Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, a loyalist of VK Sasikala, will seek a trust vote in the Assembly on Saturday and barring any last-minute hitches the new AIADMK government is expected to sail through.
The southern state, that has not seen a day without hectic political developments since the past 10 days, is poised for another day of intense political activity with the scene shifting to the state Assembly.
On the eve of the vote, the Palaniswami camp on Friday got a jolt when one of its MLAs R Nataraj, a former state DGP, said he would vote against the chief minister's motion of confidence.
Nataraj's move has reduced Palaniswami's stated support to 123 members in a House of 234.
Palaniswami, 63, a senior leader in the ruling AIADMK of the VK Sasikala camp, was sworn in on Thursday. He needs the support of 117 legislators to continue in the post.
Vote against Palaniswami to safeguard interests of Amma: Panneerselvam
A day before Palaniswami seeks a trust vote in the Assembly on Saturday, O Panneerselvam appealed to AIADMK MLAs to vote against the confidence motion.
The former Tamil Nadu CM Panneerselvam urged the AIADMK legislators to vote against the trust vote and safeguard the interests of Amma (J Jayalalithaa.).
While appealing to AIADMK MLAs to think wisely before casting their vote tomorrow, Panneerselvam said, 'Amma' continuously worked to see that family rule doesn't enter Tamil Nadu politics and till her last she worked to achieve her goal.
Referring to the 2011 expulsion of Sasikala from the party by Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam asked if the MLAs could aid the "family rule" of such expelled persons.
"Isn't this a betrayal of Amma and the people who had reposed faith in her by voting for her?" he asked.
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The Panneerselvam camp has the support of 11, taking the tally against Palaniswami to 108. If there is some cross-voting to the tune of 10 legislators from Sasikala's camp then it could be the end for Palaniswami.
The Assembly has a total strength of 234 of which one seat is vacant.
Will oppose Edappadi K Palaniswami in Assembly: Stalin
DMK working president MK Stalin said his party MLAs will oppose the loyalist of VK Sasikala.
Addressing the mediapersons Stalin said, “If Palaniswami seeks vote of confidence tomorrow, we will oppose him in the Assembly. Our 89 MLAs will vote against him.”
"To express our opposition to the AIADMK government, we will vote against the Palaniswami government in the motion of confidence that will be taken up tomorrow," he added.
Commenting on the ongoing political tussle within the AIADMK, the DMK leader said, “People from all walks of life have been badly affected due to political crisis in Tamil Nadu.”
TN Congress Committee President Su Thirunavukkarasar said the party would decide its stand on voting based on the advice of the Congress high command.
Answering a question, he said he expected the feedback of the top leadership "soon," before legislators assemble at the party state headquarters Satyamurthi Bhavan tomorrow morning.
While DMK has a strength of 89, Congress has eight, IUML one in the Assembly and one seat is vacant.
A revolt by Panneerselvam against Sasikala last week resulted in a political stalemate with AIADMK supporters divided between the two camps.
In an intra-party power struggle, Panneerselvam had rebelled against Sasikala on February 7, alleging he was forced to step down to make way for her becoming Chief Minister.
She had been elected the AIADMK Legislature Party leader on February 5.
But the Governor had apparently chosen to await the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case, in which Sasikala has been convicted and is serving prison term in Bengaluru.
