DMK Working President MK Stalin called on Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Sunday and reiterated his demand that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami prove his majority in the State Assembly.

Addressing the media after his meeting with Rao, Stalin said he had demanded that the Assembly be convened within a week. The DMK leader said he had urged the Governor to act as the government had lost its majority in the 234-member House.

With the ruling AIADMK divided — its Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran claims the support of at least 21 legislators who had written to Rao that they had withdrawn support to Palaniswami — the government no longer has the requisite majority, Stalin said.

The Governor has assured action, Stalin added.

The Opposition parties led by the DMK had made a similar representation earlier. This would be the last time the DMK would approach the Governor on this issue. It would wait a week before resorting to legal action, Stalin said.

Stalin pointed out that including 89 members of the DMK, 8 of the Congress, one member of the IUML and the 21 AIADMK members who no longer support Palaniswami would add up to 119. This would imply that the ruling AIADMK would fall short of the 117 it needs to maintain its majority.

Congress and IUML representatives allied with the DMK were also a part of the delegation that met the Governor.

General Council meet

Meanwhile, the AIADMK’s General Council is expected to meet on September 12, when Palaniswami is expected to take steps to oust Dhinakaran and his aunt VK Sasikala, General Secretary of the party. Following the demise of the former chief minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa, there are 233 members in the House. Her death last December sparked the infighting and struggle for power in the ruling party. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam are aligned against Dhinakaran.

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