Chennai: The Madras High Court is likely to deliver verdict on the disqualification of 18 rebel legislators today. The judgment could decide the fate of the Edappadi Palaniswami Government and pave the way for the future developments in the state politics, which have been witnessing turbulent times since the death of J Jayalalithaa in December 2016.
Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal had in September last year disqualified the 18 MLAs owing allegiance to V K Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, leading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), faulting them for giving letters to Governor Banwarilal Purohit withdrawing support to Chief Minister Palaniswami. n P4
The AIADMK chief whip S. Rajendiran had petitioned the Speaker for action against the 18 rebels contending that their action was tantamount to voluntarily giving up membership of the party.
The rebel MLAs' action followed the CM's peace with O Panneerselvam and inducting him into the cabinet as deputy CM.
