AIADMK boosted trust vote with last minute whip
“The issuance of whip worked since all 37 MPs who participated in the voting polled their votes against the motion,†a senior party leader said.
Chennai: Ruling AIADMK issued a last minute whip to its 37 MPs in Parliament to vote against the no-confidence motion brought against the NDA-BJP Modi government by the Telugu Desam. There had earlier been plenty of murmurs of differences of opinion among the TN lawmakers on whether to support the government against the NCM.
The AIADMK top brass then ensured that a whip was issued on Friday to its MPs, which was sent out after AIADMK floor leader in Lok Sabha P. Venugopal completed his speech. This was to ensure that the party MPs voted en masse for the BJP. Ruling party sources told DC that the decision to vote against the no-confidence motion was taken on Friday morning, but a whip was issued only in
the evening since there were reports of differences of opinion among a group of MPs.
“The issuance of whip worked since all 37 MPs who participated in the voting polled their votes against the motion,” a senior party leader said.
An MP could lose his or her membership if it is found they have voted against the whip. The votes of 36 MPs were registered electronically and one member was not able to cast his ballot electronically. "This was later resolved cross checking with the voting slip that is issued. All 37 MPs of the AIADMK voted for BJP," the source said.
A few MPs had registered their opposition to voting in favour of the BJP and suggested that the party abstain from voting. "These MPs suggested the party members abstain from voting following the formula devised by former CM J. Jayalalithaa. The high command was, however, clear that they all the MPs should vote in favour of the BJP," another leader said.
The AIADMK top brass asked their office-bearers to issue a whip to ensure that the party suffers no embarrassment. The voting was justified on the count that there are only nine months left for the tenure of the government and it should not be disturbed at the moment. Any thoughts of a rebellion were squashed by the issuing of the whip and the AIADMK stood solidly behind Modi-Shah combine.