Live: Madras HC Extends Stay Order on Floor Test in TN Assembly
The unified AIADMK sought to retrieve the party’s ‘two leaves’ symbol which was earlier frozen by the EC.
advertisement
Amid ongoing political turmoil, the AIADMK passed a resolution to boot out Sasikala as interim general secretary as well as her nephew TTV Dhinakaran as the deputy general secretary, at a party general council meeting held earlier in September.
The eighth resolution adopted by the general council (GC) declared that the post of temporary general secretary stands forfeited and Sasikala has been expelled as general secretary. However, the duo will continue to retain primary membership in the party.
The AIADMK GC, comprising 2,140 members and 290 executive council members, also decided that none of the appointments made by Dhinakaran would be binding on the party. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court is hearing the plea of 18 AIADMK MLAs disqualified for supporting him.
- Madras High Court extended the stay order on TN Assembly floor test until further orders
- The next hearing in MLAs’ disqualification case will be on 4 October
- 18 AIADMK MLAs supporting Dhinakaran disqualified by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker
- The MLAs include Thanga Tamilselvan, Senthil Balaji, P Vetrivel, K Mariappan and others
- AIADMK recently passed a resolution to sack Sasikala from post of interim general secretary
- The newly-merged AIADMK factions declared appointments made by TTV Dhinakaran as void
Key Takeaways from the Hearing
The Quint brings the key takeaways from the hearing today at the Madras High Court.
AIADMK Should Step Down: DMK Spokesperson to The Quint
Watch: The Quint Brings You Live Updates from Madras High Court
Stay Order on Floor Test Extended
The Madras High Court extended the stay order on floor test in Tamil Nadu Assembly until further orders.
The court did not direct an election notification to seats of 18 disqualified MLAs, and did not stay their disqualification either. The court adjourned the case to 4 October.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker’s advocate told The Quint:
No Floor Test Till Case Over: TN Speaker's Lawyer
Counsel for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, Aryama Sundaram, told the High Court that his client won’t organise a trust vote till the legal case is disposed.
Hearing Begins in Madras HC
Hearing on plea filed by 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs has begun in the Madras High Court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is representing the DMK, while Salman Khurshid, PS Raman and Dushyant Dave are arguing for TTV Dhinakaran.
Dhinakaran’s lawyer said that the “order of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker is against justice”.
His lawyers claim that the MLAs did not switch parties and thus the anti-defection law ground that has been stated is “not strong”.
The lawyer went on to ask why no committee was constituted according to the laws of the Assembly to question the 18 MLAs.
Madras HC to Hear Plea of Disqualified MLAs Today
Madras High Court will hear the plea of 18 AIADMK MLAs, who were disqualified for supporting rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran, today.
100 DMK, Congress MLAs Threaten to Resign En Masse
Around 100 DMK, Congress MLAs have threatened to resign en masse, reported The New Indian Express. The move is allegedly to put pressure on the Tamil Nadu Governor to dissolve the house.
Madras HC Allows Plea of Disqualified MLAs
Madras High Court allows plea of 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs for urgent hearing on Wednesday.
TN Guv Meets Rajnath
Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday amid the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Rao called on Rajnath Singh at his residence, a day after Speaker P Dhanapal disqualified 18 MLAs owing allegiance to rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran.
Rao arrived in Delhi on Monday and met President Ram Nath Kovind and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Rao is expected to fly on Tuesday afternoon to Chennai where he would meet the Chief Minister and discuss a strategy on convening the assembly.
18 MLAs Disqualified By TN Speaker
Eighteen MLAs backing TTV Dhinakaran were disqualified by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal were disqualified as per Schedule 10 of the Constitution, and under the TN MLAs (Disqualification due to Defection), 1986 on Monday.
According to The News Minute, the 18 MLAs include: Thangatamizhchelvan (Andipatti), R Murugan (Aroor), Mariappan Kennedy (Manamadurai), Kathirgamu (Periyakulam), C Jayanthi Padmanabhan (Gudiyatham), P Pazhaniyappan (Papireddypatti), V Senthil Balaji (Aravakurichi), Dr S Muthiah (Paramakudi), P Vetrivel (Peramboor), NG Parthiban (Sholingar), M Kothandapani (Tiruporur), TA Ezhumalai (Poonamallee), M Rangasamy (Thanjavur), R Thangadurai (Nilakottai), R Balasubramani (Ambur), Edhirkottai SG Subramanian (Sathur), R Kandaraj (Ottapidaram), and K Uma Maheshwari (Vilathikulam).
