JOIN USAfter another day of dramatic activity, the six-month-old Edappadi K Palaniswami government in Tamil Nadu appears to have been reduced to a "minority" with 19 MLAs backing the combative group lead by T T V Dhinakaran, the 'ousted' AIADMK Amma Deputy General Secretary, withdrawing support.
The dissident MLAs handed over individual letters to governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, withdrawing their support to the government.
The Dhinakaran camp's action came even as it condemned the alleged betrayal of Palaniswami, by inducting rebel AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi leader O Panneerselvam into the cabinet as deputy chief Minister, ignoring the charges of corruption levelled by him. With the merger of EPS and OPS groups after a six-month-long turmoil that plagued the party, Panneerselvam was made the deputy chief minister and also appointed coordinator of the party, which meant that he would have complete control over party affairs.
Protesting against this, the 19 MLAs supporting Dhinakaran, after meditating at the memorial of the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa late Monday night, called on the governor at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. They submitted letters expressing their lack of confidence in Palaniswami and withdrew their support to him, virtually reducing the government to a 'minority'.
Against betrayal
"We are not against the government. But we are opposing the action of Palasniswami for making 'betrayer' Panneerselvam the deputy chief minister," MLA Thangatamilselvan, a staunch supporter of Dhinakaran said.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties urged the governor to direct the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence by convening the Assembly immediately to prove his majority. The Opposition claimed that not only 19 MLAs, three other legislators of friendly parties, who were elected under the AIADMK's 'Two Leaves' symbol, had pledged their support to Dhinakaran.
The Opposition parties, including DMK and PMK, said the government lacked majority and the governor should direct the CM to prove his group's strength immediately.
The AIADMK has a strength of 135 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, including the Speaker, who can cast his vote in the event of a tie.
* 19 MLAs backing ousted T T V Dhinakaran withdraw support to govt
* Submit individual letters to governor expressing loss of confidence in govt
* Oppn claims govt reduced to a minority
* Urges governor to ask the CM to prove his majority on the floor of Assembly