Dhinakaran urges EPS to prove it was Amma government that is still ruling the state

Chennai: Rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to prove that it was 'Amma's government' that is still ruling the state by bringing the ongoing strike to an end.

Joining the transport strike debate raked by the opposition MLAs in TN Assembly, RK Nagar MLA Dhinakaran in his maiden speech said that the former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa was friendly towards the transport employees and was also concerned about the commuting public.

The CM should directly intervene in the issue and end the ongoing strike for the welfare of both the public and transport employees, he said.

Later, when DMK MLA J. Anbhazagan wanted to raise the issues related to the majority of the state, the speaker expunged the remarks. TTV Dhinakaran who wanted to implead in the debate to talk about the status of 18 disqualified MLAs sought permission from the speaker to discuss the issue. With the speaker P. Dhanapal not entertaining the rebel MLA, Dhinakaran staged a walkout.

Stating that the people of the state were suffering due to the strike, Dhinakaran urged the government to put an end to it by acting in the right manner. Chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami, deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam and Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin were present during Dhinakaran's speech and keenly watched the brief speech of the highest profile RK Nagar MLA.

“I wanted to discuss the issues related to the suspended 18 MLAs. They are not in the Assembly so I requested the Speaker to allow me to talk, but the plea was turned down by the speaker forcing me to stage a walkout”, TTV Dhinakaran told reporters. He also reiterated that the days are counted for the current government as it has lost the majority in the assembly.