CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Speaker P. Dhanapal on Thursday issued notices to 19 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs supporting sidelined deputy chief TTV Dhinakaran, seeking a clarification on a plea for their disqualification.
The 19 MLAs, who are currently lodged at a resort at Puducherry, are part of the faction led by the now jailed AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala and her nephew Dhinakaran.
The chief whip of the ruling AIADMK urged Speaker Dhanapal to disqualify the 19 MLAs, who have rebelled against Chief Minister K. Palaniswami.
The 19 MLAs had submitted a memorandum to state Governor C Vidyasagar Rao for withdrawing their support to the Chief Minister, as they were upset over the coming together of the two major factions of the AIADMK.
Speaking to ANI, AIADMK leader, E Rathinasabapathy said, “Dinakaran remains our leader, Sasikala is our general secretary. Soon all will be united."
Earlier in the day, Chief Whip S. Rajendran said that by withdrawing support to the Chief Minister, the dissenting MLAs had attracted the provision of the anti-defection law.
The move comes as the opposition parties have been demanding the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the assembly.