Chennai: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran on Wednesday said his party would not appeal against the Madras High Court order upholding the disqualification of the 18 AIADMK legislators owing allegiance to him.
"We are ready to face the by-elections in the 20 constituencies. I had already said we will not go for an appeal", TTV told reporters at Madurai.
This announcement is only expected as the appeal route is sure to allow the status quo to remain in the Assembly to the advantage of the ruling party while denying the AMMK any chance of improving its stock in the House, which now has only TTV as its lone representative.
Contesting the by-elections in these 18 constituencies and also the two seats that have fallen vacant following the death of DMK chief M Karunanidhi (Tiruvarur) and of AIADMK legislator A K Bose (Thirupparankundram) is the most logical option for TTV to not just increase the numbers in the Assembly but also to demonstrate political relevance at a time when the AIADMK leaders have dismissed him as a clay-horse after the High Court verdict gave their government a new lease of life.
Sources said some of his prominent lieutenants, including a significant number among the 18 disqualified MLAs, were unhappy with TTV when he was initially contemplating to move an appeal before the Supreme Court against the High Court order.
When a reporter pointed out that the AIADMK leaders were poking fun at him -calling him a clay-horse and warning his MLAs they would lose deposit if they contest elections - Dhinakaran quipped: "That's what they said even during the RK Nagar by-election. AIADMK will be the one fighting to retain deposit in the 20 constituencies where we will win by huge margins".
TTV's announcement comes two days after the AIADMK announced its list of party functionaries and ministers who would personally monitor the 20 by-election constituencies for the party.
The AMMK has got its workers in all the constituencies right down to the grassroot-level for months now, so its candidates would win in all the 20 constituencies, TTV said in his media interaction at Ma-durai.
"The six-month period to conduct the election in a vacant assembly constituency gets over in January in Tirupparankundram and Thiruvarur. Whenever the elections are going to be held for 20 constituencies, we will win all with a huge margin," he said.
