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Attorney-General for floor test
As the power struggle within the AIADMK shows no signs of abating, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Monday advised Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao that a special Assembly session be convened within a week for a composite floor test to end the political deadlock plaguing the state.
​New Delhi: As the power struggle within the AIADMK shows no signs of abating, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi on Monday advised Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao that a special Assembly session be convened within a week for a composite floor test to end the political deadlock plaguing the state.
The Attorney General cited the 1998 Supreme Court judgement in the Jagdambika Pal case in which the apex court had ordered a floor test in the Assembly to determine who among the two claimants — Pal and Kalyan Singh — had majority to assume the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
The political future of Sasikala would, however, entirely hinge on the Supreme Court judgment in the disproportionate assets case likely on Tuesday or the day after.
Sasikala, who was chosen AIADMK legislature party leader on February 5, will be rendered ineligible for contesting an Assembly election in the event of conviction, thereby stifling her ambition of becoming the chief minister. An acquittal, on the other hand, will put her on a more solid footing to face the floor test.
If she is convicted in the case in which the hugely popular Jayalalithaa is the main accused, Sasikala will have to handpick another AIADMK leader for the top job.
Meanwhile, an embattled Sasikala, who had staked claim to form the government on February 9, met over 100 AIADMK MLAs lodged at a resort on Chennai’s outskirts for the third time in as many days.
Sasikala, also the party general secretary, has been struggling to keep the flock of 129 MLAs supporting her together after six of them switched over to the Panneerselvam camp. Eleven MPs are also backing Pannerselvam. Tamil Nadu has a 234-member Assembly.
Amid the continuing tug-of-war between the two factions, Sasikala said she got Pannerselvam removed as chief minister as he had “hobnobbed” with rival DMK and not declined support when offered by a leader.
“It was Panneerselvam who pushed us to do that, we did not do it on our own, and this is what happened.
I would have allowed him (to continue in his post) as I did not aspire for being the CM and that is the truth,” she told party workers at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence here where she continues to live even after her mentor’s death.
Panneerselvam had last Tuesday alleged he was coerced into resigning as Chief Minister by Sasikala and her supporters. He said he was ready to reconsider the decision if people of the state and party workers so desired.
Won’t be supporting any faction: Stalin
DMK working president MK Stalin has supported the advice of the Attorney General to the Tamil Nadu Governor asking him to conduct a floor test to decide who has the majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Addressing the media, Stalin also stated that the DMK will not be supporting any faction. “AIADMK is our arch-rival. We are opposing them as a whole,” said Stalin.
