As govt hangs on thin majority, four MLAs oppose minister

Though, Sampath is a minister and the party will find it difficult to bring about changes in the ministry formed by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, four MLAs are crucial for the party at the present juncture. As the minister does not have the support of any legislator in his district, the opposition of four MLAs hangs like a Damocles sword over his post. 

As dissident leader TTV Dinakaran is waiting for an opportunity to grab an MLA, taking action against the minister too could be tricky as he could switch his loyalties to the rebel group. The MLAs opposing him include Sathya Panneerselvam (Panrutti), N Murugumaran (Kattumannarkoil), K A Pandiyan (Chidambaram) and V T Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam).

The fight has come out in the open as Sathya Panneerselvam had given a petition to the Collector alleging that minister Sampath is obstructing the development works in Panrutti constituency. The minister had stopped the setting up of government arts college, cashew nut processing industry and jackfruit export centre, he had charged. 

However, the minister had denied the charges and asserted that he is ready to take the MLAs to the Collector and initiate efforts to take up the development works in their constituencies. 

However, the legislators are openly demanding the sacking of the minister and the pressure could mount when the government faces tougher times in the Assembly.