Tamil Nadu Speaker fast tracks defection case against four former AIADMK MLAs

Chennai, Nov 8:

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar has initiated the final phase of disqualification proceedings against four former AIADMK legislators who switched allegiance to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), setting the stage for a politically significant decision later this month.

The Speaker has issued notices directing the four legislators to appear for hearings on November 10, 11 and 12. Final arguments are scheduled for November 17, following which a ruling is expected.

The proceedings stem from the May 13 confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, during which 25 AIADMK legislators allegedly violated the party whip by supporting the government.

AIADMK whip Agri Krishnamoorthy subsequently petitioned the Speaker, seeking their disqualification under the Constitution’s anti-defection provisions.

However, party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami later withdrew the complaint against 21 legislators, while maintaining the demand for action against four who subsequently left the AIADMK and joined the TVK.

The dispute took a legal turn after two other legislators, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and C. Vijayabhaskar, submitted their resignations.

Krishnamoorthy challenged the Speaker’s acceptance of the resignations before the Madras High Court.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan upheld the resignations as voluntary and genuine, while directing the Speaker to conclude the pending disqualification proceedings within two months.

The Speaker has now expedited the hearings in compliance with the judicial directive.

The outcome assumes particular importance as two legislators linked to the controversy, Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, have subsequently won Assembly by-elections on TVK tickets.

Any adverse decision could trigger further legal challenges concerning their legislative status.

The November 17 hearing is therefore expected to attract considerable political attention, with potential implications for the ruling TVK and opposition AIADMK.