AIADMK issues whip at 11th hour against no-trust vote

Murmurs of a difference of opinion among a few lawmakers on whether to support BJP in the no-confidence motion brought by the TDP in the Lok Sabha on Friday forced the AIADMK to issue a whip to its MPs.

The whip was issued after the AIADMK's floor leader in the Lok Sabha P Venugopal completed his speech to ensure that the party MPs vote en masse for the BJP.

Sources in the AIADMK told DH that the decision to vote against the no-confidence motion was taken on Friday morning, but a whip was issued only in the evening since there were reports of differences of opinion among a group of MPs.

"Issuance of a whip has worked since all 37 MPs participated in the voting and polled their votes against the motion," a senior party leader said.

An MP could lose his/her membership if he/she is found they have gone against the whip.

The votes of 36 MPs were registered electronically and one member was not able to cast his ballot electronically.

"This was later resolved cross-checking with the slip that is issued. So, all 37 MPs of the AIADMK voted for the BJP," he said.

A few MPs registered their opposition to vote in favour of the BJP and suggested that the party abstain from voting.

"These MPs suggested that the party members abstain from voting by following the formula that was devised by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. But, the high command was clear that they should vote in favour of the BJP," another leader said.

Unwilling to take chances, the AIADMK top brass asked its parliamentary party office-bearers to issue a whip to ensure that the party suffers no embarrassment.

Party sources justified their decision to vote, saying since there are only nine months left for the tenure of the government to end, it should not be disturbed.

Speculation was rife on Saturday that a few AIADMK MPs did not participate in the voting and there could have been a rebellion within Tamil Nadu's ruling party.