Pro-TTV MLAs House presence crucial

The Committee’s chairman is likely to debar the DMK members from participating in the meeting citing Assembly Rules.

The issue has gained significance as the outcome of the meeting can change the composition of the House if decided against the DMK legislators. This, in turn, is expected to favour the ruling faction of the AIADMK in case of a Floor Test or a Confidence Vote. 

According to Assembly Rule no 228 (1) – a member of the Committee shall not sit in it if he or she has a personal or direct interest in the said issue and such decision is vested with the Committee Chairman. However, political commentators say that the Privileges Committee Chairman Pollachi V Jayaraman may rely upon the video and photographic evidences to decide on who would sit in the present Committee. 

As of now, the DMK has six members in the Committee, including its working president M K Stalin. Along with this, they have the support of the Congress MLA S Vijayadarani, which accounts for seven. 

But, now in the absence of the three legislators –TA Elumalai (Poonamallee), R Thangathurai (Nilakottai), and STK Jakkaiyan (Cumbum), who are part of the TTV camp staying in Puducherry, the AIAIDMK’S strength in the committee will drop from the present 10 to seven members placing it on an equal footing with the DMK. 

“We have received calls about the Monday meeting. We would comply with the commands of the party general secretary Dinakaran”, Elumalai told DT Next. However, sources indicate that they are likely to participate in the meeting.