Dhinakaran attacks Palanisamy; vows to end 'rule of betrayal' in a week

Chennai: Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran on Friday launched a fresh attack on his rival, Chief Minister K Palanisamy 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."

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, the combative leader also alleged that Palanisamy had tried to "adopt short-cut" method of facing a floor test of his government on Monday by disqualifying 18 MLAs supporting him.

"The short-cut adopted by Palanisamy is, he tried to have the floor test by Monday (apparently September 18) after disqualification (of his supporting MLAs)," he alleged. By doing so, Palanisamy may not require to garner the required support of 117 MLAs to win the trust vote, he said.

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.

The Madras High Court had on Thursday directed that no floor test be held in the state Assembly till September 20. Following the revolt of 19 party MLAs against Palanisamy, 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 Palanisamy later.

Dhinakaran also slammed Palanisamy for "aligning" with former rebel leader O Panneerselvam, now Deputy Chief Minister.

Dhinakaran has escalated his attack against Palanisamy since the August 21 merger of the two camps.

"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.

Dhinakaran 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.

The DMK, which has more than once petitioned Rao to direct the Palanisamy 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 Palanisamy, Dhinakaran said "there is no direct or indirect alliance with that party."

"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.

Palanisamy, who had "betrayed" AIADMK chief VK 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.

Dhinakaran had earlier dismissed the September 12 General Council as a "public meeting", saying the court could have the final say on the matter.