The AIADMK government will prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly as and when it is necessary, according to party organising secretary and Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam. “The present government will continue its excellent performance and remain in office for the next four years,” he said on Tuesday.
His assertion follows the action of 19 MLAs loyal to the “ousted” deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Tuesday meeting Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and and submitting letters withdrawing their support to Mr. Palaniswami.
The present Assembly was constituted on May 21, 2016.
Stalin cites 'SR Bommai case'
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly M.K. Stalin, in a letter to Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, urged the former to convene an Assembly House session at the earliest and ask the government to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
Mr. Stalin, citing the 'SR Bommai case' asked Mr. Rao to uphold the constitutional norms set by the Supreme Court.
Dhinakaran 'expels' Vaithilingam
A day after the unified AIADMK appointed R. Vaithilingam as deputy coordinator of the party, T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Tuesday 'expelled' him. In a signed announcement through the party's letterpad, Mr. Dhinakaran asked party cadres not to have any relations with Mr. Vaithilingam.
'CM will take action'
Co-operation Minister Sellur K. Raju is confident that the government will serve its full term. "The Chief Minister will take appropriate action. He will also take action to bring together everyone into one fold," he said.
'Wait and see how we will change Chief Minister'
The19 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs were reportedly upset with the move to remove V.K. Sasikala from the general secretary post. "We are against their decision to remove our Chinnamma (Sasikala)", MLA Thanga Tamilselvan said after meeting the Governor.
"Our aim is to bring a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister. You will have to wait and see how we will change the Chief Minister," he said.
The pro-Dhinakaran MLAs
Following are the pro-Dhinakaran MLAs:
P. Vetrivel (Perambur)
Thangatamilselvan (Andipatti)
P. Palaniappan (Papparapatti)
M. Rangasamy (Thanjavur)
L.G. Subramanian (Sattur)
S. Mariappan Kennedy (Maanamadurai)
S.T.K. Jakkaiyan (Kambam)
R. Sunderraj (Ottappidaram)
R. Thangadurai (Nilakottai)
N.G. Parthiban (Sholinghur)
Elumalai (Poonamallee)
Uma Maheswari (Vilathikulam)
Senthil Balaji (Aravakurichi)
K. Kathirkamu (Periyakulam)
S. Muthiah (Paramakudi)
M. Kothandapani (Thiruporur)
R. Murugan (Aroor)
R. Balasubramanian (Ambur)
Jayanthi (Gudiyatham)
According to sources, the MLAs handed over the letters signed individually, about their present stance towards the government. Stating that though they (19 MLAs) were among the 121 MLAs who had supported Mr. Palaniswami's government, they were compelled to withdraw support to him, since he has lost the confidence of the MLAs.
However, the letter says the "withdrawal of support" was only to the Chief Minister and not for the AIADMK government. This may be construed that the Dhinakaran camp is aiming for a change in the CM's post.
Maithreyan meets Governor
Soon after the Dhinakaran camp MLAs left the Raj Bhavan, V. Maithreyan, AIADMK MP and supporter of O. Panneerselvam, met Mr. Rao and appraised him of the MLAs support to the the Edappadi government. Latest reports say that after the meetings, Mr. Rao will leave for Mumbai later today.
OPS gets additional portfolio
In a related development, Mr. Panneerselvam on Tuesday was allocated additional portfolios. According to a Raj Bhavan press release, “Planning, Legislative Assembly, Elections and Passports, held by D. Jayakumar has been allocated to Mr. Panneerselvam in addition to the portfolios held by him. Consequently Mr. Jayakumar has been re-designated as Minister for Fisheries, Personnel and Administrative reforms."