Chennai: A DMK delegation headed by its principal secretary K. Duraimurugan will meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on August 27 with an appeal to order Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to prove his majority in the Assembly.
Besides, the team is likely to complain about the meeting of the Privileges Committee of the Assembly to consider action on 20 DMK legislators who displayed gutka packets in the Assembly at the end of the Assembly session in July. The party would convey its opinion that in the present political circumstances, the committee, the ruling party is convening the meeting with malafide intentions to show a false majority in the House. The party would express its Opposition to convening the meeting itself as it comes after the government had lost its majority since 19 MLAs of the party had given a letter to the Governor withdrawing their support to the Chief Minister.
Opposition leaders continued to press for a floor test for Palaniswami government after two more MLAs came out in support of the AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran taking the tally of his supporters to 21. Besides, two other MLAs opined that the Assembly could be dissolved and fresh elections should be held.
At a press meet at Tiruvarur, AIADMK (Amma) general secretary V.K. Sasikala’s brother Dhivakaran claimed that at least 60 MLAs, besides eight ministers had expressed support to their stand of removal of Palaniswami from the Chief Minister’s post.
TNCC leader S. Thirunavukkarasar said the present government is not an AIADMK government, but a government run by the BJP. He said Palaniswami had no locus standi to remain in power after losing majority support in the House. Urging the Governor to order a floor test for Palaniswami government, he also declared that his party is ready to face the Assembly elections.
CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan too said when 21 MLAs had come out openly against the state government, it had certainly lost the majority in the Assembly. He also appealed to the Governor to ask Palaniswami to prove his majority in the House.
