TN Speaker issues notice to 19 dissident AIADMK MLAs

Assembly speaker P Dhanapal, on Thursday, issued notices to the 19 legislators who wrote to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao withdrawing their support to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami asking why they should not be disqualified.

The development marked an escalation of the power struggle between the ruling AIADMK and its dissenting MLAs, who owe allegiance to sidelined deputy secretary of the party TTV Dinakaran.

The Speaker's action came in the wake of Chief Government Whip K Rajendran recommending disqualification of the dissident MLAs citing the letter given to the Governor and their comments to the media against the CM. Rajendran claimed that the MLAs' actions amounted to defection as per the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

"In my petition to the Speaker, I have cited Section 6 of the Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986 and urged him to disqualify the MLAs," Rajendran told reporters at the Secretariat.

MLAs loyal to Dinakaran, however, were quick to dismiss the notice and said they would challenge in the court if they were disqualified. "The Whip's recommendation is not valid as per law," said MLA P Vetrivel.

Meanwhile, MLA Thanga Tamilselvan said that it was an attempt aimed at intimidating other MLAs from switching over to Dinakaran's side. "Our MLAs cannot be threatened by such actions," he said, adding that they had not received any notice from the Speaker. "Speaker is a good man. He is our senior," he said.

On August 22, 2017, the 19 MLAs called on Governor in the Raj Bhavan and handed over letters declaring withdrawal of support to the CM. Dissident MLAs were then taken to a resort in Puducherry where they were staying for the third successive day.

Sources in the AIADMK said that the disqualification is a threat as the negotiations were going on with the rebels to switch sides. "All the AIADMK MLAs were keen on the continuance of the government which has about four years term remaining. So we are hopeful a solution would be found very soon. At the same time, the steps are being taken to convene the party's general council to expel jailed general secretary VK Sasikala," sources added.

Besides, the AIADMK would not risk facing by the poll in 20 assembly seats including vacant RK Nagar constituency at this time. DMK, the principal opposition party held a massive protest against the imposition of NEET in the city on Thursday along with Congress, Left parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a major Dalit party and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, a Muslim party. DMK working president M K Stalin, while addressing at the protest, said that there would be a "change of government soon". "However, my party is not desperate to come to power… Ruling is a big responsibility… We don't want to do that (come to power) by adopting back-door means and this is the policy of 'Kalaignar' (DMK president M Karunanidhi)," he said.

...& ANALYSIS

• AIADMK's move to disqualify the rebel MLAs was to ensure its victory in the trust vote if it was asked to take one
   
• With the 19 MLAs turning hostile, the AIADMK's strength in the 233- member Assembly has come down to 115 as against the required simple majority of 117
   
• If the rebels were disqualified, it will reduce the House's strength to 214 MLAs where 107 legislators will be enough to prove its majority