Only 111 AIADMK MLAs in Tamil Nadu attend meet convened by CM Palaniswami

On August 21, rival AIADMK factions led by Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam had merged.

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Chennai: 111 MLAs of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday attended a legislators' meet convened by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

The meet comes amid calls for a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by the Opposition parties. 

The AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 234-member state Assembly with one vacancy.

In an earlier meeting called by Palaniswami on August 28 had reportedly witnessed a much less attendance.

Media reports had said that only 75 MLAs were present in it.

State Fisheries Minister and senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar told reporters that as many as 111 MLAs reposed their faith in the chief minister at the meeting.

Jayakumar said the MLAs had "wholeheartedly extended their full cooperation" to the chief minister and an unanimous resolution was adopted reposing faith in his leadership.

He also claimed that nine MLAs of the Dhinakaran camp had contacted Palaniswami over phone and extended their support to him, PTI reported.

Also, three MLAs who are allies of the ruling party had promised their support to Palaniswami, he added.

The Peravurani MLA had intimated that he would not be able to attend the meet as he was indisposed, Jayakumar said.

He alleged that some legislators had been "illegally confined against their wishes" (at Puducherry) and asserted that the meet signalled the dashing of hopes of those who wanted to "thrust" an election on the people.

On August 21, rival AIADMK factions led by Palaniswami and rebel leader O Panneerselvam had merged, ending a nearly seven-month feud in a power sharing formula in the ruling party and the government.

OPS was made the deputy CM.

He had revolted against Sasikala in the fight for legacy of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa who died on December 5 last year.

(With Agency inputs)