Prez should intervene in TN, says Dhinakaran

Puducherry: Sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran on Saturday demanded that the President intervene in Tamil Nadu as an "extraordinary situation" is prevailing in the state. Dhinakaran, who is involved in a power tussle with Chief Minister K Palaniswami, met the MLAs loyal to him who have been staying here for nearly two weeks.

After the meeting, he said the legislators had not been herded and asserted that they were staying here on their own volition. Dhinakaran told reporters that an "extraordinary situation" was prevailing in Tamil Nadu.

"The President (Ram Nath Kovind) and Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao should intervene in this extraordinary situation. We will wait for two more days and then decide next course of action," the party's deputy general secretary said.

He had come here to hold discussions with his camp legislators, he added.

The DMK, Congress and Left parties had met Kovind on August 31, demanding a floor test for the incumbent Palaniswami government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

They had earlier knocked on Rao's doors with a similar plea. To a question, Dhinakaran said his side has not sought an appointment with the President.

The former MP said he wished to meet the MLAs but could not do so due to his busy work schedule.