The Edappadi K. Palaniswami government of Tamil Nadu is facing a crisis. To sail through a confidence vote, it needs the backing of two more MLAs in the 233-member House.
The crisis was precipitated by 19 legislators, owing allegiance to former deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran. They met Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and submitted individual letters to him stating the withdrawal of their support to the Chief Minister. Read more
Subsequently, about 18 of them, except Vetrivel, were lodged in the Windflower Resort in Chinna Veerampattinam, 11 km near Puducherry, thus staging a reprise of Koovathur. Mr. Vetrivel was expected to arrive on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, V. Divakaran, brother of jailed AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala, suggested that Speaker P.Dhanapal be made the Chief Minister. "The stability of the government will be guaranteed if Mr. Dhanapal is made the Chief Minister and a new Cabinet consisting of new ministers without corruption charges is sworn in", he said.
Here are the updates:
Protest outside resort near Puducherry
Supporters of Puducherry AIADMK MLA A. Baskar, a supporter of Mr. Dhinakaran, burnt an effigy of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and raised slogans against Rajya Sabha member Vaithilingam near the resort in Chinna Veerampattinam condemning them as "traitors".
The party workers, who came on two-wheelers, beat the photos of Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Vaithilingam with slippers and raised slogans against them.
As the workers tried to force their way through the barricades, another section burnt an effigy of Mr. Panneerselvam.
Ex-MLA alleges detention of 18 legislators against their will
Earlier in the day, former MLA Om Sakthi Sekar and his supporters burnt an effigy of Mr Dhinakaran outside the resort. AIADMK cadres, led Mr. Sekar and former MP Ramadoss, staged a protest against the ''detention of legislators against their will.''
Mr. Sekar, who claimed that he was in constant touch with “certain legislators” staying in the resort, said he was optimistic that these legislators would abandon Mr. Dhinakaran and return to Chennai soon.
Mr. Sekar alleged that they were being forcefully put up in the resort 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.
Rooms booked by Dhinakaran's 'friend'
Reports said that out the total 51 rooms in the Windflower Resort, 19 have been booked in the name of one Kishore from Chennai. The MLAs may be shifted to Bengaluru, sources said.
Dhinakaran effigy burnt
Some alleged supporters of AIADMK burnt an effigy of Mr. Dhinakaran.
Ask EPS to prove majority, Congress urges Governor
Leader of the Congress Legislative Party K.R. Ramasamy has urged Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao to instruct the Chief Minister to prove his majority.
Citing the Supreme Court judgement in the S.R. Bommai case, Mr. Ramasamy, in a letter to the Governor, said: "Any inordinate delay in asking the Chief Minister to prove his majority will pave the way for an unconstitutional government".
R.B. Udhayakumar removed from Amma peravai
Mr. Dhinakaran on Wednesday 'removed' Minister R.B. Udhayakumar from the post of secretary, Amma Peravai, and appointed Manamadurai MLA Mariappan Kennedy, who is presently lodged at the resort near Puducherry, in his place.