Tamil Nadu Speaker to Hear Disqualification Cases Against Four Former AIADMK Legislators

Chennai, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : The Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, JCD Prabhakar, will commence hearings on disqualification petitions against four former AIADMK lawmakers starting Tuesday. These legislators resigned from the Assembly and subsequently joined another political party. This hearing follows directives from the Madras High Court.

Scheduled from November 10 to 12, the proceedings will address complaints filed by AIADMK General Secretary K. Palaniswami against former lawmakers Esakki Subbiah, Maragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar, and Sathya Bhama.

The controversy arose after the recent Assembly elections, which led to a split within the AIADMK into factions led by Palaniswami and former minister SP Velumani. Both leaders submitted separate letters to the Speaker, seeking recognition for their respective groups as the legitimate AIADMK legislative party.

Tensions escalated during a confidence vote for the government led by Chief Minister Vijay. Twenty-five AIADMK legislators from the Velumani faction voted in favor of the government, prompting demands for disqualification from Palaniswami’s camp. Following this, four lawmakers supporting the government resigned from their Assembly seats and switched parties.

Palaniswami’s faction urged the Speaker not to accept the resignations and to take action under anti-defection laws. However, a political reconciliation later occurred between Palaniswami and Velumani, reuniting the two factions of the AIADMK. Following this agreement, the party requested the withdrawal of disqualification proceedings against 21 lawmakers, while complaints against the four who resigned were maintained. The actions against the 21 members were subsequently dropped.

Frustrated by the delay in resolving the remaining petitions, Palaniswami approached the Madras High Court, which instructed the Speaker to investigate the disqualification complaints and deliver a decision within two months.

In compliance with the court’s order, the Speaker has issued notices to the four former lawmakers, scheduling hearings from Tuesday to Thursday. Legal representatives for both the ex-legislators and Palaniswami will present their arguments.

The final hearing is set for November 17, after which the Speaker is expected to announce a decision following the examination of the arguments presented.

Notably, Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathya Bhama have since won by-elections and are currently serving as legislators for the TVK party. Earlier, AIADMK ministers M.R. Vijay and C. Vijay also resigned from their Assembly seats to join another political party.