17 MLAs to continue legal battle before third judge

Addressing a joint press meet, disqualified MLAs Thangathamizhselvan and P Vetrivel asserted that they would stay with Dhinakaran and would not accept either Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami or deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. They also appealed to the AIADMK leaders to accept the leadership of Dhinakaran and join hands with him. 

Thangathamizhselvan accused the state intelligence and AIADMK of spreading rumours that he would leave Dhinakaran and join the ruling party along with eight MLAs. “They cannot take even a single legislator from our fold. 

If Palaniswami succeeds in doing so, I myself will leave Dhinakaran’s camp,” he asserted. He also explained that his decision to withdraw the case was approved by Dhinakaran  before he spoke to the media about it. 

Vetrivel, who addressed the media, said Thangathamizhselvan alone would withdraw the case and the other disqualified legislators would continue the legal fight before the third judge. 

Thangathamizhselvan added that he would seek the opinion of legal experts on withdrawal of the case. Even while Thangathamizhselvan was speaking about withdrawal of the case, former minister Palaniappan, who is one of the disqualified MLAs, intervened and said, “All the 17 MLAs have advised Thangathamizhselvan not to withdraw the case since it would be futile. 

All the 18 MLAs must stay together. That is the advice given to him during the meeting. We hope he will follow our advice.” However, Thangathamizhselvan, speaking to some media representatives, said he would be withdrawing his case on June 21 before the third judge. 

One of the party functionaries, citing the appointment of the third judge immediately after the verdict said there are positive signals from the judiciary that the case would be decided in a short time. 

He also said Thangathamizhselvan should wait to see what happens before the third judge, since there are reports that there would be a day-today hearing in the case. In case of day-to-day hearing by the third judge, Thangathamizhselvan should stay with the other legislators and fight the case, he added.