EPS camp claims comfortable majority, rubbished by Dinakran and Stalin

Chennai:The stage is now set for the crucial AIADMK general council meeting that may sack VK Sasikala as the general secretary, a move that would oust the Mannargudi family from handling party affairs and block its interference in TN government matters totally.

Ahead of the crucial meet, an MLAs meet held here on Tuesday saw the EPS camp strength touching the 111 mark, six shy of the magic number of 117 needed to save the government on the floor of the house.

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar reflected the confidence of chief minister Edapaddi Palanisami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam that “with the support of 9 MLAs from Dinakaran camp already promised” the floor test was as good as won. But more important, all the 111 MLAs who attended today reposed their faith in the leadership of EPS and said in a resolution to abide by any decision he takes, regarding the party or the government.

Incidentally, EPS is the co-convenor of the 11-member panel that runs the party affairs. OPS is the convenor of the panel, which will oversee the conduct of the general council meeting to be conducted by chairman of presidium E Madhusudhanan.

The AIADMK panel has already declared as null and void all appointments and sackings of partymen carried out by Dinakaran. His camp is seething with rage and has dared the EPS camp to name the MLAs of its camp who were supporting the chief minister.

“It is all a lie to spread confusion and fear. But not to worry. None of the 19 with us are going anywhere. If anything, 12 more are ready to join Dinakaran and Sasikala said Thanga Tamil Selvan.

“Let the floor test be held and we will show. The government has lost majority and EPS must resign. If he resigns, then we will consider about supporting the AIADMK government only, but cheaters will not be given the government and party post,” Tamil Selvan said.

But whatever the Dinakaran camp many claim, today attendance at AIADMK MLAs meet was significantly higher at 111. The previous meet on August 28 had only 70 MLAs attending it.

Fisheries minister Jayakumar claimed that “we will win confidence vote if and when held. Actually there is no need as we have comfortable majority. But even if asked, we can win it with ease,” he told media persons after the AIADMK MLAs meet.

Today, all the MLAs resolved to accept any decision taken by the chief minister, empowering him completely to decide on party and government affairs

“The MLAs wholeheartedly extended full cooperation to the chief minister in a unanimou