Don’t rush with attempts to topple EPS govt, Stalin advises dist secys

According to party sources, the district secretaries, who had failed to convince the DMK boss on pulling the plug on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s government earlier, had made another attempt to persuade Stalin just before he embarked on his overseas tour.

The district secretaries had cited the ongoing power struggle between the CM and his deputy as an opportune moment to lure vulnerable MLAs from the rival camp.

The district heads, sources said, were understood to have already established contacts and convinced a few AIADMK MLAs to take sides with the Opposition during a no-confidence vote in the House.

However, the DMK president was understood to have instructed them to exercise restraint and leave the issue to the in-house think tank managed by a member of his family and Aravakurichi MLA Senthil Balaji, who quit the AMMK to join the party.

DT Next had reported earlier about Senthil Balaji successfully opening negotiations with his erstwhile colleagues in the AIADMK to unseat Palaniswami.

In fact, the CM, sources said, had reported about the DMK’s secret parleys with his MLAs during his recent visit to the national capital.

A few party insiders attributed Stalin’s indifference on the issue to a few district secretaries letting him down during the Assembly bypoll, which helped the ruling AIADMK to secure more than a wafer-thin majority. However, party sources privy to the development said the DMK was apprehensive about the BJP-led Centre’s influence.

“There is no guarantee that the state would go to polls anytime soon even if the incumbent government falls. The present Union government cannot be expected to comply with democratic norms. The AIADMK regime would not face trouble as long as it enjoys the support of the BJP,” said a DMK senior leader, suggesting that Stalin was waiting for the opportune moment.