DMK urges TN Guv to direct Palaniswami to prove majority

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao to immediately direct Chief Minister E. Palaniswami to prove majority in the Assembly.

DMK working president and leader of the Opposition in assembly M.K. Stalin dubbed the Palaniswami regime as a 'minority government'.

In a statement, Stalin also questioned assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal's action in issuing notices to the 19 MLAs yesterday on a memorandum by the Government Chief Whip, seeking their disqualification for alleged anti-party activities.

Stalin said the Governor should ensure that Palaniswami does not continue in power by creating a constitutional crisis and misusing anti-defection law.

While the Speaker had not acted against present Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerslevam-led faction for voting against the government in the February 18 trust vote as the then rebel faction, he had issued notices to the 19 MLAs from Dhinakaran camp now, the DMK leader said.

Stalin's remark comes even as the 19 MLAs remained in a resort in Puducherry and have dismissed the disqualification demand as a "planned drama" and "intimidation" tactics.