Trust Vote Today; AIADMK Faction To Support Vijay
AMMK member Kamraj supports TVK, expelled from party
Chennai: The government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is all set to smoothly sail through the floor test on Wednesday with the top honchos of the 30-strong AIADMK dissident group, S.P. Velumani and C.V. Shanmugham, extending support to the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). On his part, Vijay expressed gratitude for the gesture by visiting Shanmugham at his residence in Adyar and meeting other AIADMK MLAs there on Tuesday.
Though the TVK shown the support of over 118 MLAs to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, and there is no indication of any member or party reneging in their commitment, the AIADMK faction’s support came as a boost to Vijay.
Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said they would meet provide a letter supporting Vijay’s government. He also alleged that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami wanted to form government with the DMK's support.
The Palanaswami group of the AIADMK decided to vote against the confidence motion, senior party leader Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy said here. He also warned that potential cross-voting will face legal consequences, specifically noting that proceedings would be initiated under the anti-defection law if necessary. He said 47 party MLAs had earlier elected Palaniswami as their leader submitted a letter to the Assembly Speaker to that effect.
R. Kamraj, the lone MLA from the AMMK of T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who was elected from Mannargudi, pledged his support to the TVK after he was expelled from the party, thus adding to the ruling party’s tally.
Continuing his thanksgiving journey through Chennai streets that he began on Monday, Vijay also called on VCK chief Thol Thirmavalavan at his residence in Velachery and IUML president K.M. Kader Mohideen besides paying a visit to Sathyamurthy Bhavan to thank Congress leaders, who were the first to extend support to the TVK when it was struggling to prove is majority with only 108 of the 234 seats in its kitty.
