In talks with AIADMK (Amma) faction: OPS camp to apex court
21 April 2017 5:57 PM GMT
Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam camp on Friday informed the Supreme Court that they were in advanced talks with the rival AIADMK faction on the issue of merger.
A bench headed by Justices Dipak Misra posted the plea filed by AIADMK MLA K Pandiarajan, who is considered close to former chief minister Panneerselvam, for further hearing in July.
"We are in advanced talk with the rival faction on the issue of merger," counsel appearing for Pandiarajan told the bench which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar.
The AIADMK MLA has challenged the decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker rejecting their demand for a secret ballot during the February 18 trust vote won by Chief Minister E K Palaniswami.
He has sought a direction for quashing Speaker P Dhanapal's decision rejecting their demand for a secret ballot to determine the outcome of the floor test.
Besides, the petitioner has sought setting aside of all consequential actions including the February 18 resolution of the Assembly "expressing confidence in favour of council of ministers headed by Edappadi K Palaniswami, as the same are illegal, capricious, discriminatory and violative of the principle of 'secrecy' which is the essence of democracy, free and fair elections..."
He has also sought a direction to the Speaker to conduct a floor test afresh only through a secret ballot in the presence of "independent and impartial" observers nominated by the Supreme Court.
On February 18, jailed AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala loyalist E K Palaniswami had won an easy trust vote 122-11, helped by the eviction of main opposition DMK and a walkout by its allies, amid stormy scenes during which mikes were uprooted, chairs toppled and sheets of papers torn and hurled around.
Pandiarajan has alleged that the proceedings during the February 18 vote were conducted in a "highly arbitrary and partisan manner, in utter violation of democratic norms and principles of natural justice".
"The request for secret ballot to decide the confidence motion on February 18 was rejected by the Speaker without any justifiable basis especially when there were specific averments and complaints that the MLAs belonging to the AIADMK (including some MLAs out of the group of 11 MLAs headed by the O Panneerselvam) were placed under virtual house arrest," the plea said.
It alleged the MLAs were under "extreme duress" and their affirmative vote during the proceedings on the February 18 was obtained "under the threat of force, fraud and coercion."
Pandiarajan has claimed that 122 MLAs belonging to AIADMK were "forcibly held hostage" at the Golden Bay Resort from February 8 till right before the voting on February 18.
He had alleged that the "undue haste" with which the proceedings took place and "complete lack of transparency and propriety" shown by the Speaker in continuing with the voting process was "arbitrary, malafide, and ought to be quashed".
He has claimed that Panneerselvam had given a representation on February 19 to the Governor of Tamil Nadu requesting him not to approve the February 18 resolution of the Assembly and urged him to fix another date for a fresh vote of confidence by secret ballot.
EC extends freeze on AIADMK poll symbol
The Election Commission has decided to keep frozen the name AIADMK and its election symbol "two leaves" as the two rival factions have sought more time to submit fresh documents substantiating their claims.
The request from the V K Sasikala and O Panneerselvam factions to grant more time to submit supporting documents came as they try to end differences to work out a merger.
"The respondents have sought further time of eight weeks from April 17 to file the documents and affidavits by which they propose to prove their numerical strength in the organisational wing of the party. "The Commission has considered the requests of both the groups and has decided to give extension of time till June 16," the EC order issued on Thursday said. The EC said its earlier order freezing the name and symbol of the party "shall continue to be in force, pending final determination of the dispute".
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