Dhanavelu gets more time to furnish reply to showcause notice

 Government Whip Anantharaman, alleging anti-party activities, had demanded the disqualification of Dhanavelu and the Speaker served a showcause notice on him.

Dhanavelu appeared twice before Sivakolundhu and sought more time. Meanwhile, he also moved the Madras High Court and the court dismissed his petition directing the Speaker to give him a chance to explain his stance.

Following this, the Speaker had served  a showcause notice on Dhanavelu to appear before him, but citing  that he is indisposed he had failed to appear.

The Speaker had then asked the legislator to appear before him on Monday and he met him and requested to give more time to appear with his lawyers.

Sivakolundhu  allowed his request and he also told him that he would inform the date in another couple of days. Later, talking to newspersons, Dhanavelu said  newspaper cuttings, an audio, a complaint from a Congress functionary and by a Government Whip were produced against him as evidences.

These will not come under the ‘Anti-Defection’Act, he said, adding that action could be initiated against him under the Anti-Defection Act only if he had joined some other party or assisted to topple the government.

He said two years back there was a move to change the PCC president but it was dropped due to Opposition from the  party legislators. Now the PCC president from a majority community was changed and this would affect the performance of the Congress, Dhanavelu added.