Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is expected to meet a group of disqualified MLAs at a resort in Tirunelveli district on Saturday (October 27), less than a week after the decision to shift them there triggered speculation that it had something to do with the impending court verdict in the MLAs’ disqualification case.
As mediapersons began gathering in front of the resort at Old Courtallam Falls Road shortly after the disqualified MLAs checked in, the latter, in a bid to evade the media glare, moved to another resort on Five Falls Road on Tuesday night.
S. Thangatamilselvan, a disqualified MLA, had earlier claimed that all disqualified legislators, along with three sitting MLAs, were in the resort, adding that a few more legislators were expected to join them soon.
“We don’t know the exact date when the verdict in the disqualification case would be announced. If it [the verdict] favours us, we’ll go to the Assembly to fight for the people who elected us, and if not, we’ll take a collective decision [on the future course of action]. We may be here till Saturday (October 27) and leave for our respective destinations [for Deepavali celebrations] after that,” he said before leaving the resort for Madurai.
‘Pep talk’
He is expected to return to the resort on Thursday evening, after visiting Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts. Mr. Thangatamilselvan did not disclose why he was visiting these districts.
Party sources said Mr. Dhinakaran would meet the disqualified MLAs on Saturday and give them a “pep talk” before they leave for their respective localities.
The owner of the resort, Esakki Subiah, also the organising secretary of the AMMK, met his guests twice before noon on Wednesday.
Amid rumours that R.R. Murugan, the disqualified MLA of Harur (Reserved) constituency, had joined Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s camp, he turned up at the resort around 1.30 p.m.
“I’m a staunch loyalist of Mr. Dhinakaran…I could not arrive here on time due to some health issues. As rumours were being spread with an ulterior motive, I came here all the way from my constituency,” he said, and went on to give a lengthy explanation to project himself as a loyalist of Mr. Dhinakaran.
The gate at the main entrance of the resort remained closed throughout the day, barring short intervals when the vehicles of the disqualified MLAs passed through. “Strict instructions have been given to us not to allow other vehicles inside,” said the security personnel posted there.