Chennai sources have stated that 19 legislators of Tamilnadu's ruling AIADMK are reportedly being moved to a resort outside Chennai, as the party's sidelined number 2 TTV Dhinakaran attempts to keep them together and away from the influence of Chief Minister E Palaniswami. This morning, these MLAs met the state's Governor demanding that Mr. Palaniswami be removed as Chief Minister because he has "lost their confidence."
Sources have stated that they have called yesterday's merger between the two AIADMK factions led by Mr. Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam illegal and are opposed to the decision to expel party chief VK Sasikala, who is in jail. The MLAs have stressed that they are not giving up their membership of the AIADMK, nor are they withdrawing support to the party's government.
Moreover in identical letters to Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, the 19 legislators have asked him to "intervene and institute the constitutional process," accusing Mr. Palaniswami of corruption, abuse of power and favoritism. They have alleged that by merging with the O Panneerselvam or OPS faction that voted against him in a trust vote in the assembly only six months ago.
