Two MPs switch to TTV Dhinakaran camp, more MLAs may follow suit

CHENNAI: Even as chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has called a meeting of the ruling party MLAs on Tuesday at the AIADMK party headquarters, the rebel camp led by TTV Dhinakaran is gearing up to queer the pitch for the ruling faction by pulling to its side a couple of more MLAs. The MLAs are said to be in ‘ready-mode’ to cross over and announce their support for TTV, a source in the AIADMK told TOI.

As and when that happens, the writing will be clearly on the wall for chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami because at least one resolution likely to be passed in Tuesday meeting will be on “reposing faith & confidence” in the CM. On Monday, two MPs crossed over from the unified group to

TTV

side.

“The fact that the two MPs crossed over, a day ahead of the crucial MLAs meet, should be an ominous sign. We have our support base inside (the ruling set up). As and when required, we will bring them out in twos & threes,” the source pointed out.

Shifting allegiance to TTV, AIADMK MPs B Senguttuvan (formerly with OPS) and M Udhaya Kumar (Dindigul) extolled V K Sasikala’s virtues and her sacrifice and hit out at

EPS

and his deputy OPS. Senguttuvan, hit out at

OPS

for maintaining silence after being given the post of deputy CM. “OPS said he was waging a dharma yudh against corruption. Today, he has changed his stance,” the MP said. Accusing the ministers of looting the state and amassing wealth, Senguttuvan said it would be a betrayal of the people, if they remained silent. “This government has to mend its ways or it would be doomed,” the Vellore MP said. Udhaya Kumar said, “It was Sasikala who chose Palaniswami as CM. Today, he acts and speaks against her,”Ever since 19 MLAs expressed support to TTV and presented individual letters to the Governor, expressing a lack of confidence in the chief minister, the ruling party’s strength had come down to 115 in the 234-member TN assembly. This led to the opposition DMK and others asking the governor to call for a fresh floor test, stating the government is in minority.

Since then two more AIADMK MLAs crossed over to the TTV camp, taking the numbers to 21 and bringing down the members supporting EPS to 113. “At least two more are expected to come out in the open and express their support to TTV at the earliest, which could even be tomorrow, as things stand, edging closer to the requirement of 10% (24) members to call for a fresh floor test,” the source said.

In addition, there is the three-member group, actor Karunas, Thameemun Ansari and Thaniarasu, seen to have a soft corner for the TTV group, even while trying to be in the good books of DMK working president, M K Stalin.

(With inputs from Julie Mariappan)