Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is likely to visit Delhi on Wednesday to meet Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
During the meeting, Panneerselvam will discuss the implications of 15th Finance Commission, and the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the commission, which adversely affects the financial interests of Tamil Nadu.
Known to be a developed and a welfare state, Tamil Nadu would lose close to Rs. 40,000 crore if the ToR comes into effect. The DyCM meeting with Prasad is considered crucial, given the fact that the state government skipped the finance ministers' conclave organised by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac recently. Finance ministers of Tamil Nadu and Telangana were absent when the finance ministers of south Indian states met to discuss the 15th Finance Commission.
However, sources say the real purpose of OPS’ Delhi visit is to meet Prasad, who is the law minister, over the verdict in the case of the disqualification of 18 MLAs. The Madras High Court is yet to pronounce its verdict on the issue.
The AIADMK government, led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, is a actually minority now without the required numbers in the assembly. At this juncture, it is important to note that there were several reports on Prasad saying he is instrumental in stalling several recommendations of the collegium for elevations of several judges to the high courts and Supreme Court.