2 MLAs to move Supreme Court to stop speaker’s notice

“We have mooted a petition in the apex court explaining that we are no way connected with the AMMK party founded by TTV Dhinakaran,” Rathinasabhapathy told reporters here. The Court has already recorded a few AIADMK MLAs as a splinter group.

“During the floor test conducted in 2018, we voted in favour of the AIADMK government led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and till date we have not acted against the AIADMK government,” the Aranthangi legislator said.

The Supreme Court has admitted our petition and the hearing is likely to commence by Monday, the MLA said.

Echoing the views of Rathinasabhapathy, Viruddachalam MLA Kalaiselvan said that those who voted against Chief Minister Palaniswami, including Deputy CM O Panneerselvam were enjoying powers, but those who stood by the party during difficult times are being punished. “The Speaker himself is facing no-confidence motion mooted by the DMK and there have been recent court orders citing that the Speaker cannot impose the provisions of the anti-defection law when a motion is moved against the Speaker,” Kalaiselvan said.

Meanwhile, Kallakuruichi MLA, A Prabhu said that he would file a reply to the speaker Dhanapal’s 180-page notice seeking clarification. “I am in consultation with legal experts and a reply will be filed on Monday.

In a related development, there were unconfirmed reports that Law Minister CV Shanmugham is in touch with the three dissent MLAs and a pacifying process is on. However, Rathinasabhapathi dismissed that there was any communication between them and the three MLAs.

According to Secretariat sources, the Speaker’s 180-page notice comprises the pictures of MLAs campaigning with AMMK leader Dhinakaran and had also quoted their interviews supporting Dhinakaran.