Tough time begins for OPS as Supreme Court set to hear 11 MLAs case

AIADMK leaders have also began discussions about the case that might decide the fate of Edappadi K Palaniswami government sitting on a wafer-thin majority.

It is just less than a month that the AIADMK camp is relieved post the verdict of Madras High Court Judge M Sathyanarayana upholding the Speaker P Dhanapal’s order disqualifying 18 MLAs last year.

According to AIADMK sources the top brass of the party including CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy CM O Panneerselvam are periodically holding legal consultations with a battery of senior lawyers.

“After the 18 MLA case head ache, this is the next irritating issue for our party and again in this we will win the case as the disqualification of the MLA is always under the purview of speaker,” said an informed AIADMK senior.

Further the speaker had also justified why the disqualification was not initiated against the MLAs in the Madras High Court and this again will be a legal victory for us,” added the senior refraining from going in to the details as the matter is pending before apex court.

According to AIADMK sources both deputy CM OPS and minister Pandiarajan are also upset with the case coming up for hearing soon. The other MLAs who voted against the Edappadi K Palaniswami government last year includes Aarukutty (Kavundampalayam), Shanmuganathan (Srivaikuntam), Semmalai (Mettur), Chinnaraj (Mettupalayam), R Nataraj (Mylapore), Manickam (Cholavandan), Manoharan (Vasudevanallur) Manoranjitham (Uthangarai), Saravanan (Madurai South).

Party joint convenors K P Munusamy, R Vaidyalingam and the legal wing functionaries are also working on strategies related to the legal battle and to kick start poll campaign for the vacant 20 assembly seats.