While Edappadi Palaniswami, the beleaguered Chief Minister, launched a multi-pronged strategy to ensure the survival of his Government in office despite the withdrawal of support by the MlAs owing allegiance to the Sasikala camp, the Opposition upped its ante on Thursday by demanding fresh election to the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly.
Palaniswamy convened party MlAs from three districts to chalk out a strategy for the survival of his Government in the backdrop of the revolt by MlAs belonging to the Sasikala/Dinakaran camp. MK Stalin, leader of the Opposition, who is also the de facto chief of the DMK, made a serious allegation while addressing journalists at Salem on Thursday that Palaniswami was on a mission to purchase MlAs for ensuring the continuation of his Government in office.
“The DMK will come back to power with the support of 200 MlAs. It’s a forgone conclusion,” declared Stalin while addressing a public meeting at Salem on Thursday. But he did not disclose the strategy of the DMK though he said it was time “the corrupt AIADMK was shown the door”.
A DMK leader on condition of anonymity told The Pioneer that talks were on between the Dinakaran camp and the DMK to work out a plan of action to pull down the Palaniswami Government. “Please wait for another fortnight for things to evolve,” he said.
EVKS Elangovan, veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, said the only option to save Tamil Nadu was the dismissal of the Palaniswamy Government and order fresh elections. “The Centre should have dismissed the AIADMK Government immediately after the demise of Jayalalithaa and ordered fresh election. The Palaniswamy Government has no popular mandate or support of its own MlAs,” said Elangovan, recuperating after a heart ailment at Chennai.
KS Radhakrishnan, senior DMK leader, echoed the views of Elangovan regarding fresh elections but he was sceptical about the possibility of immediate ejection. “May be after six months or so. Though fresh elections are the only way out of the present imbroglio, most of the political parties are unprepared for the big test,” said Radhakrishnan. He said the Palaniswamy Government was surviving in office only because of the life support system provided by the Centre. “Governance has come to a standstill in Tamil Nadu as the AIADMK factions are fighting it out in the open for crumbs of power,” said the DMK leader.
Meanwhile, N Gopalaswamy, former Chief Election Commissioner, made it known that the delegation of opposition parties calling on the Governor and the President of India with plea to direct the Palaniswamy Government to seek trust vote in the House was a futile attempt.
“The Governor was absolutely right when he told the Opposition leaders that the ball was not in his court. The 19 AIADMK MlAs who gave individual letters to the Governor informing him that they have lost trust in Chief Minister Palaniswamy were equally clever and insightful. They have written in the letter that they have lost trust in Palaniswamy. If they wanted a genuine floor test, they should have told the governor that they have lost trust in the Government. These MlAs want to have their cake and eat it too,” said the former CEC.
An ace astrologer based in Chennai is of the view that Tamil Nadu was getting ready for fresh elections which are expected to be held in December 2017. “The State may come under a spell of Governor’s rule and a new person is expected to emerge in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu. It is not going to be Rajnikant or Kamal Haasan,” said the astrologer who did not want his name to be quoted.