Tamil Nadu is abuzz with speculation of more disqualifications in the state’s Legislative Assembly. This comes after Tamil Nadu Law Minister CVe Shanmugam and AIADMK Whip S Rajendran met with Speaker P Dhanapal on Friday seeking to disqualify three AIADMK MLAs. Reports suggest that Speaker Dhanapal has decided to issue a show cause notice to Aranthangi MLA Rathinasabapathy, Virudhachalam MLA Kalaiselvan and Kallakurichi MLA Prabhu, who have in the past supported AMMK chief and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, who was expelled from the AIADMK. Based on their explanation, further action would be initiated.
If the three MLAs are disqualified, this would help the ruling AIADMK in the event of a trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, as it further reduces the strength of the House.
Speaking to TNM, Kallakurichi MLA Prabhu said he has not received the notice and didn’t know why he would be issued the same. “I didn’t get any notice. I don’t know why I am getting it. We were supporting Chinamma (Sasikala). She was General Secretary of the party. But they removed her from the party. I haven’t left the party, nor have I defied the whip’s orders.” He added, “Let the notice come. Let’s see what the reason. I’ll handle this legally.”
Significantly, the AIADMK had in October 2018 sought an explanation from the three MLAs for supporting TTV Dhinakaran. However, no action was taken then. It also comes after 18 AIADMK MLAs were expelled in September 2017 for approaching then Governor Vidyasagar Rao expressing lack of confidence in Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami. Their disqualification was upheld by the Madras High Court, necessitating bye-elections to the constituencies.
The timing of the latest development comes when bye-elections are being held for 22 vacancies in Tamil Nadu. While the state witnessed 18 bye-elections on April 18, the remaining four constituencies will go to polls on May 19. The results to these bye-elections, which will be out on May 23, will decide the survival of the AIADMK government, which is presently sitting on a slim majority.
The AIADMK presently has 113 MLAs excluding the Speaker, who only votes in the event of a tie. Post May 23, the Tamil Nadu Assembly will go back to its original strength of 234. The majority mark in the House is 118. This means that CM Edappadi Palaniswami needs to win at least five seats to remain in power. But with six AIADMK MLAs including three independents who stood on the two-leaves symbol being fence sitters, EPS would need to emerge victorious in at least 11 out of the 22 constituencies.
P Vetrivel, a disqualified AIADMK MLA who is now in the AMMK, alleges that the ruling party is scared of losing the bye-elections. Reducing the strength of the Assembly would enable the AIADMK to stay in power, he further alleges. “They are scared of bye-polls. They want three more disqualifications. Election will be done after one year. They want to prolong this government for the next one year,” he alleges, adding, “This is a total mockery of democracy.”