Chennai: Accusing the Tamil Nadu Government and Speaker P.Dhanapal of “deliberately reducing the majority mark” in the Assembly by disqualifying MLAs supporting him, rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran on Monday vowed to knock at the doors of the judiciary to ensure the legislators participate in the trust vote as and when it takes place.Speaking to reporters in Tambaram near Chennai en roué to Tiruchy, Dhinakaran maintained that “only justice will prevail” at the end and decried the move by Dhanapal as an “assault on democracy.”
He said the 18 legislators — 15 of whom are staying at a private resort in Kodagu district in Karnataka — would move the courts seeking review of the Speaker's order.
“The MLAs are still in the party. They have done no wrong. The Edappadi Palaniswami Government is misusing the Speaker to be in power. All they are interested is to remain in power. We will move the courts and ensure the participation of the legislators in the trust vote as and when it happens. The MLAs will vote against the government”, Dhinakaran said.
The former MP who was removed from the party by the General Council last week said the “unethical practices” of the Government will not stand the scrutiny of law. His supporter and Perambur MLA P Vetrivel said every avenue that is open to them will be used to overturn the Speaker's order.
“We have not quit the AIADMK. We are still with the party. How can the Speaker disqualify all 18 MLAs who are still with the AIADMK. The whip comes into action only when the Assembly is in session. When there was no whip order, where was the violation? This is just to ensure that the government sails through if there is a vote in the Assembly,” he told reporters.
He also maintained that the Speaker can exercise his power under disqualification rules only if the MLAs vote against the government or go against the rule during the Assembly proceedings. “This will be challenged in courts and we will get order in our favour,” he said.
