister K Aranganayagam for establishing medical and engineering colleges that shaped Tamil Nadu's higher education landscape.

“Today, there are over 450 engineering colleges and more than 40 medical colleges in Tamil Nadu. Millions of students from these institutions are working across the world,” he said.

Paarivendhar reiterated his political vision of eradicating corruption, ending family rule, and ensuring equal rights for women. Expressing support for AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), he said, “It is my wish that a Tamil and farmer like Palaniswami should rule Tamil Nadu again in 2026.”

Highlighting past instances where dignitaries invited to SRM later assumed higher offices, Paarivendhar predicted a similar outcome for EPS. “We invited Pratibha Patil before she became President, and Modi before he became Prime Minister. Recently, we invited Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Now we have invited Palaniswami,” he said.

Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who attended the event, said the BJP would work towards bringing EPS back to power.