The Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on a notice sent by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dmk-initiates-no-confidence-petition-against-assembly-speaker-after-notices-issued-to-aiadmk-mlas-214825">Tamil Nadu assembly speaker</a> to three MLAs of the ruling AIADMK party. The MLAs were said to be loyal towards the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK camp.&nbsp;

Two of the MLAs who had received the notice from assembly speaker P Dhanapal had approached the Supreme Court last week to stay the notice. The top court also issued a notice to the speaker and has sought an explanation. It is expected that the case will come up for a hearing after four weeks.

While Kapil Sibal represented the MLAs who had received the notice from the speaker, Mukul Rohatgi argued on behalf of the assembly speaker P Dhanapal.

On April 26th, the AIADMK's chief whip S Rajendran had submitted a recommendation to assembly speaker P Dhanapal regarding the disqualification of three AIADMK MLAs on the grounds of ‘anti-party’ activities. The MLAs were E Rathinasabapathi, VT Kalaiselvan and Prabhu, who were elected from Aranthangi, Vridhachalam and Kallakurichi assembly constituencies respectively.&nbsp;

Members of Tamil Nadu’s opposition party DMK met the assembly secretary on May 2 to present a notice to move a no-confidence petition against Dhanapal. This is in line with the party president MK Stalin’s earlier statement that the party would move a no-confidence motion against the speaker if he acts in a biased manner. &nbsp;

Opposition parties in the state have been alleging that the AIADMK government - which is surviving on a slim majority - is attempting to lower the strength of the house, fearing an impending defeat in the by-elections.&nbsp;

While the AIADMK government does face a major challenge due to anti-incumbency in these polls, it is also true that the DMK and its allies must sweep almost all of the 22 seats in order to get the simple majority in the House.

Responding to DMKs comments regarding AIADMK fearing defeat, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami said that DMK leader MK Stalin had gone ahead with the no-confidence motion petition against the speaker as the opposition party was not confident of the bye-poll results.

The issue of MLAs disqualification had taken centre-stage in Tamil Nadu politics after the speaker disqualified 18 AIADMK legislators who had offered support to AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran in September 2017. Dhinakaran had fought a long battle in court to get the MLAs reinstated, but it went in vain after the Madras High Court upheld the disqualification in a judgement delivered in November 2018.&nbsp;

While 18 of the vacant assembly seats went to the polls on April 18 along with the general elections in Tamil Nadu, the remaining four assembly seats would go to the polls on May 19.&nbsp;

The leaders of the major parties are currently shuttling between these assembly constituencies in order to campaign for their respective candidates. The results of the by-polls to 22 assembly seats would be out on May 23 along with the results of the Lok Sabha polls.

The Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on a notice sent by the Tamil Nadu assembly speaker to three MLAs of the ruling AIADMK party. The MLAs were said to be loyal towards the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK camp.

The Supreme Court has issued an interim stay on a notice sent by the Tamil Nadu assembly speaker to three MLAs of the ruling AIADMK party. The MLAs were said to be loyal towards the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK camp. Two of the MLAs who had received the notice from assembly speaker P Dhanapal had approached the Supreme Court last week to stay the notice. The top court also issued a notice to the speaker and has sought an explanation. It is expected that the case will come up for a hearing after four weeks. While Kapil Sibal represented the MLAs who had received the notice from the speaker, Mukul Rohatgi argued on behalf of the assembly speaker P Dhanapal. On April 26th, the AIADMK's chief whip S Rajendran had submitted a recommendation to assembly speaker P Dhanapal regarding the disqualification of three AIADMK MLAs on the grounds of ‘anti-party’ activities. The MLAs were E Rathinasabapathi, VT Kalaiselvan and Prabhu, who were elected from Aranthangi, Vridhachalam and Kallakurichi assembly constituencies respectively. Members of Tamil Nadu’s opposition party DMK met the assembly secretary on May 2 to present a notice to move a no-confidence petition against Dhanapal. This is in line with the party president MK Stalin’s earlier statement that the party would move a no-confidence motion against the speaker if he acts in a biased manner. Opposition parties in the state have been alleging that the AIADMK government - which is surviving on a slim majority - is attempting to lower the strength of the house, fearing an impending defeat in the by-elections. While the AIADMK government does face a major challenge due to anti-incumbency in these polls, it is also true that the DMK and its allies must sweep almost all of the 22 seats in order to get the simple majority in the House. Responding to DMKs comments regarding AIADMK fearing defeat, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami said that DMK leader MK Stalin had gone ahead with the no-confidence motion petition against the speaker as the opposition party was not confident of the bye-poll results. The issue of MLAs disqualification had taken centre-stage in Tamil Nadu politics after the speaker disqualified 18 AIADMK legislators who had offered support to AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran in September 2017. Dhinakaran had fought a long battle in court to get the MLAs reinstated, but it went in vain after the Madras High Court upheld the disqualification in a judgement delivered in November 2018. While 18 of the vacant assembly seats went to the polls on April 18 along with the general elections in Tamil Nadu, the remaining four assembly seats would go to the polls on May 19. The leaders of the major parties are currently shuttling between these assembly constituencies in order to campaign for their respective candidates. The results of the by-polls to 22 assembly seats would be out on May 23 along with the results of the Lok Sabha polls.

