Move comes ahead of floor test today
Chennai: The opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu appeared headed for a split on Tuesday after a group of MLAs revolted against party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing him of seeking an alliance with archrival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and announced support to the Vijay-led government ahead of the floor test on Wednesday.
About 30 MLAs, led by senior leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, are believed to be in the rebel camp that has questioned Palaniswami’s leadership following the party’s debacle in the April 23 assembly polls, where it won only 47 out of the 164 seats it contested.
Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said they would meet C Joseph Vijay to provide a letter supporting his government. He also alleged that party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami wanted to form a government with the DMK’s support.
Pointing out that AIADMK was floated to oppose and “uproot” the DMK, Shanmugam said all the party members opposed Palaniswami’s proposal to form a government with the support of the M K Stalin-led party. He added that any such proposal contradicted the AIADMK’s fundamental principles.
The party needs a “new life now,” and the “Amma (Jayalalithaa) rule” should return, and therefore, he added, they should support Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The AIADMK leadership, however, dismissed the allegations as “rumours” and accused the dissident leaders of “unleashing a bag of lies” after failing to secure victories in their own districts.
In a post on X, the party also alleged that Velumani, Shanmugam and C Vijayabaskar were themselves seeking ministerial berths in the TVK government. It asserted that alliance decisions could not be taken by a handful of MLAs and maintained that party cadre remained firmly behind Palaniswami.
The rumblings in the MGR-founded AIADMK revived memories of the internal power struggles that followed the deaths of founder M G Ramachandran in 1987 and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016.
The DMK also dismissed Shanmugam’s claims of post-poll alliance talks between the two parties, accusing him of trying to create a “split” within his own party.
New CM orders closure of over 700 liquor outlets
Chennai: In a move that could strike a chord with women of the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 state-run retail liquor outlets, including those near places of worship. While the DMK mocked the move as a “PR” initiative, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a strong votary of prohibition, welcomed Vijay’s announcement.
The party also batted for the gradual implementation of a dry regime in the state.
Further, in his first missive to the Centre after taking over as CM, Vijay raised the emotive issue of arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy and the repatriation of the fishers and the boats.
Also, with focus on public welfare, Vijay’s party TVK banned its cadre from erecting banners and placards in public spaces.
Closing down of liquor shops has been a demand from women in the state, besides the PMK.
The move was done keeping in mind the welfare of people, an official release said. Accordingly, 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 shops near educational institutions, and 255 outlets near bus stands will be closed within the next two weeks, it said.
