The 19 legislators were taken yesterday to the Windflower Resort Spa, a six-minute walk from the beach
A four-star beachside resort in Puducherry has become a luxurious setting for the political drama that has consumed the ruling AIADMK of neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Nineteen AIADMK lawmakers moved last night into the Windflower Resort Spa featuring well-furnished villas, spacious rooms, swimming pools and massages. This morning, a group of supporters protested outside the entrance and demanded that the lawmakers leave. A large number of policemen guarding the gates stopped the protesters from entering the premises.
It is the second deluxe break this year for lawmakers loyal to the party's jailed chief VK Sasikala, who claimed last night they were only going for dinner in Mahabalipuram, around 55 km from Chennai. This time, they have been sequestered by her sidelined nephew and deputy TTV Dhinakaran, who is trying to keep them away from Chief Minister E Palaniswami.
Mr Dhinakaran today removed a state minister, RB Udhayakumar, from a party post, signaling that he means to fight every way a merger between two factions that threatens to leave him out in the cold.
Before they were taken to Puducherry, the legislators met state Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao and demanded that
Mr Palaniswami or EPS be removed as Chief Minister because he has "lost their confidence." In letters to the governor, the legislators have accused Mr Palaniswami of corruption, abuse of power and favouritism.
"EPS is not cooperating, we want the Chief Minister replaced," said AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi.
M Dhinakaran and the lawmakers have rejected as "illegal" the
merger between the AIADMK factions led by EPS and O Panneerselvam (OPS) and are opposed to the decision to expel Ms Sasikala.
The lawmakers can bring down the Palaniswami government if they vote against it in a test of strength. The AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 233-member House. A seat is vacant since the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The majority mark is 117. If 19 MLAs give trouble, the ruling group will be reduced to 115.
The AIADMK split weeks after the death in December of its powerful chief J Jayalalithaa, when OPS, forced by Ms Sasikala to step down as chief minister, rebelled. Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's closest aide, then had more than 120 AIADMK legislators staying at a resort outside Chennai to stop them joining OPS.
After months of hard negotiations, OPS agreed to return when EPS agreed to remove Sasikala and Dhinakaran. Now pro-Sasikala lawmakers are operating as a separate group.