DMK delegation meets TN Governor, urges him to ask CM to seek trust vote

The delegation comprised of DMK, its allies the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

The opposition party leaders meeting the Governor comes four days after DMK Working President and Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin urging the Governor to direct the Chief Minister to convene the Assembly and prove his majority.

DMK Deputy leader in the Assembly Duraimurugan headed the delegation along with Party Rajya Sabha member MS Kanimozhi, which met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan and apprised him of the present political situation.

Later, talking to reporters, Mr Duraimurugan said the Governor promised to take steps as per law.

Mr Duraimurugan said the Palaniswami government was reduced to a 'minority' as it only enjoyed the support of 113 MLAs, five short of a simple majority.

Of the total strength of 234 MLAs, one seat fell vacant following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, he said.

Of the remaining 233, Opposition has a combined strength of 98 (DMK 89, Congress-8 and IUML-one) and the combative TTV Dinakaran faction has 22 MLAs, including 19 of them who had handed over letters to the Governor withdrawing their support to the Chief Minister on August 22, a day after the two warring AIADMK camps headed of Palaniswami and his predecessor O Panneerselvam announced the merger following which the latter was made the Deputy Chief Minister as part of the power sharing agreement.

This meant that the Palaniswami Government enjoys only the support of 113 MLAs as against the requirement of a minimum of 118 MLAs for a simple majority, Mr Duraimurugan said and added that a Government which was reduced to a 'minority' should not continue.

"We have asked the Governor to ask the Chief Minister to convene the Assembly and prove his majority", he said.

"If the Governor did not take action with a specific time frame, we have no option but to meet the President of India seeking his intervention", he added.

Asked about the next course of action, Duraimurugan said Mr Stalin would decide on it by either convening the executive meeting of the party or a meeting of DMK Legislators.