Supreme Court stays notice sent to 3 AIADMK MLAs by Tamil Nadu assembly speaker

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Friday approached Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal for "due legal action" against three of its MLAs for alleged anti-party activities in the backdrop of them siding with rival leader and AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran.

DMK quickly condemned the move, terming it as an action taken by the AIADMK as it feared the government would lose its majority as it was 'facing a drubbing' in the bypolls to the 18 assembly seats.

The party said it would move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker if he did not act dispassionately in the matter.

Chief Government Whip S Rajendran submitted a petition to the Speaker, seeking action against MLAs A Prabu (Kallakurichi), E Rathinasabapathy (Aranthangi) and V T Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam).

The move has sparked speculation about another round of disqualification of the ruling party legislators after Dhanapal had stripped 18 pro-Dhinakaran AIADMK MLAs of their assembly membership in September 2017 under the anti-defection law.

The 18 were disqualified for revolting against Chief Minister K Palaniswami in August 2017, after he merged the faction led by him with the group headed by the rebel leader O Panneerselvam, now the state deputy chief minister.

"I have submitted a petition with the speaker against Prabu, Rathinasabapathy and Kalaiselvan for indulging in anti-party activities and have sought due legal action," Rajendran told reporters here.

Asked if the "legal action" meant disqualifying the three, he said the speaker should decide on that.

The whip said he has attached "photo proof" of the "anti-party" activities of the MLAs. These include "holding positions" and records of events they had participated, apparently related to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. However, he did not elaborate.

A similar complaint of anti-party activities was given against the three earlier as well, but more proof was attached on Friday, Rajendran said.

Asked if the ruling party's move was prompted by any "fear of defeat" in the polls, Lok Sabha as well as assembly by-elections to 22 constituencies, he shot back saying the AIADMK will all the seats.

Thirty-eight Lok Sabha seats and 18 assembly segments went to polls on April 18 while bypoll to elect another four MLAs is slated for May 19. The results of all would be announced on May 23.

The outcome of the assembly bypolls could have a bearing on the continuance of the two-year-old Palaniswami government and the AIADMK would need to win at least ten of them to be in the comfort zone.

In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly with 22 vacancies, the AIADMK has a strength of 113, excluding the speaker. The simple majority in the full House is 117.

The principal opposition DMK along with its allies, including Congress, has 97 MLAs.

Incidentally, two MLAs of AIADMK allies, designated as party members in the assembly records as they contested on its symbol, have shown signs of stress with the ruling party.

Legislator S Karunaas, leader of Mukkulathor Puli Padai, has been anti-government for some time, while Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi MLA M Thamimun Ansari, a strident critic of the BJP, backed the DMK-led alliance in the Lok Sabha polls after AIADMK struck a poll pact with the saffron party.

Meanwhile, DMK president M K Stalin said his party would move a no-confidence motion against Dhanapal if he failed to act dispassionately in this matter.

In a statement, he 'condemned' the ruling AIADMK for seeking action against its MLAs as the results of the bypolls to 22 seats will be declared on May 23.

The party had resorted to the move since it was "facing a drubbing" in the bypolls and was fearing the government could lose the majority, he said in a statement.

