Chennai: AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran justified his supporter Thanga Tamilselvan’s decision to quit his MLA position and contest on ‘pressure cooker’ symbol, saying this would provide his group an opportunity to prove that they are real followers of Amma (late CM J. Jayalalithaa).
Denying reports of disunity in his group, Dhinakaran who got elected from the city’s R. K. Nagar Assembly constituency, said all the MLAs are collectively with him. “All the 18 MLAs are still with me… I have left the decision to them as they won with Amma’s blessings and as I didn't campaign for them,” Mr Dhinakaran said on Saturday while hailing Thanga Tamilselvan’s decision.
The remaining members had decided to face the legal battle, he added.
Thanga Tamilselvan, considered close to Dhinakaran, was among the 18 legislators disqualified by Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal for meeting Tamil Nadu Governor and seeking a change of Chief Minister last year. On Saturday he announced to withdraw the petition from the Madras High Court challenging his disqualification. Speaking to reporters here he said that he had “lost hopes of getting justice from judiciary and hence has decided to withdraw his petition.”
Reacting, Mr Dhinakaran who said all the MLAs are solidly with him united, contended that they would even approach the Supreme Court to challenge any adverse decision from the High Court.
“Thanga Tamilselvan was keen on withdrawing his petition and was ready to face the by-election because he was confident of winning it. I said ok. He is not angry with us. This does not mean there is any division in our group. We are all united,” he said and added “don't read between the lines.”
Madras High Court had on Thursday delivered a split verdict in the MLA disqualification case, with Chief Justice Indira Banerjee upholding the decision of the Speaker in disqualifying the legislators loyal to Dhinakaran while the companion judge Justice M. Sundar disagreed.
