Disqualified MLAS to face by-polls in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: It’s oficial and inal - 18 political leaders of Tamil Nadu, who have been disqualified as MLAS, will not appeal to the Supreme Court but will face by-elections that will arise from their disqualification That means Tamil Nadu will head into a period of volatile political activity.

Apart from the 18 seats, two other assembly seats are vacant due to the death of incumbents. The civic elections, which have been pending for two years are likely soon as the courts have seized the matter. The Lok Sabha elections are expected early next year.

The decision not to appeal was announced on Wednesday by TTV Dhinakaran, to whom the 18 have pledged their loyalty. Dhinakaran said his men would contest in all the 20 seats where by-polls are to be held. He was confident that the MLAS will win the seats hands down.

The MLAS, elected on Anna DMK tickets, were disqualified as they revolted against the leadership of Chief Minister and Edappadi Palaniswami. Dhinakaran, who was not an MLA at that stage, later won the by-poll from the RK Nagar constituency which had fallen vacant after the death of chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, and founded the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

Sources in AMMK said the decision was taken as directed by Dhinakaran’s aunt Sasikala, who is serving a 4-year jail term in a Bengaluru jail. An appeal would take time, whereas 20 by-elections means Palaniswami’s leadership will face a test by ire.

On Wednesday Dhinakaran exuded confidence that they would win in all the 20 seats. “We’ve nominated people to handle by-election preparations,” he said.

“ADMK can’t win a single seat,” he asserted. “They will spend lakhs of rupees, but that’s no use.” Thanga Tamil Selvan, a Dhinakaran loyalist and one of the 18, had said earlier that they will move the Supreme Court against the order within 30 to 90 days. Selvan said in Madurai that the group’s lawyer had pointed out several laws in the High Court order.

“The decision to appeal against the verdict is ‘unanimous,’ he had asserted. “It was accepted with joy by all the 18 MLAS.”

Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam on Saturday extended an olive branch to the disqualiied MLAS. “We invite you with love and affection to again join the massive people’s movement nurtured by Puratchi Thalaivar MGR and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma,” they said in a statement.