Chennai, Feb 18 (PTI): Opposition Congress today said it would vote against the Edappadi K Palaniswami government in the motion of confidence in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. "We have decided to vote against the Edappadi K Palaniswami government in the Assembly", TNCC President Su Thirunavukkarasar told reporters at the party headquarters here.
Congress has eight MLAs in the 234 member House. Thirunavukkarasar said the "unanimous" decision was taken after he chaired a meeting of party legislators, led by Legislature Party leader K R Ramasamy and senior functionaries at the party headquarters Satyamurthi Bhavan.
Yesterday, Thirunavukkarasar had said the party would decide its stand on voting based on the advice of the high command. He had said the party State unit expected the feedback of the top leadership and that party chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi would be apprised of the views of the state leadership.
Ahead of confidence vote, TN CM loses another legislator
Chennai, Feb 18 (IANS): Hours before Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami seeks a vote of confidence in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Saturday, Arun Kumar, a legislator from Coimbatore North has also jumped shift.
Speaking to IANS over the phone from Coimbatore, Arun Kumar said: "I left the beach resort... I was not held back."
He said party cadres and the people were not happy at the acs of the current leadership.
Queried as to why he decided to boycott the trust vote instead of voting against it, Arun Kumar said he was interested in party unity and the views of the people and the cadres.
He said his decision was against one family taking control of the party.
With this desertion, the AIADMK led by General Secretary V.K. Sasikala commands the support of 123 legislators, including the Speaker, while the breakaway group led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has 11 legislators.
The opposition includes the DMK with 89 members, Congress (8) and Indian Union Muslim League (1), while one seat is vacant.
The DMK, Congress and IUMl have said they will vote against the Palaniswami government.
DMK President M. Karunanidhi is unwell. The opposition thus has 97 seats.
The Panneerselvam camp has the support of 11, taking the tally against Palaniswami to 108.
If there is some cross-voting of 8-10 legislators from Sasikala's camp then it could be curtains for Palaniswami.
The assembly has a total strength of 234, with one seat vacant.