Even as 18 legislators owing allegiance to ousted AIADMK deputy secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran remained cooped up in a seaside resort here for the second successive day, AIADMK cadre, led by former party legislator Om Sakthi Sekar, staged a protest outside the premises on Wednesday against the alleged detention of MLAs against their will.
Mr. Sekar, who claimed he was in constant touch with “certain legislators” staying in the resort, said he was optimistic that the legislators would abandon Mr. Dhinakaran and return to Chennai soon. He alleged that they were put up in the resort against their will and accused Mr. Dhinakaran of abusing money power.
“My humble request to the MLAs is to return to the party and join hands with EPS and OPS and strengthen the AIADMK,” he said.
Mr. Sekar also accused the ruling Congress-led government in Puducherry of trying to facilitate the break-up of the AIADMK. Former MP M. Ramadoss was present with Mr. Sekar. The cadre burnt an effigy of Mr. Dhinakaran near the resort.
The premises of the Windflower resort in Chinna Veerampattinam remained quiet in the forenoon. While Andipatti MLA Thangatamilselvan ventured out of the room for a morning walk, other legislators remained in their rooms.
In a counter to the protest by Mr. Sekar, AIADMK MLA A. Baskar along with his supporters staged a demonstration outside the resort later in the day. They raised slogans against Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam and Rajya Sabha member Vaithilingam.
The resort, meanwhile, has stopped accepting bookings for rooms. Of the 50-odd rooms the resort has, 19 rooms booked in the name of Kishore from Chennai (said to be a friend of Mr. Dhinakaran) are being occupied by the legislators.
A sum of ₹ 2 lakh was paid to the resort as advance as early as Tuesday. The resort is among the several properties owned by Giri of Chittoor, sources said. The Windflower resort was bought from a Kerala-based businessman considered close to a former Congress Minister in Puducherry.
Room tariffs
The resort has five categories of rooms with tariffs ranging between ₹8,000 to ₹17,000, exclusive of taxes.
The Studio Garden View is the cheapest at ₹8,055, followed by the Studio Water View (₹8,550), Suite Garden View (₹8,910), Suite Water View (₹9,450) and the priciest option is Windflower Villa (₹17,100).
Sources in the resort said the booking was given till Friday evening as they had already blocked rooms for weekend tourists.
Police said they had given security cover to the resort after a formal request was made by the management.
Even supporters of legislators staying in the resort were denied permission. The legislators are under the close watch of Rajya Sabha member from Puducherry N. Gokulakrishnan.
( With additional reporting by S. Prasad )
