Edappadi K Palaniswami calls AIADMK MLAs meeting

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has called for a meeting of AIADMK MLAs on Thursday at the Secretariat.

The event that will be watched keenly as it comes just three days after nearly 50 legislators of the party skipping a key meeting at the party office in Chennai.

Sources said communication has been sent to AIADMK legislators asking them to assemble for a meeting at the Secretariat. The meeting is likely to discuss the convening of the General and Executive Council of the AIADMK on September 12.

His comments came as a high-powered ministerial delegation led by finance minister D. Jayakumar is camping in New Delhi and meeting several union ministers like Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Nirmala Sitharaman.

Since the Chief Minister and his team have lost their majority in the legislature party, they are resorting to every possible step to “remain in power” through “manipulation,” Dhinakaran claimed. He also said the General Council meeting called on September 12 was not “valid” since only General Secretary (V.K. Sasikala) can convene it.

The AIADMK leader, whose appointment as deputy general secretary was termed “illegal” by party office-bearers on August 10 and reiterated on August 28, claimed that his support in the legislature party has been increasing day by day. He also punched holes in the EPS—OPS camp theory that they have the support of 122 MLAs when 21 legislators of the total 134 belonging to the party have openly come out in favour of him.

“How do they enjoy the support of 122 MLAs? 21 MLAs are in Puducherry and another 22 did not turn up for the Monday meeting and 3 legislators from alliance partners have not extended their support to them. The Chief Minister is trying to mislead everyone by misusing his power. Our MLAs and cadre want him to be removed from the post of Chief Minister,” he said.

Dhinakaran also made it clear that the legislators supporting him want Palaniswami to be removed because he “betrayed” the AIADMK and V.K. Sasikala by joining hands with rival O. Panneerselvam who had termed the government led by him “corrupt.”

To a question whether he thought BJP was behind the machinations, Dhinakaran said there was no point in blaming “external forces” when their own Chief Minister was at fault. “How can I blame others? When someone in my family takes the wrong path due to (bad) friendship, I would only advise my family member rather than blame the outsider,” Dhinakaran said, squarely laying blame on Palaniswami for spawning the rebellion by joining hands with Panneerselvam.
However, Dhinakaran had in the past openly accused the BJP of fomenting “rebellion” against him and threatening AIADMK leaders. His uncle, M. Natarajan had gone one step ahead by accusing BJP of trying to “saffronise” the Dravidian party.