Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, leader of the Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, led a walkout of all the DMK MLAs, after giving a speech criticising the TVK government. He said the TVK government should function as a “real government and not a Reels government”, taking a jibe at the party’s strong social media presence and larger-than-life style of campaigning.
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Udhayanidhi said the TVK had secured only 106 effective members after the resignation of one MLA and with another legislator being restricted from voting.
“Only a party with a majority 118 seats can form the government. TVK leader (Vijay) contested in two constituencies and has now resigned from one seat without even visiting the people to thank them. TVK now has only 106 members, as one MLA has been restrained by court from voting,” he said.
He said the TVK government was surviving on outside support from parties aligned with the DMK. “TVK has secured support from parties aligned with DMK. They have extended outside support to ensure that President’s Rule does not come,” he said.
Udhayanidhi alleged that the ruling party had managed support from an MLA without informing the legislator’s party leadership and raised questions over the recent political developments involving the AIADMK.”You made an MLA vote in your favour without informing his own party leadership. AIADMK is split into two. A new ‘sofa’ went there and the chief minister also visited. People are questioning whether there was any exchange behind this political change,” he said.
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Udhayanidhi said the AIADMK has split into two groups. “A new sofa was delivered to the home of a leader from that splinter group, followed by the visit of the chief minister there. During elections, you called them (AIADMK) a corrupt force,” he said.
