‘Will seek CBI probe if rebels made mins’

Trichy: AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran has said his party would demand a CBI inquiry if rebel MLAs from AIADMK and AMMK were given ministerial berths for supporting the minority TVK govt in the recent floor test. He said AIADMK MLAs who supported TVK should understand that they may face disqualification under anti-defection law for defying the party whip."If you (TVK govt) allocate ministerial berths for the rebel AIADMK and AMMK MLAs, we will demand a CBI inquiry, the govt will face tough times. How long will VCK and Communist parties back you? The TVK govt's days are numbered," TTV said. "All 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs are my friends, but they should realise that deciding in haste will backfire. Only the leadership of a political party can appoint the whip, and their decision will be final. There are several precedents in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assemblies," Dhinakaran said. Backing the Palaniswami faction, the AMMK leader said the assembly speaker cannot perpetually prolong his task of recognising a floor leader of AIADMK. "Sengottaiyan, with Amma's portrait in his pocket, is aspiring to destroy AIADMK. Those who trust him will be shunned. They should withdraw their support for TVK, a party which called AIADMK a corrupt party," Dhinakaran said.Dhinakaran claimed horse-trading happened during the assembly floor test. "TVK would have given some assurances to poach rebel MLAs, including from AMMK," he said. He added that Palaniswami never discussed with him the option to form a govt with DMK's support. "To form Amma's (Jayalalithaa) govt, true loyalists of Amma should stay together. Setting aside the differences, they should realise that TVK is trying to destroy AIADMK. AMMK is with the real AIADMK, part of the NDA," Dhinakaran said.