Chennai: Sidelined AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran has said Governor C Vidyasagar Rao had promised to look into the petition given by legislators withdrawing their support to Chief Minister K Palaniswami and ‘do his duty’.

He and his loyalists comprising legislators and MPs met Rao at Raj Bhavan.

“We had requested the Governor to take immediate action on the petition given by the legislators so that horse-trading could be avoided. We told the Governor that Chief Minister Palaniswami does not command the support of majority of the legislators. The meeting of legislators held at the party headquarters recently was attended only by 111,” Dinakaran told mediapersons here.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has an effective strength of 234 is the government needs the support of at least 117 members.

Dinakaran said the Governor assured the delegation that he would do his duty.

About Cumbum legislator SK Jakkaiyan switching sides, Dinakaran said he was threatened by the ruling faction.

“We have sleeping cells that will soon turn active,” he added. Those supporting Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam would not be able get people’s support during elections, he added.

The Dinakaran faction has been upset over its isolation in the ruling party whose two major factions, led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, uniting recenty. The merged entity also decided to oust jailed VK Sasikala from the post of party general secretary.

Nineteen legislators of the Dinakaran faction met the Governor on August 22 and sought change of the Chief Minister. The Opposition parties have been demanding that Palaniswami should prove his majority on the floor of the House.