The continuation of Edappadi Palaniswami-led Tamil Nadu Government has become untenable thanks to the ever growing number of MlAs declaring solidarity with the ousted deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran. At the time of going to Press on Tuesday, the number of MlAs owing allegiance to Dinakaran has crossed 40, according to Thanga Tamil Chelvan, MlA and a close confidante of the former.
But CR Saraswathi, party’s spokesman, who enjoys good rapport with Chinnamma VK Sasikala, the party general secretary, told this newspaper that two/thirds of the AIADMK MlAs are with Dinakaran. “It’s a matter of time before Palaniswami goes. Please wait for a couple of days,” said Saraswathi.
The AIADMK camp led by Palaniswami, which spots the name AIADMK (Amma, PTA) is on a mission to salvage the Government . Shocked over the number of MlAs ditching his camp, Palaniswami has ordered a rescue mission to somehow save his Government.
To counter the new found enthusiasm in the DMK camp, which is planning to take the fight to Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the committee of privileges of Tamil Nadu Government issued notices to 21 DMK MlAs including leader of Opposition MK Stalin asking for explanation from them for their act of displaying sachets of banned gutkha in the House last month. The DMK MlAs had resorted to this protest following reports published by newspapers and channels that the officials entrusted with the responsibility of executing the ban order on sale of gutkha were acting hand in glove with manufacturers of the product after collecting crores of rupees from them as bribe and turning a blind eye towards the sale.
A senior AIADMK leader expressed unhappiness over the developments in the party. “It is fast getting disintegrated as more and more groups are formed. The party which had split into AIADMK (Amma) and AIADMK (PTA) has one more faction formed by the merger of the above mentioned groups. It reminds one of the splitting of radio active elements into new elements when they fuse together or undergo splitting,” said the leader from Thanjavur on condition of anonymity.