Two dissident AIADMK MLAs move Supreme Court against Speaker’s show cause notice

On Tuesday, Mr. Dhanapal issued to notice to them for having indulged in “anti-party activities”

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal (right) with Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami during MGR birth centenary celebrations in Dharmapuri. File photo

Two dissidents MLAs of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), E. Rathinasabapathy (Aranthangi), V.T. Kalaiselvan (Vriddhachalam), have moved the Supreme Court, challenging the issue of show cause notice by Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal and seeking stay on disqualification proceedings against them.

On Tuesday, Mr. Dhanapal issued the notice against the two MLAs and another MLA A. Prabhu representing Kallakurichi Assembly constituency, on the basis of a complaint preferred by the AIADMK whip, S. Rajendran for having indulged in “anti-party activities.” Mr. Rajendran had claimed that the three MLAs had extended support to R.K. Nagar MLA T.T.V. Dhinakaran who recently launched the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).

Speaking to

The Hindu Mr. Kalaiselvan said a petition was filed on Friday in the apex court, which, according to him, had admitted it.

Reiterating the position of the rebel MLAs about their ties with the ruling party, he asserted that the legislators remained members of the AIADMK and they did not join the AMMK. “We also did not take part in any of the deliberations, as a prelude to the formation of the AMMK,” he said, adding that he and Mr. Rathinasabapathy would continue to abide by directions of the AIADMK’s whip in future, as they did in the past.

Mr. Prabhu was not available for comment.