EPS must face floor-test: Opposition to Ram Nath Kovind

NEW DELHI: A four-party delegation representing the combined Opposition in Tamil Nadu met President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday and demanded that their state’s chief minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, be ordered to take a trust vote on the floor of the Assembly following his government “losing majority following 21 AIADMK MLAs withdrawing support to the regime”.

The delegation included the DMK’s TKS Elangovan, Kanimozhi and Tiruchi Siva, Congress’ Anand Sharma, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s D Raja, among others. “The ruling AIADMK only has the support of 113 MLAs, pushing it below the majority mark. Around 120 MLAs in the Assembly are against the ruling party. We have explained it to the President,” said Siva.

Kanimozhi said that “all the MLAs have submitted letters to the governor withdrawing their support. We cannot call it an internal issue of the party. When OPS demanded a floor test earlier, the governor called for it, but it is surprising why he has not taken action in this case”.


Anand Sharma said that “as per the norms set by the Supreme Court order in the Bommai case, any government will have to enjoy the majority of the elected legislators. That can be demonstrated and established only on the floor of the House. So, our demand is to have the Assembly convened immediately and let the confidence motion be put to vote”.

The Opposition’s move follows the revolt by MLAs owing allegiance to the Sasikala-Dhinakaran camp, leaving the state government in a limbo even as efforts are being made to woo back some of the rebels.