EPS has won the trust vote amidst chaos ,confusion and violence.Another AIADMK legislator Arun Kumar has withdrawn his support for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami, a proxy of party chief VK Sasikala now in jail in corruption case, who will seek a vote of confidence to prove his majority in assembly at a special session called by the state’s Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. On the other hand the DMK leader Stallin has announced that they will vote against EPS. Karunanidhi will not be coming to Assembly.
The latest development further narrows the support for Mr Palaniswami, who will need to demonstrate on the floor of the 234-member House, the support of at least half or 117 legislators. He now has with him 122 of the ruling AIADMK’s 134 MLAs, excluding the Speaker, which is a slim five more than the majority mark.
It will be a voice vote and no secret ballot.MK Stalin of main opposition party the DMK, which has 89 members, has said his party will vote against Mr Palaniswami when he seeks a trust vote today while the Congress with 8 members has said it will wait for the party high command’s directive, though it has hinted at voting against Palaniswami as has the Indian Union of Muslim League or IUML which has one member. DMK chief M Karunanidhi, 93, is unwell and may not attend tomorrow’s trust vote.
In a series of tweets Panneerselvam or OPS invoked J Jayalalithaa, the powerful matriarch of the AIADMK who died in December. “I reiterate to AIADMK MLAs, please think wisely before casting your vote tomorrow. Don’t buckle under pressure… Please vote against the trust vote and safeguard the interests of Amma,” he said.
