‘Speaker may serve notice to DMK MLAs to stave off floor test crisis’

The DMK’s doubts were confirmed by murmurs in Fort St George that Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had discussed with legal experts a few days ago, the possibility of serving fresh notices to the Opposition MLAs and keep them at bay during an imminent floor test.

The ruling dispensation was learnt to have been emboldened by an earlier High Court verdict refusing to direct the Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings against Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and 10 other legislators for violating the order of the Whip during an earlier floor test against the Palaniswami regime.

Privilege notices were sent to 21 DMK MLAs, including party president MK Stalin for bringing banned gutkha products to the House on July 19, 2017. 

The matter is seized of the court after the DMK had moved the court challenging the privilege notices.

“There is no bar on the Speaker to serve fresh notice to DMK MLAs. By serving notice to Karunaas and three others, the Speaker might stop them from participating in the floor test, which would become imminent if the third judge delivers an unfavourable verdict against the government. It is the prerogative of the Speaker to allow a person to vote. By serving notices to DMK MLAs, he could keep more Opposition MLAs away from the floor test. 

It will take time for us to move court challenging the notices, but he can go ahead with the floor test. They are trying to exploit the technical advantage the Speaker has,” said a DMK senior requesting anonymity.

“They are planning notices to rebel and Opposition MLAs as a contingency because if a court orders a floor test if the third judge rules against the government, they may have to face the test in the House. They fear the test. Hence, the notices to MLAs now,” another DMK leader reasoned.