DMK MLA files plea in Madras HC to disqualify Deputy CM O Paneerselvam

Chennai: A DMK MLA has filed a petition in the Madras high court, seeking a direction questioning under what authority O.Paneerselvam is holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Finance and consequently disqualify him from these posts.

The writ of quo warranto petition filed by DMK MLA K.Pitchandi is likely to come up for hearing shortly. In his petition, Pitchandi submitted that after the demise of former Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa, Paneerselvam was elected as Chief Minister. However, due to intra party decision of the AIADMK, Paneerselvam resigned from the post and Edappadi K.Palanisami was sworn in as Chief Minister on February 16, 2017. There was huge hue and cry from Paneerselvam and his group of 11 MLAs.

The Governor directed a floor test to prove the majority by the Chief Minister. A confidence motion was moved before the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on February 18. The Speaker rejected the demand for secret voting and ordered voting by division. The members of the opposition party were unlawfully evicted from the House. Finally, the Speaker declared that the confidence motion moved by Edappadi K.Palanisami was adopted with 122 votes in his favour and 11 votes against him.

The 11 votes were cast by Paneerselvam and his supporters. The fact that they voted against the trust vote was recorded in the TN Legislative Assembly debates official report. This act of voting against the trust motion was in violation of the whip issued by the party. Hence, the act of Paneerselvam attract disqualification as per para 2 (1) (b) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, he added.