MLAs case: All eyes on HC hearing today

Though the government has listed the introduction of a few bills in the Assembly, besides the motion thanking Governor’s address, there are no signals from the Opposition parties and RK Nagar legislator TTV Dinakaran on forcing a floor test on the government.

Although only eight members separate the ruling and opposition camps, Dinakaran has made it clear that he is waiting for the court verdict to decide on his next move. Leader of Opposition MK Stalin too had cited the disqualification case and the notice against 21 DMK legislators on the issue of bringing gutkha to the House.

One of the 18 disqualified MLAs Thangathamizhselvan said, “The hearing in the case had approached the final stages. We are certain that the Speaker’s order disqualifying us will be quashed. Barring the representatives elected by the people is murder of democracy. 

As soon as the court’s verdict is out, everyone, who was behind the order, including the Speaker, should have to answer for their actions.”

Dinakaran’s supporters are expecting the verdict anytime after Pongal holidays. However, the aggrieved party may go in appeal in the Supreme Court for a stay on the High Court verdict immediately. The opposition hopes that once the case is decided in the Madras High Court, it shall not be dragged for more than a month in the apex court as the budget session will have to commence in March or April. Besides, a special session would have to be convened if the apex court ordered a floor test to prove the majority of the government led by Edappadi K Palaniswami.

It may be recalled that the AIADMK government proved its majority in the House in February last year and a no confidence motion could be moved any time after six months. Immediately after the six-month time ended in August, 18 MLAs supporting Dinakaran met the then Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and submitted a letter stating that they had no trust in the Chief Minister.

Subsequently, the MLAs were disqualified by Speaker P Dhanapal after the AIADMK whip S Rajendran submitted a complaint that the legislators supporting Dinakaran had violated party discipline and tried to bring down the government. The affected legislators had approached the Madras High Court with a plea to quash the Speaker’s order in September.