Disqualified MLA reaffirms support to TTV

The MLA said, “The MLAs will not take any stand in the family dispute which will be solved by Chinnamma (Sasikala). The legislators will not oppose Dhinakaran. The number of legislators with Dhinakaran will only go up and not come down. You will see it when a floor test is taken. Our general secretary is Chinnamma (Sasikala) and Dhinakaran is the deputy general secretary.” Both the AIADMK and Dhivakaran had targeted Thangathamizhselvan, who is said to have the support of a few more legislators. The disqualified MLA fell silent recently leading to speculations and open invitations from the AIADMK. 

Senior Minister P Thangamani, a close associate of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami last week named Thangathamizhselvan and said the latter was being sidelined by Dhinakaran. The same comments were passed by Dhivakaran, who too had a rapport with the MLA. Earlier, Local Administration Minister SP Velumani stated that Thangathamizhselvan would be given a minister’s post in the AIADMK regime if he returned to the parent body. 

With the Madras High Court announcing that the verdict on the disqualification of the 18 MLAs backing Dhinakaran would be delivered soon, any kind of verdict would have its impact on the government’s survival. 

Any verdict is certain to be challenged by the affected party in the Supreme Court, but it will only delay the inevitable and the ball will finally fall in the court of the disqualified MLAs. 

However, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai dismissed apprehensions within the ruling party and said, “The AIADMK will not be worried about any kind of judgment in the disqualification case. Any verdict will not topple the state government.” 

Even if the disqualification is upheld, it will force bypolls to 18 seats, which may lead to change in Assembly composition and change of regime, even without a spell of Governor’s rule.