TTV Dinakaran to plan future action with Sasikala

While Dinakaran had asserted that the government would fall in two months, his supporters opined that the government would change without elections, hinting that their first bid would be to bring the MLAs to his fold without toppling the government. 

Though, Dinakaran’s supporters were claiming that all the MLAs would support their leader, it is not known if he could garner the support of 118 legislators required for a majority. If Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held on to most of the AIADMK MLAs, then Dinakaran too would not be able to show the majority in the Assembly, but can only manage to bring down the government. However, the threat of dissolution of the Assembly and fresh elections could trigger an exodus of MLAs from the ruling party.

Dinakaran’s supporter Thangatamilselvan said his leader would be sworn-in as an MLA by Speaker P Dhanapal at the Secretariat. He would show the certificate for winning the RK Nagar bypoll to Sasikala and seek her blessings during the meeting. 

He claimed that 30 MLAs belonging to the ruling party spoke to him over phone after the massive victory of Dinakaran. More legislators are in touch with the MLA-elect and there would be surprising scenes when the Assembly is convened for Governor’s address in January. The stand of the AIADMK MLAs would be known during the Assembly session, he added. 

Thangatamilselvan, who took part in the function to pay homage to the tsunami victims, said that Dinakaran would swing into action after the Madras High Court verdict on the disqualification of 18 MLAs of his faction. “We expect a favourable verdict and Dinakaran’s move will be known after that,” he added.

Responding to the removal of district secretaries from the party posts, he asked why all the 18 MLAs had not been expelled from the party. When the Speaker’s action of disqualifying them is quashed by the court, all the MLAs would enter the Assembly again. 

But, Dinakaran’s supporter Nanjil Sampath said the government would change without elections, indicating that they are unlikely to go for toppling the government immediately. People want to see their leader as the Chief Minister, he said.