The Madras High Court has upheld the Speaker’s disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs loyal to TTV Dhinakaran saving the present government a possible embarrassment over lack of numbers in the House. The verdict means the byelectiosn will be held to the 18 seats held by the MLAs, but the E Palaniswami government is still above the halfway mark. The 18 MLAs loyal to TTV Dhinakaran – who floated his own party Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam ( AMMK) after exiting the AIADMK – are presently sequestered at the tourist town of Courtallam. The 18 AIADMK MLAs were disqualified on September 18 last year under the anti-defection law after they met the Governor and expressed loss of confidence in Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
Madras HC upholds disqualification of 18 MLAS, setback for Dhinakaran
