In fresh twist to AIADMK infighting, sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran will begin his campaign against the unified factions of Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam. Dinakaran is scheduled to hold a meeting with the disqualified MLAs of the party.
During the floor test of the Palaniswami government at least 19 AIADMK – all supporters of Dinakaran – had voted against the confidence motion. Later, they were disqualified as MLAs under anti-defection law.
Following the revolt of 19 party MLAs against Palaniswami, they were all initially put up at a resort in Puducherry. They later shifted to a resort in Coorg in Karnataka and are since staying there. One of them shifted camps to support Palaniswami later.
AIADMK INFIGHTING: THINGS TO KNOW
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TTV Dinakaran yesterday launched a fresh attack on his rival, Chief Minister Palaniswami and vowed to “end this rule of betrayal” within a week. The ‘sacked’ party deputy chief also ruled out his faction having any direct or indirect pact with M K Stalin-led DMK, saying that party “is our primary rival.”
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Dinakaran alleged that Palaniswami had tried to “adopt short-cut” method of facing a floor test of his government on Monday by disqualifying 18 MLAs supporting him.
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“The short-cut adopted by Palaniswami is he tried to have the floor test by Monday (apparently September 18) after disqualification (of his supporting MLAs),” he alleged. By doing so, Palaniswami may not require to garner the required support of 117 MLAs to win the trust vote, he said.
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In the 234-member state Assembly, AIADMK has 134 MLAs including the Speaker. The RK Nagar seat is vacant following the death of then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last year. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court had on Thursday directed that no floor test be held in the state Assembly till September 20.
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Dinakaran has escalated his attack against Palaniswami since the August 21 merger of the two camps. Dinakaran also slammed Palaniswami for “aligning” with former rebel leader O Panneerselvam, now Deputy Chief Minister. “There is no history of adharma and betrayal having triumphed. In one week we will end this rule of betrayal in the Assembly,” he said, apparently indicating at a possible floor test of the government.
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Dinakaran claimed 21 AIADMK MLAs were now against the chief minister and wanted his removal, a demand raised with the Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. “The Governor delayed (on directing floor test), but DMK won’t keep quiet. They want elections to happen and so they moved the court (for floor test),” he said.
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The DMK, which has more than once petitioned Rao to direct the Palaniswami government to prove its numbers, had moved the court on the matter recently. On his rival AIADMK camp’s criticism that he has joined hands with DMK in his tussle against Palaniswami, Dinakaran said “there is no direct or indirect alliance with that party.”
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“I repeatedly say that DMK is our primary rival. There is no direct or indirect alliance with that party,” he asserted. His faction had moved the court against a possible disqualification of its MLAs after “sensing” such possible action,” from Speaker P Dhanapal, he said. “You should question me if only I align with DMK after this government goes,” he said.
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Palaniswami, who had “betrayed” AIADMK chief V K Sasikala, will not be “forgiven” by God, Dhinakaran said. He also faulted the Chief Minister for convening the party General Council to remove her as interim general secretary.
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Dinakaran had earlier dismissed the September 12 General Council as a “public meeting”, saying the court could have the final say on the matter.
