On Monday, Dhanapal disqualified the MLAs for giving a representation to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao seeking a change of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
A day after 18 MLAs loyal to ousted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran were disqualified under the anti-defection law by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, the disqualified legislators on Tuesday approached the Madras High Court challenging the Speaker's action
Justice M Duraiswamy granted permission to the disqualified legislators to file individual writ petitions challenging their disqualification and get their case listed on Wednesday when their counsel PS Raman mentioned the issue on Tuesday.
On Monday, Dhanapal disqualified the MLAs for giving a representation to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao seeking a change of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The judge was expected to hear the disqualified MLAs petition on Tuesday when the Court hears the earlier plea made by one of the rebel MLAs P Vetrivel apprehending disqualification for their rebellion against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami along with the petition filed by DMK Working President M K Stalin. Stalin, in his plea, sought a direction to the Governor to ask Palaniswami to order a floor test in the wake of 19 MLAs withdrawing their support to him opposing the merger of the rebel faction led by O Panneerselvam. The Court had on September 14 put on hold the floor test till September 20.
Amidst the political developments, Governor arrived here on Tuesday after meeting President Ram Nath Kovind and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. Sources said that Governor might order the floor test after the Madras High Court hearing the plea in this regard on Wednesday. After the disqualification of the 18 MLAs, Palaniswami's government which was reduced to a minority in the 234 member Assembly, would be able to win the floor test with the support of its 114 MLAs in the House of 216 members minus the rebels. Dinakaran has the support of 21 MLAs including 18 disqualified legislators.
In a massive rally against the NEET in Tiruchy, Dinakaran made a scathing attack on Governor saying that he acts as an AIADMK presidium chairman. "To restore the credibility of the Governor's post, he should immediately order the floor test," he said, asserting that his MLAs would get the justice in the court and would ensure that Palaniswami and his cabinet ministers were dismissed. "They are trying to prove the majority after disqualifying the MLAs. They have forgotten that there is a court," he said in a rally attended by over 25,000 people.
DMK has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal over the disqualification of the 18 MLAs. The meeting of DMK MLAs, convened by party Working President MK Stalin, criticised the disqualification of the MLAs by Dhanapal, alleging that it was an "autocratic misuse" of the powers of the Speaker. Later, speaking to reporters, Stalin accused the Governor of working under "Delhi's instructions" and said the AIADMK government's "days are numbered". The disqualification of the dissident AIADMK MLAs would not stand legal scrutiny, he claimed.
Stalin parried a question on possible en masse resignation of DMK MLAs on the issue and said their next course of action would be based on the outcome of the DMK's petition in the Madras High Court seeking floor test. "We are confident that we will get justice in the court," he said.
‘Misue of power’
The meeting of DMK MLAs, convened by party Working President MK Stalin, criticised the disqualification of the MLAs by Dhanapal, alleging that it was an “autocratic misuse” of the powers of the Speaker
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