"The Speaker (post) is apolitical... Various Supreme Court court verdicts have said that the Speaker's actions should be dispassionate. The Speaker should not take any action in this matter under the anti-defection law."

"In case the Speaker fails to act in a dispassionate manner, the DMK will move a no-confidence motion against him," Stalin added.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Friday approached Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal for "due legal action" against three of its MLAs for alleged anti-party activities in the backdrop of them siding with rival leader and AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Friday approached Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal for "due legal action" against three of its MLAs for alleged anti-party activities in the backdrop of them siding with rival leader and AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran. DMK quickly condemned the move, terming it as an action taken by the AIADMK as it feared the government would lose its majority as it was 'facing a drubbing' in the bypolls to the 18 assembly seats. The party said it would move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker if he did not act dispassionately in the matter. Chief Government Whip S Rajendran submitted a petition to the Speaker, seeking action against MLAs A Prabu (Kallakurichi), E Rathinasabapathy (Aranthangi) and V T Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam). The move has sparked speculation about another round of disqualification of the ruling party legislators after Dhanapal had stripped 18 pro-Dhinakaran AIADMK MLAs of their assembly membership in September 2017 under the anti-defection law. The 18 were disqualified for revolting against Chief Minister K Palaniswami in August 2017, after he merged the faction led by him with the group headed by the rebel leader O Panneerselvam, now the state deputy chief minister. "I have submitted a petition with the speaker against Prabu, Rathinasabapathy and Kalaiselvan for indulging in anti-party activities and have sought due legal action," Rajendran told reporters here. Asked if the "legal action" meant disqualifying the three, he said the speaker should decide on that. The whip said he has attached "photo proof" of the "anti-party" activities of the MLAs. These include "holding positions" and records of events they had participated, apparently related to the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. However, he did not elaborate. A similar complaint of anti-party activities was given against the three earlier as well, but more proof was attached on Friday, Rajendran said. Asked if the ruling party's move was prompted by any "fear of defeat" in the polls, Lok Sabha as well as assembly by-elections to 22 constituencies, he shot back saying the AIADMK will all the seats. Thirty-eight Lok Sabha seats and 18 assembly segments went to polls on April 18 while bypoll to elect another four MLAs is slated for May 19. The results of all would be announced on May 23. The outcome of the assembly bypolls could have a bearing on the continuance of the two-year-old Palaniswami government and the AIADMK would need to win at least ten of them to be in the comfort zone. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly with 22 vacancies, the AIADMK has a strength of 113, excluding the speaker. The simple majority in the full House is 117. The principal opposition DMK along with its allies, including Congress, has 97 MLAs. Incidentally, two MLAs of AIADMK allies, designated as party members in the assembly records as they contested on its symbol, have shown signs of stress with the ruling party. Legislator S Karunaas, leader of Mukkulathor Puli Padai, has been anti-government for some time, while Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi MLA M Thamimun Ansari, a strident critic of the BJP, backed the DMK-led alliance in the Lok Sabha polls after AIADMK struck a poll pact with the saffron party. Meanwhile, DMK president M K Stalin said his party would move a no-confidence motion against Dhanapal if he failed to act dispassionately in this matter. In a statement, he 'condemned' the ruling AIADMK for seeking action against its MLAs as the results of the bypolls to 22 seats will be declared on May 23. The party had resorted to the move since it was "facing a drubbing" in the bypolls and was fearing the government could lose the majority, he said in a statement. "The Speaker (post) is apolitical... Various Supreme Court court verdicts have said that the Speaker's actions should be dispassionate. The Speaker should not take any action in this matter under the anti-defection law." "In case the Speaker fails to act in a dispassionate manner, the DMK will move a no-confidence motion against him," Stalin added.

AIADMK seeks action against 3 pro-TTV MLAs for 'anti-party'

p-dhanapal

P Dhanapal, News on P Dhanapal, stories on P Dhanapal, articles on P Dhanapal, P Dhanapal stories at Wion, P Dhanapal news, P Dhanapal latest news

p dhanapal

Supreme Court stays notice sent to 3 AIADMK MLAs by Tamil Nadu assembly speaker

AIADMK seeks action against 3 pro-TTV MLAs for 'anti-party'