Chennai: In a move that would further strengthen DMK’s ties with the three AIADMK alliance MLAs, DMK working president MK Stalin has invited them to take part in the platinum jubilee function of his party organ ‘Murasoli’.
The three MLAs — Thamimum Ansari (Manithaneya Janayaga Katchi), Thaniyarasu (Kongu Ilaignar Peravail) and Karunas (Mukkalathor Puli Padai) — had given their assent to participate in the function, showing the widening gap between the AIADMK and its allies who contested on the ‘two leaves’ symbol in the 2016 elections and entered the Assembly.
With Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s government surviving on a wafer-thin margin of five MLAs, every legislator is crucial for the continuance of the government, which is hit by dissensions within the party.
The AIADMK had won a confidence vote in February 18, but it could face another test after two months since the DMK is certain to call for a no-confidence motion after two months, especially after the open fight between the supporters of the Chief Minister and AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran who has vowed to act decisively after August 5.
If the AIADMK allies join the DMK front, the government would have only 119 MLAs in the 234-member state Assembly, just two more than the numbers needed for a majority, at a time when most of the party MLAs are involved in a bitter and open fight among themselves.
Four Cuddalore MLAs are acting against the Minister MC Sampath and another minister Rajendhra Balaji had an open tussle with MLA and former minister Vaigai Selvan. Seven MLAs joined together to issue open statements against the MLAs supporting Dhinakaran and there appears to be a free for all in the party.
The three MLAs had already met Stalin twice on the release on parole of Perarivalan, a convict in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. They met him earlier and appealed to him to support their demand of Perarivalan’s parole.
They had staged a walkout from the Assembly on the ban on cattle sale for slaughter issue. Ansari had already announced that he would vote for Congress candidate Meira Kumar in the Presidential elections.
