Talk Between EPS-OPS & TTV Camps Ahead of High Court Judgment

Stability of the government depends upon the support of the disqualified MLAs if the court rules in their favour.

The high court verdict over the disqualification of MLAs in the TTV Dhinakaran camp is expected anytime soon and both factions have admitted to TNM that their members are in talks. The TTV camp says that the government is constantly attempting to poach MLAs, while the EPS-OPS faction says that all the MLAs will be welcomed back to the party fold except the kin of ousted All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Sasikala.

Currently, the EPS-OPS led government cannot reach the magic figure of 118 MLAs if it came down to a floor test in the Assembly. The stability of the current establishment depends largely upon the support of the disqualified MLAs if the court rules in their favour. It is perhaps this knowledge that propelled TTV Dhinakaran to set conditions for a merger.

Dhinakaran had said two days back that the government should oust six ministers and choose one disqualified MLA as the chief minister. According to reports, the ministers he is referring to are — Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, P Thangamani, SP Velumani, D Jayakumar and KC Veeramani.

Who is he to lay down conditions for us? Joining hands with Sasikala and family is completely out of question. We are in talks with the disqualified MLAs. We are confident that if they all get restored, they will continue as AIADMK legislators. Dhinakaran has no political party and would have to start his own. There is a lot of opposition to this move from his team itself.

KC Palanisamy, former MP and spokesperson for the AIADMK

While the EPS-OPS faction is confident about gaining the support of all the MLAs, the Dhinakaran faction says that they are steadily winning the incumbent MLAs over to their side.

We are in talks with MLAs within the government. They are seeing how Dhinakaran is growing and want to join us. The recent RK Nagar elections and the crowds that gather for TTV Dhinakaran’s meetings are proof enough of his popularity. We know that the government is approaching our MLAs but nothing they do can will change our minds. If we negotiate with them, even the people of Tamil Nadu will not trust us.

P Vetrivel, disqualified MLA and prominent member of the TTV camp

The TTV faction is confident that it will receive justice in the verdict.

Even if the high court doesn’t rule in our favour, the Supreme Court definitely will. The disqualification will be overturned. This government has only six more months to rule before elections come around anyway.

P Vetrivel

(This article has been published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)