Dinakaran hopes new TN Governor will maintain neutrality

Chennai, Oct 2 (IANS) T.T.V. Dinakaran, leader of a faction of AIADMK gunning for the K. Palaniswami government, on Monday expressed the hope that the newly-appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu Banwarilal Purohit will maintain "neutrality", while DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said they will decide on meeting him after the Madras High Court verdict on the floor test issue.

Dinakaran, whose 18 MLAs have withdrawn support to Chief Minister Palaniswami, told reporters that the acting Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao had "dilly dallied" on the demand for a floor test in the Assembly for the Chief Minister to prove his majority and probably the new Governor was appointed because he had got a "bad" name for the Centre.

He dared the Chief Minister to resign and call a meeting of the Legislature Party to get re-elected to the post if he is sure of his majority. "Those who betrayed Sasikala have no right to continue in power. The disqualification of 18 MLAs (owing allegiance to him) is only temporary. We will send them packing home soon and defeat their designs in the High Court (where the faction has petitioned against the disqualification). We will install the rule of Amma (Jayalalithaa)," Dinakaran said.

He said the Chief Minister was under compulsion and was duty bound to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly though it was well-known to the world that he did not have it.

Responding to a call by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai to him to reunite with the ruling AIADMK, Dinakaran said "We don't have to join anyone. Others have to come to us. If Thambidurai wants to join us, he is welcome."

On the other front, Stalin told reporters in Ooty that his party will decide whether to meet the new Governor, who is expected to take over on October 6, or not after the order of the High Court when it takes up hearing on the issue on Wednesday.

"We will continue to press our demand (for an immediate floor test)," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam met the outgoing Governor in what is seen as a farewell courtesy call.