Ruling party getting isolated as more parliamentarians offer to resign post

The independent announcements of a few party MPs on the sensitive issue come as an indication of the waning authority of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam over the AIADMK parliamentary wing. 

Speaking to the media in Delhi, Muthukaruppan said, “I will submit my resignation to the Rajya Sabha leader and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday. It is fitting to resign my post for the formation of the Cauvery Management Board as the post was given to me by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa who fought for the cause.” However, he added that he would be ready to reconsider his decision if the party leaders Palaniswami and Panneerselvam made a request to him.  Already, three MPs, Arunmozhithevan, P Kumar and G Hari had told the media that they are also ready to quit if the party leadership allowed them. 

One of the party functionaries said, “The MPs are frustrated over the rising fury of the public on the social media and the outbursts of farmers’ bodies. The offer to resign is only a ploy to escape people’s wrath and put the blame on the party leadership. Besides, they have no stakes over the continuance of the party government in the state and they have nothing to lose if the Assembly gets dissolved.” 

Besides the pressure from within the party, the AIADMK is left alone while the Opposition is coming together in an all-party meeting called by the DMK. The Opposition leaders too exerted pressure on the AIADMK and flayed the announcement of hunger protest that too only to appeal to the Centre to form the Cauvery Management Board. 

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said, “Entire Tamil Nadu should come together to the battleground to safeguard the state’s traditional rights. The state government is bowing to the Union government which is bent on destroying the livelihood of the state. The state’s attitude is encouraging the Centre to betray Tamil Nadu.” 

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran said he would attend the all-party meeting if the DMK invited him. “Opposition parties like us can resort to hunger protest, demonstrations or road roko. But, the ruling AIADMK could not function like an opposition party and hold a fast. The ruling party’s hunger protest is only an act of deception,” he said.