Will spell stand at time of voting, says Thambidurai

“Our protests are different from that of Andhra Pradesh MPs. We are protesting for the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), but they are agitating for special status for their state. It is not clear if the parties in Andhra and other Opposition parties will support the demand for the board formation.  There is no clarity on why the no confidence motion is being moved. A decision will be taken by the AIADMK leadership at the time of voting,” he told reporters, while protesting outside Parliament. 

Besides, there are two more weeks to set up the board as per the direction of the Supreme Court, he said. 

The AIADMK would decide on its next course of action if the Centre failed to form the board. Thambidurai also said no party had approached them till now to support the no confidence motion and added that they also did not know which party is going to move the motion. 

The BJP has 272 MPs in the Lok Sabha, the exact number for a simple majority and most of the allies including Shiv Sena had distanced themselves from the saffron party. A narrow win in the no confidence motion is likely to be a loss of face for the BJP and the AIADMK with 37 MPs could help the saffron party to sail through smoothly even if all other allies deserted it. At the moment, the AIADMK MPs are disrupting Parliament proceedings and a no confidence motion can be taken only if the House functioned normally. 

Two days ago, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said Centre would soon need the support of the AIADMK and the state’s ruling party must use the opportunity to compel the Centre to form the CMB.