MADURAI: Scotching speculations that there was a rift in the ranks of the rebels, TTV Dhinakaran on Saturday said that the unanimous decision to appeal the High Court verdict could be withdrawn if it acted as an impediment to the Election Commission's plans to hold by-polls.
Speaking to media persons at Madurai, Dhinakaran said that there is no rift between the MLAs and him and the decision for moving to Supreme Court is taken after consultations with all the MLAs. "We are together and the MLAs with me have no expectations and they work for the benefit of the party. It is true that the MLAs are disappointed due to the verdict of the Madras High High Court and in the meeting held on Friday, a collective consensus was attained by all the MLAs to prefer an appeal", Dhinakaran said.
On the notice sent to Aranthangi MLA E Rathinasabapathy, Kallakurichi MLA A Prabhu and Vriddhachalam MLA V T Kalaiselvan, Dhinakaran said that the three sitting MLAs will reply to the show cause notice sent by the Assembly speaker.
Adding that all the 18 MLAs are ready to face the by-election at any time, Dhinakaran said that if they want to prove that the Speaker's decision is wrong they can prove it only by preferring an appeal in the apex court. "The MLAs approach the Supreme Court only on a belief that their case would be disposed of soon. In case, the election is announced during the pendency of the case in the Supreme Court, and if those cases are considered to be an impediment for the election commission to conduct by-elections in 18 constituencies, the 18 MLAs will withdraw the case," Dhinakaran said.
He also said that the MLAs will meet the party's General Secretary Sasikala soon, who is currently lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central prison.
Meanwhile, one of the disqualified MLA Thanga Tamilselvan, while speaking to reporters said that they will file an appeal in the Supreme Court on October 30 with an appeal to dispose the case within two months.