Panneerselvam appeals to MLAs to vote against cconfidence motion

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's camp has demanded secret ballot on Saturday when the motion of confidence is moved in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, former state police chief and MLA R Nataraj switched sides to Panneerselvam’s camp.

“I took this decision listening to the views of my voters,” said the Mylapore legislator, who was not among the 120-odd MLAs lodged in the high-security luxury resort outside Chennai.

Speaking to reporters, S. Semmalai, part of the Panneerselvam camp, said they have urged the Speaker for a secret ballot to decide on the motion of confidence.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam on Friday night urged AIADMK MLAs to vote against the vote of confidence sought by Edappadi K Palaniswami, stating they should not aid a "family rule" and supporting the motion would amount to betraying late party chief Jayalalithaa and people who voted for party.

In a message to AIADMK MLAs on the eve of the vote on confidence motion, Panneerselvam said Jayalalithaa had groomed all of them and given an identity. They should consider this now.