MK Stalin wants TN Governor to act within a week on floor test demand

DMK leader MK Stalin today called on Tamil Nadu Governor CHVidyasagar Rao and urged him to direct the state government to prove itsmajority in the assembly within a week, in view of rebellion by a section of rulingAIADMK Amma legislators.

Emerging from the meeting with Rao at the Raj Bhavan here,the DMK working president said if the governor did not act on their plea withina week, the party would take legal recourse and also approach "people'scourt".

"We are hopeful that he (governor) will convene theassembly session. If he does not take steps in a week's time, we will approachthe court and also people's court. I have informed this to him," he toldreporters here.

Stalin was accompanied by leaders of allied parties Congressand IUML.

He said as the leader of opposition in the state assembly,he had urged the governor to convene the session based on a request by MLAsloyal to sidelined AIADMK Amma Deputy General Secretary  TT V Dinakaran.

"...I have requested the governor to convene theassembly session so that the ruling AIADMK can prove its majority," hesaid.

Stalin had earlier written two letters to the governor onthe issue after 19 pro-Dhinakaran MLAs met Rao and expressed lack of confidencein the chief minister on August 22.

The revolt by the MLAs came a day after the merger of thefactions led by Palaniswami and former chief minister O Panneerselvam.

Delegations of DMK, Congress and Left parties had alreadycalled on the governor and pressed for a floor test for the Palaniswami government.

Dinakaran had last week met Rao and sought replacement ofPalaniswami, who, however, had been asserting that his government had therequisite majority and none could topple it.

Stalin claimed that the Palaniswami government was havinglesser number of MLAs supporting it in the 234-member assembly with onevacancy.

"The DMK has 89 MLAs, Congress eight and IUML one inthe assembly totalling 98 MLAs, plus 21 MLAs from the TTV Dinakaran camp...thetotal is 119, which is higher than the 114 MLAs who support the Palaniswamigovernment," he reasoned.

Asserting that today's meeting with the governor would bethe last on the matter, Stalin said he had informed Rao that he would takelegal steps if no measure was taken by him on the DMK's demand.

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