Thanga Tamilselvan's view exposes AMMK-DMK ganging up to topple govt: CM

Palaniswami emphasised that he had mentioned in several of his poll rallies that the rival leader T T V Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and DMK had been working together to bring down the AIADMK government.

"I have already stated in several meetings that DMK and AMMK have been working together to topple the government and break up the AIADMK and Thanga Tamilselvan's remarks has now exposed it and confirmed that my stand was true," he told reporters here.

He claimed the AIADMK will win the bypolls to 22 Assembly seats and continue to govern with majority belying the claims of DMK chief M K Stalin that DMK will win the bypolls.

"People know that Stalin's dreams will not fructify," he said.

Tamilselvan, AMMK's progaganda secretary and frontline leader, on Tuesday exuded confidence that his party would win the bypolls to all the 22 assembly seats.

Still, to move a no-confidence motion against the government, he indicated that his party will need the support of 34 MLAs. Hence, the main opposition party DMK should pitch in during such an eventuality to bring down the government, he had said.

"The DMK has to support us. If they do not, it means they are afraid of us... only if we and DMK join (hands) can this government be sent home," Tamilselvan had said.

While by-elections to 18 assembly seats were held on April 18 along with the Lok Sabha elections, four others will go to the polls on May 19.

In the 234 member House, AMMK leader Dhinakaran is an independent member and steps to register his outfit as a political party is currently on, according to the party.

DMK has 88 MLAs and its allies, the Congress 8, and IUML one. The AIADMK has 114 members including the Speaker.

Of the 114 AIADMK MLAs, three are siding with Dhinakaran while three others who won the polls in 2016 on AIADMK symbol two leaves had at times wavered in their position in the past putting a question mark on their future stand vis-a-vis support for the government.

Thanga Tamilselvan, meanwhile, defended his remark seeking DMK's support.

He said the AIADMK was claiming that theirs was "Amma's (Jayalalithaa) government," just for the sake of it whereas it was only "a corrupt government," led by "betrayers."

Speaking to reporters at Madurai, he said only Dhinakaran was the "charismatic leader," and to bring him to the seat of power they will "dislodge," the AIADMK government and added that "there is nothing wrong in it."

In the event of a no-confidence motion in the Assembly against the government, parties, including the AMMK, DMK and Congress, will naturally vote against the government which cannot be construed as a tie-up between such opposition outfits, he said.

At a party meet in Coimbatore, Dhinakaran said "betrayal (AIADMK government) will be defeated on May 23 (the day of counting of votes), that day will convey the Tamil Nadu people's decision that they will never side with betrayers."