DMK president and Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin on Tuesday sent a letter to Assembly Secretary K. Srinivasan, proposing a motion to remove Speaker P. Dhanapal under Article 179(c) of the Constitution and Rule 68 of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The letter was submitted by DMK MLA Ku.Ka. Selvam and Organisation Secretary R.S. Bharathi.
It said the Speaker’s decision to issue show-cause notices to three dissident ruling party MLAs — E. Rathinasabapathi (Aranthangi), A. Prabhu (Kallakurichi) and V.T. Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam) — on the basis of the Chief Government Whip’s recommendation to initiate action against them was clear proof that he had failed to act in an impartial manner.
“At a time when the outcome of the bypolls to 22 Assembly constituencies is expected, the Speaker has taken steps to alter the majority of the ruling party in the House. It does not augur well for the honour and dignity of the House,” Mr. Stalin said.
He said Mr. Dhanapal’s decision to disqualify 18 MLAs on the recommendation of the Whip on September 18, 2017, had already raised questions about his ability to remain impartial. “We have to point out that no action was taken on the petition to disqualify 11 MLAs, led by Mr. O. Panneerselvam, who voted against the government during the floor test in February 2017. A case is pending in the Madras High Court in connection with the petition. This has also raised questions about his impartiality,” Mr. Stalin said.
In March 2017, the DMK moved a resolution for the removal of the Speaker, which was defeated in the House.
