Top

Tightrope walk for Edappadi Palanisamy govt surviving on razor thin majority

DMK is expected to utilise the precarious situation and press for a division to pass the budget instead of the usual voice vote.

Chennai: As the budget session of the Assembly begins on Thursday, the ruling AIADMK, surviving by a thin margin of five MLAs, faces crucial challenges of no confidence motion against Speaker P. Dhanapal, besides the passing of the budget, amidst reports of dissent among a few senior leaders who had not been included in the ministry.

The principal opposition, DMK, has already given notice for a no confidence vote against the Speaker and it is expected to be taken before the end of the session. Since, the DMK has more than the required number of 35 MLAs, the resolution should be taken up for discussion.

The ruling party is said to be facing dissent from a few senior leaders including former minister Senthil Balaji, who boycotted Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami’s function at Tiruchy to inaugurate welfare schemes for Karur district.

Although, Senthil Balaji, had denied that he is planning to cross over to the rival faction led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, party circles feel that he needs to be pacified before the session.

A few other MLAs from the delta districts too are said to be demanding some posts in the government and are not seen in some of the party functions.

Since Palanisami government is surviving on a razor sharp difference, any voting in the Assembly must be a tightrope walk for the ruling party.

The DMK is expected to utilise the precarious situation and press for a division to pass the budget instead of the usual voice vote.

The nominations in the governing council, which selects party candidates in elections too, is another reason for discontent as senior leaders like Lok Sabha deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai and senior ministers had been kept out of it.

Besides, the short session is expected to be stormy with DMK expected to be belligerent and vociferous to corner the government on the non-availability of PDS commodities, unannounced bus fare hike and drinking water scarcity.

Besides, DMK working president M.K. Stalin had vowed to expose the government’s precarious position and the debate on the subject could give embarrassing moments for the ruling party.

The DMK would also focus on the law and order situation, Neet examination, farmers’ suicides and the shooting of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
Next Story