Another batch of pleas seeks OPS faction disqualification

Appearing for DMK whip Sakkarapani, senior counsel Amarendra Sharan contended during his three hour long arguments that while the 11 MLAs, including OPS, have claimed that no whip was issued and hence there cannot be any action, both factions stated in their affidavit to the Election Commission that they had indeed voted against the motion of confidence moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on February 18 in defiance of the chief whip’s directions. Noting that there must be a direction, and that too by the one called by the Chief Minister, in a confidence motion, the counsel argued that it was absurd to say that there was no direction.

The Speaker had acted against the MLAs who sought changing the Chief Minister, but failed to even issue notice to OPS and others who had openly voted against the motion to bring down the government, he argued. Advocate Sharan stressed that the court cannot allow an illegality to continue, especially by persons who ought to be disqualified as ministers and policymakers. 

The hearing is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.