TTV moves 18 disqualified MLAs to resort
On June 14, the high court had passed a split verdict on the MLAs disqualification case, taking the case to be heard by a third judge.
Chennai: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran on Monday asked the 18 disqualified MLAs in his party to move to a resort at Courtallam in Nellai district amid fears that the 'strategists' in the ruling AIADMK were plotting to poach some of them.
“We have been told to move and a safe place has been identified. We will be there till the (Madras) high court delivers verdict on the disqualification case”, said a TTV loyalist requesting anonymity. He refused to elaborate.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran on Monday asked the 18 disqualified MLAs in his party to move to a resort at Courtallam in Nellai district amid fears that the 'strategists' in the ruling AIADMK were plotting to poach some of them.
"We have been told to move and a safe place has been identified. We will be there till the (Madras) high court delivers verdict on the disqualification case", said a TTV loyalist requesting anonymity. He refused to elaborate.
However, Perambur legislator P Vetrivel, a prominent member of the TTV camp, said the disqualified MLAs would stay at a Courtallam resort owned by former minister Isakki Subbiah near Tenkasi. Many of them are presently worshipping at the Tamirabharani Maha Pushkaram (at Papanasam) and would move to the Courtallam resort in a day or two, Vetrivel said.
According to Vetrivel, senior party leader S Thangatamilselvan (Andipatti) had invited about eight disqualified MLAs to go with him to worship at the Pushkaram. TTV then told them it would be better they all stayed together and Subbiah's resort was chosen for the safe stay. When Vetrivel expressed desire to spend a couple of days in Maldives, TTV told him it would not be wise to undertake a foreign trip at this juncture as it would be difficult to return to Chennai in a hurry — in the event of the high court delivering verdict.
"I am staying put at Chennai for now and could be joining the party colleagues (at the resort) in a couple of days", Vetrivel said. He added that TTV had held a meeting of his disqualified MLAs on Sunday to plan a daylong fasting in Chennai to protest against the "blatant and deliberate" neglect of their constituencies by the government. "In all, 23 constituencies are denied development, including those of the 18 disqualified MLAs, TTV's R K Nagar and those represented by the four MLAs supporting our party (Karunas, Kalaiselvan, Ratnasabapathy and Prabhu)", he pointed out.
With the high court ordering a CBI probe into the allegations of corruption and nepotism in the award of road contracts by the Chief Minister to his close relatives, the AIADMK government has been under attack from opposition parties. The 'strategists' in the ruling camp are said to be working overtime to ensure stability in the government and the verdict on the disqualified MLAs would be one of their focus areas, sources said, adding that TTV's move to shift his loyalists to a safe resort is meant to counter any poaching plans.
TTV had met his aunt and party president V K Sasikala at the Bengaluru prison on Monday and may meet up with his team at the Courtallam resort shortly.
On June 14, the high court had passed a split verdict on the MLAs disqualification case, taking the case to be heard by a third judge. While (then) Chief Justice
Indira Banerjee had upheld the disqualification of the 18 legislators ordered by Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, Justice M Sundar disagreed with her and struck down the Speaker's order.
The political crisis in Tamil Nadu began in September last year, when Dhanapal disqualified 18 AIADMK MLAs under the 1986 Tamil Nadu Assembly Members Party Defection Law. They were disqualified after they submitted a letter to then Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, expressing no confidence in Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
The disqualified MLAs include: S Thangatamilselvan (Andipatti), R Murugan (Harur), S Mariappan Kennedy (Manamadurai), K Kadirkamu (Periyakulam), Jayanthi Padmanabhan (Gudiyattam), P Palaniappan (Pappireddypatti), V Senthil Balaji (Aravakurichi), S Muthiah (Paramakudi), P Vetrivel (Perambur), NG Pathiban (Sholingur), M Kodandapani (Tiruporur), TA Elumalai (Poonamallee), M Rengasamy (Thanjavur), R Thangadurai (Nilakottai), R Balasubramani (Ambur), SG Subramanian (Sattur), R Sundaraj (Ottapidaram) and Uma Maheswari (Vilathikulam).
Post disqualification, the MLAs asked Governor Rao to remove Palaniswami from the CM post. Alleging mala fide intention by the Speaker, the rebel MLAs moved the Madras HC to reinstate them.
Subsequently, the high court reserved its order. If the final verdict goes against the TTV party, the 234-seat State Assembly's strength would come down to 214 (two seats vacant) thereby ensuring stability for the Edappadi regime.