TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran today claimed that legislators supporting him would not have been disqualified had Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao acted on time on their plea against Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
"Because the Governor made unnecessary delay despite knowing that Palaniswami did not have the 117 magic number, such a murder of democracy has happened," he alleged.
Since August 22, when 19 of the MLAs revolted against Palaniswami and sought his removal with Rao, the governor was aware that the chief minister lacked the "magic number of 117", the simple majority in the 234-member House, he claimed.
One MLA later switched over to the Palaniswami camp.
The combative Dhinakaran, engaged in a tussle for power with Palaniswami, claimed initially MLAs of his camp had met the governor at his insistence and that later he himself had knocked on the doors of Rao.
"Such mishaps (today's disqualification of 18 MLAs) are happening due to the governor failing to maintain the dignity of his position," he told reporters here.
Dhinakaran described as "murder of democracy" Speaker P Dhanapal disqualifying the 18 legislators owing allegiance to him and said he did not expect such an action from the former.
The Dhinakaran faction, besides Opposition including DMK, have been since urging Rao to direct a floor test of the Palaniswami government.
People of all walks of life were opposing the disqualification of 18 MLAs, which amounted to "stifling democracy", he said.
He also said the BJP-led central government "should not close its eyes to this murder".
He claimed that some other AIADMK MLAs would also vote against the government during a possible floor test as they were against "betrayal".
"It is certain that Palaniswami is going home. It will be known soon when it will happen," Dhinakaran added.
He said Palaniswami had betrayed 'removed' party chief VK Sasikala, as it was she who had identified him as O Panneerselvam's successor, following the now deputy chief minister's rebellion in February.
He said Sasikala accepted the post of party general secretary only after "much pleading" by AIADMK leaders who conveyed to her the decision taken at its General Council last December following the death of her predecessor and then chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
Dhinakaran said a situation to that of 1987 had come up, referring to the rebellion in the AIADMK following the death of party founder MG Ramachandran.
The party had split into two factions, each headed by Jayalalithaa and Ramachandran's widow Janaki.
Jayalalithaa, however, later managed to unify the different factions.
Dhinakaran also exuded confidence of "attaining success" in "sending Palaniswami home".