TN Speaker disqualifies 18 AIADMK legislators loyal to Dhinakaran

Chennai, September 18

Ruling AIADMK’s 18 legislators loyal to sidelined Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran have been disqualified under the anti-defection law by the Tamil Nadu Speaker, a statement said on Monday.

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In the statement issued by the state Assembly, Speaker P. Dhanapal ordered “disqualification of 18 lawmakers under the anti-defection law from 18.9.2017 onwards”.

A total of 19 AIADMK lawmakers had submitted a letter to Governor C.V. Rao withdrawing their support to Chief Minister K. Palaniswami. They asked the Governor to initiate the process to install a new Chief Minister.

Following which, AIADMK’s Chief Whip S. Rajendran wrote to Dhanapal to disqualify the 19 MLAs who have rebelled against Palaniswami.

On his part Dhanapal issued notices to the 19 lawmakers as to why they should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law.

Subsequently one of the lawmakers S.T.K. Jakkaiyan switched over to the Palaniswami-side.

'Democracy being murdered'

Dhinakaran claimed that his supporters would not have been disqualified had Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao acted on time on their plea against Palaniswami.

"Because the Governor made unnecessary delay despite knowing that Palaniswami did not have the 117 magic number, such a murder of democracy has happened," he alleged.

Dhinakaran claimed initially MLAs of his camp had met the governor at his insistence and that later he himself had knocked on the doors of Rao.

"Such mishaps (today's disqualification of 18 MLAs) are happening due to the governor failing to maintain the dignity of his position," he told reporters here, calling Monday’s decision "murder of democracy".

He claimed that some other AIADMK MLAs would also vote against the government during a possible floor test as they were against "betrayal".

"It is certain that Palaniswami is going home. It will be known soon when it will happen," Dhinakaran added. IANS/ PTI