Ex-MLA decides to withdraw plea in HC against disqualification

Chennai: A former AIADMK MLA disqualified along with 17 others for rebelling against Chief Minister K Palaniswami last year, has decided to withdraw his plea from the high court against his disqualification.

Announcing his decision to withdraw the plea, Thanga Tamilselvan said he now prefers to face bypoll to his Andipatti constituency.

The VK Sasikala's loyalist announced his decision following a recent split verdict of the Madras High court on disqualifications, with the matter now being referred to a third judge.

The former legislator said his decision was prompted by the fact that his constituency has been left with no representative for nearly past 10 months. "We (18 MLAs) lost our post for no mistake of ours... I am not able to go to the constituency. There are a lot of people's issues to be highlighted in the Assembly. I am ready to perform the democratic duties in the House. And I am ready to face bypoll," he said.

Tamilselvan, a TTV Dhinakaran's supporter, is one of the 18 MLAs, who was disqualified by Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal last year following their revolt against the chief minister. A day after the factions led by Palaniswami and erstwhile rebel leader but now Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam merged on August 21, MLAs owing allegiance to Dhinakaran met the then Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, seeking the chief minister's ouster.

They had then said they lost confidence in Palaniswami as chief minister.

Dhanapal later disqualified them under anti-defection and disqualification rules of 1986 framed in accordance with the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

Responding to Tamilselvan's announcement, senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar resorted to two different Tamil sayings and sought to know whether the opposition camp was testing the waters or was it a signal of problems in the Dhinakaran camp.

However, AMMK founder Dhinakaran insisted all was well between him and his supporters.

He said Tamilselvan had consulted him on the matter.

"He is free to take a decision as they (all disqualified MLAs) became legislators because of Amma (the late J Jayalalithaa). The others want to fight the case legally. All of them are with us (in his camp) and even he never said he was walking away," Dhinakaran said.

He said there was nothing wrong with his supporter's proposal and added that politically it would give them an opportunity to once again challenge the AIADMK.