Madras High Court Says No Floor Test till 20 Sept
The Madras High Court said that there should not be a floor test in Tamil Nadu Assembly till 20 September.
Hope Dissenting MLAs Join Our Faction: Deputy Speaker
Deputy Speaker V Jayaraman said that the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly will decide on the fate of the 19 dissenting MLAs. “We hope they return to our faction,”he said.
Further slamming DMK’s working president MK Stalin, Jayaraman questioned Stalin’s interest in the “internal matters” of AIADMK.
TTV Dhinakaran Camp Moves Madras HC for Floor Test
The TTV Dhinakaran faction of the AIADMK has moved the Madras High Court demanding a floor test in the state assembly. Members from the faction, who were in Delhi to meet Election Commission officials told said that the general council meeting which ousted Sasikala as party general secretary should be considered illegal.
Speaking to ANI, Vijila Sathyananth, a member from faction, told ANI that a fresh general council meet will be held soon, with the consent of Sasikala.
Meanwhile, the High Court directed Tamil Nadu Advocate General to respond at the earliest on if there will be any action taken to disqualify the 19 MLAs supporting TTV Dhinakaran from the party.
TTV Dhinakaran Removes EPS as Party Headquarter Secretary
Retaliating to the joint factions of AIAMDK resolution to boot him out of the party, TTV Dhinakaran removed Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami from his post as the party headquarter secretary.
He further appointed P Palaniappan to the post.
Stalin Moves Court for Floor Test
DMK Working President MK Stalin has now approached the High Court, requesting for a floor test after alleged inaction on part of the Governor. Speaking to ANI he said,
The petition stated that 19 MLAs, loyal to AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, who is sidelined within his own party, had written individual letters to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on August 22, informing him of their withdrawal of support to chief minister Palaniswami.
Besides, the 98 MLAs of the DMK and its allies in the opposition had expressed their “unequivocal no-confidence” in the government, it said, adding, “Hence, it is clear that the the government has lost its majority.”
Thus, it was the duty of the governor to ask the government to prove its strength in the House, it said.
Post of General Secretary to be Replaced with Coordinator
The AIADMK has decided to do away with the post of general secretary, and has instead decided to appoint a coordinator and joint coordinator with all administrative powers.
'Will Ensure TN Government is Thrown Out of Power': TTV Dhinakaran
Speaking to the media after he was ousted from the party as deputy general secretary, TTV Dhinakaran said that the EPS and OPS factions had betrayed the people of Tamil Nadu.
He further said that he will now ensure that the incumbent Tamil Nadu government is thrown out of power.
Accusing the factions for not having sought a re-election, he said that the newly-merged AIADMK was scared of the people’s vote as they know that they will never regain power.
He also questioned the legitimacy of the general council meet, saying it should be conducted only with the permission of the general secretary,
AIADMK Passes Resolution to Sack Sasikala
In a crucial general council meeting, the unified factions of AIADMK passed a resolution to sack jailed interim general secretary VK Sasikala from the post, reiterating that former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will remain the ‘eternal general secretary’.
TTV Dhinakaran Sacked as Deputy General Secretary
The unified AIADMK ousted TTV Dhinakaran from his post as party deputy general secretary, declaring that all appointments made by him will now stand void.
Resolution Passed to Retrieve Two Leaves Symbol
The unified OPS and EPS factions of the AIADMK sought to retrieve the party's ‘two leaves’ symbol, which had earlier been frozen by the Election Commission.
Minister RB Udhayakumar, reading out the resolution, said,
He further added that all the office bearers appointed by Jayalalithaa will retain their posts as earlier.
Madras HC Allows AIADMK General Council Meet
In a huge setback for sidelined AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran, the Madras High Court has given the go ahead for the party general council meeting convened by Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.
Dismissing AIADMK MLA and Dhinakaran loyalist Vetrivel’s petition, the court told him to approach the Election Commission. The judge pointed out that if Vetrivel didn’t wish to attend the meeting, it would be better for him to stay at home.
The HC also fined Vetrivel Rs 1 lakh for wasting the court’s time.
Vetrivel had approached the Madras High Court on Friday seeking a stay on the general council meeting on 12 September.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
- Access to all paywalled content on site
- Ad-free experience across The Quint
- Early previews of our Special Projects
Published: 12 Sep 2017,12:01 PM IST