AMMK MLA Kamaraj faces disqualification for supporting ruling TVK govt

TTV Dhinakaran on Sunday said that Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA S Kamaraj would face disqualification after extending support to the ruling Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the recent floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly. The AMMK chief said Kamaraj's support to the ruling party amounted to a betrayal of the party workers and alliance members who had worked for his victory in the election. "I have now removed Kamaraj from the party. Let him go and join the other side (TVK) and become a minister if they offer him the post. Then we shall see what the next step is. Even if only one MLA defects, disqualification provisions will apply," Dhinakaran told reporters. "He thinks we cannot take action because he is the party’s lone MLA. We will take the necessary steps. TVK accepting his support is legally questionable. We will strongly oppose what we consider a case of ‘horse-trading,’" he alleged. The development comes days after Dhinakaran removed Kamaraj from the party organisation on May 12 over his 'unilateral' support to the ruling TVK government. "Kamaraj’s action is a major betrayal of the workers of AMMK, as well as those from alliance parties who worked for his victory in the election, besides the people who placed their faith in him and voted for him," Dhinakaran had earlier said. AMMK, which was part of the NDA alliance comprising All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bharatiya Janata Party and PMK, had contested 11 assembly seats in the Tamil Nadu elections and won only the Mannargudi constituency. Kamaraj had defeated senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader TRB Rajaa by a margin of 1,566 votes in Mannargudi. Dhinakaran further claimed that this was the first instance of a party leaving the DMK-led alliance to join another front and said the move had attracted criticism from several quarters. "It is a good thing they did not assume office; otherwise, the reputation of the Left parties and VCK would have suffered," he said. The AMMK leader also urged party workers to remain united while recalling the legacy of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. He expressed confidence that the AIADMK alliance would overcome its present challenges and 'create history' in the upcoming parliamentary elections. TVK secured the support of the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and IUML, enabling Vijay to cross the majority mark of 118 MLAs and form the government.