CM meets MLAs, Speaker ahead of Assembly session

Though stated to be an interaction, where the legislators put across demands for various constituency related issues, the move assumes significance due to the ongoing battle for supremacy within the party, as MLAs shifting allegiance could spell doom for the EPS government. P Vetrivel, TTV Dinakaran supporter, was also present and when asked about his presence in a meeting chaired by EPS, he said both issues should not be mixed as they were different. 

“Many MLAs supporting Dinakaran also attended the meeting called for by EPS,” he added. Poonamalee MLA TA Elumalai said, “We discussed only constituency related issues. The CM was very kind and listened patiently to our views.” Though such meetings were held earlier with MLAs, they were all held when Dinakaran was in jail. This is the first time that such meetings are being scheduled after his return. 

CM meets Speaker to  weather stormy session 

Earlier, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy met the Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal ahead of the stormy Legislative Assembly session, given the razor-thin majority of his government. The meeting assumes significance as a section of the AIADMK legislators have been swearing their allegiance to the party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, who had been enlarged on bail in an alleged bribery case. 

However, party sources clarified that the legislators, who support Dinakaran, had assured that the EPS government would not be disturbed. Principal Opposition party DMK has been demanding the Speaker and the CM to convene the Assembly to debate the demand for subsidy advances for various departments. They had even petitioned the Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao in this regard. 

The prorogation of the budget session was notified to the members on May 11. By convention, the AIADMK legislators would always participate to the consideration and passage of such motions, and Bills, and ensure their passage in the House. Earlier, when the confidence motion was moved by Palanisamy in the House, the rebel MLAs led by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had abstained. No action had been taken on them for violating the order of the whip. 

The government’s stability is directly linked to the behaviour of the MLAs in the ensuing session, while the Opposition would go blazing all guns against EPS. Meanwhile, the Business Advisory Committee of the State Legislative Assembly is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to decide on the Assembly’s itinerary.