Madras HC to give verdict on disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs today

Palaniswami, Pannerselvam, Dhinkakaran (File) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy CM O. Pannerselvam, T.T.V. Dhinakaran | PTI

Justice M. Sathyanarayanan of the Madras High Court is expected to deliver on Thursday the verdict in the case of the disqualification of 18 'rebel' AIADMK MLAs. Sathyanarayanan is expected to deliver his verdict by 10.30am on Thursday.

On September 18, 2017, 18 MLAs loyal to ousted AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who withdrew support to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, were disqualified by Speaker P. Dhanapal. The disqualified MLAs moved the court against the decision of the speaker. They filed a writ petition, seeking to quash the speaker's decision.

Other petitions were also filed, challenging the disqualification of the 18 MLAs. The DMK also filed a separate petition, demanding a floor test for the AIADMK government.

The case of the 18 MLAs was referred to Sathyanarayanan after the two-judge bench of then chief justice Indira Banerjee and M. Sundar delivered a split verdict on June 14.

The 18 MLAs disqualified by the speaker are S. Thangatamilselvan (Andipatti), R. Murugan (Harur), S. Mariappan Kennedy (Manamadurai), K. Kadirkamu (Periyakulam), Jayanthi Padmanabhan (Gudiyattam), P. Palaniappan (Pappireddypatti), V. Senthil Balaji (Aravakurichi), S. Muthiah (Paramakudi), P. Vetrivel (Perambur), N.G. Pathiban (Sholingur), M. Kodandapani (Tiruporur), T.A. Elumalai (Poonamallee), M. Rengasamy (Thanjavur), R. Thangadurai (Nilakottai), R. Balasubramani (Ambur), S.G. Subramanian (Sattur), R. Sundaraj (Ottapidaram) and Uma Maheswari (Vilathikulam).

The outcome of the disqualification case is crucial for Tamil Nadu politics given the precarious numbers of the three major formations in the state assembly: The ruling AIADMK led by Palaniswami has 110 MLAs, while the opposition DMK alliance has 97 MLAs. This is excluding Dhinakaran's camp that currently consists of the 18 disqualified MLAs and four other AIADMK MLAs, who earlier this month, raised a virtual revolt against Palaniswami.

If the disqualification of the 18 MLAs is upheld, the strength of the Tamil Nadu assembly would drop to 213, allowing the Palaniswami government to remain in power. However, the necessity of bypolls for all 18 seats, as well as two others left vacant by deaths of legislators, in the next six months could pose a problem for Palaniswami if Dhinakaran or the DMK wins the most number of seats.

If the disqualification order is quashed by the Madras High Court, the DMK and Dhinakaran are expected to renew demands for a floor test, which could lead to further political instability given the precarious numbers of the three formations.