TN Speaker issues fresh notice to 19 MLAs, seeks reply by Sept 14

Speaker P Dhanapal had sent notices directing the legislators to appear before him on September 14. The pro-TTV MLAs were expected to record their submissions as to why action should not be taken against them regarding their earlier letter to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao withdrawing support to EPS,” an official said.

The notices are yet to be served on the legislators since most had moved to a resort in Karnataka on Thursday.

They must reply as to why they should not be disqualified for withdrawing support to the CM under the provisions of the Members of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (Disqualification of Defection) Rules, 1986. MLA P Vetrivel (Perambur), who dubbed the notice as invalid, told DTNext that he was yet to receive the notice. Asked whether there was any information over telephone from the Secretariat in this regard, Vetrivel replied in the negative. “We would consult Dinakaran first,” he added.

This is the third in the list of show-cause notices issued by the Speaker in this regard, and the list of respondents also include MLA STK Jakkaiyan (Cumbum) who crossed over to the ruling faction from the TTV camp. However, three more MLAs have withdrawn their support to the EPS government subsequently.

The first notice was issued last month based on the representation made by Chief Government Whip S Rajendran after the dissidents knocked on the doors of the Governor expressing lack of confidence on the CM.

The second notice was issued after the respondents filed their reply stating the notice would not bind them, and ordered their appearance before the Speaker on September 7 for which they sought 15 days more time. Rejecting their request, the Speaker, in a fresh notice, ordered the dissidents to appear in person on September 14.