A day after the merger of the two AIADMK factions, the Edappadi K. Palaniswami government faced a crisis on Tuesday, falling short of a simple majority by two MLAs in the 233-member House.
The crisis was precipitated after 19 legislators, owing allegiance to former deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, met Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and withdrew support to the Chief Minister. The MLAs reportedly told Mr. Rao that Mr. Palaniswami had “forfeited” their confidence and that of the public, and urged him to “intervene and institute the constitutional process.”
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Stalin for floor test
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Shortly after the development, Leader of the Opposition and DMK working president M.K. Stalin wrote to the Governor demanding an early floor test to prove the government’s majority and prevent horse trading. Other Opposition leaders also endorsed the demand.
Later in the evening, 18 of the rebel MLAs were taken to the Windflower Resort and Spa in neighbouring Puducherry, reviving memories of the manner in which 123 MLAs were herded in the Golden Bay Resorts in Koovathur following the rebellion by then Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam in February.
Mr. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam and other senior Ministers meanwhile held meetings at the Secretariat on the threat to the government.
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Meanwhile, Governor Rao left for Mumbai.
In identical letters submitted to Mr. Rao at the Raj Bhavan, the rebel MLAs claimed they were “disillusioned with the functioning of the government headed by Mr. Palaniswami, as there has been abuse of power, favouritism, misuse of government machinery, widespread corruption”.
Quoting Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam’s recent statement that the government was “filled with corruptive practice”, the MLAs said that despite this, within two weeks, Mr. Palaniswami had included the former as Deputy Chief Minister.
“This reveals Mr. Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s favouritism, abuse of power, misuse of government machinery to cover up the corrupt practice,” the letter said. Consequently, the MLAs expressed lack of confidence in the Chief Minister declared that they were withdrawing the “earlier support given to him”.
“The Governor patiently listened to us and then told us that he would take action on our letters,” one of the MLAs told The Hindu.
“Our motive is to prompt a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister,” Andipatti MLA Thangatamilselvan told presspersons outside the residence of Mr. Dhinakaran in Adyar. “You will have to wait and see how we are going to change the Chief Minister.”
However, to a query on whether they were ready for peace talks, Mr. Thangatamilselvan said, “When did we say we are not for that?”
Stalin’s letter
In his representation to the Governor, Mr. Stalin said the action of the 22 MLAs had led to an “unprecedented constitutional crisis”.
He noted that when a similar political situation had arisen in neighbouring Karnataka in the past, the Governor there had directed then Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa to prove his majority in the House.
“Any inordinate delay in asking the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the instant case will pave way for the continuance of an unconstitutional government and it will destabilise the democratic norms and precedents established in demonstrating the confidence of the House,” he said.
He urged the Governor to direct the Chief Minister to prove his majority by following the norms laid down by the Supreme Court in the S.R. Bommai case.