MLAs of the T T V Dhinakaran faction of the AIADMK have moved the Madras High Court seeking disqualification of 12 MLAs including Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam.
According to TV reports, MLAs supporting Dhinakaran, who is heading a faction of the AIADMK which is at loggerheads with the ruling Edappadi Palaniswami-led faction of the AIADMK, has sought disqualification of the 12 MLAs who had voted against the government during a trust vote in February.
The ruling AIADMK party had to face a trust vote on February 18 after former chief minister O Panneerselvam revolted against the General secretary VK Sasikala, who subsequently had to go to jail after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case. 12 MLAs including O Panneerselvam had voted against the EPS-led government in the trust vote. However, Palaniswami had the required number of MLAs and passed the trust vote.
The AIADMK tussle continued for months with another faction emerging after Edappadi Palaniswami and several MLAs expressed displeasure with VK Sasikala and Deputy General secretary TTV Dhinakaran.
After a lot of drama, in August, the O Panneerselvam faction merged with the Palaniswami faction.
However, 18 MLAs supporting TTV Dhinakaran expressed displeasure over the merger and met the governor stating they have lost confidence in chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami. This led to TN Assembly speaker disqualifying the 18 MLAs citing anti-defection laws. The MLAs have challenged their disqualification and this case is being heard by the Madras High Court.
The disqualified MLAs have questioned why the same action was not taken against the MLAs who had voted against the Edappadi Palaniswami-led government and have moved a petition in the Madras High Court seeking disqualification of the 12 MLAs.