AIADMK crisis: With support of 21 MLAs, Dinakaran says none can threaten him

The support for TTV Dinakaran in steadily rising with another AIADMK MLA jumping ships. Over the last two days, two more MLAs of the AIADMK have pledged support to Dinakaran taking the strength of his camp to 21. This apart from the three independent MLAs who have refused to extend support to Edappadi Palanisamy.

"No one can threaten me except God. This is a war between sacrifice and betrayal. I believe that the governor will consider the demands of 19 MLAs. Money is not a big deal and these MLAs can't be bought over. They want to teach a lesson to betrayers who want to oust the General secretary. THey back me and so does the real AIADMK," TTV Dinakaran said on Saturday.

MLA V T Kalaiselvan from Vridachalam is the latest AIADMK leader to pledge his support to Dinakaran. The anger within the Palanisamy over its merger with Panneerselvam camp was evident as the MLA publicly chided the Chief Minister for his decision. "Sasikala made Palanisamy the CM. Instead of supporting her, he joined hands with Panneerselvam who betrayed the party and led to a freeze on the AIADMK symbol," the MLA said.

Support, as well as strength in the Edappadi Palanisamy-Panneerselvam camp, is dwindling by the day even as the duo struggles to keep its flock together. In the given scenario, Palanisamy is sure to lose a floor test if asked to prove majority. While the DMK and the Congress have been urging the governor to direct Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy to prove his majority in the house, no decision on the same has been taken yet. Governor Vidhyasagar Rao is expected to return to Tamil Nadu shortly, after which he is likely to ask Palanisamy to take a floor test.

This would be the second time in six months that the state assembly would witness a floor test if asked by the Governor. Meanwhile, 19 MLAs backing Dinakaran continue to be lodged at a hotel in Puducherry that they moved into on Friday after vacating a resort.

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