Rebel legislators being threatened by EPS camp

A day after the general council convened by the unified AIADMK sacked jailed general secretary VK Sasikala from the post, her nephew and ousted deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran on Wednesday alleged that MLAs backing him are being intimidated by the police into extending support to chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

"I have been receiving information from my MLAs that they are being pressured to support the Palaniswami government. They are being told that they would either get Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore for supporting the government or cases would be filed against them," he told reporters at his residence here.

Tamil Nadu police on Tuesday raided the resort at Coorg in Karnataka where 20 of the 21 MLAs supporting Dhinakaran were staying. The officials were searching for dissident MLA and former minister P Palaniappan for questioning in connection with the suicide case of a PWD contractor. Responding to rumours about Palaniappan's arrest, Dhinakaran said, "He is not in Coorg. I am told he is approaching the court for relief."

Asserting that his "sleeper cell" MLAs would be known during the floor test, Dhinakaran said he was waiting for the governor to act on his representation made on September 7 against Palaniswami government. "Wherever I go, people tell me to dissolve the government. I will go to any extent to protect the party," he said, ruling out any alliance with the DMK. "We are not hand-in glove with DMK. They are our political enemy. We will fight against them in the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal's notice to 19 dissident MLAs to explain why they should not be disqualified for withdrawing support to the Chief Minister expires on Thursday.