It may seem that the present dispensation under Edappadi K. Palanisamy in Tamil Nadu has consolidated and would continue to run successfully for the next four years to complete its full term. But the pulls and pressures within the ruling party just show how the insiders are still in no mood to accept his coronation. The ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction with its thin majority seems to be facing dissent from within.
With the proposed merger hanging in the air, the fissures within the ruling AIADMK seem to be widening day by day. Eight disgruntled legislators led by former minister V. Senthil Balaji, who are part of the AIADMK (Amma) faction, on Monday met the chief minister and demanded an immediate meeting of the party MLAs. Legislators Thoppu Venkatachalam and Palaniappan were also part of the group which called on the CM.
Reportedly, two of these eight MLAs have been holding secret meetings with the other legislators and getting ready to rebel. In April, Senthil Balaji had filed a PIL in the Madras High Court seeking permission to hold a fast in Karur. He was vociferous in expressing his opposition to the ruling AIADMK’s decision to shift the site for the construction of a government medical college hospital from Kuppuchipalayam to Sanappiratty near Karur. The court directed a special government pleader to take notice of his plea. Balaji wanted to hold a fast claiming that the present government was unnecessarily changing the place of construction of the government medical college despite the project having been approved by former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Thoppu Venkatachalam, who is also a former minister, reportedly, had been convening meetings with the rebels among the 122 legislators who had voted Palanisamy to power. For the past few weeks, the buzz has been that a group of MLAs led by Senthil Balaji, Thoppu Venkatachalam and Palaniappan have been holding conclaves, which had rattled the chief minister’s office.
Sources say that the reason for the dissent is the non-communiqué between the ministers and the chief minister. “For the past three months after we made Palanisamy win the trust vote, there had been no discussion with former ministers like us. We don’t know in what direction the party and the government are heading towards. There have been lots of bureaucratic reshuffles recently, but no key issue is being resolved,” said a senior leader close to the new dissent team. Rumours have it that Palanisamy did not give space to these MLAs and hear their grievances.
Soon after the eight MLAs met Palanisamy on Monday, Lok Sabha deputy speaker M. Thambidurai also called on the chief minister. Sources say they discussed the issues that can be taken up with the prime minister. During his meeting with Modi, Palanisamy is likely to seek funds for Centre-funded state projects and update the prime minister on the progress of central schemes in the state.