Stalin mum on mass resignation; to wait for outcome on party’s petition

Speaking to reporters after the DMK Legislative Party meeting, Stalin said that the disqualification of the dissident AIADMK MLAs would not stand legal scrutiny. 

Parrying a question on a possible en masse resignation of DMK MLAs on the issue, Stalin said their next course of action would be based on the outcome of the DMK’s petition in the Madras High Court seeking floor test. “We are confident that we will get justice in the court,” he said. He also questioned what action had been taken against the then rebel leader Panneerselvam and his supporters for voting against the Palaniswami government in the February 18 trust vote. 

Earlier, during the DMK LP meeting, the gathering condemned the Chief Secretary for allowing the Chief Minister to use his office machinery to abuse the DMK on the pretext of celebrating MGR’s centenary, while another resolution blamed the Governor for continuation of the government which was reduced to a minority in the 233-member House. “The Governor, CM and Speaker P Dhanapal had joined hands to ensure majority and save the government, and had used the anti-defection rules for this purpose which had hit the lifeline of democratic ethos,” the resolution stated. 

“The Speaker, who has lost his neutrality, and Palaniswami, who is desperate to retain power through shortcut methods, should resign immediately to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and the Assembly. This meeting condemns the autocratic misuse of powers by the Speaker, a few Opposition MLAs claimed.