Stalin, Kanimozhi urge Governor to conduct floor test

In a statement, DMK working president M K Stalin said the reports suggest that MLAs were being threatened and promised benefits to support a faction of the AIADMK. Stating that by holding MLAs hostage, democratic norms were being trampled in an independent state. 

Referring to Srivaikundam MLA Shanmughanathan’s presence in the AIADMK legislators meeting and subsequent defection to caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s camp, Stalin said the developments have raised questions about who the MLAs held hostage really support.  

Asserting that the Governor has the duty to establish a stable and independent government in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said the Governor should take actions in conformity with the Constitution and directions of the Supreme Court in S R Bommai case. 

Stalin has clarified more than once that their support to OPS government was purely on an issue basis and nothing more. The party Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi reiterated the same on Thursday when she told in New Delhi that her party working president had categorically stated that their support to AIADMK government was issue based, ruling out the possibility of their party supporting rebel and caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam in the event of a floor test in the House. 

DMK insiders said the question of them supporting OPS to form a government was unrealistic as they would only be supporting an AIADMK government. The opposition party has 89 members in the 234-member Assembly.