19 MLAs Withdraw Support From AIADMK:- About 19 MLAs withdrew support from the ruling party, a day after the two warring factions of the AIADMK came together to rework the ‘power-sharing deal’. The two AIADMK factions are led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) and other by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).
The nineteen MLAs are said to be among the 121 MLAs, who supported Chief Minister Palanisamy.
One of the MLAs who has resigned in a letter to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao said that the Chief Minister “forfeited my confidence and that of public.” The MLA further wrote that he is withdrawing his support given to Edappadi Palanisamy and asked the governor to interfere and initiate a Constitutional process for the same. He further said that under the leadership of late J Jayalalithaa, he was elected. But, after her demise, at the time of the floor test in order to prove the majority, he had supported Palaniswamy back in February.
Palanisamy also said, “The government headed by Edapaddi K Palanisamy has been abusing power, has favouritism, misuse of government machinery, and widespread corruption.”
The corruption charges against Palanisamy are “levelled from various sectors vehemently,” said the resigned MLA. He also said, “As Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palanisamy is corrupt and encouraging at several levels, which also have caused severe damage to the name of our party.”
O Paneerselvam had given a press statement in the first week of August, where he said that he present Chief Minister is “totally filled with corruptive practice.” added the MLA. He then said, “The statement was made against the government headed by Palanisamy, but within a short span of two weeks, the Chief Minister had included Paneerselvam Deputy Chief Minister in the government.”
This ‘reveals’ the Chief Minister’s favoritism, abuse of power of misusing government machinery to cover up the corrupt practice, said the MLA. He has hence requested the Tamil Nadu Governor to interfere.
On the opinion that he would discharge his duty as a good minister, he supported the Chief Minister back in February he further said, “Whereas the present situation has arisen that the governance of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the constitute.”
Opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) Executive President talking on the matter, said, “My information is that three more AIADMK MLAs have also withdrawn support, making the count of resigned MLAs to 22 MLAs in total. We demand a trust vote.”
SUPRAJA
