Rs 10 Cr, Is That the Unofficial Fee for Dhinakaran Loyalists?

As Dhinakaran claims support of 21 MLAs, top AIADMK aide suggests bribes are being used to keep the flock together.

The AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu never had so good. The 19 MLAs who are supporting TTV Dhinakaran, the deputy general secretary appointed by Sasikala before she went to jail in the Disproportionate Assets case are now safely housed in a five-star resort near Puducherry.

The Windflower Resort and Spa is their temporary home now and they are perfectly ‘at home’ there.

They are allegedly being offered Rs 10 crore to stay and support Dhinakaran in his fight against chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam who have ‘removed’ him from the post of deputy general secretary. Meanwhile two more MLAS – Kalaiselvan and Rethinasababathi – have extended support to Dhinakaran.

Also Read: Live: AIADMK Passes Resolution to Expel Sasikala, Dhinakaran

19 MLAs-cum-Dhinakaran Loyalists

A top AIADMK functionary, who is now with the Dhinakaran group and emerging as a spokesman, says that apart from the cash, the loyalist MLAs are also allegedly being offered a certain amount of gold (to please their spouses who can then apply pressure on them to back Dhinakaran) and also party posts if and when the party comes under his control.

These 19 MLAs say they are loyal to TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala only and will not support EPS. In fact, they met Governor Vidyasagar Rao and handed over individual letters stating that they are withdrawing their support to Palaniswami.

However, they have cleverly avoided mentioning that they are not supporting the government. They orally told the Governor that they only wanted the chief minister to be replaced.

Also Read: OPS & EPS Betrayed Sasikala: Dhinakaran Camp Slams AIADMK Merger

Party Cracks the Whip

Outside, they have expressed their support to Speaker Dhanapal, a Dalit to be made chief minister.

But, to their disappointment, the Speaker has issued a notice to them asking them for an explanation for going against the party and rebelling against the chief minister.

This was after a shrewd move by the chief minister who sent out the party whip in the Assembly, Rajendran, to the Speaker with a letter demanding that the 19 MLAs must be disqualified and made to lose their seats as they had gone to Governor against the government and thereby come under Anti-Defection Law.

Nevertheless, these legislators including two women MLAS are living it up in the resort with five-star facilities. They had already tasted the resort life when they spent nearly two months at a Koovathur resort after O Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala.

Enjoying a Stay at Puducherry Resort

At this beach resort in Puducherry, these politicians have no complaints about their all-paid-for villas or the massages that are on offer.

The resort has about 50 suites including some luxurious villas. There are two large swimming pools with temperature control facilities, a fully stocked bar and a couple of restaurants. They also get tasty biryani and seafood delivered from outside the resort in a van.

There are also massage parlours with well-trained masseurs.

The 19 legislators say that the Chief Minister has betrayed them by moving to expel VK Sasikala and her nephew, TTV Dhinakaran.

Denied Ganesh Chaturthi Leave

Meanwhile, EPS and the still-sulking OPS have also been engaged in meetings and closed door sessions with their confidants to hold onto power.

In writing to the Governor, they have said EPS did not consult them about the reconciliation with EPS and does not enjoy their support, which places them on the same side as opposition leader MK Stalin, who says EPS must be asked to take a trust vote.

EPS and OPS together command 134 legislators. To win a trust vote, they need the support of 117.

At least eight of the legislators in the resort wanted to go home for Ganesh Chaturthi but were prevented by the Dhinakaran coterie and the tough looking security guards. Dhinakaran is clearly playing the waiting game and wants to pull down the government as a last resort if his threat doesn’t work.

But the big question is, how long can he keep these MLAs with him?

Now or Never Moment

These MLAs also do not want to face an election as they know that they would be soundly defeated if they contest. They may lost their deposits as people’s anger towards them is quite evident.

So the best option for them is to make hay while the sun shines and make as much moolah as possible.

To hell with the people who elected them, or their constituency. For them, it’s now or never.

Also Read: With Less than 3% Vote Share in TN, BJP is Commanding AIADMK

(The writer is a senior Bengaluru-based journalist and columnist. He is also a visiting professor at a number of colleges and universities.)

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